Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout - Great Divide Brewing Company

tdm168

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at World of Beer Raleigh.

A - pitch black with a big brown head that has great retention

S - huge espressio aroma with some bitter, roasty notes

T - espresso, roasty bitter, creamy, faint chocolate, charcoal, oak, burnt sugar, alcohol, piney, woody, earthy

M - well carbonated, rich, bitter

This is a delicious, earthy, coffee-heavy stout. The flavors are well blended with just enough hop character to leave some balance and drinkability. This is a fantastic stout that is most definitely worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 01:12:26 | More by tdm168

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Extremely dark extremly thick and oily with an extremly dense and tall mocha head. looks exciting.
Aroma is of rich malt almost quite nearly burnt, super. Coffee and espresso comes through well too. Not picking up as far as oak.
Flavor is big and bold lots of robust roasted malts and I'm sure half are burnt which is a good thing. Plenty of espresso, deep and dark.
I also get bittersweet chocolate church pews and charcoal. I get a bit of hops towards the end and in the aftertaste.
Rich and smooth with some alcohol warming. I can see myself drinking this at the firepit up in the 'dacks.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 18:29:40 | More by micromaniac129

tut2528

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

shoutout to matttYCE for this one! thanks man!

A: pour is completely black, no hints of red or ruby whatsoever. Pour is highly viscous and pours about 1 solid worth of tan mocha head with enormous lacing. The head retention is phenomenal and remains about ½ fingers worth even after 1 minute of sitting. Carbonation is also pretty high and with a couple swirls, the head forms again.

S: big ass espresso is the main player here, but oak, dark fruits, toasted malt help balance this one out quite nicely. As it warms up, vanilla notes make themselves more present adding to the complexity and hops notes come out as well.

T: very big espresso right up front. Almost to the point of being too dominating. I also get huge chocolate notes, some molasses, smokiness and a slight hop finish. This is an extremely bold brew, and I am failing to pick up on any kind of sweet notes

M: definitely full bodied, high viscosity to the point of chewiness (not a bad thing at all for this brew). It leaves a bitter dark chocolate and espresso taste on the tongue.

O: The taste of this brew is extremely bold in flavor and wish there were a bit more sweetening characters to help balance this one out. If you like big robust espresso and dark chocolate then this is a perfect brew for you.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 00:29:24 | More by tut2528

brystmar

New York

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Mugs.

Super foamy pour, tan head erupts from the black body and clings to my glass. Strongly roasted, deep coffee aroma. Toffee and caramel too.

Deliciously viscous body brings a hearty roast to my tongue. Tons of dark coffee and minimally sweet caramel for a second. Goes right back to being dry as the drink wraps up.

For an easily accessible imperial stout, this is great!

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2012 02:02:25 | More by brystmar

azorie

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: well its black as night. poured nto shaker pint glass because well its was the only clean one i had atm. Nice really tall foam up, brown, lacy. Nice.

s: no surprise its espresso, go figure. no too boozy. cream like coffee nose, some chocolate, some oak. no hops detected, again no surprise there. strong earthly malt back end.

t: very nice, tasty. Coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, oak, wood smoke malt. slightly, very slightly sweet malt. some dark candy sugar even as it warms up. be great in the winter.
Nice balance of flavors, complex it changes as it warms, well done. Mine was not bitter at all.

m: oily, slightly chalky, med carb, thick body, smooth.

o: totally a great RIS or whatever they call it.
Price was 9.99 while this is out of my league now, I still enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 18:58:21 | More by azorie

Danny1217

Florida

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with a light brown head that recedes rather quickly, but leaves nice, sticky lacing. Smells of roasted malts, chocolate, and of course, oak and coffee. The taste is remarkable. Rich and bitter at the front, like the regular yeti, but it has some creamy coffee flavor coming in as well as oak. Coffee is also noticeable. It has very slight sweetness, but is mostly overpowered by all the strong, bitter flavors. Very thick, and medium carbonation.

My first of the yeti variations. Great Divide makes a great imperial stout, and the espresso and oak only add to it.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 04:30:49 | More by Danny1217

cfrances33

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle (12/19/11) served on 7/28/12 in a Tired Hands wine tulip.

Pour: Pitch black with an oily consistency. A tiny khaki head that recedes to a rim.

Smell: Tons of oak. Bitter dark chocolate and some coffee. Not as much as I remember the first time I had it. Roasty.

Taste: Bitter chocolate first that has a very mocha aspect. Some creamy coffee that sticks through the palate and lingers. As it warms a chewy bit of dark fruit comes out, but only just.

Mouthfeel: Pretty full and creamy, but really tasty. Nice carbonation. A light touch of heat lingers in the through the finish.

Overall: Having this on tap back in April is largely why I love big stouts now. Not as great as I remember then, but still a fantastic stout. Could imagine that bourbon barrel aging would turn this yeti into a real monster.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 22:09:04 | More by cfrances33

ngeunit1

California

4.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark black with a hint of brown around the edges and a finger of frothy chocolate colored head. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted dark chocolate malts and coffee with dark fruit, milk sweetness, oak, and a bit of booze.

T - Starts off with some roasted chocolate malts and coffee with a touch of raisin and other dark fruits. Through the middle, some oak and vanilla comes through with a bit of milk sweetness and more coffee flavor. The finish is mix of dark chocolate and roasted bitter-coffee with some oak and a bit of booze.

M - Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a sweet, roasted, and warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. The coffee goes really nicely with the chocolatey Imperial Stout base.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 04:35:47 | More by ngeunit1

wcudwight

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Thick and dark as night. There's not the faintest hint of light getting through. Nice thick milky dark chocolate colored head. Judging the beer by the cover, this one will be a gem. Smells of bitter bakers chocolate and vanilla. Faint hint of coffee aroma but I was expecting much more. Smells good, just not what I was expecting. On first sip I let out an audible, "WOW!" This is one tasty beer. Sweet chocolate and vanilla flavors balanced by the roasted and coffee flavors. By balanced, I mean perfectly balanced. I honestly don't see how Great Divide could improve on this beer. I love coffee beers and this is one of the best I've had. It's right up there with Pisgah Valdez. Mouthfeel is so thick you can chew on it. Wonderful beer and I wished I'd purchased more than one bomber.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 23:23:01 | More by wcudwight

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

a jet black thick motor oil like pour with about 3 inches of dark brown head. smells sweet like chocolate milk, coffee beans, caramel.. no scent of alcohol. the taste is dead on with smell, except a bit heavier on the coffee and slightly bitter because of the roastiness.

full body, lightly carbonated, very creamy, nice warm feeling.

this is a ridiculously good stout and well worth every penny. a heavy sipper but delicious throughout the whole time. barely tastes like alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 00:41:12 | More by facundoCNB

ediaz

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into huna snifter. Bottle date jan 9 2012.

A: dark as night with a light coffee colored head about 1 finger. Finishes with a good amount of lacing, a great looking beer.

S: coffee, wood, chocolate, caramel, sweet, light alcohol.

T: more oak than anything, followed by dark coffee and dark chocolate notes. Perhaps dark fruits. Caramel comes through at the end. At 9.5% it hides the booze well. Great tasting beer.

M: heavy with comfortable smooth carbonation. Great feel to match the big taste.

O: a great beer that I have been holding for a while and it didn't let me down. Refreshing and tasty, a bit filling but any beer with this depth should be. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 04:42:54 | More by ediaz

CheezyBlaster

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Delightful. Big, though. Very big. Not just the booze/alcohol presence, but the feel. The acidity/alkalinity from the espresso and the natural thickness of the brew really detracts from what is an excellent overall experience.

Sweet, malt roastiness combines so well with the espresso roast. Hops cut through the center, quietly, and bring an essential bitterness for something this sweet, but the roasted coffee flavors help in the bitterness department too. Very chewy, very filling. Also, very oaky, but some of the subtler oak characteristics are overwhelmed by the malt, coffee, and body.

Okay, does it sound like I dissed this beer? I'm not trying to dis it. I love it!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 23:56:36 | More by CheezyBlaster

SHODriver

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a thick black with a dense mocha colored head with excellent retention
S: Smells of coffee, chocolate, bitter roast malt and a little bit of wood
T: espresso, chocolate, slight oakiness, roast malt, and slight hop bitterness. swallow brings mocha and more roast.
M: thick and viscous with soft carbonation. nice and velvety
O: Yeti is always a pleasure and the espresso version is no exception. Fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 15:53:27 | More by SHODriver

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.18/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I love the look of the Yeti’s. Always super dark bodied with a large dark mocha head.

The nose on this is great. It hits on all cylinders: oak, vanilla, chocolate and the namesake espresso/coffee.

Such a heavenly smooth and heavy bodied beer. Big coffee and chocolate flavor. There is a pop of bitterness that subsides quickly but lingers in your mouth. The oak is slightly noticeable.

So good.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 08:01:45 | More by MattSweatshirt

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black as sin color with a great brown head and even some spotty lacing. Looks pretty carbonated for the style by the foaming I can see on top.

Dry espresso with powdered cacao. No cream aromas to mention. Also lots of super roasted to almost burnt malt aromas. Not to mention some warmth from the abv%. Smells like a dry sipper.

Dry palate from the start that subsides a little at the finish. This beer is burnt bread crust, dark coffee, and some black chocolare powder. Dry, maybe even a little acidic as it warms. Plus the abv% heat. But still a good sipper.

I could not taste any oak or wood flavor in this beer. I wonder what this yeti "WOOD" taste like without the chips???? I think mostly the same.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:41:58 | More by scruffwhor

mechamifune

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black with about a .5in mocha head that slowly recedes. Nice retention and lacing. Good looking beer.

Smell is somewhat subtle given the style. Notes of chocolate, wood and sweet malt in the nose. Pleasant enough if not overly assertive.

Taste is notes of vanilla, oak, and chocolate. Only the slightest hints of coffee. A slight tart kick in the finish, which, as the glass warms, seems to start transfering to the front of each sip.

Mouthfeel is solid for the style. Maybe a bit thin given the flavors involved, but I can't fault it too much.

Overall, this kind of fails as a coffee beer, but is generally sucessful as an imperial stout. If espresso wasn't in the name, I would never identify this as a coffee beer. I suppose that the coffee may have faded since the bottling 6 months ago, but i've not had similar problems with other coffee beers. A pleasant enough beer, but not worth seeking out at the price tag.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 03:45:22 | More by mechamifune

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bottle of this at Julio's, bottled back in January. Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A - Yeah, hands down one of the nicest looking stouts. A nice deep rich dark brown nearly black pour with a three finger milk chocolate head that leaves big, sticky side lacing and a thick dense creamy half inch blanket. Amazing.

S - Typical Yeti aromas here thanks to the oak. A very distinct almost licorice. Very nice roasty coffee notes and roasted malts with light dark chocolate aromas.

T - Taste is solid, nice coffee and alot of chocolate. The oak lends a slight earthyness but for the most part this is nice solid espresso with bitter coffee ground finish and nice dark chocolate.

M - Just outstanding. Velvety silky smooth with some great coffee bitterness. The ABV is slightly noticeable on the end, but its mixed nicely with the bitterness.

O - Overall this is another impressive stout from Great Divide. Really cant go wrong with their stouts.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 00:20:31 | More by rudzud

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a St. Bernardus goblet. Bottled on 20 January 2012.

A: Black as sin and just as tempting. A coffee-dark head fades quickly. Completely opaque. Light-sucking.

S: Whole espresso beans. Roasted barley and cream. Oak-vanilla.

T/M: Mmmm. An excellent imperial stout. Deep, roasted bitterness. Dry malt, milk chocolate, light coffee with cream. The oak mellows out the main body, giving it a smoothness that contributes to an excellent mouthfeel. The milk chocolate grows more prevalent as time wears on, but the espresso bitterness counteracts any stray sweetness.

O: I love Yetis and this is not exception. Highly recommended, but perhaps not as superlative as the chocolate styling. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 06:46:02 | More by AgentMunky

cvm4

Mississippi

4.4/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled Dec. 16, 2011

A - Pours just thick black (like all ya top notch stouts) with a dark tan 1 finger head. Lacing is alright.

S - Chalk board grinding expresso & dark chocolate notes that are brought together by roasted malts.

T - Bold expresso resonates here! Roasted malts and coffee compliment it. The oak is subtle but it's there.

M - Full bodied, thick & chewy with low carbonation.

O - One of the top expresso stouts on the market that I have tried!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 01:27:53 | More by cvm4

brewskifan55

Mississippi

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter. The last of the 5 Yeti's we sampled at cvm4's tasting.

A: Very brown. A tan, half finger head that lingers. Ample lacing.

S: Licorice, chocolate, expresso. malts.

T: Expresso dominates, as it should, with a light toffee finish. Chocolate and anise give it a firm center that's heaven on the pallette. A light oak taste balances things. Didn't feel the ABV until it was too late.

M: medium, creamy; light carbonation.

O: Another excellent IRS from Great Divide. If you like your stouts on the coffee side, this one delivers.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 14:30:49 | More by brewskifan55

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a three-finger brown head that fades slowly, leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights. Light-medium carbonation and heavy bodied. Nose is coffee and flavor is almost burnt coffee and hints of oak, some caramel sweetness. Higher ABV is hidden. Pricey at $11.99 for a 22oz bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 22:27:37 | More by jdhilt

t420o

California

4.35/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Espresso oak aged yeti

Served around 55 deg

Bottled: January 20, 2012 
Consumed: April 8, 2012

A- pour produces a 2 finger head that is dark brown. Decent retention.  Beer is very dark brown to black in color. Good lacing. 4.5

S- big espresso, dark chocolate, and toffee notes. Smells bold and excellent. 4.5  

T- dark chocolate, cocoa, espresso,  oaky/vanilla, very light hop taste. Just a very solid stout. A pleasure where I enjoyed every sip. 4.5  

M- good mouthfeel. Not as viscous as it appeared though. 4  

O- extremely pleasant beer that would have paired excellent with a cigar. 4

A 

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 03:48:49 | More by t420o

Titans77

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a snifter.

A - Oil black. You can't see in, and it can't see out. A finger of brown head that dissipates into a brown film where the slick stout caresses the glass. Great looking stuff

S - smells like a typical stout. Strong roasted malts with some chocolate qualities to it. Dark fruits are prevalent as well. No real coffee/espresso smell, which seems odd for a espresso RIS...

T - Oh! Ok, thats where the espresso is! This is better than how I wanted it to taste. Coffee, roasted malts, dark fruits with some chocolate undertones. Favorite tasting stout at this point! Great stuff

M - Reminds me of the mouthfeel of Ten Fidy. Coats the mouth, slight carbonation and full bodied. A pleasure to drink.

O - I was hesitant to spend the $11 for the bomber, but I am glad that I did! Top notch RIS for being a great espresso RIS

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 23:35:14 | More by Titans77

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

2.73/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

Pour is like every other stout known to man. Pitch black, caramel head.

OK the smell has hops everywhere. Theres an unexpected hop presence in the smell. Sweet chocolate as well.

Hm. Theres a ton going on. Its so bitter. Woody bitterness, earthy hop presence. Lesson learned, hops and chocolate do not go well together. All the flavors are there that would make this thing great: chocolate, stout, bitterness, and oak, but they dont mesh together.

Exhales produce a hop bitterness that I dont really want.

Honestly, it just has this odd kind of overly bitter feeling that reminds of a liquor that I cant get rid of. It seems unbalanced and a mess. I really wanna like this thing, but I just cant. Its like a cheap red wine, thats the only thing I can think of. Bad Pinot Noir or Cabernet.

Serving type: growler

04-27-2012 00:55:09 | More by VncentLIFE

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.53/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: 1/2" creamy brown head over black liquid.

S: Coffee, chocolate and roasted barley.

T: Bitter toasted malt followed by oak, coffee, chocolate, roasted barley with a pine, grassy and earthy hop bite in the finish.

M: Creamy with a medium to thick viscosity and a medium level of fine carbonation.

O: Highly drinkable and nicely balanced. A unique Imperial Stout that I will definitely pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 04:36:26 | More by DaftCaskBC