Belgica - Great Divide Brewing Company

Miketwolf21

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First Impressions: Fresh three week old bottle. Poured into my snifter with a solid single finger head. Brilliant clarity. The smell emerges of soft belgian yeast, pilsner malts, and a nice mellow but prevalent hop profile of tangerine and white pepper.

Taste: The flavor is surprising well integrated. You expect a belgian IPA to taste like a belgian pale ale with more hops. They used a very clean belgian yeast that claims your attention upfront and then melds right into a waterfall of hops. This is supported very well by loyal pilsner malts that stay in there until the bitter end. The yeast drys the flavor to balance out the sweet tangerine flavors coming from the fresh tasting hops. Furthermore, this hop profile is balanced by a healthy addition of clean, spicy noble hops. The mouthfeel is great, not too much carbination. This is one of the most refreshing beers I have had in quite some time.

They supposedly changed the recipe recently by modifying the hop profile. So maybe those who tried it years ago should try it again. Until I tried this I dispelled Belgian IPAs as a fad. Well alright A Little Sumpin Wild is great brew, but aside from that this has no competitors. I was beginning to write off Great Divide as nothing more than a popular tasting brewery. This is best fresh, I am afraid the hops will quickly loose their clean taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 00:08:38 | More by Miketwolf21

IPA1978

Missouri

3.04/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Big disapointment!! Stone cali-belgo is lightyears ahead of this! Average in every aspect and I think great divide is an excellent brewery but they missed on this one. !... i guess thats why they no longer make this one. Just trying to get to 250 characters at this point.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 22:19:50 | More by IPA1978

artoolemomo

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

04-01-2013 01:42:50 | More by artoolemomo

cosmonick

Indiana

3/5  rDev -18.3%

03-29-2013 03:08:59 | More by cosmonick

Metatron6

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

02-15-2013 19:46:51 | More by Metatron6

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +9%

01-29-2013 04:15:14 | More by DmanGTR

ssimpson89

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

12-29-2012 03:57:08 | More by ssimpson89

gr8dvide

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

11-10-2012 00:41:14 | More by gr8dvide

sendbeer

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -31.9%

11-01-2012 15:48:57 | More by sendbeer

smj1322

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%

08-18-2012 03:38:21 | More by smj1322

irongator

Kansas

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%

05-14-2012 11:06:48 | More by irongator

Lincoln

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-10-2012 15:03:42 | More by Lincoln

DrFunkenstein

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-01-2012 23:39:14 | More by DrFunkenstein

olympicgatorade

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18.3%

05-01-2012 20:45:44 | More by olympicgatorade

Irrationalist

California

5/5  rDev +36.2%

04-23-2012 05:53:09 | More by Irrationalist

BigFatPanda

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

04-02-2012 00:55:18 | More by BigFatPanda

Zachb4au

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

03-16-2012 18:44:47 | More by Zachb4au

UltimateLivewire

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

03-12-2012 01:18:25 | More by UltimateLivewire

hopfacebrew

Colorado

2.78/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from bottle to pint glass the beer pours a hazy and opaque yellow golden color with a huge 2.5 finger white head, good retention and lacing, looks good. The aroma starts off with a strong belgian yeast along with fruity character: citrus, pears, apples along with clove and hints of bubblegum and pepper. However the alcohol emerges and starts to dominate and thus makes the beer less approachable. The flavor follows suit with an initial rush of belgian clove and bubblegum. Hints of fruit found in the nose as well as a more pronounced pepper flavor. The malt doesn't seem to work with these flavors and doesn't come across balanced, like the flavors are fighting one another and not in a pleasant fashion. Medium bitterness. Alcohol again emerges at the end and as the beer warms. Turn off. Fairly smooth and lighter side of medium bodied. Good carbonation. Overall, I was less than impressed with this beer. Too boozy, flavor doesn't mesh well. Won't return.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 13:31:47 | More by hopfacebrew

Dunkelhund

Oregon

3/5  rDev -18.3%

02-26-2012 06:24:33 | More by Dunkelhund

shelby415

Oregon

4/5  rDev +9%

02-25-2012 07:23:26 | More by shelby415

tdmccarthy

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

02-22-2012 03:50:50 | More by tdmccarthy

ltdantheman

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

02-20-2012 23:19:32 | More by ltdantheman

ChadT89

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -31.9%

02-20-2012 01:28:59 | More by ChadT89

Beer4yallNewchs

Missouri

1/5  rDev -72.8%

02-17-2012 05:07:13 | More by Beer4yallNewchs