My initial expectations of Great Divide's Hot Shot Extra Special Bitter is that it would be...well...extra special or atleast special. Opening the bottle reveals a pleasant hoppy, caramel scented alewith a rich, dark color not unlike that of the bottle itself. The smell actually is reminiscent of a good molasses mash. The molasses theme continues when you sip it. A strong caramel note is what you first notice followed by a quick hops blast the is finished with a fizzy swallow. I really like this beer! I don't know that I could drink it if my only intentions were to get drunk, but as a sipper, it's fantastic and could accompany some nice salty snacks while watching the Minnesota Vikings lose yet another easy game on their road to...well...nowhere. So why not rate this beer higher you might ask? It just doesn't stand out in a crowded field. I like it a lot based on the caramel taste, but there isn't much differentiating it from other similar hops heavy beer. I certainly will be buying more of this stuff and will recommend it to anyone simply for the fact that is is a genuinely good bitter ale. I just don't know that I would choose it over any other product based on any aspect other than price or availability.