Great Divide Hibernation Ale

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

Serve in English pint, Snifter

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(Bottle) Pours near opaque with an almond head. Layers of malt, figs and a fruity hop to the nose. Smokey coffee on the back of the palate, yet very viscous and malty all around. A very good beer. Many thanks Argo!

UPDATED: DEC 8, 2005 2004: Poured a very deep red with small off white head. Aroma is all malt with a sweet nose. Flavor again was almost all malt. Sweet flavors include chocolate and cherrys. Mmmm. Palate is smooth and thick.

2002: Murky deep amber. Sweet and fruity aroma. Slightly tart. As it warmed smelled like a sweaty foot. Flavor was fruity with light tartness. Nice notes of chocolate. Semi-dry finish.

2005: Clear deep amber color. Aroma was dry and chalky. Had notes that were vegetal or like tea. Chocolate and some remenants of a cleaned out but used ash tray. Flavor of light malt and very dry. Makes my mouth tighten. Hmm odd. Bad Bottle?

First off, my brew is very flat. Aroma of molasses and slight pine. Deep mahogany in color and flat pour. Grapefruit flavors interwoven with toasted caramel and brown sugar. Aspirin like finish. Very nice, I wish I had a fresh one.

UPDATED: NOV 12, 2004 12 oz bottle. Bought a few of the 2001 bottling after a tour of Great Divide brewery. Pours reddish-carmel with a thin grey head. Warm molassas, pine, and dark roast smells. Taste of carmel and coffee. A roast backbone, with very little hops in the taste. Dry, a bit astringent in the finish, though that seems to mellow as the glass progresses. Palate big and malty. It is the wrong sort of weather to fully appreciate this beer. I will have to save the rest to drink when there is snow on the ground.

Dark purple/garnet in color, fluffy, creamy head. Nose is spicy, warm, sweet, buttery, notes of cramel, cinnamon, toast, nutmeg, nuts. An excellent aroma bouquet. Smooth mouthfeel, great texture, full body. One of the most sweet, smooth, and comforting dark ales of any style I’ve ever come across. An excellent beverage, rich in texture, full with malt, little bitterness but a woefully short finish, for all it’s flavor. This one goes in my Hall of Fame of winter ales!

Cloudy dark brown/purple with a wildy loose head of dirty brown bubbles. Smells of chocolate, maple syrup and roastiness. Taste is sweet chocolate, the asaid maple syrup, grapes, dark roasted coffee. Aftertaste is alcohol and a nasty hop burn of the pencil shaving/ copper penny/ blood variety. Tasty beer, but unsettling at the end.

UPDATED: JUL 16, 2004 Sampled at the GA 14% gathering. Thanks to Wunderbier for bringing this one! Clear and dark amber in color with a small head. Caramel is heavy in the aroma. Very fruity. The well blended flavor has alcohol, fruits, and a brief show of hops at the finish. This was probably better than I rated it. It think it came late in the run.

Dark red-brown body and a smallish head. The aroma is pretty hefty with caramel and cappaccino. The flavor brings in notes of nuts and a hint of chocolate all followed up with a bit of alcohol. A bit of woodiness is involved in the flavors and aromas and the fruit isn’t huge, but does complement the rest nicely.

12 oz bottle 2003-pours a deep maroon hue almost as dark as a porter. small tan head that didn’t last long due to very sluggish carbonation. Aroma of figs, oak, cherries, rasins, chocolate. flavors show sour grapes, oak aging, chocolate, spices, and slight hops on the finish. definately one of the better ESA’s i have had in a while. could use better carbonation. thanks to my Secret Santa for this one!

Awesome aroma on this one. Very malty and fruity with cherries being the prodominate aroma. Dark reddish appearance. Flavor is very complicated with some oak, caramel, cherries, and sour grapes. Most excellent!