Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Company

Cavery

California

3.95/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml shared with Klym, bottle dated Jan 10 2011

Poured into Over-Sized Wine glass

A: Brownie fudge bubbles form a crust above the midnight black body of the beer. Incredibly dirty mud lacing with huge liquid waterfalls of stickiness. The amount of dark bubble mayhem reeked on the glass is something to behold. This beer isn't even that old, and it's already doing what many barrel-aged offerings do after years of isolation. The dark fudge bubbles show noticeable longevity.

S: Lots of faintly nutty oak that gives into a bittering note of espresso. The beans give off a very creamy note of rich roasts. The coffee in here really is reminding me of Kopa Luwak, I've had this before and most certainly didn't get this strong of a note. The bean derived creaminess is pretty overwhelming, but marries with with the oak. Incredibly creamy and rich, not unlike Kopa Luwak Coffees.

T: Once again, nutty oak that gives into the Kopa Luwak-like coffee notes. Other notes of cocoa nibs, bitter bakers chocolates, and almonds come to mind. However, all of this takes a backseat to the espresso qualities. It's a bit overwhelming with some awkwardly bitter lingers and woody acidity. Good, but it tastes young and underdeveloped.

M: Creamy and gentle on the tongue, but a bit powdery and drying from the wood. The wood of the oak isn't too acidic, but it does enough to give you a sensation in the back of the throat. All in all it's currently at a medium body, and is a bit dissonant in the mouth. Time will round this one out.

O: I've had this beer before, and it must have had a lot more age on it because I thought it was a lot better. This beer really does show all the indication that it's young, but the taste profile is a seed of complexity. I am really struck by how kopa luwak like the espresso is at the moment. Having had Mikeller's Weasel, I can't help but notice the similarity in the tastes. Currently the espresso is overwhelming deeper notes, but the creamy mouth is already there. Once the acidity of the barrel mellows out, and the nutty character comes out; you have a winner. This beer is much better with time.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 05:38:58 | More by Cavery

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a pitch black, motor oil color with a thick, creamy light brown colored head with lovely retention. Foam coats the entire glass and sticks to the side in one of the thickest latticeworks I've ever witnessed.

S-Dark chocolate, meat grilled over oak chips, a bit nutty, bitter and dark chocolate with the faintest twinge of alcohol. Booziness is well hidden for a 9.5% abv brew.

T-Sweet dark chocolate comes through at the front with a touch of nuttiness that precedes the charred oak in the middle of the palate. Finishes with a bitter taste of coffee (as expected) with a faint twinge of booziness again. Lingering aftertase of vanilla. Malty sweetness is balanced well with the bitter coffee and oak chips. Outstanding.

MF-Sticky as hell. Probably the stickiest beer I've had as it clings to the glass and does not want to let go. Body is full and thick, finishes like whole milk with a touch of carbonation. Well played, Gread Divide.

O-The best version of the Yeti series. And probably my favorite Imperial Stout so far. Balance is perfect. Complex as hell and the alcohol is hidden well. Absolutely no complaints.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:54:00 | More by Jacurdy60

Cramerican

North Dakota

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-20-2013 06:43:35 | More by Cramerican

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-20-2013 01:44:35 | More by Ctrauty

Gtreid

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 23:44:17 | More by Gtreid

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 15:45:27 | More by InspectorBob

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 15:38:13 | More by ShawnMH

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 13:37:27 | More by Photekut

Nunya

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-19-2013 02:07:49 | More by Nunya

doucmehu

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-18-2013 16:23:22 | More by doucmehu

carlosega

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-17-2013 17:21:16 | More by carlosega

chossboss

Oregon

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-17-2013 04:48:44 | More by chossboss

Blashawright

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-16-2013 22:37:01 | More by Blashawright

deekyn

California

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-16-2013 04:14:44 | More by deekyn

phooky

New York

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-16-2013 00:06:38 | More by phooky

pk18

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-14-2013 03:02:39 | More by pk18

Porter

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-14-2013 02:33:21 | More by Porter

TheRuss9585

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -12%

05-14-2013 00:50:33 | More by TheRuss9585

Absolut

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-13-2013 18:07:28 | More by Absolut

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Motor oil black, freaking dark and seriously opaque. You see the light brown bubbles hovering to the surface of the brew creating a dark tan head just about 2/3".

Smell: An appetizing aroma of coffee, plus a hit of molasses that shakes/ up the nostrils.

Taste: I served this brew cold but indeed let it sit a bit to warm up so I could absorb how rich it is. Strong coffee bean, slightly over shadows the rest of the beer but still outstanding . Little sweet in the end maybe the molasses or the aging (because you definitely feel some vanilla).

Mouth: Medium and sticky, comes a bit dry. The bitter finish is the awesome.

Overall: If you like coffee infused imperial stouts, this one should be at the top of your list. It is a little pricy but it never hurts to treat yourself every now and then. Think of it a a super-sized breakfast stout, breakfast not included. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 04:35:26 | More by BlurryVisi0n

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.19/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Great Divide Espresso Oak-aged Yeti Russian Imperial Stout, Great Divide Brewing, Denver, Colorado.

Fully black, utterly deep, with dark brown head. Looks fantastic, very promising.

Aroma: Espresso is detected first, with chocolate not far behind, rich, decadent cocoa. Very nice.

Taste: On the tongue, it's thick, rich and hoppy. Not getting the oak just yet, but the flavor is dominated by cocoa and coffee. Great and surprising balance in this big, big beer. The espresso flavor is here, but doesn't dominate like in some coffee stouts. Full-bodied, with a long, sweet and hoppy finish. There's a certain cherry-like sweet character that stands on top and melds well with the bitter notes. Cocoa and coffee lurk in the back of the throat, hang in there, never letting go.

This is not the behemoth I worried it would be, it's a complex, and wonderful ale. Many flavors unfold during it's duration. Massive malt, incredibly full-bodied, flush with flavor.
Knockout stout, this. Maybe my favorite Yeti? No, it has to stand just behind regular oak-aged Yeti, though I haven't had it in a while. Maybe I should…

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2013 03:36:37 | More by feloniousmonk

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 20:51:31 | More by twenty5

MCImes

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 19:05:12 | More by MCImes

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4/5  rDev -6.1%

05-12-2013 15:55:25 | More by ipas-for-life

Ford

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.2%

05-12-2013 03:11:55 | More by Ford