Great Divide Hercules Double IPA

3.9/5

AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

12 ounce bottle into tulip, bottled 02-09-2011, so a bit aged. Pours slightly cloudy dark orange color with a dense 1 finger off white head with great retention that reduces to a thick lacing cap. Aromas of big caramel, orange, grapefruit, and some alcohol in the background. Decent aromas here, with decent strength. Taste of huge amounts of grapefruit, orange, caramel, and pine. Big sweetness on the front with a decent amount of bitterness on the finish that lingers with caramel, citrus, and pine flavors for a good amount of time. Much more malt forward as I expected. Medium carbonation and full bodied, with a slightly syrupy mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden, only a decent warming present on the finish. Fairly easy drinkability for the alcohol level, but still quite a sipper. Overall, a very nice DIPA with nice flavor and balance; with good drinkability for the level of alcohol.

Overall, a very nice and tasty DIPA from Great Divide. I need to go seek out some really fresh stuff sometime.