Hercules Double IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of the last of the series of GD brews recently available to my little East Coast town. Easy pour of deep straw with a decent head. Huge inviting sprucey, citrus aroma. Aroma is clean and crisp. Like the aroma, the first impression is of spruce and light grapefruit citrus. The bitterness is strong and also crisp, not heavy. The malt character of the brew is in excellent balance, not at all cloying on the palate. The deep sweetness compliments the hop character very well and allows for a nice expericience of all flavors. IMO very drinkable for the style--can be sipped of swigged easily.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2005 11:42:27 | More by beernut7

bcsbeer

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-18-2013 02:33:27 | More by bcsbeer

phooky

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-17-2013 18:41:15 | More by phooky

lcdawg

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-17-2013 00:58:43 | More by lcdawg

Shnanign

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-15-2013 20:28:25 | More by Shnanign

Eaglefan344

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%

06-15-2013 00:01:45 | More by Eaglefan344

psuscott1

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-14-2013 22:06:29 | More by psuscott1

gleemonger

California

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Slightly hazy yellowish orange with a small, creamy white head. Very refreshing looking.

Fairly subtle fruity hop aromas mixed with some sweet malt. Not the huge kick I look for in the style, but not bad.

Much more hoppy in flavor than in the aroma, but leans more toward the bitter side than anything - but doesn't linger much. Hops definitely pretty complex, with citrusy taking the lead followed by some pine. Really pretty mellow overall with not much of an alcohol presence despite the size.

Moderate body with a lighter carbonation, but with a little bite. Doesn't linger on the tongue. Pretty smooth DIPA.

Much more subtle than I expected - not as huge and complex as I normally like for the style, but a very good beer. This is one of those where you have to watch yourself, since it's so smooth and easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 19:49:48 | More by gleemonger

hoosier222002

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-13-2013 03:16:06 | More by hoosier222002

MPSTARR

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%

06-13-2013 01:52:52 | More by MPSTARR

Gschaf

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-12-2013 13:59:34 | More by Gschaf

OC_Beer_Fan

California

3/5  rDev -27.7%

06-11-2013 13:11:10 | More by OC_Beer_Fan

pkalix

California

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-10-2013 13:03:02 | More by pkalix

NastyNate11

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-10-2013 02:05:40 | More by NastyNate11

Skunkyluvmuffin

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-10-2013 01:08:15 | More by Skunkyluvmuffin

Erice78

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-09-2013 21:07:19 | More by Erice78

sea2mountain

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-09-2013 20:49:20 | More by sea2mountain

CB2maltygoodness

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -3.6%

06-08-2013 22:47:10 | More by CB2maltygoodness

RayUF07

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.6%

06-08-2013 15:24:07 | More by RayUF07

drewsif

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

06-08-2013 08:00:45 | More by drewsif

DeeMalloy

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.6%

06-08-2013 03:54:03 | More by DeeMalloy

cgentzkow

California

3.5/5  rDev -15.7%

06-08-2013 03:21:17 | More by cgentzkow

Pando

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%

06-07-2013 23:33:28 | More by Pando

TastefulNudity

California

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Given to me by my girlfriend's mother, always wanted to try this one.

12oz poured in to a Tulip.

Appearance: Honey amber. One finger head on a non-aggressive pour dissipated pretty quickly. Constant carbonation from the bottom of the glass which I like to see. Little darker than expected.

Smell: Barleywine. Extreme sweet malt presence, honey, floral hops. Smell reminds me of Stone's Old Guardian with a little more hop kick and a little less sweetness.

Taste: Continuation of the smell. Starts with the malt sweetness at the front of the tongue. Transfers to a floral hop bitterness that lingers between sips. Almost no trace of alcohol which is very impressive for 10% ABV.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and a little syrupy, tiny bite of carbonation but not too much. Leaves a nice lingering hop presence at the back of the throat. Again, 10%? No burn or alcohol presence.

Overall: This is a great beer, but I felt less inclined to call it a DIPA and more inclined to call it a barleywine. I've never had their Old Ruffian, but I want to try it now to see how it stacks up. Good taste, just a little unexpected.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 20:21:41 | More by TastefulNudity

thegerm87

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -27.7%

06-07-2013 15:45:21 | More by thegerm87