Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

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

Pilsner? Strong Lager? IPA? I don’t know exactly, but if I had to pick one it would be imperial IPA. When I bought this (this is totally overpriced by the way, $16) I was expecting a really fantastic pilsner, something that would blow the socks off of Miller Lite. However this one packs a serious punch, and after only two swallows I’ve got the neck cramps coming on just like when I drink red wine. I digress. It pours a really awesome honey amber with a good amount of viscosity, and a solid, foamy head. Aromas of nicely roasted malt that gives it a nice floral, sweet aroma. An intense mouthfeel on the first swallow but ones afterwards are very smooth, balanced, with some nice, subtle lingering hoppiness and a great malty aftertaste that reminds you that it really wasn’t a pilsner you were drinking. This is such a great beer in so many ways.

Light gold color with foamy white head. Malty aroma with some floral undertones. Grassy palate with some hop to it.

Pours a cloudy shining golden color, with a giant foamy white head. Nice biscuity malt profile is present on the nose as well as some slight floral hoppiness. A very grassy sweetness dominates the front palate, but as the beer progresses the hops emerge. A great piney floral hoppiness takes the bready malt flavor and tropical fruit sweetness to another level and finishes the beer wonderfully.

Ceramic bomber, pours a cloudy bright golden color with a minimal white head, good lacing. Inviting floral aroma with undertones of apricot, mango and grass. Sweeter but pleasant taste that starts just a touch bitter, is like apricot/mango fruit juice in the middle and finishes very sweet. A bit pricy, but a very different and unique beer, recommended.

Light orange, slight chill haze. Good offhwite head, indeed outstanding for the ABV. Warm, attractive but relatively simple aromas of apricot/citrus and malt. Flavors begin bright, then become sweet, and finally hoppy but not terribly bitter. Very little sensation of alcohol. Very impressive for its ability to hide its high alcohol, but lacking in complexity, particularly for a >$10 beer.

aroma grassy and skunky hops with cider and corn malt behind it. taste starts slightly bready with notes corn malt sweetness then turns to a nice spicy bitterness. For overall 8% this beer crisp and hides alcohol pretty well and finish dry. some warming in the belly. pretty tasty and definitely interesting.

Pours a cloudy orange gold with a frothy white head with good retention. Aroma of hops, pale malt. Fantastic balanced hops against the thick strong pale malt. Grassy, citrus, notes of spice (ginger) and a pleasant sharp aftertaste. Almost a creamy body - thick and chewy with good carbonation. I’m not a pilsner fan, but this really takes the cake. Great beer.

Ceramic bottle. A dark golden beer with a bubbly whipped cream like off-white head. The aroma is sweet malty with a strong hop presence giving it notes of grass, herbs, and citrus. The flavor is sweet malty at first, but very soon first the hops hits the tongue with notes of grass, grapefruit, hay and herbs, and then the alcohol comes a long with a power, that makes its presence known, then the alcohol resides a bit, to leave a quite acidic grapefruity note towards the quite bitter end. Now this is a complex interpretation of a pilsener.