Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Denver, Colorado USA

I have half a mind to write an ode to wood and the beautiful marriage it has with beer. But instead of embarking on such a long venture, I shall instead espouse my love for beer and wood in many short chapters. Aka: my beer reviews. Let us take a step forward then to now and the Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing.

She poured a thick oily black into my pint glass while an explosion of carbonation froths to the surface like waves crashing upon her shores. Deep brown and tumultuous, her head fades under great protest, leaving massive clumps of lacy destruction along the way. By looks alone, I am hopelessly smitten. Just as big, her nose whispers sweet nothings of soft oak, woodsy notes, charcoal smoke, vanilla, chocolates, prunes, and burnt toasty malts. As I close my eyes to savor her aromatic bouquet, my glass reaches for my awaiting lips. Just like her pour suggested, her mouthfeel and body is thick, chewy and deliciously full. A hint of bright citrus and bitter lemon nip at her heels, while dry smoke, charred malts, oak, and vanilla dance merrily upon my tastebuds. Cutting in for the second round, bakers and dark chocolate are balanced by the softer side of plump dates and prunes with more vanilla, oak, and even some faint cream or lactose notes. All that my Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout is sits squarely in the middle of my plate. Pleasing warmth slowly works her way through my weary bones while her finish grows ever dryer with each loving quaff. As Yeti warms, the chocolate climbs into the forefront of my vision with richer notes of milk along with her more bitter cousins. This is definitely one beer which can slowly creep up on you unawares and, as one person put it, knock you on your tocks. Thick, rich, deep, sweet and dry, roasted malts, oak and smoke; all good things that come with the marriage of beer and wood.

I can say whole-heatedly that my high hopes for my Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout were met and surpassed. Yet another chapter is added in my ode to wood and beer. About the only way this beer could be even more than she is now would be if she actually sat in a charred barrel versus with oak chips. A minor detail, and who knows, maybe someday Great Divide will surprise me with such a release. In the meantime though, I’ll settle in with her current fortune and savor every moment we spend together, time and time again.

22oz bottle: poured pitch black and a ver dark medium head. Smelled of wonderful roasted malt and wood. Taste was strong of fresh oak, chocolate, and malt. A wonderful stout with a strange wood/oak accent. I say I have never liked the smell of oak and now I know I don’t like the taste either. So, its just not my style of brew. If you like oak aged I’m sure this one is good, but not for me.

22 oz bomber cellared for 8 months in the depths of my girlfriend’s mother’s refridgerator. Shared with her brother and his girlfriend, two very big fans of bourbon barrel aged brews. Pours a pitch black pour with small dark brown head. Aromas are heavy on roasted malt, that balance well with oak, vanilla, chocolate, and some nice sweetness and light booziness. Initial has a good body, light charred oak and roasted malts mix with vanilla, chocolate, and light sweetness. A touch of smoke mixes well, with light coffee, roasted malt, and light warmness with good enough bitterness on the finish. Oak, smoke, and roasted malts on the palate and aftertaste. A wonderful brew, top tier, and easily accessible. Cheers.

Black, black, black with a dark thick big head. laces from top to bottom of the glass. Nose is big chocolate, burnt oak, vanilla, coffee. Taste is all of the above and more. Yummy!

Jet black with a large foamy tan head. Aromas of milk chocolate and cappicino. Tastes of chocolate, oak and roasted malts. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Overall. A very balanced yet large impy.

Cask at Nørrebro Bryghus. Pours dark, dark brown. Aroma is piny hops, roastedness, toffee and coffee. Flavour is rich, surprisingly hoppy, with a lot of sweet roasted malts, cocoa and dry, bitter coffee that lingers forever. Nice and thick. Great brew.

22 oz bottle. Pours deep brown, almost black. Small brown head with decent lacing. Wondeful aroma of roasted chocolate, toffee, and oak. Flavor is very balanced for the style with just enough hops to balance out the strong malt presence. Notes of coffee, english toffee, and caramel fade into a woodsy, oak finish. Very well done!

Pours dark, completely opaque black in the glass, with a medium tan head, good lacing. Smells of pine, caramel, coffee and leather. Thick, crisp and very dry body. Lots of sweet molasses flavor up-front, with espresso, oak and an aggressively bitter aftertaste that helps balance it out. Marvelously crafted.