Type: Beer – Belgium Strong Ale
Name: Great Divide Brewing Co. – Hades Ale  @GreatDivideBrew
Price: $2.09
Made: Denver, Colorado
Alc/Vol: 7.8%

According to what the Great Divide Brewing Co. shared with me on twitter, Hades Ale was originally a seasonal beer in 22oz bottles but became  so popular that they started brewing it year round in 6 packs. Now that to me is bad-ass, but then again when you have a name like Hades you know your in for one hell of a good beer.   They surely talk a big game on their website boasting the awards they have won, and challenge others to, “Crack open a bottle and decide for yourself.” Although, if you are dealing out the good stuff why not throw on a Greek god and his three headed puppy, Cerberus, and call it a day.

Pale Ale beers are not a commonly popular beer next to the pilsner beers that dominate the US market, and probably for good reason – because it has flavor. The down side is that it makes it hard to compare the beer to anything commonly available to you, unless you search out a microbrewery which is probably a good thing. What makes this Pale Ale special is that it is, “a Belgian-Style golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives a complex spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it a very well balanced, crisp ale.” Yeah, pretty fancy like, spicy and medium, that’s like the guy who apologizes for making fun of you then put’s a ‘Kick Me’ sign on your back – and you know what I like that guy.

The beer had a faint apple vinegar type scent, at least that is the best I can describe it. I loved the fact that it gives you food pairings with it, and I am sure it would go well with “fresh mussels, crusty bread and artisan cheese” but I’ll tell you what it doesn’t pair with – pancakes. Don’t get all, you shouldn’t be drinking that early on me, because I wasn’t, although it’s not like I never have before it happens to be a favorite weekend hobby of mine. This time, however, I was enjoying Brinner (that’s breakfast dinner for you non-Scrubs watching readers) and that is how I learned that Hades + pancakes ≠ yummy but Hades by itself does.

Hades has a strong ale taste but brings a hoppy flavor to it without a strong taste of alcohol even though it is 7.8% This is a mark of a quality beer and if you don’t understand what I’m flinging let me break it to you this way Guinness is strong and Colt 45 is strong but the former taste yummy and the latter taste like piss water alcohol. Got it? Good.

If I just went off the smell of this beer it would be questionable, then again it was up against sweet pancakes. The aftertaste gave off a good bitter bite to it that didn’t over carry itself, it was there then gone. The one major noticeable thing was the fact that this little monkey was feeling good after one beer, maybe that’s why they call it Hades? Overall I give this beer 4 out of 5 bananas. Have you ever had it before, what’s your take?

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Tags: alcohol, ale, Beer, beer review, Belgium Ale, Belgium Strong Ale, brinner, Great Divide, Hades, Hades Ale, NBT, new brew, New Brew Tuesday, pale ale, rate beer, scrubs