Beer Review - Great Divide 18th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

18th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

Brewery: Great Divide Brewing

Location: Denver CO

Beer Name: 18^th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA

Style: Double IPA

ABV: 10.%

IBU: NA

The beer was poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a deep copper color with a thick, but quickly diminishing off-white head and dense lacing. The aroma hearkens of biscuity malts, toffee, oak with undertones of vanilla, pine, and tropical fruits. The flavor starts with a brief hint of sweet caramel and toffee that is quickly vanquished by a siege of oak tannins and alcohol that ends with a mild earthy grapefruit bitterness. This is a medium to full body beer with medium carbonation.

Overall I found it to be a great beer, almost all-star level. On the same note, I’m still a bit on the fence with the beer. A very nice commemorative label that is solid in it making. The aroma is very delectable, with a slight slant towards the oak. The initial flavor is dominated by oak tannins and a bit of astringent alcohol in the beginning. Sort of like walking threw a sawmill with your mouth open, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. After bit of warm up and more than a few pulls off of it, the high alcohol dulls the senses and seems to temper the oakiness of the beer and rounds out the flavor. From this point forward I really enjoyed the complexity and texture of the beer. Subtle notes of vanilla, toffee, and grapefruit were more pronounced amongst the wood. I’d advise to give this a try and to drink this as your last beer of the night, because it is a bit of a palate wrecker with all its oak tannins. Cheers to Great Divide and I'm looking forward to next years version.

Score

Label/Cap	8/10
Appearance	8/10
Aroma	8/10
Flavor	8/10
Overall	7/10
Total	39/50

Judgment Scale
  0-9 Not worth your $
10-19 A OK Beer
20-29 A Good Beer
30-39 A Great Beer
40-44 A All-star Beer
45-50 A Hall of Fame Beer