Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

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

Can’t believe I haven’t tried this before now. Bottle poured into a snifter; dark orange with amber hints, and a huge fluffy white head that never went away (beer’s been gone for 30 minutes, actually, and the head’s still there). Nose is candied melon, blood orange, grapefruit, with freshly wettened pine needles on the back end. Tastes of ripe orange and pine; intensely floral, with massive hops. One of the most velvety mouthfeels on a IIPA I’ve ever tried. Absolutely marvelous.

bottle. amazing imperial ipa in bottle - also had on tap at the great divide in denver. so smooth for nearly 10%. loved it

Beautiful amber pour into one and a half inch off-white head, which dissolved slowly and left bountiful lacing around the lip of my tulip. Has a delightful citrus smell, like canned tangerines. The beer is smooth despite its moderate carbonation and has noticeable but not prominent yeast tones and I didn’t notice the alcohol as I have in other big beers. It enters the mouth with a bold, rich maltiness with moderate hops that become more and more prominent through the finish. Its less rowdy than say, a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, but a way better balance. Best enjoyed with a Clint Eastwood classic like "Hang ’em High."

Hercules was a clear, golden amber color when poured into my snifter. There was a short off white head. It smells like crispy hops and sweet syrup. There is definitely some hop bitterness but not straight "hoppy". I really prefer citrus and pine in my DIPA’s.There was some malty caramel balance and not a hint of alcohol. The mouthfeel was sticky and chewy. This is good stuff; too bad Great Divide raised their growler prices :( . Serving type: growler Reviewed on: 06-11-2007 22:44:42

Color: Copper Aroma: Complex, floral, spice, fruity malt (ripe orange, stone fruit) Flavor: Dried apricot, ripe orange spice with firm bitterness on the mid-palate. Caramel with moderately sharp bittering on the finish. Comment: a 2008 bottle. Shows complexity. Wonder how it would age for an additional year. 2008 Tasting of a 2007 bottle Aroma: Floral, perfumed/fragrant, orange blossom Flavor: Firm initial hop attack, followed by orange and malt, orange spice, yeast and then enter a long finish with balanced bitterness and fruity malt. Comment: Medium weight (less perceived malt than the 90 minute), very smooth; good evolving complexity with initial hopiness momentarily giving way to some malty sweetness and returning to a hoppy bitterness that is slightly moderated by the malt. This was the surprise of the evening. It appears to age very well--ie, it actually seems to improve rather than simply mellowing. I’ll age more of this.

Pours a clear copper with a light tan head. A strong caramel/toffee aroma, with some earthy hops. The hops are not as present as one would think for a IIPA. Taste has a strong malt base with caramel characters. There is pleanty of hop bitterness (a good thing), but the citrusy hop lingers and I did not enjoy the taste to much. Different hops may have been better. The alcohol is present, more than I expected for a 9% beer. Creamy full body mouthfeel, balanced well for an IIPA.

Bottle: Pours cloudy orange, foamy and bubbly white head. Aroma is heavy on the hops with vanilla and pepper. Flavour is aggressively hoppy but balanced with a toffee-like sweetness and breadiness. It’s bitter but balanced well, great for the style.

Bow down to the bigness! 22oz bottle, last of a case I got. It took me a while to review this one simply because I had too much fun drinking them and perhaps didn’t feel in the moment I should pause to review. Well since this is the end of the case now is the time. It’s certainly a big IIPA with a very complex hop profile and some well integrated maltiness. Trouble here is that the alcohol is fairly evident and not particularly subtle. Obviously with an IIPA you can’t really age it since you’d lose hops to gain alcohol refinement. Shame. This beer is close to perfect but not as excellent as those examples of the style rated higher. Still. I wouldn’t say no if someone provided me with more!