Great Divide Hercules Double IPA
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Tasting Notes
Hercules Double IPA leads with an aggressive wave of citrus and pine resin on the nose, backed by a faint tropical undercurrent. On the palate, assertive hop bitterness dominates — grapefruit pith, pine needles, and a touch of dried mango — balanced by a firm, biscuity malt backbone that keeps the beer from tipping into pure astringency. The body is full without being syrupy. The finish is long and resinous, with bitterness that lingers well past the swallow.
About the Brewery
Great Divide Brewing is based in Denver, Colorado, and has been operating since 1994. The brewery built its reputation on bold, high-gravity beers and has accumulated an unusually large number of Great American Beer Festival medals over the years. Yeti Imperial Stout is arguably their flagship, but their hop-forward offerings — Titan IPA and Hercules among them — are equally central to their identity in the Colorado craft scene.
Food Pairings
The beer's resinous bitterness and weight make it a natural match for fatty, char-marked foods: a well-marbled burger or grilled ribeye can stand up to the hop intensity without being overwhelmed. Sharp, aged cheddar works because its salt and umami echo the malt backbone while softening the bitterness. Spicy Thai or Indian curry finds a counterpart in the citrus and tropical hop character. Strong blue cheese — gorgonzola or Roquefort — pairs well because the beer's sweetness tempers the funk without erasing it.
Style Guide
American Double IPA, sometimes called Imperial IPA, takes the hop-forward character of a standard American IPA and amplifies everything: more hops, more malt to balance them, and an ABV typically ranging from 8% to 12%. The style emerged from American craft brewing in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with Russian River's Pliny the Elder often cited as a defining benchmark. Unlike a West Coast IPA, which prizes lean bitterness and dry finish, a Double IPA carries noticeable residual malt sweetness to support its elevated strength and hop load.