Great Divide (Denver, CO) - Hibernation Ale
English-Style Old Ale
Dry-hopped
October-January Seasonal
Brown bottle six-pack for about $12.75. 8.7% AbV.
Thin, large-bubble head evaporates quickly, leaving a clean Cola-colored liquor. Lack of a distinct head is made up for by slight effervescence in the glass. Temperature about 50 F. Aroma is boozy and sweet, but slightly sour: caramel and molasses. A persistent layer of foam laces the glass and sticks well. First sip is tangy and a lot livelier than expected. A strong alcohol flavor is masked by an almost spicy mouthfeel, with a lot more carbonation than I anticipated. Sadly, the flavors are lacking. Body is medium-thick, malty like Cola but not as syrupy. The finish is full of hops and bitters, with tangerine and grapefruit.
Second sip is smokier, with an almost mesquite, peaty, Scotch-like flavor that stays on the tongue through the finish.
Overall a good beer for the end of a slushy winter day, although its sweetness and high-alcohol content make it less drinkable than a comparable ale which does the same trick.
