Two Big Rich Beers I'd Been Wanting to Try

I was on my feet all day Sunday and was tired when I got home. But, not too tired to open a fine beer. I had a bottle of Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti in the fridge and decided it was a good night to sample it. I was not disappointed. WOW! As I poured it I could smell Oak, the rich malts and a little coffee. And when I tasted it, again WOW! The complex flavors of this Imperial went down really smooth. Sometimes when I get a big beer like this (9.5% ABV) I can taste the alcohol burn. But not so in this case. Oh did I say it's complex? I tasted chocolate and coffee in the beer and when I licked my lips I could also taste notes of Vanilla. Believe me the next one I get won't sit in my refrigerator very long.

So, as I write this I am tasting a Southern Tier Oak Aged Un-Earthly IPA. As I poured it I could pick up notes of Peach and Orange. As I sipped it the Citrus hops were readily noticeable along with the Peach and what I think is Caramel. The Oak is not overwhelming but is evident and I think holds down the flavors of the hops. As my glass and the brew warm I can taste a slight alcohol burn. Bottom line; this is a very big hoppy beer that achieves what it sets out to accomplish. On this cold icy Winter night it fills the bill.

More on Indian Pale Ales

I went to Paradise Valley Wine yesterday and stocked up on IPAs. Some of these I have tasted before and some are new to me.

The first beer I tasted was Great Divide Brewing's Titan IPA. Great Divide is out of Colorado and there must be a large number of people in that state that value fine beer. Titan IPA starts off with a piney hop aroma and citrus hop flavor and finishes with a malt flavor that balances out the bitterness (IBU of 65).

The second IPA I tasted was Acme IPA of North Coast Brewing in California. It's not quite as good as Titan IPA but still a nice beer. (Maybe I am biased because the higher the IBU, the more I like the brew). Acme has a pale Amber color. It checks in with an IBU of 55.