Of course, like any brewery Great Divide started out small. Dunn was the only full-time employee and he was doing everything including brewing, bottling, and selling and pretty much doing that every single day. Even though Great Divide’s beer is globally-inspired they are distinct Denver beers. Since 1994, they have grown and of course Dunn is not the only person anymore. In 2001 they finally bought their building and planned to grow expotentially. In 2011, they realized they were outgrowing their space and so began looking for land to expand on without leaving Denver.
In 2013 they found a five acre space in the RiNo Neighborhood of Denver. They were so happy to find just a mile down the road. Phase One of expansion started in 2014 and in 2015 they finally had the space to start canning. This space now called the Barrel Bar, opened in July of that year and then it was onto Phase Two of expansion.
Now that you know a little bit of the history lets get into the beer:
Yeti Imperial Stout
If you are a Big and Bold Stout fan Yeti is the beer for you. At first you will get a roasty and malt flavor with toffee and caramel notes. It gets its bold hop flavor from the many American hops in it. This weighs in at a heavy 9.5% ABV and has won various awards most recently being listed at the 36th best beer in the world out of 100 according to Beer Advocate.
Titan IPA
If you are a hop disciple like me Titan IPA is the beer for you. Sitting at 7.1% ABV is “aggressively hopped.” You get piney aromas up front with a rich malty finish balanced with the hoppy bitterness. This beer got the silver medal at the 2008 Australian International Beer Awards.
Hercules Double IPA
This beer is for those who want an IPA but something a little bit stronger than the Titan. Hercules is nothing but hops from start to finish. However it does have malty sweetness to calm the big hop flavor. This beer sitting at 10% ABV is ranked 48th on the Top 100 Beers in the world on Beer Advocate.
Colette Farmhouse ale
Colette is a dedication to the saisons Belgian farmers have adored for centuries. This brew sitting at 7.3% ABV is brewed with wheat, barley, and rice and is fruity and a little bit tart with a dry finish. In 2011 it won the Bronze Medal at the Australian International Beer Awards for Belgian ales.
Samurai Rice Ale
Rice Ale? What is that? Well it is a crisp, slightly fruity, and hazy ale that is perfect after a long day of work.
Velvet Yeti Nitro Stout
This brew sitting at an easy 5% ABV has a nice velvety mouthfeel (whence the name) witht the same roasty and caramel notes that you get from Yeti.
Denver Pale Ale
This beer is part of the Denver Pale Ale Artist Series so the artwork you see here is by local artists. This Pale Ale opens with pine and citrusy notes and finishes off with a small bitter finish. This nice 5% ABV brew is a go-to all year round.
Claymore Scotch Ale
This 7.7% brew is named after a medieval Scottish sword and is a tribute to the “Wee Heavy” beers of Scotland. This malty beauty has lots of caramel sweetness, moderate hopness, and a warming character. Even though the sword requires two hands, you only need one for this brew.
Hazy IPA New-England Style IPA
The hazy IPA sitting at 6.2% ABV is juicy but with a good mix of citrus hops that bring out a mango and papaya aroma and hint of strawberries.
Heyday Modern IPA
Heyday is a beer for the bold and wild character. Sitting at 5.8% ABV is plentifully hopped but is light and low on bitterness and has berry notes. The complex hop profile is balanced out with a crisp malty character. So go ahead have a heyday!
Lager American Lager
This lager is perfect for any occasion whether you are tailgating at a football game or hiking with friends. Sitting at 5% ABV this beer has a blend of new world hops and German malts with the traditional lager yeast to create a crisp and refreshing beer.
If you are in the Phoenix area and are wanting to try some brews from Great Divide come by Janey’s tomorrow night at 7 PM! Until next time Hoppy Travels!