Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged YETI Imperial Stout. Denver, CO. American Double/Imperial Stout 9.5% ABV.
Bottled 12/23/2013. Served semi-chilled from a 22 oz bomber and poured into a snifter. Pours a dark brown to nearly black color with a thin tan laced head. Smells are heavily of coffee and espresso beans, with a slight hint of dark roasted malts. If the coffee wasn't there I can imagine it would have tasted more chocolatey than anything. There were certainly hints of chocolate, oak and vanilla but the coffee was really overpowering. The carbonation was relatively light with a full body. Not a viscously full body like a Bourbon County or Parabola but still a heavy beer. The taste was much like the smell with the coffee, oak, chocolate and perhaps hints of brown sugar. Aftertaste was comparable to a fresh cup of espresso.
This beer was aged for 14 months in my cellar, and I must say I was pleased with what time did with it. I have had this one fresh before in a bottle and on tap, but this experience was much better than the previous two. All three tastings spell out a world class beer, but clearly these Yeti varieties do quite well with a little time on them. As with a lot aging of beers, the hop characters become nearly extinct, and the malt is brought forward. I have heard rumors that with various coffee beers, cellaring actually diminishes the coffee flavoring, most notably in Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee. Not the case here. Will definitely pick up a few bottles next time this hits the shelves (sadly won't be for another 11 months most likely). I suggest you all do the same!
Cheers,
Scott
98/100
$11.99/22 oz bomber
95/100 Beer Advocate
Bottled 12/23/2013. Served semi-chilled from a 22 oz bomber and poured into a snifter. Pours a dark brown to nearly black color with a thin tan laced head. Smells are heavily of coffee and espresso beans, with a slight hint of dark roasted malts. If the coffee wasn't there I can imagine it would have tasted more chocolatey than anything. There were certainly hints of chocolate, oak and vanilla but the coffee was really overpowering. The carbonation was relatively light with a full body. Not a viscously full body like a Bourbon County or Parabola but still a heavy beer. The taste was much like the smell with the coffee, oak, chocolate and perhaps hints of brown sugar. Aftertaste was comparable to a fresh cup of espresso.
This beer was aged for 14 months in my cellar, and I must say I was pleased with what time did with it. I have had this one fresh before in a bottle and on tap, but this experience was much better than the previous two. All three tastings spell out a world class beer, but clearly these Yeti varieties do quite well with a little time on them. As with a lot aging of beers, the hop characters become nearly extinct, and the malt is brought forward. I have heard rumors that with various coffee beers, cellaring actually diminishes the coffee flavoring, most notably in Goose Island Bourbon County Coffee. Not the case here. Will definitely pick up a few bottles next time this hits the shelves (sadly won't be for another 11 months most likely). I suggest you all do the same!
Cheers,
Scott
98/100
$11.99/22 oz bomber
95/100 Beer Advocate
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