Belgian Style Yeti - Great Divide Brewing Company

hardy008

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Dark black with a 1/2 finger of mocha foam, with good retention and lacing. The aroma has chocolate, dark roasted malt, and some dark fruit.

The taste has chocolate, dark roasted malt, dark fruit, and Belgian Yeast, which I did not pick up in the aroma. Sweet, with a little bitterness from the dark roasted malt for balance. The Belgian yeast is different, and there are also some herbs. Interesting, and different.

Medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. The alcohol is well hidden for 9.50 % abv. The aftertaste is both sweet, and bitter from the dark roasted malt. A well made beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 02:59:04 | More by hardy008

jjboesen

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Here we have another great beer from the Great Divide. And who does not love a robust imperial stout? The Yeti has so much to offer; from the beginning, as it pours out into a pitch black body beneath a chunky beige head, the thirsty Beer Advocate has much to anticipate. Once poured, the Yeti emits an initial waft of grape juice that fades into plum and cocoa powder. Once it hits the tongue, this beer lacquers the palate with a wooly coat of roasted malt, punctuated by sharp bits of fruit, clove and cinnamon, all of it empowered by the ubiquitous Belgian yeast that leaves the mouth dusted with subtle chalkiness.

And yeti, despite an intimidating 9.5% abv, in conjunction with the abovementioned details, the Yeti seems to maintain some surprising smoothness that allows this imperial stout rendition to come off as a sessional quaff – perhaps, the famed Yeti is some sort of impish hybrid. And yeti … this is one good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 01:16:08 | More by jjboesen

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A bomber, bottled on 6/8/12. Poured into a chalice.

Overall - This beer started off hot (too much alcohol), but mellowed as I drank the bomber over about 2 hours (two pours, kept bottle in fridge inbetween). An enjoyable beer. I like this particular belgian twist on the Russian Imperial style. A really good beer that I would buy again. Proud to have these in my cellar and serve to my friends.

A - Poured black opaque with a one-finger rocky dark tan head (sort of the color of foamy chocolate milk). Average lacing. Lots of heavy sediment in this bottle. I accidently poured the sediment into my second glass. Due to the heavy nature of the sediment it went almost immediately to the bottom of the glass without clouding the beer.

S - Chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, hints of alcohol, faint spicey notes.

T - Roasted malt, sugary (maybe fruity) sweetness, hints of bourbon. Not much, if any, coffee notes in this beer. Nor much bitterness, though a litte in the finish.

MF - Smooth

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:51:38 | More by Sludgeman

beagle75

Iowa

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a half-pint chalice.

A: Hazy, dark brown color with less than one finger of diminishing light beige foam head. Light lacing remains on the glass.

S: Earthy roast is stretched by separate and distinct toastiness that rounds out the malt qualities. Faint fennel seed suggests Belgian yeast influence. No alcohol is detected.

T: Begins off-dry, with nutty yeast-affected roast that extends into the middle. Yeast phenolics are subtle, vegetal, against the dominant roast. The finish features an odd combination of meaty as well as minty qualities. No alcohol is detected.

M: Medium viscosity, mostly balanced but slightly syrupy on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: Surprisingly approachable for a big experimental beer, its mellow Belgian yeast influences find a natural home amidst the heavy roast. This may be one of the friendliest Yetis encountered so far.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 15:57:10 | More by beagle75

rlee1390

Indiana

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Black in the glass, brown around the edges and a one finger brown head.

S-Roasted malt, chocolate, darker fruits, tad vanilla and clove.

T-Roasted malt, darker fruits, clove, vanilla and chocolate.

M-Medium bodied, nicely carbonated.

O-It was a good beer but doesn't hold up to the regular Yeti and the Espresso. However they might not be making it this year so it was worth the try.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:59:16 | More by rlee1390

bashiba

Iowa

4.11/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured a nice deep dark black with a thin soap ring head.

The smell is a bit fruity and yeasty along with a touch of roastyness and a bit of chocolate.

The flavor is a nice blend of roasty and choclate stout flavors along with a light bit of sweet dark fruits and a mellow underlying bit of coffee and anise.

The mouthfeel is creamy and silky.

Pretty good overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 00:05:37 | More by bashiba

spicelab

Australia

3.23/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Bomber shared with MrKennedy and danieelol, and courtesy of the former.

Jet black with a dark tan head, fairly thick set but only modest retention.

Coffee and nutty roasty character, stewed plums and chocolate brownie. Mellow Belgian yeaty edge.

Flavours are a bit one dimensional. Chocolate cake, cola, molassess and prunes.

Fairly thick and silky with lowish carbonation.

Definitely not one of the better Yeti variants but quite okay.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 00:42:32 | More by spicelab

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

Bottled on 6-17-11.

Black in color. Pretty quick dark tan colored head. This recedes to nothing. Looks like an RIS with ore carbonation.

Dry roasted, somewhat burnt malt aroma with soft fruity, yeast undertones. Makes me think of Belgian beer/coffee/chocolate mix.

Dark chocolate and coffee with some yeasty dryness and an oily texture. Pretty unique palate for sure. Lots of dark roasted malts that make for classic Yeti RIS. Smooth, mellow finish, but maybe a little thin in body towards the end. Great warmth as the flavors and alcohol linger. Good sipper worth buying again.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:43:24 | More by scruffwhor

looseteeth

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured semi-anxiously from a bottle dated 06/07/12 into a 12oz. snifter...giving way to a medium-body, a little less burly then anticipated. Pleasantly hearty lacing crowned with marginal Werthers Original foam. The nose is predominant with a slightly stale bready, sour white fruit essence though this could merely be Great Divide's 'special' Belgian yeast strain in full command. On the other end are deep, almost astringent notes of steamy espresso. Mouthfeel is medium after initial pour but as the brew adjusts to a higher temperate climate there is some gain in viscosity which I appreciate, while a lower carbonation value remains a steady constant. Upon consumption, there is low-level heat customary to a basic 9.5% abv centric to imperial stouts which is preceded by a duality of wide-awake coffee roasts and earthy, open-air, charred malts. Overall, I was a bit underwhelmed with this one. However, glad to know that I've tried it and imagine the other Yetis are significantly more palatable. I do applaud Great Divide for their adventurous spirit here but am not wholly convinced that this particular brew is one they can hang their hats upon. That being said, I will try this again if they continue to produce this line as I'm curious if the bottle I purchased may have been qualitatively compromised due to heavily halogen-lit and variable degrees of exposure within Lou's Liquors. In other news, I could have bought a goddamned 4-pk of insurmountable Founders Breakfast for the cost of this bomber. So it goes.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 06:29:03 | More by looseteeth

bobhits

Kentucky

3.16/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 4.25

Yeti with fruity esters, pear, apple, and just citrus notes. Just as dark and cream as the normal, but unlike the oaked versions this lacks. A bit beer with all the fun of the normal with a weird fruit cock tail left in it. Not really up to the Yetie standard.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:59:43 | More by bobhits

homebrew311

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance is the same as the rest of the yetis. Thick, black, and minimal head. Nose is deep and roasty with bakers chocolate, earthy hops, and a touch of Belgian yeast. Taste is a lot less roasty than the other variants with notes of bubblegum in the background. Mouthfeel feels a little lighter tha. The rest of the yetis, still thick and mellow carbonation. Overall, this is my least favorite variant of yeti, but still mighty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 21:00:56 | More by homebrew311

Greywulfken

New York

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: oily black pour into a chalice didn't reveal any head; tiny bubble island in center

S: sweet malts, dark and robust, fragrant hops and yeast suggestive of dark moldy fruit

T: molasses up front, then fruity bananas and dark, over-ripe fruits in a chocolate lake; hints of coffee and fruitcake, carob and holiday spice

M: slick and slippery, spicy tingle, medium-to-full body, smooth, somewhat coating

O: excellent - the standard Yeti is a solid stout with a smoky meat to it; this is a fruitier, sweeter, and slicker version with more flavor complexity and a lighter feel. A well-done variant on a classic

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:31:48 | More by Greywulfken

flydudehsv

California

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz. bomber served in a snifter glass. Jet Black with a creamy dark yellow head. Bitter chocolate, coffee, spicy fruitiness with a light Belgium character. Very well balanced. Good beer with a light warming alcohol kick, one I'll see to get again!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 05:48:34 | More by flydudehsv

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a Surly Darkness chalice. Bottled on June 06, 2012.

Appearance: Pours a dark oily black with a moderate amount of bubbles. About one finger of deep tan head which quickly fades into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a decent amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell: A rich and roasty aroma that is sweet with a touch of Belgian yeast. Dark roasted malts with hints of sweet chocolate, coffee, burnt toast, caramel, and toffee. Big hint of molasses and a little anise spice. Some spicy Belgian yeast is in the mix along with some subtle hints of pear and apple. Undertones of dark fruit with some prune, fig, raisin, dark cherry, and plum. Also some grassy hops lingering in the background.

Taste: Like the smell indicates, big dark roast upfront with some Belgian yeast and complex fruity notes. Dark roasted malts with a big taste of dark chocolate and notes of toffee, caramel, coffee, toast, and biscuit. Some Belgian yeast adds a little spice along with fruit notes of pear, apple, and a little banana. Also a fairly strong presence of dark fruit with notes of raisin, fig, dark cherry, prune, and plum. Mild grassy hop presence towards the finish. A nicely roasty and complex stout taste.

Mouthfeel: Body is on the heavier side of medium with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy and slick. Fairly smooth and drying. Alcohol heat is hidden well.

Overall: A pretty good imperial stout. Good roast flavor and fruit undertones. The Belgian yeast adds an interesting kick.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 07:52:23 | More by MattyG85

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.91/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a beer of the darkest black. It holds a two finger head of medium brown bubbles, showing great retention. These fat, foamy bubbles eventually leave thick sheets and rings of lacing down the glasses. No haze or sediment is noted, and carbonation appears slow. The aroma is warming, with big booze, massively roasted coffee and chocolate malts, metallics, molasses bite, chalked cocoa, and subtle Belgian yeast. Our first impression is that there is a lot going on, but the desired union of styles can certainly be appreciated. As we sip, bright sweetness of creamy chocolate malts, metallic Belgian yeast, liquid caramel sugars, salty molasses, and grassy moss start things off. The flavoring comes to a peak with peppery booze, sweaty saltiness, biting medicinal phenols, and a stark move to more bittered, raw chocolate. The back of the swallow washes with a fruity cherry quality that, when mixing with the phenols and the chalky yeastiness, gives a brief flash of cough syrup. The chocolate flavoring actually turns sweeter here, like burnt milk chocolate, making for an easier, sweeter, and smoother finish. The aftertaste breathes of musk and dusk, chalky malts, raw coffee beans, unsweetened cocoa, vanillas, spicy booze, light banana esters, and echoes of those medicinal phenols. The body is light to medium, and the carbonation is lighter. The mouth is warmed and coated with softness, with eventual crisp astringent dryness all along the hard palate and tongue. There is nice slurp, smack, cream, and pop. The abv is appropriate, and the beer sips easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was the strong appearance on the pour, and the nice spicy Belgian qualities to the flavoring. At first it seems like there is almost too much going on. You feel like there is a different pull with each sip; one way to a spicy Belgian ale, and the other way to a dark mountain stout. These eventually blend rather nicely, adding spice, bite, and grit to that great Yeti base. At the same time, however, the aftertaste gives you everything at once, which may make things seem a bit muddy at times.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 02:04:08 | More by TheBrewo

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Jet black. Inky. Mocha head. Tall pour still had 1/3" perched atop. Some lacing. 4

Roasty with char. Some chocolate, some berry. More yeast in the nose than an average impy. Nothing crazy. 3.75

Bitter chocolate, charred grains, roasted nuts, chicory, blueberry. Alcohol is sweet and sweatily spicy. Light sweetness, overall. 4

Full in body. Bristles of bubbles. Decently smooth. Controlled and efficient (not hot). 4.25

Pretty nice. Not my flair for Yeti, but a good stout proper. 4

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 02:14:38 | More by thecheapies

AnchorsAndAxes

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Glass: Snifter
A: Deep Black with a tan head
S: chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts
T: dark berries, lite smoke, bitter-sweet chocolate, coffee. nicely balanced
M: lightly carbonated, smooth, full bodied
O: defiantly worth trying. I think it is a great for someone expanding their palate into the belgian beer realm.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 04:47:40 | More by AnchorsAndAxes

spoony

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 22 oz (dated June 8, 2012) into a snifter.

A-This brew pours like motor oil...black and syrupy. A thin brown head fades quickly to thing ring around the glass.

S-I smell heavily roasted malts, dark chocolate, and maybe some black licorice. There is a also a wet earth scent and slightly musty note. Alcohol is well-concealed.

T-Taste is also malted, more sweet than bitter. I detect caramel and dark chocolate flavors. The brew finishes with a funky, slightly warming, sweet alcohol flavor.

M-As one would expect from the pour, this is a heavyweight brew with very little carbonation and a substantial feel.

O-I like this Yeti, but maybe not as much as other Yetis. I definitely detect the "Belgian" aspect, but I'm not sure that the funkiness and mustiness makes this beer stronger than its cohorts. Nevertheless, this is still a great RIS with an approachable flavor and a heavy feel that drinks well on a cold evening.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 03:26:26 | More by spoony

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.64/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

not for the faint of heart...this one's a beast. this yeti pours a near opaque black with a tan head- also there seems to be something suspended in it- small chunks...(?) hope it doesnt kill me. the smell isnt as bold as i would expect. a little bit of nutty grain smells. the taste is bitter and earthy...similar to unsweet chocolate. the blackend flavor is in the forefront with limited sweetness at the back barely showing up. i actually like the "chocolate yeti" a good bit more than this. if i had to recommend one or the other i would say the "chocolate yeti" from great divide is better.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 03:20:38 | More by mattkoon

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.39/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

On tap at Great Divide. Pours very dark. Chocolate and faint Belgian esters. Light tartness and roast. Just okay.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 03:52:37 | More by Thorpe429

garymuchow

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looking forward to this one.
Poured into giant Old Style glass. Collared at 55 degrees. Bottles June 2012.
Interesting coffee aroma with hint of the Belgian yeast intermingling.
Very dark with no apparent light getting through. Creamy dark head covers the darkness and leaves plenty of lacing.
Rich dark elixar with coffee flavors, dark fruit (really nice fruit flavors and berries), pleasing dark roast, bitterness appears early and lingers nicely. Yeast qualities are soft, but there, blending more than marking- they seem to contribute to the unique drying on the finish.
Nice heavy body, nearly chewy and leaving a heavy feel along with the great flavors. Very nicely carbonation with a perfect balance of enough without excess and really soft feel.
Every Yeti I've had has been a winner and this one is no exception. Maybe I'm just thirsty, but this does down rather easily.

Thanks Dad.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 02:36:25 | More by garymuchow

flexabull

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes.

Pours a deep black color with pretty nice dark tan head.

Aromas are nutty, with some heavy roasted malts, light char, and a faint Belgian yeast note.

Taste is very roasty. Lots of malts flavors, nutty, light smoke, and bitter bakers chocolate flavors dominate up front. Bitter and earthy on the finish, with slight Belgian yeast notes.

Mouthfeel is smooth and full with good carbonation.

Overall a nice beer. I like how they kept the Belgian yeast subtle and in the background and didn't let it dominate.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:46:41 | More by flexabull

sprucetip

Alaska

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Black as night, active, modest mocha head fades slowly and leaves thick lacing.

Roasty with musty Belgo-yeasty character. There is a little bit of malty sweetness coming in late. Not amazing but nice.

Malty sweet, roasty, a wee nip of black patent, some either roasty or hoppy bitterness, and gentle musty Belgian yeast character. Lots of elements are involved and they work very well together. There is complexity and balance.

Perfect carbonation, full body and thick viscosity, gentle warming, and some roasty bitterness in the finish.

Probably not my favorite Yeti, but it's a damned good one. And a damned good beer, period.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 03:19:07 | More by sprucetip

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle poured into a CBS snifter. Bottled 6/17/2011.

Appearance - Black without being inky. Careful pour so that it will fit in the glass yields a smallish khaki/mocha head. Nothing really lasts, though.

Smell - Muted, but decent. Much stronger on the fruity notes than the other Yeti variants. Chocolate, dark fruits. Not as estery as I thought it might be.

Taste - Rich chocolate and black patent malt bitterness are pervasive, but the fruity characteristics persist throughout. There is a sweetness that I don't remember from the other variants. Gives it a nice body and subverts the harsher aspects of the malt profile and hop back of this beer. The finish has that characteristic grassy flavor that comes out as it warms.

Mouthfeel - Nice body. Not overly heavy. No real booze. Nicely drinkable but it's still a hefty beer. The bitterness of regular Yeti is cut by the extra sweetness and it gives it a bit more chewiness.

Overall - Probably my favorite of the non-BA versions. Just the right dimension that this beer needed to shine. Not really as Belgian as I expected, but enough to make it a more interesting take than the other versions.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 01:33:12 | More by Alieniloquium

brureview

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another class act from Great Divide.

Poured in a snifter.

A very dark chocolate brown with no head.

Aroma: a wonderful plum-lemon aroma - though not deep.

Very carbonated mouth feel which did not detract from the overall drinkability of the beer.

The finish was highlighted with deep coffee, cocoa, plum, and lemon. There was a slight alcoholic taste, the finish smoother with warming. A more enjoyable and complex taste than the imperial stout. The chocolate was much richer after warming.

Overall, a great beer served at 55F.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:11:31 | More by brureview