Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti - Great Divide Brewing Company

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.31/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

BOTTLED ON: APR 09 2013

A: Pours a pitch black color with 2 fingers of dark tan head that reduces to a cap within a few minutes

S: The usual roasted malts along with a nice oak presence and cocoa. Some light earthy hops underneath, but the roastiness, oak, and cocoa really take the show

T: Starts off with the roasted malts and then goes into a combination of spice, oak, vanilla, and cocoa. The spiciness lingers on throughout along with a hint of alcohol. Finishes lightly spicy with a good oaky woodiness

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation

O: Nicely done integrating the cocoa, oak, and cayenne. The cayenne really adds another dimension to an oak-aged chocolate stout. Instead of being overly sweet, it really keeps things in check and allows a good amount of bitterness through from the hops and cocoa nibs. Highly recommended if you enjoy any of the Yeti variants or imperial stouts in general

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 23:05:13 | More by BEERMILER12

pants678

California

3.09/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Black with a brown head that recedes to lacing.

Smells from the bottle like cocoa or baker's chocolate. Enticing.

Not subtle at all and it's all in the name. A bit soda-esque in grit. I would prefer Young's Double Chocolate or even Rogue's Chocolate to this stout. The oak is too harsh, like gnawing on bark and for a simple beer of just two punches, that won't do. Too mean and not nearly enough sweet to be a dessert.

Hardly carbonated, I'd like it to be upped.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 04:18:46 | More by pants678

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.14/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle to Lawson's sniffer

A: It has the black coffee look going for it with a thin lacing that is mocha in color that stays around the top of the glass. It is completely opaque and is about as dark as you can get. It pours pretty vicious but not like motor oil.

S: The chocolate is definitely the star here as it has a solid powerful coca scent that clearly is not run of the mill chocolate. The oak is in there as well and seems to have balanced things out as there is a noticeable amount of heat that is not necessarily alcohol.

T: Again the chocolate is definitely the star here the coca is bitter and almost grainy but in a good "authentic" if you will type of way. The oak is noticeable in the background for taste but more so in that it has clearly smoothed things out because despite having some heat to it the alcohol is defiantly not present and being a fairly heavy stout it is pretty drinkable.

M: It is thick without being heavy so that makes it drinkable considering the amount of flavors. It does go down really smooth, though i liked sipping it more then just going at it. There is little to no carbonation but there is a bitterness from the chocolate that stays on your tongue.

O: My over all impression of this beer is that it is good, but not great. The flavors and look are really good but they do not blow me away and my feeling are the same about the smell and feel but on a lower level. I have like the other yeti series better, but this is certainly not the worst. I doubt it will do better with age as I fear the chocolate will dramatically fade with time.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 03:12:38 | More by Pinknuggets

plaid75

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a deep brown hue with a two finger foamy tan head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured notes of coffee, cocoa and lactose.

The taste offered waves of charcoal, dry coffee and soft chocolate, all coexisting with no single element overpowered any other.

The mouthfeel was nicely textured and of typical fullness for the style.

A very enjoyable and user friendly stout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2013 23:06:18 | More by plaid75

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.04/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle, thanks be to the good doktorzee for smuggling this back from Colorado a few weeks back.

This beer pours a rather solid black hole, with the faintest of basal cola highlights, and two fingers of puffy, densely foamy chocolate milk brown head, which leaves a low band of honeycombed lace around the glass as it slowly and surely abates.

It smells of rich semi-sweet cocoa, lightly roasted, biscuity caramel malt, bitter black coffee, vanilla pods, subtle swirling smoke, a bit of dry black licorice, a hint of wood, and softly warm spice notes. The taste is big n' heavy bitter dark chocolate nibs, grainy caramel/toffee malt, tame espresso, sweeter anise, more oaken vanilla, a slight milky creaminess, and a further wispy, somewhat singed vegetal spice. No real sign of the 19-proof booze.

The carbonation is fairly innocuous, just providing a nice dull hum, the body a decent medium weight, and no more, with a nice creamy smoothness, punctuated here and there with some spicy and bitter pangs. It finishes off-dry, of course, but not nearly as sweet as expected - the wood, bitter chocolate, and Cayenne colluding well in the cause.

A pretty tasty and complex Imperial Stout, the guest ingredients used judiciously in creating a balanced, soft-stepping behemoth. I quite enjoy the lingering tingle on the tongue from the spice, too. Neat.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 23:55:25 | More by biboergosum

schwemjw

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: motor oil thick with a very dark brown head. This beer is black as night. Impressive.

S: yum! Dark bitter chocolate. Espresso and a dark fruit note. A small touch of earth and wood. this beer is calling out for me to drink it.

T: dark chocolate and burnt coffee. Bittersweet. There is a small note of oak in there. Here comes some dark fruit. Raisins and plum come to mind. A vanilla quality here. Dry semi choppy finish and then milk chocolate.

M: for a big beer this definitely doesn't weigh you down. A long lingering milk chocolate finish. Creamy.

O: this hit the spot. A perfect after dinner beer. Its big but never overpowering and bursting with flavor. Balanced and complex yet it goes down deceptively easy. /93

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 07:46:05 | More by schwemjw

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice. Bottled on March 28th, 2013.

Appearance: Pours an oily midnight black with a moderate amount of bubbles. Big four fingers of deep tan head which slowly recede into a thinner creamy layer. Leaves a lot of creamy lacing around the glass.

Smell: A big, rich, and very roasty dark aroma with lots of chocolate and coffee hints. Rich dark roasted malts with big hints of dark chocolate and cocoa nibs. Hints of coffee beans, oak chips, vanilla, cream, burnt toast, grains, biscuit, caramel, toffee, yeast, and some smoke. Sweet hints of molasses and burnt brown sugar. Light hints of the Cayenne pepper spicing as well as some anise licorice spice. Solid hints of earthy and grassy hops in the background. Hint of alcohol as well. A very roasty and chocolate forward aroma with a well balanced sweetness.

Taste: Like it smells, a big rich and roasty taste with lots of chocolate notes and a well balanced sweetness. Dark roasted malt taste throughout with big notes of bitter dark chocolate and cocoa nibs. Notes of toasted bread, coffee beans, oak chips, vanilla, wood, cream, grains, biscuit, caramel, toffee, yeast, and some smoked malt. Some sweetness is provided by some rich molasses and burnt brown sugars. Subtle Cayenne pepper spicing and some anise licorice notes. Fairly earthy with some notes of grassy hops towards the finish. Taste is rich and moderately sweet with a nice drying bitterness from the roasted malts. Very good dark taste.

Mouthfeel: Rich and full bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, fairly smooth, and slightly syrupy with a drying finish. Alcohol heat is hidden pretty well.

Overall: Another really great version of the Yeti Imperial Stout. Huge roasty chocolate flavors while maintaining a good drying balance with the sweetness. Big flavors with a very manageable feel.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 06:44:00 | More by MattyG85

dar482

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

The color is a pitch black with a brown small head.

The aroma has chocolate, roasted malt, sweetness, but also that oakiness that comes with these beers.

The flavor has a very creamy oak flavor along with bitter chocolate. The chocolate doesn't actually stand out because it's so darn bitter that it combines with the roasted bitter malt flavor.

The mouthfeel is so viscous and delicious. Smooth and creamy.

In the end, I I wouldn't go into this beer looking for chocolate, but you will get an fantastically balanced beer. For some reason though, this has the least amount of this chalky strange aftertaste that I do not like the about the Oak Aged series. Having regular Oak Aged, Espresso, and this, this still might be my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 23:05:25 | More by dar482

Ri0

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured 22oz bottle into snifter.

A - Pours very dark almost black into snifter. Head is a nice 1.5 finger tan. Leaves tan ring with bubbles, some lacing.

S - Bitter and semi sweet bakers chocolate with roasted malts and some oak.

T - As expected big bitter sweet chocolate followed by oak, touch of vanilla and roasted malts Seems there is a faint hint of soy sauce, in a good way as the saltiness works well with the chocolate. Finish is bitter chocolate and oak.

M - Medium bodied, nicely carbonated and creamy.

O - Very nice beer by GD. I wasn't sure if it would be sweet or bitter, but it finds a nice semi sweet bitter that makes it a great sipper. If happen upon this beer treat yourself. Thanks to deadonhisfeet for sending this.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 15:05:40 | More by Ri0

Dwtucker90

Texas

5/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a Deep Ellum Numb
comfort snifter at the Dancing Bear Pub, Waco, TX

Look: pours an oil black with a dark brown head that dissipates some but sticks around and clings to the glass.

Smell: dark chocolate, some vanilla notes, very balanced between the chocolate and vanilla.

Taste: dark creamy chocolate. Super dark heavy chocolate, almost like chocolate syrup. Lots of black roasted malt. A good amount of sweetness from the chocolate and an alcohol/cayenne finish that warms your throat and mouth.

Mouthfeel: syrup like stickiness. Medium carbonation but extremely thick and tasty.

Overall: this is definitely one of the best imperial chocolate stouts I've ever had. I place it a little above the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. Although I'm not sure if it beats the deliciousness that is the espresso Yeti. I'll try and get my hands on that espresso/chocolate yeti as soon as possible to try it out.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:44:45 | More by Dwtucker90

n2185

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 and 2012 side-by-side

A:
2013: pours black with a finger of dark brown head that fades into a thin layer with decent lacing.
2012: about the same as the 2013.

S:
2013: roasted malts with dark and slightly bitter chocolate hit first with some creaminess underneath. There are some spicy notes toward the finish.
2012: sweet chocolate and cocoa dominate followed by roasted malts and cayenne. There are also vanilla notes underneath.

T:
2013: roasted malts and bitter dark chocolate here as well. Creamy cocoa follows with light cayenne flavors. The finish is slightly spicy with a light alcohol presence.
2012: semi-sweet chocolates, cocoa, roasted malts, a bit of char, and a nice cayenne kick. The finish is spicy with almost no alcohol presence.

M:
2013: thick body with low carbonation, this beer is smooth and creamy.
2012: about the same as the 2013

O:
2013: tasty. I enjoy the cayenne and chocolate flavors combined.
2012: I like this one a little better. The chocolate and cayenne are both more pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:39:23 | More by n2185

BigBarley

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Having reviewed other Yeti's extensively, I will eschew traditional reviewing format and focus on the things that made this one different.

The look and mouthfeel were the same... excellent for the style! The smell was very, very close to the standard yeti, with just a hint of oak and more emphasis on that creamy, sweet scent. The flavor was closer to classic Yeti than Oak, due to the Chocolate being the main event. Very sweet chocolate up front, but there's a smooth, woody, aged profile lingering underneath it all pleasantly.

This is my least favorite Yeti, but still easily outshines many, many beers out there today. Yeti is good people!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 15:35:10 | More by BigBarley

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.31/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a thick looking black colored brew with a tan head that has a decent retention and light lacing. Te smell is loaded with chocolate, oak, a spice. The taste of the beer has a nice toasted note with the dark chocolate and spice. The mouthfeel is thick and nicely carbonated. Overall this beer is awesome, really hits each note they strike on the label. Really worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:55:09 | More by Knapp85

rlee1390

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-Black in the glass a deep brown head, with some lacing and it is sticky.

S-Dark chocolate (not super sweet like ST's chocolate) some oak and a tad bit of roasted malt.

T-Good deal of dark chocolate, bitter chocolate, still not overly sweet. Slight vanilla and oak.

M-Medium bodied, nicely carbonated and creamy.

O-A nice beer, was not expecting the dark chocolate but it ended up being a great change of pace for a chocolate stout and it came out great.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 19:11:23 | More by rlee1390

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On tap @ Whole Foods - Mile Post Pub (PA)
Looks great, I enjoy all the Yeti's. It was a bit too cold so I let it warm, taking a few sips every 5 minutes.
Overall, it is a great Imperial Stout, but the addition of the choco did not do much for my palate. I didn't want it to be SUPER sweet like some of the Southern Tier stouts, but it was very bitter and caused a drying of my mouth. Some intense smokey and charcoal type flavors in the aftertaste.
I have a bomber bottle and I will compare that to the one on tap.
Try it, but don't expect any sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2013 19:23:37 | More by SHerninko

Zbeetleman

California

4.59/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance - nice, dark and motor oilish, great for a stout. Dark tan head lacing around the glass diminishing as it sits.

Smell - typical soft metallic smell of a stout, nice chocolate and hints of cocoa and coffee

Taste - A bit more metallic than I would like, but it has nice chocolate notes mixed with the thick stout mouth feel. Nice all around with the oak notes coming through in subtle vanilla. Nice.

Mouthfeel - very good for a stout, nice and thick, not too thin and "weak" for a big stout.

Overall - Really well done and nicely aged in the oak for the correct amount of time to mix with the other flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 05:44:55 | More by Zbeetleman

brock146

Minnesota

4.09/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance:
Very dark beer with a dark chocolate colored head. Leaves nice lacing on glass.

Smell:
A lot of booze and sweetness on the nose along with hints of chocolate and coffee.

Taste:
Black coffee, mocha, resinous hop bitterness (surprisingly), sweet and the oak flavor also stands out

Mouth feel:
Very smooth and creamy. This beer is quite sticky too.

Overall:
Pretty good stuff by GDBC. Just like the bottle says: "decadent" "luscious"

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 21:41:36 | More by brock146

ThirstyHrothgar

Ohio

3.76/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A little disappointed, perhaps because I love the regular non-chocolate, non-oak-aged Yeti. Chocolate (in the form of cocoa nibs) was subtle, so it can stand alone (i.e., you don't have to drink it as a dessert beer). Didn't really appreciate the oak at all- chocolate, coffee, and other flavors kind of overwhelmed it. But drinkable. Alcohol was well-hidden. And fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:55:53 | More by ThirstyHrothgar

rjp217

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured very dark brown, almost black into a snifter. Left a 1 finger dark brown head, looked amazing. The smell was awesome. I immediately got dark chocolate, whipped cream, then light coffee notes. Absolutely the best smelling beer ive had. It made my mouth water. Taste was immediate dark chocolate much like the nose, then I got lingering ash, a lot of it. There was a milk cream taste built in between so definitely a 3 part taste for me of dark chocolate-milk cream-ash. The booze presence was more noticeable then I expected. It wasn't off putting but it let you know it was there. Overall, this a very good post dinner beer to sip, relax and enjoy. The smell is outstanding and the flavors jive pretty well. It's a fine chocolate stout for sure and one you should try and have once, if not just for the aroma..

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 13:50:31 | More by rjp217

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.41/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Elysian snifter. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Half finger light brown head with good retention and lacing. Great aroma of lightly toasted malt, chocolate, hints of coffee and oak. Flavor follows with toasted malt, chocolate, charred coffee. Finishes somewhat dry with a nice long residual taste of hop bitterness and toasted malt. Medium bodied with light creaminess. All the yeti varieties are very nice stouts and I'm surprised I waited so long to review this one. The chocolate nicely integrated and the whole stout is well balanced. Close in profile to a well made Russian Imperial stout, but a bit hoppier on the finish. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:18:48 | More by LiquidAmber

RaulMondesi

California

4.24/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Choo choo! Like the Union Pacific, this bad boi is solid down the line. Scent like the ghirardelli I got my boo for being my boo, and sexi textures like my baby mama after she got her hair did. Like a chocolate blizzard, Raul has his ski's on and he is ready to rumble. 99 problems? At the moment, Raul got none. Peace!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:28:03 | More by RaulMondesi

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti opens to an aroma that is part Imperial Stout, with ash, tobacco, coffee, heavy whipping cream, caramel, and bits of molasses, but because of the chocolate oak aging and the added spices, also carries both milk and dark chocolate aromas, as well as oak and vanilla, and a faint rim of smoky, peppery spices, such as cayenne and paprika. Add to this thick slices of brown bread, toast crust, and biscuit, as well as a thin mélange of dark fruit esters, including fig, date, and plum, and the result is a beer of incredible range and variety that ultimately bears perhaps more resemblance to a spiced and spiked cup of gourmet mocha than to a beer. The overall effect is intoxicating, the beer nicely bridging the gap between stout and dessert, its only weakness being a somewhat weak presence.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a shot of ash, tobacco, oily French Roast fresh-ground coffee, and black malt. These black notes are slowly joined by caramel and whipped cream, molasses and vanilla, baker’s cocoa powder, and touches of oak and charcoal, the latter combining with the 9.5% ABV to add a faint bourbon edge. Plum, fig, and date fruit esters add a bit of relief, but come in a distant second to the ash. The beer is definitely black and ashy, almost every flavor pushing the beverage further in this direction, and the aftertaste actually pushes the beer over the edge, being almost exclusively ash, black malt, and tobacco, strongly reminiscent of potent cigars and straight espresso. Mouthfeel is medium to medium-heavy, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is quite an amazing feat for an Imperial Stout, the dark, ashy, black malt notes in here stronger than seems possible, and fans of this style of stout should definitely put this on their must-try list. The sheer potency of these notes does, however, push the beer out of balance, and the result would likely be severely off-putting to many drinkers. Still, it’s hard to fault Great Divide for what is obviously an impressive amount of labor and savoir faire.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:16:33 | More by jondeelee

rand

California

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

From tap to small goblet

Pours jet black in color, forms a small coffe-tan heat that never fully recedes.

The nose is semi-sweet chocolate, coffee and toasty, almost burnt malts. Lots of wood notes, the malts are toffee-sweet, blending nicely with the coffee-astringency.

The flavors deliver a chocolate-wallop, especially at the front of the sip. Nice woody undertone throughout. Big chewy mouthfeel accents the chocolate and coffee notes. Hops actually play a welcome roll here, lending a snappy astringency and drying some of the sweeter aspects. Finishes long and bitter-sweet.

Probably the best of the Yeti so far (at least of the accessible bottles). Flavor-profile stays balanced and compelling throughout the swallow, drinkable and interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 04:03:48 | More by rand

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber poured into a snifter. 3/28/13 bottling date.

Pours a pitch black color with a light brown lacy head. Smell is rich in dark chocolate. very strong scent, im digging this! taste is good as well. its not as thick or syrupy as i thought it would be, has a great feel to it. tastes of chocolate and malts with a slightly bitter aftertaste. very enjoyable, though the chocolate taste is not quite as apparent as it is on the nose.

overall an enjoyable stout that isn't quite remarkable, but is very good nonetheless. definitely worth picking up if youre a fan of imp stouts.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 01:56:43 | More by Axnjxn

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.51/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
The beer pours a nice dark tan head. The beer itself is a very dark black but appears to have some dark brown as well.

Smell:
The beer's smell tends to be dominated by the cocoa nibs with a hint of sweet dark chocolate.

Taste:
The hops taste fairly strong compared to the roasted malts and dark chocolate. The hops are kind of Piny and bitter. The chocolate is kind of a dark and bitter chocolate instead of a sweet chocolate. I get some hints of spice and what I think tastes like mint.

Mouthfeel:
Biting carbonation but surprisingly smooth and full bodied.

Overall:
A very good beer and one that I'm glad that I could pick up. I totally recommend.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 02:08:55 | More by HattedClassic