Tweet

 

Don't fall asleep on me yet. Hibernation pours a mahogany colored brown with definite red tinge to the color. A limited head that remained around the edges and decent lacing.

The aroma is light overall but noticeable malt and caramel and traces of earthy and herbal hop tones. Some minor spicy notes with a hint of cinnamon and a light yeasty note on the back end.

The taste is much more noticeable. A good malty amber taste with a touch of roasted and maybe a touch of chocolate added in the mix. Some limited spices, more of a bready zest, with some cloves and nutmeg. A touch of nutty or woody flavors too. Good bitterness having a more rounded earthy flavor.
The flavor finishes smooth and creamy.

Good body and frothy texture overall. A good flavor and finishes warm but so easy to drink. I guess you can go to sleep now, just dont spill your beer.

Served In: Pint Glass

12oz. Bottle
$1.65 single

2006 Bottling
Poured with a very dark red body that I'm unable to see through. A 1-finger head formed briefly before falling to a creamy swirl of a cap. When held to the light the body turns firey red with clumps of slowly rising carbonation bubbles. Looks flavor packed. It's tempting me.

The smell comes through with big caramel. As a matter of fact it brings to mind caramel apples. Theres some mustiness and dampness that compliments things nicely. Hops come through at the finish but are mild. Pine needles and a splash of citrus.As it warms it takes on a boozy character.

The taste is deep and rich. Like a winter seasonal should be. The big caramel carries over from the smell and is balanced nicely with a solid citrus hoppy goodness.There's toasted grain coming through mid-palate and a faint hit of the mustiness. A spicy alcohol character finishes things off on the swallow. As this beer warms the flavors get more complex. I don't get much hop bitterness but I can sense my tongue going a little numb. That's pretty unique. Nicely done.

Mouthfeel is good for a high abv beer. Medium bodied with mild carbonation so the beer just makes its way slowly over the tongue. Theres a nice creaminess for the body. It's in no way viscous like a lot of other beers of this strength are. The alcohol gives a nice warmth, especially as this beer warms.

The drinkability is good for a stronger beer. The body has a lot to do with this. I don't think it would be so easy going down during the summer months but when it's cold out Hibernation is hard to beat.

Overall this is one of my preferred winter seasonals. I try and have it on hand if I spot it around here. Very well made beer and something to look forward to every winter. The next step for me will be aging some for next winter.

Reviewed: 12/12/06

Price: $1.65 Served In: Pint Glass

Opaque-like glimmer of burnt reddish brown. Soft, medium-sized cap of dark tanned froth lathers the top. A residual light skim blankets the top once the cap fades as does a firm collaring. Small, wimsical fabrics of lace line the glass.

Aroma is quite nice. Very caramel loaded. Dark malt base mainly with a lisp of roast. Some controlled burnt hop edges are within lending some chewy pine sap, fresh leafy cones, and grain sugars. Smidgeons of chocolate, plum, and dark cherry snoops in as it warms as does a bit of black malted alcoholic vapor.

Taste has length with a long dark malt detainment of indifferent blackenedness. Caramel smooth underneath. Slight roast and heat attached sweetness trailing on and on to where smidgeons, as the aroma eluded to, of chocolate, plum, and cherry play its small part. Dark and peculiar. Bitterness holds off til late with a leafy roasted hop sap. Orange laced acids feather at the tonsils. It has a broad range of length, substantially so, but a bigger energy and character was needed to boost it to the next level of greatness for me.

Perhaps here is where the problem lies as its body is a bit low and not as full or bold as I thought it was gonna be based off its aroma. A somewhat weaker medium body makes it seem solitary and conserved. Carbonation is nice. Solid smoothness with just the right amount of give for the style, aptly rough enough in areas, and the right amount of hints to the alcohol. One nice aspect of the Hibernation is its gradual warming feel that slips across your memory as you decide to open another. That I liked.

So, as it goes, this brew is not fully impressionable but has that satisfyingly casual appeal that makes for a nice experience and keeps a favorably easy drinkability to its disposition worthy of Great Divides' reputation.

Served In: Pint Glass

A 2006 vintage thanks to my buddy Tommy.

Pours a murky, medium-dark amber brown with a yellow-light brown head that fades to a few bubbles on the top.

A little bit of burnt caramel mixed in with creamy vanilla caramel, slight bit of hops and a mellow fruitiness. Very barleywine like.

Deep caramel, tons of big malt flavor, more mellow fruitiness and a little citrus hoppiness still. Again very barleywine like. Age did this one very well.

Smooth medium-low carbonation, slightly syrupy but not in a bad way.

This has become an excellent english barleywine.

Served In: Pint Glass