Great Divide Hibernation Ale

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

Clear mahogany with a foamy beige head that leaves plenty o’lace. Aroma of caramel, toffee, alcohol, heavy grains and caramelized brown sugar. Taste of roasted malt, alcohol, diacetyl and brown sugar. Not terribly flavorful but not bad either.

I have been cellaring this beer for a year now all because of the aged sample I had at last year’s GABF. The first sniff at the bottle is candied chocolate. The beer is so dark red in color it is almost brown but when held to the light it reveals itself. Nice, pillowy, khaki-colored head. The smell holds true with a sweet, full chocolate, tootsie roll and candy aroma, with slight alcohol fumes in the back; it smells fantastic! The taste is malty, cocoa powder but does not quite match the smell, which is good in my opinion. The alcohol is hiding and the mouthfeel is neither thick nor thin. I am still undecided as to whether or not I should buy more for cellaring this year since I still have several 2006 bottles. This is a very malty beer and good for a cold day such as today. I’m surprised this is not in bombers or four packs but I am not going to complain because a sixer for $8 is a very good value. Drinkability suffers a little as I did not want another. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 09-25-2007 15:10:00

Cellared a bottle since last winter. Thought that now NFL pre-season games are on the tube it was time to dig it out and consume. Holy-Molee! This American Strong Ale may be built for a cold winter day but worked well on a mid-summer’s night. Sharp malt, full bodied, medium bitterness and overall a well done beer.

Bottle at Volo. A surprisingly tasty beer, as I hadn’t heard this is one to look out for. Pours a dark amber-red with minimal head. Big malty aroma with roasty nuts and spice notes. Taste is big and complex with caramel malts, ripe fruits, and some citursy hops.

Pours dark reddish brown with thin tan head. Aromas of roasted nuts, coffee and caramel. Similar flavors with a little vanilla and oak. Finishes great with small bubbles and slightly spicy. Great winter time beer.

Last year’s bottle has aromas of raspberry and wood, though a bit dry and oxidized. Dark ruby brown, small tan head. Rich and full burnt creamy coffee character, filling and slick. Warming and subliminally sedating. Warming throughout, I want to put some mini marshmallows in it.

1. On Tap at the Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver 12/10/2007 Strong malt aroma. Small white head. Mid brown coloured with plenty of alcohol present. Fruity. Some bitterness in a warming nutty malt finish. 2. On Tap in the Brewery Room at the Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver 10/10/2008 Malt aroma. Mid brown red coloured smooth on the palate and malty with a crisp dry and slightly bitter finish. 3. From the Bottle at TAG Restaurant, Denver 22/09/2009 Hoppy pine nut aroma. Amber coloured very hoppy and a little sweet on the palate with some dryness in a crisp and bitter chocolaty malt finish.

Bottle. Dark chestnut coloured with a nice lacing off white head. The aroma is malty, caramel, milk chocolate and aromatic hops. Flavour of malt, hops, caramel and a hint of coffee.