Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

Brewed by Rogue Ales
Style: European Strong Lager
Newport, Oregon USA

On tap at Rogue in Portland, OR--Poured a hazy yellow body with a wispy white head. Nose of bold malts and bright hops. Some sweet cloying grippiness midway through the taste. A little thick after a while, but otherwise, quite good.

On-tap at Stone 5/8/08. Pours slightly hazy yellow with a small white head and some lace. Smells malty sweet and slightly hoppy. Tastes crisp and not overly malty sweet, has a bitter hoppiness right in mid sip as well. Lingering bitter sweet hoppiness. Full bodies but not overly thick or sweet like I was expecting. GOod carbonation.

Tap @ Blind Tiger. Pours a cloudy golden color with a slight white head. Aroma and taste are slight malt up front with monster hops in the background and a bitter aftertaste. You can really notice the dry-hopping, as this is more overtly bitter than many other imperial pilsners I’ve tried.

I dug this one, my favorite from Rogue actually. A powerful lager of raw strength and pure dominance. Got on tap at Rogue brewery.

750 ml. bottle. Not getting a strong aroma. The head is pretty tall and dense. The color is slightly hazy gold - loose protein? Some noble hop aroma as the head breaks up. Near medium body with creamy carbonation. Turns a bit thin as the carbonation leaves. Flavor is nicely bitter - grassy bitter. There is quite a bit of malt to go with all of that bitter. Seems balanced. One of the hoppier lagers, but not quite so much as the Sam Adams version. Very tasty. A little spice, a little touch of fruit. Leaves the mouth rather dry and bitter.

Aroma: Rather faint; caramel malts and herbal/spicy hops come through. Kind of a pumpkin smell, as well, with just a hint of clove. Appearance: Cloudy red-orange with an apple cider quality. Creamy but overly excited head dissipates rather quickly, leaving wispy, cobweb-ish lacing. Flavor: Very fruity. Prune juice, orange rindy hops, and there’s some banana action going on, like a dunkel weizen. A bit of powdery yeast runs through it as well, and just a drop of maple-like sweetness. This is not like any other pilsener I’ve had before. It goes pretty well with my New Year’s Day dinner, consisting of roast goose, cranberry-pecan wild rice stuffing, and green beans. Alcohol is more present as it warms. Palate: Medium bodied, and surprisingly sharp and dry. Overall: I did really enjoy this beer and I recommend it, but I can’t say I’ll ever buy it again. At most places it’s $16 a bomber (I found it for $12), and I’m afraid it’s just not worth that. Awesome bottle, though.

Pours to a hazy dark-yellow color. Wonderful aroma of yeast and hops. Lots of flavor here -- lots of hops, some citrus perhaps, and a lasting bitter finish. Great pallet -- creamy, but not too much so. And that finish -- easily one of my new favorites.

Pours with a small, white head that goes quickly, covering a chill hazed, golden body. Aroma is hoppy, then sweet malts, some pilsner grass, and cornbread yeast. Taste is sugary and hoppy upfront with a long bitterness folowing. Creamy mouthfeel. Very ood beer style wise.