15th Anniversary Wood Aged - Great Divide Brewing Company

sweemzander

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

650mL bottle poured into a tulip. Bottled on July 2, 2009.

(A)- Pours a cloudy dark copper color that produced a thick & fluffy white to tan head with great retention. Tiny bits of webbing were left behind.

(S)- Dry, with bits of caramelized pineapple & brown sugar & toffee sweetness.

(T)- Massively dry with pineapple citrus up front. Followed by a big, but mellow caramel/brown sugar sweetness. It finishes even drier than the beginning but with an oaky bite.

(M)- The last few months in the bottle have really diminished the hoppiness of this beer. Its still there, but the malts have really come to the foreground. Its got a good balance at this stage though; the hops still make their presence known by how dry this is. Good carbonation level too.

(D)- I would have preferred trying this fresh, but this is still excellent now. Surprisingly drinkable even w/ 10%abv and how malty this is. The wood aging gives the finish a dynamic twist and character. Good stuff. A bit more like a barleywine or american strong ale, but I am sure that would not be the case when this was fresh.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 19:14:58 | More by sweemzander

iemailjack

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

01-08-2013 03:30:48 | More by iemailjack

fpreh1957

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-21-2012 22:36:00 | More by fpreh1957

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

10-07-2012 23:22:15 | More by t0rin0

ObeMaltKinobee

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

04-23-2012 04:32:53 | More by ObeMaltKinobee

Ego

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

have a few of these in the cellar, time to break one out and see what's what...

eyes...
2 fingers of snowy white head, sticky sticky sticky, this one leaves a bread crumb trail all the way down leaving no doubt where it has been, ample carbonation keeps the head well fed, lovely microbubble sheets roll around, nicely done, this is one good lookin' brewski

nose...
citrus and wood... who would have guessed? your first instinct is hops but the wood is definitely toning it down and adding something, there is a mellow booziness throughout, old orange rind, the nose is interesting but I don't love it, the hop florals kind of smelling like termite wood.

taste etc...
strange.. the flavor is of ashen wood with some bitterness, it is exceptionally smooth mouth wise but the flavor is throwing me a bit, some dark honey notes, there is just something off I can't quite place my finger on, perhaps this sat too long (bottled 7/2009).

verdict?
this has lost it's kick imo, without a more assertive hop profile this kind of tastes like soaked wood, too bad, the look and feel of the brew is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 04:27:33 | More by Ego

avisong

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

04-11-2012 03:51:00 | More by avisong

Tyrawlings

Ohio

4/5  rDev -1%

02-16-2012 15:34:23 | More by Tyrawlings

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -19.6%

02-15-2012 01:39:36 | More by jfcaa193

ygtbsm94

Virginia

2.5/5  rDev -38.1%

01-13-2012 03:39:04 | More by ygtbsm94

ROBSTARR

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

12-30-2011 23:33:55 | More by ROBSTARR

OBIrish24

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

12-27-2011 01:54:03 | More by OBIrish24

jophish17

Georgia

3/5  rDev -25.7%

12-24-2011 07:30:02 | More by jophish17

trojankeg

Texas

5/5  rDev +23.8%

12-17-2011 03:22:19 | More by trojankeg

photomike

California

5/5  rDev +23.8%

12-15-2011 04:46:50 | More by photomike

alamode

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +23.8%

12-11-2011 16:30:55 | More by alamode

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

12-08-2011 23:02:08 | More by JohneHoodlum

sideshowe

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%

12-07-2011 14:17:12 | More by sideshowe

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

12-06-2011 21:40:51 | More by djrn2

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +23.8%

12-04-2011 18:33:59 | More by HopStoopid120

rab53

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

12-01-2011 06:26:32 | More by rab53

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1%

11-22-2011 18:35:01 | More by FreshmanPour77

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

11-20-2011 04:28:15 | More by JAHMUR

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

11-20-2011 04:04:16 | More by brandoman63

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

11-15-2011 04:14:30 | More by Exiled