Introducing Contestants – Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti

Back to the grind – the tournament approaches, and I’ve got 12 more reviews to do in the next week and a half! 

Great Divide Brewery is an American Craft Brewery in Denver, CO that produces a staggeringly large variety of beers.  They also paid up for a very cool (though Flash-based) web site, which is totally worth a visit.  They are a very highly acclaimed brewery and have won dozens of awards that they are more than happy to detail for you on their site.  Today, however, we’re looking at their Yeti family of beers.  Actually, we’re only looking at one member of that family, but you might find it interesting that there are quite a few others.  It started with Yeti, an imperial stout with a heavy malt flavor that has a good amount of hops (weighs in at 75 IBUs).  The next member of the family is our tournament contestant – Oak Aged Yeti, which has a flavor quite different from the original.  From there they went to Espresso Oak Aged Yeti and finally Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti.  I’ve never had either of the last two, but I’m quite curious.  Oddly enough, all four clock in at 9.5% ABV.

Let’s get down to business about our contestant though.

 

Oak Aged Yeti (OAY hereafter) is a fine dark stout.  After reviewing Guinness the other day, it’s nice to see a stout that is properly opaque and intimidating in its glass.

My first thought upon taking a sip of this bad boy was that I completely forgot how incredibly awesome this beer was.  It’s the first pure Imperial Stout I’ve had in a bit that wasn’t explicitly flavored (FIDY doesn’t list a single flavor, but there’s something in there) and man does it hit you with malt the second it hits your tongue.  The mouthfeel isn’t slightly stingy, but not overwhelmingly so. There are definitely bubbles in there.  It does a great job of coating your tongue and throat with an aftertaste of vanilla and malt, leaving you with that lasting impression for twenty seconds after your sip.

This is definitely a final four quality beer – which actually was my original prediction for it, but that was more based on remembering it fondly and not seeing any other contenders that might get in its way other than Thirsty Dog Siberian Night, which I still think will give it quite a run for its money.

I’m calling it – OAY in the final four.  How it does once there is anyone’s call, and don’t forget it’ll have to take down the winner of a very strong group just to get there: my group of death with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Southern Tier Choklat, and BORIS the Crusher. 

Best of luck to Great Divide and Oak Aged Yeti in the tourney – they’ve got what it takes to go a long way. 

Duff Out.