Great Divide Hades

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Ale
Denver, Colorado USA

2 oz. bottle. Clear yellow with a very spare, bubbly white head, minimal lace. HOney like aroma with some background spiciness and a hint of lemon. Light body, very effervescent, fairly clean palate, but nothing of note lingers. Starts off lightly sweet, then some acidity comes through, followed by a softly dry finish. Far from the best offering from this fine brewer.

The beer fills my tulip with a watery, palest greenish-yellow hued liquid, lively with large bubbles; as the lethargic soapsud head sags, it exhibits passable gauzy spiderwebs. Dim, lightstruck lager scent, plus fleeting notions of metal and cornflakes. Nearly flavorless… spring water and grass… shades of turbinado and banana… finishing with a tepid, yet nettling, earthy/spicy bitterness, reminiscent of cookies accidentally blackened. The uncongenial mouthfeel is watery and crisply carbonated, as tongue-scouring as an acid-dipped razor blade. This dreadful episode ends with a dirty metallic bitterness and chalk dust aftertaste. Partaking of this bland, grotesque slop, I feel as if I have indeed been condemned to Hades. I am offended (read: really p.o.’d) that any brewer would resort to such phishing.

Pours a three finger white head that goes slowly to a thin layer leaving a good lace. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Nearly clear pale amber color. Nose is very slight spice. Flavor is like a unsweet honey, smooth with a clean finish. $7.70 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Pours a hazy gold. The head is fleeting and noisy. Leafy, musky hops top the aroma. The flavor is a bit dry, assertive bitterness, but the flavor is short-lived and disappointing. Some estery aromas under the hops.

Heavy wit. Strong tart taste. Not so much a spice, but a yeasty wheat. I’m not sure if I would drink again.

Warm, spicy aroma. Pale golden color with a decent white head. Thinnish body with almost creamy carbonation. Very smooth. There is a complex spicy flavor, with a bit of earthiness. More sweet than dry. The finish is spicy, lightly sweet, and hop bitter. Crisp, yes. Clean, ? It’s very, very delicious.

Bottle. Pours a clear pale golden color with a small white head. Sweet malty and spicy aroma with some yeasty hints. Sweet malty spicy flavor with hints of yeast. Long malty spicy bitter finish.

Bottled. A light golden beer with a medium bubbly beige head. The aroma is very spicy and yeasty - very Belgian, also with a touch of fruit primarily peaches. The flavor is powerful and complex with notes of fruit, spices, alcohol, yeast, and more. The dominant spice is coriander. The alcohol is very strong and felt on the palate and warms the mouth.