Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

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

22oz. bomber: This one pours an inky very dark brown color. There was a small brown head on it that lasts for a short while. It leaves some lacing. It has a nice full nose to it. Chocolate, toffee, coffee, roastiness and some alcohol are most noticeable. There is a lot going on in the taste. There are a ton of hops in here, and they balance out all the malts so there is actually a touch of bitterness with no sweetness. Coffee, chocolate, vanilla are the most noteable flavors. Excellent.

22oz. Bottle. 2006 Vintage. Inky black color with a creamy tan head. Nose has some oak, noticeable chocolate, mild roastyness and a hint of vanilla. Flavor shows roasted malt, cocoa and espresso that is followed by a tongue thumping hop bite. Definitely more bitter than most imperial stouts, but it doesn’t detract in any way from the more traditional roasted coffee and chocolate malt flavors associated with the style. The oak is also around throughout, but subtle in most aspects. Alcohol is well hidden and the beer finishes with a mild astringency and a dry bitterness. Get it if you can.

WOW! Great beer. Malty and bitter. The oak is subtle, not overpowering, but adds a great dimension. Deep and rich, with chocolate dominate and fruit and coffee undertones. Thick and syrupy without being cloying or sweet. Well balanced. GREAT!

Bottle. Poured deep, dark brown with a tan head. Strong alcohol aroma. Rich texture, complex flavors. Strong alcohol flavors a little overbearing. Impressive, but not my thing.

Pours a pitch black with a good head with moderate retention. Aroma of tamarind, molasses, and alcohol. Astringent coffee and dark chocolate taste, bitter cocoa with a dry finish. Nice! Creamy body, otherwise thin with ok carbonation. Nice! Not keen on the astringency, though.

This review might as well be simple, this is the mellow goodness of the regular yeti with too much oak character. I prefer the original.

Bottle. This was excellent. Dark black liquid with a dark head. Have not yet tried the regular Yeti to compare (but plan to soon). This one has a nice chocolate almost smoky taste. Really good.

Sampled straight from the tit at the Great Divide brewery when at GABF 2008. This and the Espresso Yeti were trip highlights. Have a couple glasses of water with this one.