Oak Aged Yeti

“Oak Aged Yeti” is supposed to be a “more sophisticated” version of Great Divide's “Yeti,” an Imperial stout. What makes it more sophisticated, you might ask? I assume it's the oak aging, but I'm not really in a position to compare the two because I've only tasted the Oak Aged version, not the original and presumably less hoity-toity original. But that doesn't really matter, because any beer must stand on its own- and this one does.

The Oak Aged Yeti is delicious, with a multi-layered malty flavor reminiscent of (but distinct from) a good pint of Guinness. I specify a “good pint,” because Guinness is a rather delicate creature and its true superiority only comes across when it's perfectly stored and perfectly poured, a combination that rarely occurs. Nine out of every ten pints of Guinness outside of the British Isles will be disappointing if you know what the stuff is supposed to taste like, and the canned and bottled versions are inevitably sub-par, so even though Guinness in its pure form is one of the all-time great beers, it just isn't easy to get a good one if you don't happen to live in Britain or Ireland.

 

As such, it's frequently more satisfying to find a good stout from a microbrewery, unless you have access to Guinness in its ideal state. If you've tasted the real Guinness and you just can't seem to find it, “Oak Aged Yeti” will prove far more satisfying than the inferior Guinness poured by most pubs.