15th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA
Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, Colorado
Style: Wood aged double IPA
Serving Style: 22 oz. Bottle

Aroma: Earthy/floral hops dominate with very light citrus. English varieties win out over American. Vanilla and woody notes from the oak. Very light malt sweetness, but far in the background.

Appearance: Thick and persistent off-white creamy head. Dark mahogany, almost brown. Slightly hazy.

Flavor: Rich caramel malt sweetness is the dominant flavor with pronounced vanilla oak character. The sweetness of the malt with the oak vanilla give the impression of white chocolate. Peaches or apricots in heavy syrup. The same earthy and floral hops from the aroma. American hop varieties take a back seat to the English. Although the bitterness is high, it is more than offset by the thick and sweet malt. Alcohol is apparent but not hot. Finish is lingering sweet with vanilla and a final bite of bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Thick and chewy. Full bodied with medium carbonation. Creamy. Some alcohol warmth.

Overall Impression: While I appreciated the dominance of the English hop over the American (it was nice to taste a double IPA that didn’t smack me in the face with grapefruit), I feel that the oak was overdone. The strong wood and vanilla overpower the other flavors. This might subside some with age. I also wished it had been more fully attenuated for a dryer finish. It verges on cloying. I found myself wanting a cleaner and brighter hop bitterness and flavor.