Great Divide Hades

Bottled June 2007, Sampled April 2009
A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three finger thick, slightly meringue like, off-white colored head that leaves some nice lacing on the sides of my glass. The beer is well carbonated with lots of bubbles rising up through the murky, orange-gold colored beer. When held up to the light the beer shows a white-gold color that is similar to a Wit because of the haziness. Fruity aromas of pear and green apple subtly perfume the aroma along with a spicy, almost pepper like character. The finish has some cracker-like grain notes to it that can be somewhat pronounced at times. There is perhaps a touch of herbal honey aromatics here as well. Not a bad aroma, I find that it is pretty nice too. Coming back to the aroma after drinking this for a bit, it can be quite aromatic; spicy, herbal and with a solid fruit backbone, it is really starting to grow on me a bit more than it did initially.

The first sip is lightly sweet tasting with a fruitiness that accentuates this. The beer finishes with a touch of a carbonic bite as well as some lingering, light, but biting bitter hop notes. There is a touch of metallic character here, some touches of white pepper, a definite ginger note and some lingering, turpene driven clove like flavors that lingers on the tongue. The fruit notes remind me most of pears, but there is also a touch of sweet green apple. The hop character is pretty subdued, but there is a touch of herbal hop character that goes along with the more apparent hop bitterness.

Quite a bit fruitier than Duvel, and it is also a fair bit sweeter too. It is quite a bit different than Duvel, but it similarly needs to be enjoyed with a dedicated full bottle and a bit of time as it starts to grown on you if you spend some contemplative time with the beer. But this is quite a bit better than the beers reputation had me thinking. This is definitely an enjoyable beer that is a bit too easy to drink given the beer’s strength.

Surprisingly clear with a very pale gold color. Light lace, small head. This beer smells far more closely to a cream ale than a Belgian. There are some "white" elements to it, but they are mild. Ah, the taste is closer to the real thing. Some citrus and a good amount of wheat flavor. The swallow features stronger wheat that dissipates rapidly in the aftertaste. The beer is highly carbonated with a low body texture.

Pours pale gold with a 1-2 finger (in a chalice) creamy white head that has good retention. Aroma is very grassy at first, some toasted grain, banana, apricot, nectarine, pear, a little banana, sourdought bread, yeasty white bread dough, a decent amount of spice and a little pepper. Flavor is bready yeast and grass up front, it takes a suprising amount of time for anything else to develop. When it does, banana, underripe raspberry, nectarine, straw, spicy hops, some citrus, a hint of basement funk and some dry citrus notes to finish. Palate is medium body with a lively but not too sharp carbonation. Not bad.

Golden pour with thin, brief white head. Aroma of toasted malt, lawn mower clippings, and playgound wood chips. Flavor is mostly yeasty with some bitter fruits, and doughy malt notes. Some dry, grassy hops. Maybe some pepper. Medium bodied, oily mouthfeel with medium carbonation. FInish is slightly spicey. Nothing to see here, folks. Keep on moving.

Bottle. Translucent gold with a short white head. Aroma is strong Belgian yeast, fruit notes, candy, and spicy/peppery notes. Taste is sweet malts, bread dough, peppery spice, Belgian yeast, dried fruit and candy fruit. Bit of grassy hops and honey as well. Body is light-medium and very bubbly, though more dense than spritzy. Ends with stronger spicy notes, flowers, grass, dried fruit, yeast notes, toasted malt and candy. Nice!

Pours golden with a thick white head. Aroma is doughy, spicy yeast, and some floral notes. Flavor is sweet, light spice, and a little grassy hops.

Bouteille de 12 oz achetée chez Knightly Spirits (Orlando, FL). Arôme: Odeur de citron avec une pointe de fleur et d’épices. Apparence: La couleur est blonde avec une très faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’agrumes avec une pointe d’épices. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’agrumes en arrière goût. (Rating #2411)

Pours a pale straw yellow with a white fizzy head. Aroma is light yeast and spices. Taste is sweet up front with spice coming in at the end. Banana, some citrus, and yeast. Decent, but nothing special.