Great Divide Showdown Rye IPA

Great Divide Showdown Rye IPA is a seasonal offering, clocking in a hefty 8.3% ABV. Bottled on June 26 2014, the sadly didn’t show up here in Savannah until late September!

It takes some strong whiffs of this to get all the aromas, but it’s a bit bready and sweet with some hints of minty spearmint. The taste starts with a lot of spicy rye and straight bitterness. Where this beer disappoints is in it’s lack of balance. I really want a bit more sweetness, although that tiny bit of spearmint does get into the taste which I’m enjoying. The finish is a mildly bitter but a bit watery.

One of those hard to rate beers. This isn’t something I’m going to look for every year, but it is a solid IPA that would really pair well with most any meal.