Grand Cru
Great Divide Brewing Company

Grand CruGrand Cru
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From:
Great Divide Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
11%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 15.14%
Reviews:
160
Ratings:
279
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 01, 2022
Added:
Jan 08, 2011
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  29
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BretSikkink:
Photo of BretSikkink
Reviewed by BretSikkink from Mexico

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Clear body, reddish brown in color, with a shortish head that sticks well enough. Ring-on-the-glass by the end, though.

Sweet aromas, with an earthy hop-like character. Seems like macerated, overripe fruits. Medicinal and herbal. I'm a little confused.

Grand Cru is pretty sweet, but also quite understated. The usual malt suspects: raisin, fig, brown sugar, even prune juice. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming.

The body is medium, made slightly thicker by a syrupy sort of nature. Finishes quite long and wet, though quite smooth. Atypical for its style, though really nothing terribly interesting.
Mar 08, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.59 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Mar 01, 2022
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

4.21/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Never shying away from a challenge, the brewers of Great Divide don't simply dip their toe into the world of Belgian beer making, but just in head first into the Belgian Dark Strong Ale.

Pouring a dark and rusty brown, the nearly opaque Grand Cru crowns with a sepia stained head froth. Popping with spicy aromas, an allspice medley balances with dark and stone fruit along with a fortified wine tingle of alcohol on the nose. Sweeter to taste, the early palate opens up with a brown sugar and light molasses character to suggest spice cake in its first impressions.

As the highly complex ale spreads across the middle palate, the sweetness relaxes to an almost cola-like character to allow the spices and fruit to elevate. Raisins, plum, date, fig and currant lead the way in their dehydrated and wine soaked character before being rivaled later with the spices of cinnamon, peppercorn, clove, ginger and nutmeg for that all around and general spiciness for a superior balance. The taste turns bitter, tart and boozy late on the palate as the hops seem to blend into a tannic brandy heat.

Full bodied in texture, the tandem of alcohol, hops and yeast spices word together to break up the malt and assist with a malty-dry finish and a medium long aftertaste of brandy, red wine and mulled spices.
Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Feb 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Feb 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by Quesophresco from Oregon

Dec 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.57 by mltobin from Connecticut

Jun 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.34 by Stoutlad from Indiana

Feb 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by kjkinsey from Texas

Jan 28, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.72/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Mohaggany or however that is supposed to be spelled. Aroma was boozy, not much else.

Taste hit the dark fruits, bitterness, and massive f'n heat. Burnt brown sugar. Serious, this is hot beer. Woof. In like a 1oz pour, sure, but drinking 12oz of this is like drinking fireball with raisins all night.
Jan 28, 2016
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had this on tap at the Town hall Brewery and from a 22 oz. bottle poured into a chalice.
A: Brilliant chestnut under a 2” dark cream colored pillowy foam collar that produces this lace.
S: Winey, estery aromas with dark dried fruit.
T: Yeast driven dark dried fruit flavors supported by dark malt sugars, toffee and traces of cherry.
F: medium body to medium full, medium to medium high carbonation
O: A well made, drinkable Belgian strong dark ale.
Apr 20, 2015
Photo of Joeyphunk
Rated by Joeyphunk

2.88/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Sweeeeeeeeeeeet And thick. Hoping for a different grand cru
Feb 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by hockeyfighter19 from Pennsylvania

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by zachgroves from Texas

Dec 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by jschott75 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 1.75 by dheldman from Minnesota

Nov 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Smokesnotes from Michigan

Aug 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 12, 2014
Grand Cru from Great Divide Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 279 ratings