Fall is approaching us here in Chicago as the temperatures are dropping and more importantly the humidity is gone. However, this morning when I woke up it was rainy and overcast. Wanting to say in a catch up on some much needed rest I hunkered in with a nice beer and some episodes of Rookie Blue.

My selection of brew was one that I had picked up the night before. Hailing from the fine Great Divide in Colorado Rumble is an American IPA aged on French and American Oak. While I’m not exactly sure how they impart the oak qualities, my guess is through the use of oak chips. This seasonal brew (Aug-Sept) has the same abv as their Titan IPA coming in at 7.1%.

The label notes two adjectives: exemplary and balanced. I would wholeheartedly agree. When pouring this clear bourbon colored brew I was met with a salvo of both hoppy and malty goodness. I noticed that the oak character brought out more of the caramel, toasted, biscuit aspect of the malt profile while rounding it out with a smooth slight vanilla body. There was a light candied wood sugar/caramel hint while the overall aging added an earthy dimension to the brew.

After having Titan I was expecting a fresh bursting hop aroma and flavor, but the oak complimented the piney component of the hops rounding out the bitter edges (in the aroma). There is still a floral quality which the oak blends into a honeyed character. The abv is moderately noticeable, but for the most part the malts dominate the front half while the hops take over the back half. It leaves behind a resinous dry finish with hints of tannins. Towards the end of the glass I started getting a coriander/black pepper spice in both the aroma and taste (as well as peach and pineapple notes).

It is a pleasantly mellowed form of their Titan IPA which I would recommend trying. One of the best oak aged IPAs I’ve had. It packs a lot of flavors.

ABV: 7.1%

Grade: A