Great Divide Brewing Co. - "Hercules" Double IPA

Today's review is a very long time overdue. I'd like you all to behold one of my top 5 beers in the world - Great Divide's Hercules Double IPA. This beer is serious business - it's a 10% ABV double India pale ale, available in singles and four-packs at most retailers - a single goes for $4. Not too bad of a price for greatness! Let's dive in.

It's got a burnt orange color with some off-white head when poured.

It's a cloudy neon tangerine when held to the light.

The foam dies down quickly with no real lacing. This beer's got a heady nose with strong malt smells. Nice fruit aromas, too, which is really nice.

This is one of those beers that takes you by surprise when you drink it. Like the Fort George "Java the Hop," the color and nose don't necessarily match up to what you might expect the beer to taste like. As a result, it's quite an adventure to drink. There is a well-balanced flavor of both fruit and hops, with no grittiness or bitter tastes whatsoever. The main flavor here is peach. It's a taste unusual to beer, but one that's very welcome. There's a strong undercurrent of malts and alcohol that accompany the fruity finish and has a pleasant, syrupy-sweet alcohol aftertaste that warms the stomach well.

I personally love this beer - it's unlike any IPA I've ever had, with the exception of DC Brau's "On the Wings of Armageddon." It's smooth enough to dodge the usual IPA problems but is strong and heady enough to keep you (and me) interested. This certainly isn't a session beer - grab one or two of these and dive deep...but be prepared to switch to something lighter and mainstream once you're done. Hercules lives up to its name, for sure!