Here’s yet another beer that I decided to drink with a bit of age on it rather than right away. In the case of Great Divide Grand Cru, however, it seems that I certainly made the right choice by holding off. Described by the brewery as a “Belgian-style dark ale”, Great Divide Grand Cru is not a dubbel, however. At 11% alcohol by volume it will be pegged in that nebulous style of beer known as Belgian Grand Cru.
Grand Cru, of course, is originally a wine term that means “great growth”. The beer world has appropriated it, generally in association with Belgian styled ales as is the case here. Grand Crus are seldom similar in flavor profile, instead simply being a major effort from the producing brewer. They could be more malty or more hoppy, light or dark colored, spiced or not. They will generally have a higher alcohol content and be a special release, however.
To that point, here is how Great Divide describes their Grand Cru. From the label:
Grand Cru is our very special Belgian-style dark ale. Imported malts give it a round malty richness, and the fruity complexity and slightly spicy character come from brewing with a proprietary Belgian yeast strain. Don’t let the name fool you; while it may be a special occasion beer, this medium-bodied, elegant incarnation is anything but snobbish. Suggested food pairings: Roasted chicken with thyme, braised short ribs, oven roasted vegetables, grilled sweet potatoes, roaring 40′s blue cheese, bread pudding.
Here’s my take on the 2011 edition with about a year of age on it:
Great Divide Grand Cru pours to a murky dark brown color with a light but very creamy tan head formation and a soft nutty malt nose that hints at Belgian funk. A thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the side of my glass and follows the liquid all the way to the bottom. Upon sipping, I find a soft and smooth palate with delightful toasty nutty undercurrents, light chocolate, rock candy, a sinfully creamy texture, dark fruit, rum raisin ice cream, banana, licorice, and brown sugar. The finish is warmed with alcohol and that help dry it more than the faint hop bitterness does.
This is a complex beer indeed but I like the fact that nothing is overstated. All the components work together in harmony, yet none really predominate over the others. For a beer of this strength and complexity, I think $7.99 is not a bad asking price.
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