Tasting Notes:Great Divide: Yeti Imperial Stout

Great Divide: Yeti Imperial Stout (USA: Imperial Stout: 9.5% ABV)

Visual: Thick opaque black, pours like cream liqueur and keeps a sturdy coffee brown head. Bright red flickers in the extremities of light.

Nose: Strong coffee and treacle. Vanilla ice cream. Coffee beans and a hint of nuts. Mulled wine and festive spices. Apricot. Oh yeah it smells good.

Body: Real harsh bitter, then softens into silky chocolate ice cream, peaches and condensed cream. Smooth yet oh so bitter. Thick mouthfeel. Light vanilla, a hint of nut and charred wood middle.

Finish: Dry coffee and malt chocolate drinks. Lasts for a seeming eternity. Hazelnut.

Conclusion: A smooth as silk imperial stout. No fancy gimmicks, just straight up stout goodness.

An example of a beer that exemplifies a stout that does the best it can without any tricks to push the extremes. It never feels excessive or overstays its welcome.

The only thing against it is that, whilst rounded and full bodied, there is not much variety in its body as some of the imperial stouts in its league – but then again, maybe that’s what you’re looking for.

Damn good straight up stout, but doesn’t look to do anything outside of the norm. What it does do, it does well.