Great Divide Samurai

12 oz. bottle from Premier Gourmet - Pours a slightly hazy straw color with a medium size white head. Nice lacing. Aroma is faint grain and soapiness. Aroma is very light grain, light esters, and faint lemon. Light to medium body. There’s not much to this beer, but it’s still a notch above most BMC.

Had at some bar in New York (I might have had a couple by this time). Pours a hazy yellow like a wit with a white head. Well balanced and very drinkable but nothing that really stands out from this beer. Usually I am a huge fan of Great Divide so I was a little disappointed.

Bottle from Belmont Party. Poured hazy yellow color with an average frothy white head that mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate sweet citrus aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture and soft carbonation. Medium balanced sweet flavor with a light sweet finish of moderate duration. My expectations where met with another soft brew.

THOUGHTS: It almost looked like a wit. very unique and appealing aroma, but the flavor wasn’t anywhere near the aroma. If someone could make a beer that tastes like this one smells it would be great. The flavor is there for a second in this one and then is immediately overpowered by metallic bitterness. I had a rice beer before and enjoyed it, so this was a real disappointment. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a hazy, light to medium yellow with a large, white head that mostly diminished but kept a fairly thick sheet and left fair lacing. The aroma was light yeast, orange rind, orange and some flowery notes too. The initial flavor was light to moderately sweet and acidic, and lightly bitter; while the finish was moderately to heavily acidic and bitter with and average duration. There was a little sweet orange, then bland orange and very bitter metallic hops. So in other words, sweet then watery orange. The light body was watery then dry with extremely fizzy carbonation and a metallic finish.

I was curious about this because I’m always interested in something to enjoy with Asian food. (Yeah, I know, Great Divide doesn’t advertise it as such.) Anyway, it has tastes of dried grass, potatoes, yeast, and some spicy/citrus notes. Good but not worth buying a second time.

Tasted at Brewers Rendevous in Salida. Much too light for me. It did not taste bad was balanced but there wasn"t anything much there.

Draft at the brewery. Pours a hazy amber with a small white head. Aroma is yeasty and sweet with some hoppiness. Flavor is rich and malty, with some wheat and citrus notes. Finishes crisp and clean. Very quaffable but it’s not short on flavor. Great session beer.

I enjoyed the golden and malty Samurai with snacks and sushi. Noting the other rater’s highlights of herbal notes and a crisp finish, the lighter ale was easy to drink.