Rumble IPA - Great Divide Brewing Company

zander4dawin

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A really tasty beer big on sweet vanilla and caramel notes. Its a dark amber colored beer with a pretty reamy head for an IPA. The wood aging is done quite well, the beer is not overly aggressive in bitterness allowing some of the sutlties of the beer shine through. Great overall beer, worthy of a try.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2012 23:23:54 | More by zander4dawin

Domingo

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Even though this brew has been around for years, I'm finding myself reaching for it more and more. I think the oak might be more pronounced than in the past, which might be contributing to that, too. Not necessarily a hophead's, dream, but more of an everyday drinker for BA barleywine fans I think.
Pours a copper color. A decent amount of foam for a beer with oak. Lacing? Check.
A little like an oak aged English barleywine on the nose. Vanilla, sweet malts, but with some definite pine-y hop overtones that reveal this to be something else.
While the hops can be a little muddled for a beer called an "IPA" - I love the flavor profile on this one. It's almost like drinking a caramel flavored beer. Caramelized sugars, sweet malts, and vanilla notes from the wood with a dose of pine on the back end to check the sweetness down a notch. I can imagine fans of serious IBU busting IPA's might not like this, but I'm going back to it more and more. It's like an easier drinking and less complex take on some of those hard to obtain barleywines.
Love this one. In particular, I think the wood character seems to have been kicked up with recent batches.
IPA fans, this might not be for you...but give it a go if you like sweeter, wood-noted beers or oaked barleywines.
I almost wonder if the ratings for this one have taken a little bit of a hit because it's not exactly much of an IPA. While I find it wonderful, it's not really a beer that fits any style. It's closer to an IPA than anything else, but that's constricting it a bit.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 15:47:43 | More by Domingo

ccoff

Colorado

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Went in to get Saint Arnold divine reserve #12 at Sunrise Mini Mart. I was a few minutes late but I needed to try this beer anyway. Special bonus for IPA Day.

From bottle. Clear dark amber with minimal head and lacing. Smells like oak and citrus. Heavy sweet oak flavor with light bitter hops throughout. A sweet, oily abrupt finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 06:47:00 | More by ccoff

BucannonXC5

California

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12-oz. bottle into a pint glass at my house on Aug. 2, 2012 (picked it up for $10.99 for a six-pack at BevMo in La Mesa, Calif., on Aug. 2, 2012). About a finger of head that dissipated very quickly. Auburn color. Minimal lacing on the sides and the top. No retention.

Nice mix on the nose. Smelled caramel malts (almost Werther’s candy), citrus hops (light pine?) and bitter (not that appealing initially) vanilla.

Tasted a bit better than the nose. Sweet caramel, woody, oaky, vanilla, light citrus hops. Very bitter. Warming feeling.

Medium body. Oily texture. Below average carbonation. Long, bitter finish.

A bit disappointed with this beer. Was hoping for a bit more, but that’s to Great Divide’s credit. I guess I have five more beers to edit my ratings.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 05:20:57 | More by BucannonXC5

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Growler from FreeBridge.

It's National IPA Day. I pulled out my Great Divide tee at random this morning. Rumble is one of the $5.00 growlers today. I have to try this.

Red orange body. High clarity. Three fingers of bubbly snow white rocky froth. Very good lace.

Aroma is oak and vanilla. Earthy hops. Nothing as big as hoped and expected.

Big splash of caramel. Then oak and vanilla. Earthy hops. Undercurrent of citrus. Needs more of the citrus.

Rich medium plus mouthfeel.

Good and tasty, well worth trying, but not special, as an IPA. Stay with Titan and Hercules for GD IPAs on a regular basis. It's a very good American Strong Ale.

Serving type: growler

08-03-2012 03:47:52 | More by RonfromJersey

DavidST

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass, bottled on Jun 27, 2012. This pours a clear amber color with a decent sized tan head which doesn't leave much of a lacing. The smells are of vanilla, alcohol, pine hops. The feel is medium. The taste is good, I get a nice bit of hop bite on the way down, some pine. There are some woody hints, some vanilla, a little caramel hidden.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 03:07:47 | More by DavidST

jtierney89

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Crystal clear brassy hue with a finger and a half of white head. Strong nose, you can tell right off the bat it's an oak aged beer as the aroma fills the room. Lots of vanilla and oak on the nose. Rich raisin bread, dry bread crusts, caramel and a dose of dark fruit.

Smooth and creamy. Lots going on in this beer. Rich caramel and vanilla notes on the front of the tongue with hearty breads. Followed by just the right touch of oak combined with a mix of dark fruit and subtle notes of bright citric fruits. Finishes with a clean balancing bitterness that compliments the oak nicely. Some detectable alcohol with oak, caramel and vanilla lingering in the mouth.

While this is probably my least favorite great divide beer to date, it is still a very good beer. However I just feel the oak ageing has taken a bit too much away from the IPA aspect of the beer. Still a nice sipper though.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 02:24:59 | More by jtierney89

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 9/2010 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours an orange amber with a slight head and light lacing. Hoppy and light malt and caramel aroma. Dry citrus hops, light malt, a bit of nice fruit flavor (orange? pineapple?) and oak. Oaky finish. Nice oak IPA, but a little subdued. A satisfactory substitute if oaked Arrogant Bastard isn't around.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 19:57:01 | More by LiquidAmber

emerge077

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on May 31 2012... nothing like getting a a pre-aged seasonal, this just showed up here recently at the local shop.

Dark copper orange body, slight haze to it.
Strong caramel aromas, vague oak, rather sweet and vaguely fruity.

Heavy caramel malt flavors, light oak, slick and sweet. Tastes like an old IPA unfortunately, with some woody traces. Malt dominates... where are the hops? IPA fail. Glad this was only a single, wouldn't drink it again with so many better local options.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 00:32:04 | More by emerge077

SHODriver

California

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a light orange with a half inch of white head
S: smells of oak and vanilla with some piney, citrusy and herbal hops
T: earthy and herbal hops with a tinge if citrus, vanilla oakiness and some caramel sweetness with a bit of pine. aftertaste is more citrus, a bit of oak and some residual sweetness
M: slightly prickly carbonation a little above medium in the mouthfeel
O: not a bad beer at all. good IPA notes and a nice addition of complexity from the oak

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 22:10:45 | More by SHODriver

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Amber pour with a soppy lacing head. Looks nice. 4.0

Orange and grapefruit citrus and light pine. Not too much oak yet. 3.5

The oak is big and wet and sweet in the taste. Hops are more floral than citrus, but it's hard to ignore the woodiness. Malts are toffee-like and contribute sweetness to the perfumey oak and hops. A tad buttery. 4.0

Medium body with decent creamy carb. An excellent drink. Slight alcohol note. 4.0

Okay wood-aged IPA. A little too much. Will revisit from time-to-time. 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2012 05:11:02 | More by thecheapies

tdm168

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at World of Beer Raleigh. Served in a pint glass.

A - dark orange with a soft, dense, off white head that has great retention

S - toasted malt

T - toasted malt, oak, some chocolate notes at time, faint bitterness, faintly fruity

M - medium bodied, crisp

This is a disappointing IPA. The toasted and chocolate malts that come through were unexpected and unwelcomed. The hop character is tame and does nothing to combat the malty mess. I'll avoid this in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 00:51:39 | More by tdm168

gfreed

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Anything from GD is worth trying once. Rumble is not something that you MUST HAVE RIGHT NOW, but is certainly something that is worth a single-bottle purchase. Maybe it's because the beer needs to age for a while, but if the word "oak" wasn't on the label I wouldn't have guessed that oak had anything to do with this beer. As an IPA, it isn't bad: it has all the requisite hoppiness and resin, and it's all within reasonable bounds-- that's a plus. The color is gorgeous. If you're bent on an oaky experience, however, go saw a floorboard in half and inhale the dust while drinking the beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 21:24:27 | More by gfreed

JEdmund

Kansas

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bronze color, smallish head, no retention

Smells sweet—vanilla and malt; also citrus hops lurking in there too. Almost a pear- or apple-like quality as well.

Starts off bright like an IPA, then comes a substantial malt and vanilla/oak cut, but the hops come back and ride it out. An interesting take on a familiar style. Pretty hefty in body, though the 7.1% doesn’t seem that apparent. Finish is strong on bitterness and ends dry. That really helps counter the oak aging.

Rumble’s not something I want drink often or any time soon again; however, I do enjoy it for what it is. Really, it makes for a good summer night cap. It’s just too heavy of a beer to put away more than one a night.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:47:09 | More by JEdmund

RandyV

Arizona

3/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

More like a pale ale than an IPA to me. Hops never assertive with malt sweetness owning he beginning and middle, with a slightly bitter, dry finish. The oak presence is minimal, not adding much to the flavor. From a good brewer, a very underwhelming addition.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:21:51 | More by RandyV

stampfler07

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a clear dark golden with a finger of velvety, off-white head

S- Strong pine hop aroma on opening the bottle, strong and distinct oak notes in the glass, some nuttiness as well

T- Strong oak flavor initially with a light nuttiness which is very similar to the aroma, moderate bitterness comes in the middle without much hop flavor attached to it, light amber-ish malt on the finish with lingering bitterness

M- Moderate carbonation, light in body, moderate alcohol feel and warming throughout

O- Balanced IPA overall, good incorporation of the oak, very apparent but not overbearing, good amount of bitterness to malt, very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 02:35:32 | More by stampfler07

OneWheelJoe

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into traditional room-temperature pint glass. As with all Great Divide brews, the label is simple, yet elegant.

Appearance - Warm copper color, lots of bubbles. Looks appetizing at first sight, would easily attract me on a breezy Summer afternoon or in the heart of Fall.

Aroma - Smells bready with a hint of vanilla. Overall, a pleasing smell, but not as deep or as enticing in the way I would expect from an oak-aged beer.

Taste - Much more pleasing than the aroma. The hint of vanilla is present, as well as a wonderful hop flavor. The label does justice when it claims to have a balance of bitter, sweetness, and vanilla. The pine is there, but I'm not feeling the citrus balance.

Mouthfeel - Medium-body, easily drinkable. Sticky and leaves a lingering flavor that doesn't fizzle out like many IPA's will. Almost sticks like a merlot, but would not be unpleasant when drinking out in warm weather.

Overall - On first taste, this beer did not blow me away. A few sips in, the flavor begins to adhere to the pallet in a much more subtly pleasing way. I'm concerned with the amount of alcohol flavor for only a 7.1% beer, but it does not ruin the flavor. I was not sure what to expect from this beer, as my usual rule is "more bitter, more better," but I am pleased with it, nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 00:49:49 | More by OneWheelJoe

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.
Bottled on June 12, 2012.

Appearance: Pours a bright and lively amber orange with a lot of bubbles. Solid three finger off white head with good retention. Leaves a good amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: An interesting and fairly subdued aroma. Earthy and grassy hops along with a little pine resin. Some hints of citrus orange and grapefruit. Light hints of oak and vanilla. Good hints of bready malts with lots of caramel and biscuit. A very balanced aroma.

Taste: Some grassy, earthy hops up front along with some citrus orange and grapefruit. A little hint of pine. Hops are fairly subdued for an American IPA, this seems more like the English style. The oak is a lot more noticeable in the taste as it comes in at the middle along with a little vanilla. Solid presence of bready caramel malts and biscuit.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy, slightly sticky, and very smooth.

Overall: An interesting and decent take on a IPA. Could of used a little more citrus hops, but the oak taste is pretty solid.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 05:07:30 | More by MattyG85

beertunes

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a medium copper color with about 3/4 inch of just off-white head that had good retention and lacing.

The aroma was generally very subdued, some faint pine and floral notes from hops and just a bare touch of oakiness. On the tongue the story was pretty much the same, although the oak and hops had a bit stronger presence, this brew just didn't grab my attention.

The body was that of a typically average IPA, medium, a bit sticky, and with decent carbonation. Drinkability was OK, but without any stand out features, I didn't really find a reason to have another. Overall, a solid, workman-like brew. Not terrible, not special. Probably worth trying, unless something else grabs your attention.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2012 19:57:16 | More by beertunes

yamar68

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice amber body, nice beading stays off to the side of the glass... thin sticky off-white head has pretty good retention.

I'd imagine that this is a pretty picky style to brew. How do you accomplish a fresh hop character while maintaining a noticeable wood quality. It seems like they've found a pretty good balance. Smooth.

Nice easy-going wood character... plenty of hops with the support of some quality caramel malt. A bit of vanilla from the wood.

I think the wood character actually adds to the drinkability, which isn't what I was expecting at all.

Tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 02:15:12 | More by yamar68

JimKal

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This pours a dark amber with a minimal head. It leave some descent lacing as you drink the beer.

The aroma seems, to me, to be much lighter than most IPAs that I've had.

You can really taste the oak here. I'm a big fan of oaken wines but I'm really going to have to thin about how it works with beer. I do like IPAs and this seems to mute the impact of the hops to a significant degree. I'll have to finish this six pack before I can decide if I like this or not.(update - I've grown to like this more than I did at first taste. For me, this works as the last beer of an evening. I don't think I want multiple bottles at a time but it is a nice mellow way to end the night.)

The oak seems to mellow the mouthfeel as well. Even though the ABV is relatively high, the alcohol presence is muted as well.

This is one I'm going to have to ponder. I may have to try a different Oaked IPA to see if this normal for the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 19:49:34 | More by JimKal

znichols

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Meant to get around to reviewing this beer for a while now.

A- Deep orange/red color with sticky white head. Exceptional lacing. Spiderweb head throughout entire session. Not a ton of bubbles so expecting it to be lighter in carbonation.

S- Interesting aroma with some subtle pine and citrus notes. Vanilla and caramel in the middle with some wood and booze on the finish. Enticing aroma but not overly strong.

T- Opens with oak and vanilla. Piney hops in the middle. Some dank hoppiness, more wood and a touch of booze near the end. Very different and delicious. Better as it warms.

M- Sticky and medium bodied. Modrrate to lower carbonation. Nice.

O- A good example of a wood aged beer. Nice vanilla and oak notes with a moderate hop bitterness/flavor. Great beer for the end of a long day; nice and complex. Great cold but exceptional as it warms, the oak comes out closer to room temp.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 02:17:29 | More by znichols

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap @ Great Divide in Denver, CO.

A: Beautiful amber-brown with an off-white head. Good lace and retention.

S: Sweet, wet wood, lightly roasted malt.

T: Sweet, delicious malt with some great oak character and faint hops.

M: Smooth, malty, & great flavor.

O: Awesome beer. Unique and delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2012 00:31:01 | More by Gatch

Spider889

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

9/24/11

Pint at Freshcraft.

I was weary of this one as I really dislike the Great Divide Oak-aged Anniversary IPAs, but it wound up being quite tasty.

A - Nice clarity to a golden brew. Tall head with some serious staying power.

S - Subtle hop bitterness and smooth pale malts.

T - The wood is more silky and dry than something which produced much flavor. The hops are piney and floral.

M - Crisp, dry, oaky.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 20:45:35 | More by Spider889

stcules

Italy

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark orange, white, good foam.
In the smell hop, light, fresh, not excessive. Lightnotes of vanilla.
At the taste too, not a hop bang. It is rounded by a light vanilla, and wood. Caramel. Smoth and round.
Pleasant and fresh, quite citric hop.
Light to average body.
Vanilla in the aftertaste, piney and resinous.Balanced and pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 20:49:40 | More by stcules