Hercules Double IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company

joeyels

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy burnt orange color. Thick bubbly head with good retention, thin lacing around glass. Smell is definitely hops, very floral yet not too overpowering, very pleasing on the nose. Taste comes through with big hops at first, of course, but finishes with sweetened malt. A delicate balance that IMO is as close to perfect as one can imagine. 9.1% ABV, but there is too much flavor here to notice any trace of alcohol content. Very smooth, crisp finish, subtle aftertaste that diminishes rather quickly. Wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2006 13:43:41 | More by joeyels

mcowgill

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love this beer! It pours a hazy amber with a significant creamy head that leaves lots of lacing on the glass. The smell is to die for. Great wiffs of citrus and piney hops. Can't decide whether I like smelling or tasting this beer better. The hops knock you over the head but in such a good way. It has a smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel. I find this an extremely drinkable beer for such a hop monster with high alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2006 00:13:15 | More by mcowgill

stevecee2003

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow! This is the one! Wow, what an India Pale Ale. If you desire that taste as I do, then this may well become your favorite beer. As many of us know this type of beer was shipped to British forces in the 1700's all the way to India. It had to survive so it was loaded with hops to make the trip. That "hoppy" taste became a favorite, what we now know as IPA. And Hercules has taken it to the extreme.

Presentation: Pours with a deep copper color. You know you are in for something special if you like IPA's. It pours with a good foam, but settles quickly.

Smell: Mmmm. The real aroma of an real IPA. Wow! This has possibilities. The burnt hops. The bite. It's all there. This is a serious beer. Surely you can't overlook this beer. It demands your attention.

Taste: It's the strong IPA taste we all search for. As an IPA lover I long for that bitter/flavor combination. It has resiney hops. Piney, yet citric and very clean. And strong. This is one IPA that will lay you on the floor, with that big punch you want and sip for, and more and more.

Mouthfeel: Smooth to the tongue, but full of body. But all the bite is there. It's a great American IPA. And Mama, it will bite!

Drinkability: Only one of these. Two and truly this is one beer that will kick your A$$ ! But.. you will feel satisfied. Be glad.
===
More review added on- three years later
(06-21-09)...
Its been three years since my initial review, and I must say this single beer is my one champion. Exhibiting all the things I love. Holy Sh$t I love it.

It has all the hops I love. It has just enough malt in there. And it is perfect to both exhibit to friends as "my fav beer", and yet to finish my day out, just fine.

This is the one.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2006 03:24:28 | More by stevecee2003

ndekke39

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Drank a 22 oz bomber of this, almost all by myself.

A: Pours a slightly hazy honey color with a tall, rocky head. Fantastic retention - couple fingers of thick, creamy head.

S: Smells begins with sweet caramel like a Scotch Ale, then turns to piny, citrus hops. Light malty balance in the finish.

T: Great balance of flavors - one of the most balanced IPAs (and a Double, at that!) I've ever had. Very bready taste at first, some yeast. Piny hops. Little bite of alcohol. Hop flavors linger nicely.

M: Very creamy, offsets the bitterness of the hops very well.

D: Excellent! Great Divide is becoming one of my favorite breweries. The Hercules sports balanced flavors that are bold but not overpowering. I would definitely, definitely reach for another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2007 21:50:42 | More by ndekke39

bluegrassbrew

Georgia

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into a tulip glass.

Pours a lovely deep tangerine color with a huge frothy off white head that leaves very nice lacing.

Smells amazing! Fantastic sweet piney hops galore! Very inticing.

Taste is just as good! Starts out with an intense hop bitterness, closely followed by lovely creamy piney hops that linger in the back of the mouth.

Very full and creamy, but not at all syrupy.

Highly drinkable at 9%. One of the best DIPA's I've had. Maybe one of the best beers I've had period!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 01:44:02 | More by bluegrassbrew

redneckchugger

Florida

4.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

poured a a hazy orange with thick offwhite head
smells of orange, lemon, pine, intense hops but malt as well
tastes is a hop assult, but the malt balances it well, hints or orange, grapefruit, ripe fruit, malt and alcohol
mouthfell is carbonated with a boozey burn, drinkable for its abv, of the better dipas i have had.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2007 14:57:00 | More by redneckchugger

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Copper appearance. Very slight chill haze. Slight off white head. with little retention. Not many signs of carbonation upon viewing. Lacing is sporadic, but nice. The nose has got it all. It's dominated by the hops with their pine sap, lemon rind, grapefruit and citric attributes. But there's also some caramel dripped sweetness and light bready tones as well. This beer has the perfect mix of bitter hops and sweet malts for an IIPA. The hops are bitter, but fairly clean that way. The hops are juicy. This is perhaps the quality of this beer that I like the most. Like juicy pink grapefruit pulp. With the slightest coating of sugar to keep it in check. The malt backing has nuances of toffee and caramel. The body is round and damn near full. Carbonation is in check. And this is one helluva an Imperial IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2004 04:44:33 | More by Bighuge

Ellbert

Ohio

4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks again to Bigbubba for letting me try this one.

The apperance was a nice amberish color with a nice white head.

The smell is very sweet with a great malt background. The wonderful hops came in and took charge but did not take over the aroma.

Taste was very sweet. Not what I expected in my tastings of double IPA's. This had a great malt bill to it. Very meaty and sweet with the hops which were all over the place but very balanced. The taste was phenominal.

Mouthfeel is very thick and viscous. Great.

Very smooth and drinkable even for this style.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2005 17:14:15 | More by Ellbert

JasonCoop

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours a hazy orange color with big offwhite foam.

smells like pungeant ripe grapefruit. subtle sweet malt, little pine, mainly citrus.

taste - strong and sweet up front with ripe grapefruit and powerful oily hops. delicious, and dangerously smooth for it's over 9% abv. it's great if you like a fruity/extremely hoppy type of IPA.

mouthfeel is pretty smooth. not as heavy as you'd expect for a 9%er. remarkably and dangerously drinkable. impressive brew. the great buzz is the only thing limiting its drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2006 08:26:12 | More by JasonCoop

Tupperwolf

Washington

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours out a nice dark amber that seems to build very little head.... But when I turn back around from putting the bottle back into the fridge, a large 2+ finger head has formed, and is threatening to pour over the side of the glass. Thick, soild, rocky yellow-tan, it leaves behind delicate lacing and continues to cover the beer through the entire drinking process.

I always have a problem with reviewing the smells of IPAs, because the hops tend to scorch my nose! I can get one quick whiff and then nothing else. This is one of those beers! It's hoppy enough to overpower my sense of smell, but it does it with love. Resiny, floral love.

Now, again, I always try to review beers in the order of the categories, but I have to skip taste to talk about the mouthfeel - it's like an oil slick. It's a very odd sensation to drink this, because it's very low in carbonation, but so thick and oily with hops. There's no way to describe the way it glops into every crevice of your mouth except as oily. A bit of carbonation does manage to build up some swishiness as you swallow, and serves to wipe the palate reasonably clean, leaving behind a half-crisp, half-sticky maltiness. It's incredible, and tempts you for a nother sip, as does the flavor...

Now, the hops in this beer are quite nice. They're more overpowering in character than in flavor - they have flavor, but it isn't assaulting, it's smooth and suave. You KNOW the hops are there, and love 'em there. There's a serious malt backbone, too; Tasty, tasty.

This is an experience of a beer - a multisensory experience. It's really quite awesome served medium-cold at the end of a long workday.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2006 23:58:07 | More by Tupperwolf

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is divine sweet hop candy at it's glorious peek.

Appearance: Pours a deep copper color; orange amber, beautiful; with a big off-white head and sheets of heavy lacing.

Smell: Thick malty aroma of orange, caramel, bread and grapefruit that is truly enticing.

Taste: The flavor is sweet and malty like a fruit juice character but the fruit that has been juiced in the magnificent HOP! Hop oils galore in the bold but balanced DIPA. I this genre Hercules is not the most bitter. It actually leans towards malty despite its big hop bitter. The hop character is more like lots of tiny hop bugs nibbling at your mouth than it is like a huge hop spike that is hammered straight through the roof of you mouth exiting your skull. The sweet hoppy flavor does not scramble your brain it only teases your sense to the point of elation and drops off just before wearing you out; making this an extremely drinkable DIPA. The finish is lip-smackingly dry; and the aftertaste is fantastic, leaving you wanting more.

Mouthfeel: It feels like a medium body beer but the active nibbling hops create a sensational creaminess that makes the body feel more fluffy and yet exceptionally smooth.

Drinkability: WOW! What can I say! This one down with exceptional easy. The finish is a bit dry but I like it that way. And the ABV, well, you’d never know it; ‘till you had a few. Is it a session beer? Of course not at 9.1% but I’d easily put a few back; and I sure wouldn’t mind having a couple cases in the cellar to work on for the next several months.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2006 07:10:06 | More by Phatz

rtratzlaff

North Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was surpised that this was served in full 16 oz. servings, due to alchohol. Either way, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this beer. Appearance was a deep clear amber with loads of bubbles floating to a white chunky head. Smell was slightly malt and very very grapefruit due to I suspect a whole lot of dry hopped cascade hops. Taste matched smell quite well. Loads of bitterness, but kept from being insane by malt that just did the job, but surely did not come close to balance the hop bitterness, taste, and smell. Mouthfeel was smooth decently carbonated. Drinkability was good as you can get for a beer that's around 9%. I will surely want this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2006 01:11:03 | More by rtratzlaff

billybob

Massachusetts

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

pours orange copper color, cloudy with small bits floating in it. three finger light tan head that holds fairly well and a nice sticky lace. smell is fruity, citrus, and pine. taste is sweet caramel with a fruity flavor and a tart grapefruit and hop bitterness on the back of the tongue. drinkability, all i can say is i wish i had more.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2007 15:31:46 | More by billybob

Ljunkan

Sweden

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Nice amber color with a large white head.

Smell is very nice with lots of hops; pine-needle, elder, citrus and grapefruit.

Taste is great; grapefruit, pine-needle, citrus and a great, great bitterness. Sligthly of malty caramel/toffee notes and sweetness.

I really like the mouthfeel. It's extremly filling and full-bodied.

Drinkability is high, according to me. It's a big beer, but not too extreme either.

Classy stuff! A new favourite.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2008 19:09:27 | More by Ljunkan

cdizinno

South Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Deep copper color with slight haze. Nice thick off-white head with heavy lacing.

S: Hops and heavy citrus mixed with sweet malt.

T&M: Real smooth with a full body. Big clean bitter hop taste. Nice clean citrus pine taste.

This is a great complex IPA that deserves a try! Really nice Double IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2009 01:34:36 | More by cdizinno

Intimidtor

Ohio

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

All I can say is WOW! Picked up this Double IPA from Simmones Beverage in Lakewood Ohio as an individual bottle for $3.75. Poured from bottle into nice clean pint glass. Appearance was good with about 1/4 inch of head and smell was inviting. First sip was smooth and the head had a great feel and enhanced the mouthfell. I was suprised by how well they hide this 9.10 ABV. It drinks so good but your better not overdue it with this one. I know I could have. Cant wait to get back to Simmones to pick up a four pack. If you enjoy double/imperial IPAs then this is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2009 19:08:02 | More by Intimidtor

mikeborglum

Missouri

4.88/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured 22 oz bomber in pint glass; definitely fits the commercial description pours a deep amber orange color, big head with lot’s of lace; hop aroma full of pine, floral, and citrus and bitter hop flavor and nutty, toffee-like malt character; nice full and creamy body and great lingering bitter finish. Fantastic brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 00:38:35 | More by mikeborglum

Beaver13

Colorado

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The Hercules Double IPA pours a slightly cloudy, copper color with a large, pillowy, light brownish-orange head that displays great retention and some nice lacing.

Its aroma is hops with citrus (apricot) and pine notes and some subtle malt in the background.

It has a nice, velvety mouthfeel with just the right amount of carbonation. The flavor is very nicely balanced. Lot of big hops with some nice citrus notes and a good malt backbone to offset it, followed by a crisp finish. I didn't notice the 9.1% alcohol at all - it is surprisingly drinkable.

Wow, this is a very well made beer! An excellent IPA specimen...probably my favorite to date, IPA or any other style.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2004 06:10:02 | More by Beaver13

pmcadamis

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Thick-looking amber bronze brew with a thick two finger head that never goes away, and tons of lace.

Smells wonderfully thick and heady with floral hop oils. Like walking into a flowering hop jungle.

Tastes sweet, thickly malted, and very hoppy. The hops here are not grapefruity or grassy, but much more thick and oily. Tastes like hop buds rolled in sugar.

Very thick and creamy in my mouth, and slighty more drinkable than other DIPAs IMO. This is a great brew that will find it's way into my fridge often. Very similar to DFH 90 minute IPA, but slighty better IMO.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2006 00:07:58 | More by pmcadamis

JackStraw22

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Pours a slightly opaque deep amber with a huge ass tan head. Looks like a cartoon head, ridiculous. Head retention is great as is the lacing.

Smell: Hops are really in your face and wonderful. Smells like they just came off of the vine and into the glass. Lots of resin aroma, piny as hell. This is how I want my DIPAs to smell.

Taste/Feel: This might be the hoppiest tasting beers I've had, not the most bitter, but the taste is intense. Just enough malt to make it drinkable, but those hops are screamin'! Nice light hop aftertaste that makes you want that next sip. Great mouthfeel, not too sticky, can be refreshing.

I'm so glad the local beer store just got these in, hopefully the supply won't dry up!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2005 01:26:54 | More by JackStraw22

TheBungyo

Washington

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hercules, I crown thee king, king of double IPA's. At least, so far as my search for the best goes.
It looks like carbonated refreshing Iced Tea. With a nice 1 inch head capping it of course. Sparse lacing is left on the way down through the glass.
The nose is like being smacked in the face with a branch of a pine tree. I have never smelled a pine aroma this strong. After the pine I get sweet grapefruit and orange.
Taste is again, pine, followed by grapefruit, sweet caramel, lemon and orange. Finish is massively bitter.
Mouth is so damned balanced it could be a gymnast.
Of course the drinkability is excellent because it tastes so damned amazing. Stone calls it's double IPA ruination but this one delivers on that promise far more. A real gem.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2006 02:04:58 | More by TheBungyo

umustdrink

Minnesota

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Burnt orange color. Fluffy offwhite head, holds at a quarter inch. Excellent lacing.

S - Fragrant hops. Lots of citrus.

T - Very nice hop taste, not too intense. Starts off a slightly bitter hoppiness and ends with a nice fruitiness. Damn this is good!

M - Mouthfeel is crisp but not too dry. Nice and refreshing.

D - This is a really great beer. Alcohol is not detectable at all. I'm going to get another bottle very soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2007 06:16:16 | More by umustdrink

BeerSox

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bomber into snifter glass.

Deep crystal clear ruby amber color. A light tan, smooth, and frothy head develops nicely, and slowly settles to a razor thin cap. Stringy and spotty lacing coats the glass.

Sharp piney hops are the main characteristic of the aroma. They are joined by sweet fruit-flavored hard candy like smell. For the high amount of alcohol, it is well hidden.

Toasty malts set up the brew, giving way to a spicy and bitter hop kick to the back of the tongue. The malts develop into a smooth creamy taste, while a sweet sugary candy like flavor dances in the middle of the tongue. Once again, the high amount of alcohol is well hidden. Medium bodied with good carbonation. The finish is mostly hop bitterness, with the bitterness lingering on the tongue for a while after each sip.

I knew this beer had a high rating before I reviewed it, so I went in with the mentality that I'm not going to let that influence me to write a favorable review just because everybody else did. After the first snifter-sized sample, I realized why everybody gives this one the thumbs up. It's a wonderfully complex and flavorful beer. The hops are there, but they don't overwhelm. The alcohol doesn't dominate either, even at 9.1% ABV. Try it, it's rated high for a reason.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2007 05:24:20 | More by BeerSox

Groulxsome

Ontario (Canada)

4.93/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I got this bottle at the Santa Barbara Whole Foods while on a Hop tour of California. Being from Newfoundland (and now Ontario) I'm a little hop-deprived, so I was looking for the best of California/Near IIPA's and the like.

A - A super nice orange colour with hints of copper and a nice lacy head. The head didn't come out much when I poured it at all, but it was still nice.

S - Hops! Pine, resin, some citrus. Really super hoppy.

T - Some sweat citrus, then some malt character, and then pine and bitterness. Some alcohol warmth, though less than the expected from the percentage, which makes this sneaky!

M - Really nice. Somewhat creamy. It foams nicely and is relatively soft, which is unexpected and really pleasant.

O - I've been looking for something with that nice round hop taste, and this is the ideal one for that! Great hops, it really hits the spot!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 05:38:36 | More by Groulxsome

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours anice cloudy amber/orange. Aroma of hops (of course) with a slight floral and malt scent. Very impressed with this IPA. Although very hoopy, there is a nice balance of slight sweetness that rounds out this beer. Highly reccomended for hop heads.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2008 08:56:32 | More by corby112