I’ve been hearing some fairly disturbing news lately. Specifically, some climatologists are saying that global warming may be altering our planet’s ecosystems in ways that may not be conducive to the growing of barley and hops. That could mean a somewhat less beery future, and I don’t know about you, but I’m not feeling warm and fuzzy about that idea.

So, I’m drinking up while we still have plenty of beer. And one of the beers I’ve been drinking plenty of lately is Great Divide Denver Pale Ale. Now, there’s nothing too much different about Denver Pale Ale from plain old pale ale, but I will submit to you that this is indeed one dynamite glass of beer.

Great Divide is known for their line of robust and tasty hand-crafted brews, and Denver Pale Ale is often considered to be their flagship brew. It’s one more awards than you can shake a stick at, and if you don’t believe me just visit their website: they have a long list of them.

Great Divide Denver Pale Ale pours to a brilliant copper color with a thick creamy head formation and a softly fruity, subtly herbal nose. The first thing you’ll notice when you take a sip, hopefully after you’ve let the beer warm a bit to a cool temperature, is the rich, chewy caramel body here. You could take a bath in this stuff, and maybe even float in it. Maybe.

Anyway, all that chewy caramel is accented by a bit of juicy ripe fruit flavor and a delightfully herbal and piney hop aroma. The hops hit you, as hops usually do in beers like this, gradually and incrementally as they build into the finish, which here is delightfully bitter with a long and lingering dry aftertaste.

Now, Great Divide calls this a “classic pale ale”, which of course I would disagree with if you think that a classic pale ale would be an English pale ale, as I do. It’s more of an American pale ale, which is a hoppier pale ale somewhere in between an English pale ale and an IPA. Michael Jackson once called it “a very refreshing, appetizing American-style pale ale”. And who is anybody to argue with him when it comes to beer?

American pale ales don’t get much better than this one. A wonderful balance of malt and hops, Great Divide’s Denver Pale Ale is a true winner that you shouldn’t miss. But you’d best hurry and find some, before the world runs out of beer.

Update August 4, 2012:  Tonight I enjoyed a mug of Great Divide Denver Pale Ale at Taco Mac. Once again, this was a delicious American Pale Ale, although curiously the hop profile in the finish seemed a bit different. I didn't get so much piney aroma as herbal, grassy this time, and the beer seems to have picked up a more intense bitterness in the finish. Still, the malt profile in the middle is tasty indeed and more than up to the task of providing  a base for the hops. A bit pricier than i would like for a pale ale ($6.75 for a pint), but I definitely enjoyed this beer from a freshly tapped keg.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 

 

 



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