Great Divide caught my eye with its creative labels that remind me of arts and crafts movement prints of nature settings and parks. When I saw this big bottle of Stout I had to grab one for myself.
The pour is thick like oil and black like soil. A little fizz rises giving the beer a head that looks like dark espresso crema. Smells like espresso, too. Aroma wafts from the cup: bittersweet chocolate, oak, sweetness and earthy spice (GD claims to add a touch of cayenne). Mouthfeel is thick and the finish is long while alcohol and oak linger longest. As an imperial it’s no surprise the alc content is 9.5.
In the end the bitter espresso flavor overwhelmed me. Maybe it’s just the espresso connoiseur in me that knows good espresso is not bitter and harsh. I was thinking coffe when I should have been thinking beer. Maybe it was the 9.5% alcohol. I can’t say I disliked it but it’s not my favorite. I like a good Stout but this one was a bit much in my opinion. Give it a try.
