Great Divide Hibernation Ale

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

12 oz bottle. Pours a copper red with a very thin tan head that stays around for the entire duration. Aroma of malt, dark fruits, and hints of smoke and toffee. Initial flavor is caramel, fruity, and malts. Flavor turns hoppy with a hint of alcohol. Medium mouthfeel, lingering aftertaste, good lacing. Drinkable and complex.

2006 vintage. Pours a hazy chestnut with a thin tan that quickly recedes to a film with spotty lacing. Nose is massive toffee, biscuit, plummy fruit, quite nice. On the palate, the biscuit malt explodes with roasty undertones, fruity alcohol warmth, finishing towards a more understated minty hop resin than I remember it being. Initially syrupy on the palate, it clears almost too well, leaving only the faint mintiness and rather strong yeast dryness. Has definitely mellowed over the past year, quite beneficially, as the hops are pleasantly present but the rich chewy malts dominate the profile. A pretty good example of the underrepresented style of Old Ales in America.

I could definitely see myself hibernating with this beer all winter long. An incredible beer from start to finish and in many ways reminded me of a barleywine on training wheels. Aroma is slightly oxidized, caramel, toffee, and a clear cut fruity hop profile. Appearance is dark copper in color with a nice one-finger thick off-white head. Flavor is what grabs you, with enough malt and hops to please damned near everyone. A nice roasted malt backbone but balanced out with enough sweet caramel malts and pungent hops to keep it all in check. Easy to drink and easy to enjoy.

Pours a very dark mahogony color. Almost no head with a small soapy ring. Nose is faint and roasted. Tastes like hops and roasted malt (coffee). A very different American Strong Ale. I really like this one!! Great soft mouthfeel.

Pours a deep clear brown with amber highlights into tulip glass. There was a two inch tan head that formed quickly and lace stuck to the edges. The scent was of malt, dried fruit, chocolate and smoke. A warming mouthfeel is the staple here. A quick burst of smoked flavor subsides to leave a trace of chocolate, malt and alcohol. Hops leave a bittering aftertaste. This is a very interesting beer, not at all like I was expecting....almost a cross between an ASA and a smoked porter.

Pours medium dark amber, aroma of malts, hops, flowers, raisins, and roasted malts. Flavour is of fruits, caramel, hops, and lightly smoked coffee. Very smooth winter beer, I love these Great Divide beer/ales. Seems to be a close IIPA to me, however it might be a strong ale to others. Good beer.

Deep dark brown with a soap-like thin head. Aroma is smoky and fruity sweet. Flavor is roasted and sweet with malt along with some spices. Finishes very dry.

Poured with a sparkling ruby color. The head is just a continuation of such a crystal clear and deep red, it hangs around and doesn’t leave the party too soon. Initially picked up some berry fruits in the aroma but settled into good hop aroma and stronger roasted grains. First sip is toastier than expected but warms as it goes down. Finsihes with moderate spice. Just makes me want to go to sleep.