Grand Cru – Great Divide Brewery, Denver, CO

ABV: 11%

When it comes to beer, Great Divide’s Grand Cru translates perfectly to the case of a classic tragic romance. It is without a doubt one of the finest beers I have ever tasted. During my first encounter with this nectar of the gods, I drunkenly, yet accurately exclaimed, “If liquid gold tasted awesome, this would be the only way to properly describe this fucking beer.” Again, fellow PD writer Stu Thomas and I were in the process of “getting cru’ed” but upon further sober review the verdict still rang true. We had stumbled upon a tremendous moment in our own craft beer discovery journey.

Now comes the tragedy portion, and I feel like a huge ass, because there is practically no way for you to acquire this beer anymore.  According to a former employee at Great Divide, Grand Cru will never be brewed again. Apparently the cost of production massively outweighed the price they felt could accompany such a beer on the market. And to that I say charge $30 a bomber and I’d gladly break my piggy bank to save up for a case.

Grand Cru is a dark Belgian strong ale that pours a rich dark brown. Like most dark Belgian strongs, it is prized for its raisin-y, fruity flavors. But what sets it apart from others is the caramel vanilla-y flavors that are woven into the sweet fruitiness. This provides a perfect balance that doesn’t outshine either aspect.