Great Divide Brewing Company Hercules Double IPA
What the brewers say
“Hercules IPA is not for the faint of heart. It delivers a huge amount of hops from start to finish. Its hefty backbone of nutty, malty sweetness balances its aggressive hops profile.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Floral with jasmine notes and a hint of lemon and lavender. Faint grassy notes and some grainy sweetness. Cloves, cinnamon, citrus peel, and honey—holiday festive. A toffee/biscuit-like malt sweetness.”
Flavor: “Initial toffee sweetness is balanced by some nice bitterness in the finish. Resinous, caramelly, evergreen, and bitter. Malt is enjoyable, though the bitterness comes off a bit harsh. As it warms, the bitterness becomes even harsher.”
Overall: “More malt-focused for a double IPA. Nice complexity and some complementary floral, earthy hops avors. An IPA for the holidays! This is like a cross between an IPA and an English winter warmer. More wintry than summery with a nice complexity driven by an earthy spiciness that leaves a bold impression.”
