Great Divide Sour Barrel Aged Claymore

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

On draft at the brewery during GABF week 2009. The brewer, Brian, mentioned that this had been aged in Stranahans barrels for about 9 months. Oaky, sour, mildly sweet aroma, some cherry, vanilla, wood, dark malt sweetness, whiskey, very faint smoke and alcohol. Deep brown in color, head is fine and lasting. Flavor is sweetly malty, mildly bitter, tart and oaky, the malts darkly roasty, bittersweet, with further barrel aspects (wood, vanilla, faint char), mildly peppery alcohol, some gentle acidity and mild to moderate bitterness on the finish. Loses nothing as it warms towards room temperature. Smooth, thin palate, body is medium-full. Really nice; seems like it shouldn’t work, but it does, beautifully.

On tap at the brewery during GABF 2009. Pours a clear amber color with reddish highlights and white head. Aroma is strong whiskey with notes of malt, whiskey, chocolate, grain, some earthiness. Flavor is sour whiskey with notes of ripe dark fruit, light vanilla and wood notes, some hints of chocolate and smoke. Medium body with a boozy finish.

one of those noble experiments. but they really lost something from the barrel aged when they tarted this sucker up. the aroma is pleasant and inviting, the fruit notes and the booze mix in a fun way with the sweet caramel and vanilla notes and there is a peanut butter scent that comes out. but the flavor is a let down. the acidic tartness just does not meld well to me with the toffee, chocolate, vanilla, or fruit. the oak dominates a bit much and covers what i like in the ba version. but i hope they keep trying new stuff. 3 9 5 2 11

Draught at Great Divide. Pours dark brown with an average, rocky light brown head, somewhat diminishing with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (cookie, caramel, cereal, nutty), light hop (grass), average yeast (sweat, leather) with notes of light alcohol, plum, wine, cherry, wood, and sour milk. Full bodied, creamy texture, average carbonation, and a sour finish. Long duration, light sweetness, heavy acidity and sourness. Tart fruit skin flavor.

tap at brewery.deep black pour with thin tan head. bourbon, old woody aroma with dark fruits. full mouth.tart sourness. old oaky flavor

on tap at the Great Divide tap room on 9/26/09... pours black with a white head... sour cherry on the nose... medium body with sour notes up front and on the back... sour grapes as well... nice.

On tap @ Great Divide. Pours a murky brown/red. Nose is hints of whiskey, sweet malt, some lactic sourness, funk, roasted grain. Flavor is a decent tartness, acidic, sweet malts, caramel, toffee, whiskey and dry lingering wood.

(Draught) Pours a black body with burgundy edges and a small beige head. Aroma of roasted grain, peat, cherry, earth, cocoa, vanilla, and coffee. Flavor of sour fruit, peat, caramel, grass, and roasted malt with some oak in the finish.