Belgian Style Yeti - Great Divide Brewing Company

UCLABrewN84

California

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with a 1 inch dark khaki head that fades to an oily film on the top of the beer. Small streaks and dots of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of cocoa powder, dark roasted malt, and maybe a hint of dark fruits. I am not getting any Belgian yeast smells from this one. Taste is of dark roasted malt, coffee, and cocoa powder. Again, there is no indication of Belgian yeast in the taste either. Medium roasty bitterness on the palate after each sip. A lower level of carbonation makes for a creamy and medium-heavy body. Overall, this is another good Yeti stout from Great Divide but the Belgian yeast is nowhere to be found in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 03:46:55 | More by UCLABrewN84

marvin213

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

YetI always looks pretty pretty, as the Belgian proves no different in that regard. Oily thick blackness with frothy, dark cream suds. Can't recall if Yeti chasing human is part of the traditional label, but a unique Belgian spin would've worked well. A curious take on a proven winner made me bite the bullet.

Malt goodness prevails in the race to the nose. Even searching for it, a nasal strain gets only a hint of that tarty Belgian spice. Within the Belgian realm, there's a higher bar for smell. Since it's not really a "Belgian" beer (see style coming into play as a factor), I won't hit it too hard.

The taste is solid, no doubt. As with the nose, it's more Yeti than anything. That's certainly not all that big a problem, but beers like this one prompted me to recently pose the question: are Belgian Stouts for real? I do recall a Black Albert that was great--and pretty "true" to both...what about Black Tuesday?

Malty Yetis get kudos for mouthfeel. Overall, I prolly won't get it again at $13.25. At this point, I think it's fair to say I'd hesitate to get next year's (if that's the plan). I think it's the bronze on the widely available, special Yeti platform. Bretty Yeti, however, does sound interesting....

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 18:52:20 | More by marvin213

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured jet black with good carbonation leaving a tannish cap

S: Coffee, cocoa, some spice and roasted malts

T: The spice and sourdough bread flavor is immediate upfront. Not sure about the yeast strain on this. It provides a nice pepperness, floral kick with cocoa, coffee and roasted notes coming afterwards

M: Hearty and big, some booze.

O: Good. I usually do not dig Yeti and age them for a year before consuming. This may be another.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 03:08:54 | More by barleywinefiend

ferrari29

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer poured from bottle into a Snifter style glass.

A - Beer pours with a black colored body: barley any head formed, which was light coffee in color; some visible carbonation was present in the beer; some lacing

S - Initial scents of ground coffee beans come up and its immediately followed up by chocolate; some grain and toasted bread; fantastic licorice scent profile; roasted malt

T - Chocolate; strong licorice taste; nice toasted bread malt flavor; coffee beans; most of these flavors are pretty strong up front but wash away really quickly; roasted malt flavors

M - Full body consistency; slight bitter aftertaste; some lingering chocolate and bitterness, but disappears pretty quickly for a DIS

D - Great drink; could have a bit more body to it, but overall it was smooth and easy to consume; I would not pass up this drink if it was offered to me and I would definitely make this a staple dessert drink

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 19:18:56 | More by ferrari29

Reaper16

Alabama

2.85/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

served on-tap @ Egan's, Tuscaloosa, AL, into a pint glass

Pours a deep, inky black color. It's pretty black; it'd be hard to get darker, really. This pour has two fingers, maybe more, of fluffy head that is nearly bronze in color. It's very dark, this foam, and looks like it has a texture to it in terms of mouthfeel, if that makes any sense. Impressive looking beer.

I'll get it out of the way right up front: this beer smells and tastes unimpressive to me. The Great Divide house Belgian yeast strain, which I've never been much of a fan of, actually works to neutralize a lot of the components that makes Yeti what it is. This version of Yeti does not have a deeply roasty aroma, it does not have an abundance of hops. It smells mostly of the yeast strain, with secondary stout qualities. Once the beer warms up, the yeast throws off a whole lot of peppercorn and some tinges of strawberry. Mostly though it smells like sourdough bread; I know that a lot of reviewers have mentioned this component already and I too join in on that particular chorus. That may sound good, but its pretty bland, really, and too yeast-dominant. This is not how an Imperial Stout should smell.

From start to finish this beer tastes like a sourdough biscotti with a thin layer of chocolate on top. It's pretty bland, unfortunately. The deep, impy stout flavors are sorely missed here. It's like this beer was designed from the top down and it didn't get around to establishing a proper stout base. Too much black pepper, too many phenols (which don't effectively take the place of normal Yeti's hop bitterness), not enough chocolate/coffee. If you weren't paying close attention to the beer then some mouthfuls might taste like nothing at all; that's how much this Belgian yeast strain neutralizes the beer's core flavors. I think the problem lies with the yeast strain itself. This doesn't taste like a Belgian Strong Dark Ale yeast strain, which would better compliment a stout. Instead it tastes like the yeast strain of a Belgian pale or Belgian Golden Ale. A misstep, it seems. This is, by far, the weakest member of the Yeti family.

The mouthfeel is just as thick and smooth as you'd come to expect from the Yeti family of beers. I wonder where all the malt flavor is hiding, since there's clearly malts here as indicated by the viscosity. Overall, this is the black sheep, the red-headed stepchild, of Great Divide's Yeti series. Props for experimentation, but the execution is quite lacking here. If you want to know how a Belgian yeast Imperial Stout is supposed to taste then drink a bottle of De Struise Black Albert or Boulevard Dark Truth Stout. This doesn't pass muster as a Belgian-inspired beer nor as an Imperial Stout.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2011 04:53:00 | More by Reaper16

ehammond1

California

3.55/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On Tap

Stone Brew Co.
Escondido, CA

A very dark brown pour that is just almost black. A relatively thin brown and dark cinnamon red head that doesn't last for long. Leaves some bubbles and sheets of lace down the glass as I sip. A very thick liquid with tons of body.

Roasted malt aroma with a touch of coffee and chocolate and perhaps a slight bite of Belgian yeast, but not a lot. The yeast reminds me of a mild sourdough bread.

A decent big stout, but I actually think the yeast character is taking away from this beer. It drowns away the chocolate, coffee, and molasses character I like so much in the original Yeti (and the Chocolate Yeti for that matter), leaving a relatively hoppy, somewhat bitter stout with a touch of sourdough-like yeast character. Certainly still enjoyable, but probably my least favorite Yeti thus far.

Touch thicker and more luscious mouthfeel than the standard version.

A good big stout, though I don't think this Belgian yeast adds much to an already good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2011 22:52:08 | More by ehammond1

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a-pours black typical of Yeti. Tan head that lingers and gives some lacing down the glass.

s-roasted malts, some muted coffee and chocolate. Has some really muted notes of fruit on the nose.

t-the Belgian yeast makes this stout a little lighter in taste and perks it up a little. Still had that classic Yeti stout taste, but has some fruit behind it now. I think this is a nice version of Yeti.

m-just as viscous as Yeti, but has a little lighter feel to it. Carbonation is just right as usual with GD beers.

o-intresting beer, with a slight twist. I think I'll buy a few of these for the summer. Nice addition to the line up of great stouts.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 01:54:42 | More by

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle, bottled on June 17, 2011. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch light brown head. Head retention and lacing are both good. Aroma is roasted malt, bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit, charred/burnt malt and some bananas. The brew tastes like bittersweet chocolate, dark fruit (plums, cherries), charred/burnt malt, coffee, and a bit of pine hops and bananas. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's creamy and coating with moderate carbonation. It's pretty smooth and very easy to drink. I think the Belgian yeast in this brew is subtle, but that certainly doesn't hurt the beer at all. It's a good overall brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 21:58:27 | More by bluejacket74

GHC

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours an opaque black with small, brown, one finger head.

S - Overwhelming dark chocolate and espresso aroma (in a good way!).

T - The taste piggybacks the aroma and is dark chocolaty, espresso with a slight smokiness. Belgian yeast flavors are subtle but there.

M - Silky smooth mouthfeel.

O - Picked this up with a recommendation from the beer guy and glad I did. Very tasty brew and I am looking forward to opening my other bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 16:36:11 | More by GHC

Rayek

Colorado

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the the Great Divide Tap Room. Belgian Yeti came in a snifter, with a near black hue topped with a dense whipped chocolate cap. Head retention is good and a fair amount of lace is left behind.

Great Divide's Belgian yeast strain lends the same sourdough funkiness that it does to their other Belgian style beers. It mingles nicely with chocolate, charred wood and pine. Unlike other members of the Yeti family, Belgian isn't super bitter. The hops are still prevalent, but don't present the kick they do in the other beers. Instead, the sweet/bitter balance is spot on. Alcohol adds a touch of warmth, but is otherwise well masked. In the mouth, the beer has a nice heft and softer carbonation than most of the brewery's beers.

Overall, I think this may be my new favorite in the Yeti family. I'm really glad I stopped by the Tap Room to try it out.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2011 02:38:41 | More by Rayek

glid02

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours black with a light brown head that leaves thick lacing.

Smells of heavy roasted malts with large amounts of dark chocolate and smaller amounts of dried bananas and dark fruits – raisins with hints of plums.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth roasted malts up front are joined quickly by large amounts of dried banana flavors. Midway through hints of dark chocolate and softer cocoa powder come into play. Near the end very slight amounts of dark fruits come into play, fading out into a mildly bitter ending. Mouthfeel is very good, with grainy carbonation.

Overall this was one of my least favorite treatments of this beer, it was interesting but I just can’t get on board with the whole Belgian stout thing, with a few exceptions. Not worth seeking, but not worth turning down either.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2011 02:09:30 | More by glid02

bamadog

Kentucky

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

The last couple of beers I've tried from Great Divide have been a bit of a letdown, so here's going into this one with an open mind. Review is from notes taken on 7/14/2011 and poured from the bottle to a snifter.

Appearance: Pour looks a little viscous on the pour, so we're off to a good start; color is darkest brown, near black like coffee; starts with a short 1/2 finger creamy tan head that fades almost immediately to a thin wisp and milky ring around the surface; body is entirely opaque; a few spots and loose trails of lacing are left behind.

Smell: The good start continues, decent Belgian yeast aspect that gives a bit sweet bready and banana presence; nice roasty maltiness that has an earthy and slightly nutty bitterness to it; chocolate that runs from bittersweet to syrupy sweet seems to be present.

Taste: Solid! Flavors match the nose pretty much to a "T" -- sweet bread and banana, but there is also a touch of tart cherry; plenty of earthy burnt coffee-like malts and balancing sweetness of chocolate; warming alcohol comes in at the end, but it's very well blended and masked by the other strong flavors' presence.

Mouthfeel: Again, we're on a solid streak here -- body is just a touch heavier than what I would consider medium; carbonation is present, but soft and the body remains pretty smooth; teeth have a bit of grittiness; a pretty thick and sticky, moist coating is left all over the mouth; gums are left tingly and the belly is left quite warm.

Overall: Finally, Great Divide and are back on better terms. I'll be glad to pick up another couple bottles of this and put them away for a while to see how they develop; nice flavors that would make this a good dessert beer, the only things that would slow me down on it are the weight and the nearly 10% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 01:35:49 | More by bamadog

sdmvd6

Oklahoma

4.72/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours deep black with a slight deep red hue and a finger of tan head that dissipates about halfway through the glass. Moderate lacing.

S - The typical boozy roastiness that should accompany an impy stout is definitely present along with a strong chocolaty smell. Also present are hints of spicy citrus from the Belgian yeast.

T - Brighter, spicy fruit notes up front followed by intense bittersweet chocolate. Then roasted malt and coffee and back to lingering chocolate.

M - Heavy body with moderate carbonation. Definitely a chewy brew.

O - Wow. What an offering from Great Divide. Probably the best Yeti I have tried. The Belgian yeast adds incredible balance to the roasted malt, coffee, and chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 00:32:15 | More by sdmvd6

robwestcott

Indiana

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

cold from the tap at yogi's a deep dark chocolate brown to black to a kentucky bourbon barrel ale 12oz snifter with a 1/2 finger, super tiny bubbled, mocha head leaving a thick blanket of sticky lace to the rim.

aroma of dark chocolate syrup and starbucks cappuccino.

bitter semi sweet chocolate forward, espresso closely behind along with a bit of smoke and a hint of black licorice.

medium bodied, creamy smooth, subtle carbonation, sweet.

well above par, very nice creamy stout

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2011 23:27:09 | More by robwestcott

antlerwrestler19

Nebraska

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from bomber into 10oz Nebraska Brewing Company glass. This is a very nice looking beer! Poured pitch black with a thick 2-3 finger head that is a nice tan/caramel color. Leaves Thick sticky lacing as the head slowly dicipates. The smell is of burnt and roasted coffee beans with a chocolate character as well as a smokiness to it. The taste is of chocolate, coffee, smoke, hints of vanilla and very little fruit - can definitely tell it was brewed with belgian yeast. The mouthfeel is sensational with an almost welcoming burn and a lot of carbonation - but smooth for how heavy bodied of a beer this is. Overall I love this beer - Not sure whether I like it more than the Oak Aged Yeti with cayenne but damn good.

Enjoy!

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 03:54:02 | More by antlerwrestler19

srandycarter

California

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

A - Black, not much head, leaves to ring, some lace.

S - Roasted coffee and cocoa, not getting any Belgian influence.

T - Straight up stout. Nice, coffee finish, but nothing incredibly special.

M - Medium body, good carb, fair balance.

D - Not bad, but didn't see the Belgian influence for the most part.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 01:12:12 | More by srandycarter

biglite351

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -28%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - no light through glass, creamy tall dark tan head.

S - bock-like yeast, roasted malts, mild dark chocolate and maybe a touch of oak.

T - Belgian yeast and hop with chocolate and roasted malt.

M - creamy and smooth but nearly no tingle. Slight burn on back of throat.

O - seems more like a flavored bock than an imperial stout. Just depends on if you want something that tastes like a stout or not.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 20:33:52 | More by biglite351

chugalug06

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Awesome pour-ability! Builds nice two-tone head. Brew is black as night, head is a nice tan color. Lots lacing.

S - Almost smells like struck matches... Interesting. Lots of chocolate! Some nice light coffee... Very dark and roasty. Some raisin too.

T - Slight burn from the heat in this tasty brew. Lots of deep dark flavor of chocolate and coffee... Slight fruitiness. Grapes and orange stick out

M - Zero bitterness... AWESOME! Way over carbonated... Light body (for style).

O - Great brew! A bit all over the board. Perfect Stout for the Summer months. The difference in the belgian stout and regular is subtle, but definitely sticks out. Recommended. I'll be purchasing a few to taste them age...

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2011 01:12:16 | More by chugalug06

emmasdad

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this one on tap this evening over at the brewery. Poured dark black with a light brown head. Aromas of roasted malt, dark chocolate, yeast and dark fruits. On the palate this one was medium to full bodied, with yeast, dark chocolate and roasted malt. More "Belgian" than the bottled version, it seems to me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2011 05:03:09 | More by emmasdad

GilGarp

Colorado

4.58/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle with no date stamp, unusual for Great Divide. Served at around 50 degrees into a goblet.

Belgian Yeti looks just like it's older brother with nearly black color and thick, tight, tan head. Good retention and nice lacing. A great looking beer.

Aroma is rich, roasty, and robust. Lots of great dark malt, coffee, and chocolate. I don't get a lot of Belgian yeast character but it's there, just subtle.

Flavor is a little more unusal with some tart dark cherries, bittersweet chocolate, and espresso. Very intense and enjoyable, even on a warm summer night.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth with full body and perfect carbonation.

Overall a fantastic beer. Better than the standard Yeti but not quite up there with my favorite Oak Aged and Espresso.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 01:55:27 | More by GilGarp

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Great divide is a brewery that makes only beers with the word "Yeti" in the name.

Beer is black or dark brown hazy with a brown head of small and medium bubbles, lacing is a plus.

Beer smells like roast, yeast, and some chocolate.

Beer is sweet, medium bodied, nice carbonation. Beer has a good mouthfeel and a nice finish. A little bitter, roasty and sweet with some chocolate in th midpalate. Another enjoyable beer named Yeti from Great Divide.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 01:54:34 | More by drabmuh

JCDenver

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Like all Yetis, this one looks great. Opaque brown with a creamy finger of chocolate milk colored head, which fades to a nice sticky ring of lace.

Smells of chocolate, candied fruit, and very nice Belgian spice notes. Slightly estery.

Taste is robust, big roasted malts with a nice bite and a long finish. Spice notes carry through on the palate.

Mouthfeel is thick and silky, very appropriate for the style. Carbonation was good.

Overall, this beer surprised me. A lot. When I heard they were introducing it, I was extremely skeptical, mainly due to the whole "Belgo" craze we've got going. In my experience (ahem, Stone), adding the "Belgian" element often ends up muddying up the flavors and creating something that tastes...well, weird. And usually also inharmonious. But not here. Some might call it understated, but I call it balance. Pretty excellent balance, actually. I'd love for them to roll this one out during the fall, rather then summer. It'd be a great one to enjoy on a crisp autumn day.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 01:03:48 | More by JCDenver

gford217

Georgia

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

22oz bottle.

Pours like all the other Yetis, and that's to say that it's a fantastic looking brew. Pitch black with a tight tan head that sits as a thick cap for the duration.

Aroma is fruitier than the others with some light fruity esters including raisins and plums. The trademark roasted chocolate malts are there as well with some coffee notes.

The taste is milder than I was expecting and I suspect that the Belgian yeast has mellowed the heavily roasted malts a bit. There is some sweetness up front, like chocolate covered raisins, with the backbone of chocolate malts. The finish is a mixture of sweetness and roastiness, fairly dry.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and a little lighter than I remember the others being. Still nice and creamy.

Another solid variation of an excellent beer. The Belgian yeast brings a little fruit to the table but Great Divide has left the underlying beer solidly in place. That's a good thing here and I've yet to taste a version of Yeti I don't like. Certainly not the best of the bunch, but no slouch.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 02:44:11 | More by gford217

Kromes

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Black with a thin line of tan colored bubbles. Good lacing down the glass.

S: Roasted malt, coffee and a very noticeable Belgian yeast aroma.

T: Much like the aroma. The roasted malt character in the beer is incredible. It's a nutty roast with some coffee and chocolate tones. The Belgian yeast adds a fruity quality to the beer and takes the bitter bite out of the roast. Very nice.

M: It's a thick and heavier quality. The beer is very smooth with lower carbonation.

O: Very well balanced beer packed with flavors, but with no overly dominant flavors. Yeah, pick this one up.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 00:02:31 | More by Kromes

Domingo

Colorado

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

Had this at the GD tap room. Can't beat a $4 pour of something like this!
Poured from a normal tap into a snifter glass, this is jet black and clearly very thick. It looks almost like it came off of nitro considering the density of the bubbles in the head. Tough not do grab this and start downing it.
The flavor profile is interesting because if I didn't know the name of the beer, I wouldn't have guessed it was Belgian. Their Grand Cru yeast was also fairly mild, so perhaps it's the same one? Chocolate and rich fruits like dates, raisins, and figs. Maybe a little maple, too? The taste reminds me more of something I get in stronger export stouts like Guinness FES and Lion. However it's much denser and cleaner. No off flavors at all and I really do like how the fruitiness and chocolate seem to work together. There's almost no heat at all, which is great for something this big.
The texture is a work of art. It's ultra thick and creamy and almost like a milkshake, but with no nitro thinning out.
A truly great brew, regardless of what you might be thinking based upon the name. It's arguably my new favorite of the Yeti line up (my earlier ratings were inflated a bit since I was new to the world of beer) and one I'll definitely be picking up or seeking on draft.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2011 16:58:12 | More by Domingo