Divine Vertical Tasting: 1 through 11
In June 2011, along with a dozen dedicated, rather manic, fans and collectors of the Divine Reserve beers from Saint Arnold, I participated in a tasting of all (at the time) eleven of these diverse, specialty small-batch brews. We thoroughly tested the brewery's claim that "many will benefit from being aged."
Below are my impressions and ratings, scored on a scale of 0 to 10.
#1 – Barleywine – Released October, 2005, 9.3% alcohol – I was not expecting much from a first try that was nearly six years old. It didn’t deliver, either. The beer tasted hot – alcohol out of balance – and the body was thin for the style. 4.0
#2 – American Quadruppel – Released July, 2006, 9.3% alcohol – This improved after it had been opened for a few minutes, obtaining a level of mediocrity slightly above Number One. Its enjoyable brown sugar notes did not last very long, hampered by a lack of carbonation. 4.5
#3 – Double IPA – Released September 2006, 9.5% alcohol – This hugely hoppy style is not among my favorites, but this was an improvement over the first two. Its massive bitterness was complemented by some malty sweetness, but finished with a slight, but noticeable tar taste. 5.0
#4 – Wee Heavy – Released February, 2007, 9.5% alcohol – The cleanup position delivered; an enjoyable beer. It had plenty of pleasing maltiness with hints of fig and even peat – they really took this Scottish theme to heart – and long, pleasurable finish. 7.5
#5 – Russian Imperial Stout – Released August, 2007, 10% alcohol – Though the aroma was redolent of motor oil, it actually nicely tasted like a strong Irish stout, and continued the string of successively improving quality (and I really was tasting; very small quantities of each). 8.0
#6 – American Barleywine – Released June 2008, 10% alcohol – Properly winey but with perceptible hops and a smooth, balanced array of flavors, the brewers’ skill was also apparent by the fact that it didn’t seem its 10% alcohol level. Drink enjoyably, but carefully. 8.0
#7 – Weizenbock – Released September, 2008, 8.4% alcohol – Hops, hopes dashed. This tasted mostly of sour cherries with hints of cloves, which actually was not bad after popping the top. Revisiting it a half-hour later it was; not one that has aged well. 3.0
#8 – Scotch Ale – Released August, 2009, 9.3% alcohol – I could not place the aroma at first then someone said, “Band-Aid.” Accurate, and off-putting. Though tastes melded a little after the early sips, they did not do so enough for my enjoyment. 5.0
#9 – Imperial Pumpkin Stout – Released November, 2009, 11% alcohol – This featured prominent aromas of clove, nutmeg, allspice, etc… hey, a pumpkin pie. This big beer is sweet and very flavorful, best enjoyed in small amounts after dinner. 8.5
#10 – English Barleywine – Released October, 2010, 11% alcohol – The nose was not pleasant, but was brief. The beer improved slightly after opening, but the evident maltiness and dry finish were just two of the taste sensations that never came together for an agreeable whole. 4.0
#11 – Double IPA – Released March, 2011, 8.9% alcohol – A floral fragrance prefaced a mostly hoppy taste with some noticeable malt, making this a fine representative of an assertive style. I liked it more soon after its release in March, though. 7.0
Below are my impressions and ratings, scored on a scale of 0 to 10.
#1 – Barleywine – Released October, 2005, 9.3% alcohol – I was not expecting much from a first try that was nearly six years old. It didn’t deliver, either. The beer tasted hot – alcohol out of balance – and the body was thin for the style. 4.0
#2 – American Quadruppel – Released July, 2006, 9.3% alcohol – This improved after it had been opened for a few minutes, obtaining a level of mediocrity slightly above Number One. Its enjoyable brown sugar notes did not last very long, hampered by a lack of carbonation. 4.5
#3 – Double IPA – Released September 2006, 9.5% alcohol – This hugely hoppy style is not among my favorites, but this was an improvement over the first two. Its massive bitterness was complemented by some malty sweetness, but finished with a slight, but noticeable tar taste. 5.0
#4 – Wee Heavy – Released February, 2007, 9.5% alcohol – The cleanup position delivered; an enjoyable beer. It had plenty of pleasing maltiness with hints of fig and even peat – they really took this Scottish theme to heart – and long, pleasurable finish. 7.5
#5 – Russian Imperial Stout – Released August, 2007, 10% alcohol – Though the aroma was redolent of motor oil, it actually nicely tasted like a strong Irish stout, and continued the string of successively improving quality (and I really was tasting; very small quantities of each). 8.0
#6 – American Barleywine – Released June 2008, 10% alcohol – Properly winey but with perceptible hops and a smooth, balanced array of flavors, the brewers’ skill was also apparent by the fact that it didn’t seem its 10% alcohol level. Drink enjoyably, but carefully. 8.0
#7 – Weizenbock – Released September, 2008, 8.4% alcohol – Hops, hopes dashed. This tasted mostly of sour cherries with hints of cloves, which actually was not bad after popping the top. Revisiting it a half-hour later it was; not one that has aged well. 3.0
#8 – Scotch Ale – Released August, 2009, 9.3% alcohol – I could not place the aroma at first then someone said, “Band-Aid.” Accurate, and off-putting. Though tastes melded a little after the early sips, they did not do so enough for my enjoyment. 5.0
#9 – Imperial Pumpkin Stout – Released November, 2009, 11% alcohol – This featured prominent aromas of clove, nutmeg, allspice, etc… hey, a pumpkin pie. This big beer is sweet and very flavorful, best enjoyed in small amounts after dinner. 8.5
#10 – English Barleywine – Released October, 2010, 11% alcohol – The nose was not pleasant, but was brief. The beer improved slightly after opening, but the evident maltiness and dry finish were just two of the taste sensations that never came together for an agreeable whole. 4.0
#11 – Double IPA – Released March, 2011, 8.9% alcohol – A floral fragrance prefaced a mostly hoppy taste with some noticeable malt, making this a fine representative of an assertive style. I liked it more soon after its release in March, though. 7.0
