Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

The bottle poured opaque apple juice color with somewhat sustained 1/2 inch cream colored foam, delicate lacing. The nose has a very spicy hop bouquet, slight citrus, with more complexity as it warms. The flavor is all about the hops. Definitely bitter, peppery, but still flavorful, approaching balance with a hint of sweetness. Full bodied, delicious and well-crafted.

12 oz 2007 batch. Pours cloudy with an orange hue. The beer as a floral aroma with a noticeable alcohol smell. The flavor is quite hoppy with a hint of herbs and citrus. The beer as a substantial feel on the palate that is pleasant. A very nice and balanced beer.

This golden ale poured with a thin off-white head, eliciting a floral aroma. The flavor is very hoppy with a long bitter finish, and is quite substantial for a pilsner. This is an excellent beer for hopheads and a pretty satisfying brew for others - an impressive efffort from Samuel Adams.

12oz bottle. 2007 batch. Pours a murky orange color with a thin lacy head that quickly disappears. Strong whiff of Noble hops in the nose with a slight bit of alcohol present. Hops dominate the flavor of this beer, but aren’t overdone. More of a pine and grassy flavor to the hops in this Imperial Pilsner than the big citrus character found in most Imperial IPAs. I’m a huge fan of this style because they are a little more dry and have a crispness to them that is lacking in many of the Imperial IPAs. Body is impressively light to back an 8.8% beer with this type of hop kick. Overall by far the best of the current offerings from Sam Adams. Wish it were available year round.

Bottle 2007. Pours a golden amber colored brew w/ a slightly reddish hue. Very robust aroma with pungent hops, deep malt scents and alcohol. Flavor is similiar to double IPA or barleywine, but with a crisper palate. Supper hoppy, nice alc strength, full bodied, a fine sipping beer.

12 oz bottle with best by date before January 2008. Pours cloudy light amber with thick head that fades to a thin lace. Nose is hops/grain with citrus. Mouthfeel is thick and leaves a nice coating in the mouth. Flavor is rich with hops and citrus finish. The 8.8% is balanced nicely with the hops and adds a nice edge that agrees with the hoppy flavor. The best I’ve had from Sam Adams. (the other contender from Sam Adams is the Cream Stout)

Cloudy orange/gold in colr with a half-inch fluffy white head. Nice Hallertau hop nose, piney and citrusy. Flavor is hop heavy but smooth, balanced very well with the malt character. makes me wish Sam Adams brewed Imperial styles exclusively. Very good.

2007 bottle. Pours with moderate head. Hazy golden orange color. Intense aroma of hallertau and subtle mintiness as well. Flavor provides pilsner bitterness countered by a wonderful hopiness that leaves a lingering sweetness in the mouth. The 8.8% is a master of disguise in this beer.