Great Divide 15th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Denver, Colorado USA

poured a rusty sunset. Nose was strong with vegetables and earthy hops and caramel. Tastes mostly of caramel with a big oak tang and aged veegetal hops.

Sampled two Bomber bottles served in a Kuhnhenn tulip glass, has a burnt-orange mostly clear looking (deep sky red) pour that borders on looking like a ruby, gives a large bubbled white and off-white head with yellow tints (two to three fingers high or more), head covers the top long after the pour, effervescence is about medium, left lots of creamy lacing on the glass, aromas of wood, malty sweetness, hop resin and grassiness with light fruitiness, malt aroma is out front in this beer rather than the hops, the second bottle was better at presenting the hops on the nose, flavors of chewy malt, malt sweetness, some mild orange fruit flavor, very little hop bite, the first bottle came across as though the beer is old (weak on hops), the second bottle was a little better for hops but still a little weak for a DIPA, maybe the barrel aging weakened the hops a bit ?, mouth feel is medium, little alcohol warmth on the palate, some creaminess on the palate, not much of a hop aroma or taste for a IPA2, the alcohol is hidden very well though, maybe the barrel aging caused the hops to be weak in aroma and flavor? 2nd bottle was more enjoyable, generous sweet malt aroma with hops, lots of lacing on the sides of the glass, hops are felt on the palate and appear to make their presence known more as the ale warms, I enjoyed this drink even though the hops were disappointing.

22 oz. Light mohogahny pour. Light white head, recedes to a ring and sticks around. Aroma has some piney hops and carmelly malt, but blended with vanilla oak, very nice. Just a hint of booze. Splendid mix of malt, caramel, caramel covered red fruit, middle through finish is some ash/oak and hop bitterness. I’d say the taste is border line light barlywine. Solid medium body, but not syrupy or overly thick. Carbonation helps this quite a bit also. Tempted to give this a 4.5 in the drinkability, but for such a big beer it just can’t be that high, or can it. Anyways, this is a very interesting brew, one of the best Double IPAs I’ve had, but I prefer the non-traditional DIPA. Needs to be tried.

22oz bottle pours an orange amber with a creamy beige head. Rich aromas of malt, vanilla, and oak with bright citrus hops. Really oaky rich malts with citrus hops that give a nice balance. Not overdone, but really tasty.

Bottle, pours a nice cloudy amber with a great light tan head, lots of lace, nice hop and woodsy aromas. Flavor is very similar nice oak notes followed by refreshing hops and sweet malts. Not too sweet, not too hoppy, no overwhelming oak flavor. No alcohol taste either. Once again Great Divide does it right!

22 oz bomber. Pours a clear coppery amber with a medium sized beige head. Aroma of vanilla, oak and caramel. Taste of vanilla, oak, cedar, caramel, perfume, hops and citrus. Very nice.

Dark amber body with a sparkling body, 1/3" thick tan head and solid lacing. Aromas of bran flakes, caramel and fresh cut wood are followed by an abundance of mild citrus fruits. Medium to heavy bodied, the beer is well balanced and blended nicely. No perception of a 10% abv whatsoever. Flavor develops as it warms and really started to outshine the wonderful aroma. Cereal, vanilla, tobacco, cedar and cloves are just the beginning. Grapefruit, orange and a faint woody taste follow up backed by a nice nutty quality. A jumble of different nuances really hold this beer together and provide something grand.

Pours brown with hint of orange. Aroma has huge nose of oak and vanilla with floral hops in the background. Flavor loaded with oak and finishes with mild hop bitterness. Tons of vanilla that overwhelms the hops. Nice creamy mouthfeel. Very good.