Review – Great Divide Hibernation Ale

Great Divide Hibernation Ale
8.1% abv

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a room temperature pint glass.

Appearance
Very clear and reddish brown in color. Looks almost like a sparkling ruby with two fingers of light and fluffy foam bulging over the top of the glass.

Aroma
Sweet and dry with some earthy woody notes. Some citrus and spice also present, but much harder to detect.

Taste
Rich malty notes remind me of brown sugar and sweet, thick molasses. Deep nutty flavors are followed by an interesting hop profile that actually helps hide the alcohol.

Mouthfeel
Somewhat warm, but not what I expected. This beer is very smooth for a traditional strong ale. Great carbonation without being too gassy.

Overall
This was my first taste of GD’s Hibernation. My brew store didn’t carry it last year but I am glad that they got their hands on some this winter. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy complex ales that are still drinkable. You will be left pondering how the folks at Great Divide figured this one out. I can hardly wait until next winter to get more of this.