Down the hatch: Yeti Imperial Stout

​I don’t know what abominable snowmen drink, but in my heart it’s Yeti Imperial Stout from Denver’s Great Divide Brewing Company.

The label says it is “untamed” and “imposing,” and the nose delivers a wild punch to the senses. Malted hops come out right away as well as roasted coffee. Curiously, I even got slight whiffs of what smelled like soy sauce.

The beer pours black and heavy — I have heard this stout compared to motor oil and I understand why. The first sip yields bold flavors of roasted malt and coffee and a dry finish. I taste chocolate in the next few sips — each one being slightly different. This is a very smooth stout that even yielded hints of raisins or fruit as it warmed, masking the alcohol well.