Great Divide Hibernation Ale

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

Bottle. Wow, one of the most interesting and complex brews I’ve ever tasted. This is in the true style of an old ale and absolutely delicious. This beer changes perhaps more than any other I’ve ever tasted. The first time I had this, I poured it very cold, and the aroma (and flavor to some extent) really highlighted the dry-hopping, smelling like an imperial IPA. As it warms, the malts become MUCH more pronounced. BIG brown sugar, caramel, hop spiciness, with a very interesting tobacco/chocolate aftertaste. Slightly sticky on the palate, with lingering aftertaste (tobacco) that is slightly astringent. An ideal winter warmer.

Bottle. Heavy malty, roasted, molasses, light yeasty and alcoholic. Dark red body, small brown foamy head, fast disappearing. Heavy bitter start, medium bitter finish. Average duration, later on the taste of chocolate shines through. Medium to full body, creamy texture, soft carbonation, light alcoholic finish. Very nice beer!

So I should try this one again because all I got was a lot of spice, spice and more spice. Like an Imperial Spice beer with some more crazy spices. Will re-rate somtime.

Clear dark orangey-red with a thick tan head that lingers. Woodsy aroma of hops, coffee, figs, malt. Deep flavor of malt and a bit of hops and spices. Very flavorful ale.

Bottle courtesy of moejuck. The pour reveals a clear brown color with a thin tan head. Very pleasant aroma of malt, caramel, hops and spices. Very good flavor of malt, caramel, hops and spices. The body is medium with a liquorous texture and gentle carbonation. Great stuff.

Brown/ruby red color. Earthy smokey aroma. Rich roasted malty flavor with chocolate and coffee notes. Full bodied with a pleasant lingering spicey finish. It hides the alcohol well. Another first rate beer from Great Divide. As a matter of fact. i’d just like to say to all the other raters here is that...I love you guys. Give me a hug, you fuggers.

Bottiglia da 355ml comprata ad Alessandria; versa colore rosso rubino/marrone con riflessi rossicci e schiuma biancastra di buona consistenza e discretamente abbondante. L’aroma è fantastico, dolce e sbruciacchiato, legna, bosco e cioccolata; il sapore inizialmente dolcissimo prende piede con toni da confettura improvvisamente e drasticamente mutati prima in un sentore di caffè e poi in un amaro micidiale!!! Ammazza! che botta :) questi americani sono folli, mi devo un po’ abituare a sto colpaccio, tanto è che sorso dopo sorso mi ha conquistato pian pianino sempre di più. Peccato che, quando cominciava ad intrigarmi, era già finita... Che dire, buona, ma per me un po’ esagerata nel suo sferzante cambiamento di carattere, prima il confetto e poi la cicuta! Però scalda, e l’alcool è giusto avvertibile in un certo piccante, ma non si fa così tanto notare in mezzo ad un casino del genere che ti esplode nel palato. Buon corpo, forse un poco leggero, ma almeno aggiunge bevibilità ad una miscela già di per sé non facilissima.

This one poured a chocolate brown color with a thin off white head. The aroma is of dark fruits, milk chocolate, sweet malts, and some piney hops. The flavor is much the same with the chocolate and malts leading the charge with the hops giving it a nice bitterness in the background. There is also hints of the dark fruits, coffee, a touch of spices, and some roasted malts as well. The flavor has a really nice complexity to it. This one is medium bodied with a smooth creamy mouthfeel that leaves a nice warming sensation all the way down. This is a nice winter warmer.