Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti - Great Divide Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Oak cafe - 2010 vintage. Pours a black super-nova color with a luscious and creamy looking deep-tan head comprises of bubbles so fine you can barely make them out. Good staying power and retention, though the lacing was minimal overall. The aroma creeps out before you even bring this one to your nose. A deep, chocolate aroma hits your nostrils first - a sinister hybrid of sweet milky chocolate and bitter dark chocolate. An oaky, wood chips sweetness follows it up and keeps things leveled out. This one simply smells rich and robust, like a triple chocolate lava cake meltdown served on a burnt oak platter.

Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti hits the palate smooth and silky, thick, but not to the point of being chewy or sludgy, although it surly can hold its own. The canvas is constructed of heavy oak flavors and even some bourbon notes. I don't know if the barrels this was aged in previously held bourbon or not, but I wouldn't be surprised to find that out. Succeeding sips reveal an even more deep and dense chocolate flavor than the aroma would lead on - like a bittersweet, rich Devil's food cake or a melted Godiva chocolate bar. As sweet as it sounds, it's never cloying, as the sugary explosion is held in check by the bitter side of the chocolate, as well as the robust and borderline-bitter nutty and dark chocolate aftertaste. Notes of char reside at certain places but don't take up too much of the bill. As the beer got warmer, a certain spice flickered up, almost herbal and ashy. Apparently it's chili powder? I wouldn't have guessed that - it almost could pass as an intensely dry hop profile. Not distracting, just slightly unexpected. Great carbonation, then again, it was from a tap.

Wow, I'm glad I finally got to try this one. On tap, nonetheless. And the 2010 version. Good night for me, I suppose. I think I prefer the Espresso counterpart to the Yeti series over this one, although it's been a while since I've had it. This one was no slouch, however. I have a feeling the entire Yeti series is worthwhile. Now I must seek out the rest.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2013 04:52:45 | More by tectactoe

Lukass

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-25-2013 01:32:47 | More by Lukass

JWP

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-24-2013 23:19:28 | More by JWP

jayhunter357

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-24-2013 22:44:52 | More by jayhunter357

shehateme

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5%

05-24-2013 22:38:02 | More by shehateme

heresy22

California

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-24-2013 20:38:31 | More by heresy22

andysc83

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-24-2013 20:14:19 | More by andysc83

dar482

New York

4.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

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

05-24-2013 06:10:38 | More by dar482

Andonato

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-24-2013 04:21:29 | More by Andonato

LouDogg114

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-24-2013 00:36:40 | More by LouDogg114

EricClayton

West Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-23-2013 22:49:32 | More by EricClayton

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-23-2013 21:04:26 | More by DIPAFAN

Absolut

California

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-23-2013 19:35:03 | More by Absolut

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

Mcvs1507

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-23-2013 04:23:20 | More by Mcvs1507

Isotope

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-23-2013 02:43:26 | More by Isotope

Skeeze

California

4/5  rDev -5%

05-22-2013 20:04:46 | More by Skeeze

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -5%

05-22-2013 01:04:53 | More by mikeincharleston

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 23:49:56 | More by King_KongDCO93

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 21:22:01 | More by PhillyStyle

gkozeny

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 18:23:27 | More by gkozeny

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

sgoro

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-20-2013 02:39:34 | More by sgoro

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -5%

05-20-2013 02:03:10 | More by alysmith4

buzzy

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-20-2013 01:55:20 | More by buzzy