Rye Lager, Abbey-Style Ale Complete 2009 Seasonal Lineup
Denver, CO—Great Divide Brewing Company, one of America’s most acclaimed microbreweries, has spent almost all of 2009 releasing new seasonal beers, from Claymore Scotch Ale and Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout to Belgica, Double Wit and more, and on August 14, it will complete this ambitious new lineup with two unique new beers: Hoss and Tripel.
Hoss is based on the Märzen lagers of Germany. Rich, layered malt notes, with hints of cherry and dark fruits, dominate, while the unique addition of rye imparts a slightly earthy, spicy character. Hoss is vibrantly red-orange in color, and it features a crisp, dry finish.
“Hoss is our first commercially released lager ever,” notes Great Divide founder and president Brian Dunn. “We wanted it to have those classic German-lager qualities—to be clean, drinkable—but we also wanted to put our own twist on it. The rye is subtle, but it gives the beer a nice jolt of liveliness and makes it unique. We think it makes a perfect beer for late summer.”
Hoss, which will replace Belgica in Great Divide’s seasonal lineup, will be available in six-packs and on draft through October 1. It sits at a stout but still sessionable 6.4% alcohol by volume.
Tripel is Great Divide’s nod to the classic strong abbey ales of Belgium. Fruity yeast character dominates throughout, while a balance of sweet malt and noble hops gives way to a bit of warmth in the finish. Tripel is straw-hued and medium-bodied, and is dangerously drinkable for a beer at 9.3% alcohol by volume.
“We’ve really enjoyed experimenting with Belgian styles, and Tripel is our biggest, richest Belgian-style beer yet,” says Dunn. “The great abbey ales are a lot to live up to, but we think Tripel will stand up to the best of them; it’ll send off the new seasonal series with a bang.”
Tripel will be available in 22-ounce bottles and on draft through October 1.
Great Divide will hold a release party for Hoss and Tripel on August 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the brewery. For $15, partygoers can get snacks and all the Hoss and Tripel they can (responsibly) drink.
