Great Divide Hibernation. I don't get it.

I was disappointed with Hibernation Ale as well. Was really looking forward to it when I was on a old ale kick for awhile. But was let down by that one. I did enjoy the Dortmunder Gold though, and i'm not a lager fan really. So it was a nice suprise. What was the freshness date on the Great Lakes? Sometimes their bottle dates are not the greatest as they sit in some locations for awhile. At least what I noticed when going to Buffalo or in Michigan.

 

I really enjoy hibernation, one of my favorite christmas ales for some reason. Word of warning though, these do not age well. I was hoping so saved a bottle to test and 6 months later no good so drink them fresh.

 

Your joking right? I had these as old as 4 years and they drink fantastic. They do fall off a bit (tons of sediment) but the taste was pretty great.

I actually found a case with 10 months of age and had it up until the 1 year mark. I guess you figure the hop profile would hold on forever but at 1 year it's really a mellow drinkable old ale.

And yes please put some hate on this beer to reduce hype. I would hate to find case prices have gone up.

 

You stop panicking about what your respected fellow beer drinkers will think of you and remember that not everyone shares the same taste in beers.

On a more constructive note, what didn't you like about it?

 

Perhaps if you explained what it was that turned you off we might be able to help.

Uh...I don't know about anyone else, but I'll usually find something a bit more significant to worry about.

 

Beers are like colors. You love some, you hate some. Some of your loves are other people's hates and vice versa. Simple as that.

 

Different strokes for different folks!

 

Got to disagree, I felt it just went flat in flavor which I thought was amazing considering the percentage and style. But then maybe I am just picky on my aging as I felt a 1 year old Palo Santo also lost a lot compared to fresh. Maybe I should try it again with this years batch if it ever gets down to TX, it really does seem slower in getting down then previous years.

 

No offense, but what a pointless thread. Taste is SUBJECTIVE, meaning, whether something is good or not is based on an individuals opinion, nothing more really. Reviews/scores are not a guarantee that you'll enjoy a beer. Not a fan? Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

 

Everybody has at least one beer they don't get.

Most of us don't get why people like light beer.

I don't get King Henry, Veritas 09, Surly Five, Darkness, Sixpoint Rye/Righteous, pretty much all hotd, hunahpu, rauch ur bock, biere de garde, Salvation etc. . . but I know many learned, respected palates who do, so I just figure its just me, not the beer.

So be it, like wise men have said above, different strokes etc. . .

 

I just let it be..not a big deal. We all have different opinions, palates, etc

 

A good buddy of mine, and I have had something to do with expanding his love of good beer, hates beers by Anchor. It bothers me because they make great beer and I suspect he says it on purpose to piss me off. That said I respect others opionions and taste buds even though sometimes I just don't get it. I frankly do not understand and never will the universal love for Belgian stlye ale. I just might be one of the few lovers of fine beer that can't and never will acquire a taste for that genre.

 

Wooah! I came here to ask a simple question and I find this thread with numerous misconceptions.

First, many hopadics do not enjoy malt based beer. Great Divide does a great job explaining this a malt forward beer.

Second, this beer (with proper storage) ages with the best of any beers. The malt complexity mellows and becomes even more enjoyable.

Thirdly, (I know grammar wise this is wrong, but I am drinking) Do not believe what you read or see as a number on the beer shelf.

Fourth, Save the other 5 beers and enjoy them in a year or two when your palate matures/detierates and you may like them.

CHeers

 

Rather than saying (paraphrased) "I don't think is the beer is very good. Tell me why I should find it impressive," let me offer an alternative approach:

Try explaining (in detail) what you thought of the beer -- your expectations, what you tasted/experienced, where it fell short -- and then asking the community to help flesh out what is at the heart of your decent from the community's consensus.

The latter improves on the former, in that it actually holds some chance of producing a productive dialogue.

 

About a year ago I attended a Hop Disciples (beer support group) meeting at Great Divide and they treated us to a 3 year vertical of Hibernation. I like not love Hibernation, but the vertical was excellent and a fond memory for me that reminds me to age more brews just to see what I get.

 

Although I have never got wasted on the color red... Therefore beer > colors.

 

Hibernation is one of my absolute favorites winter time ales. I love the malt kick and nice warming abv. I missed out on it last year so I hope to pick some up this year!

 

Why ask why, personal taste isn't something to question or be ashamed. I mean let's face it the fact that you are on BA, hopefully means you are not a mindless sheep. Sadly, in this golden age of craft beer there are many hiding amongst us who are total scenesters who won't be around when the tide rolls back out to sea. Believe me, all of us have beers that we dislike that many others find top of the heap enjoyable. It's ok not to get it, this isnt a test, you're not being graded, no ones going to point and laugh or kick you out of the club.