Frank (1064), Chicago, Illinois, USA Nov 24, 2007 If you want to know what Hallertau hops taste like, this is one of the best places to find out. They are there in abundance and they are front and center. I’m not sure what "An European Strong Lager" is but in this case it comes off as a cleanish IPA. Color is hazy golden w/ a nice head of small bubbles. Nose is laden w/ floral and fruity hops. Body is somewhat thin but w/ a nice cushion of carbonation to bolster it into OK-ness. Bitterness in the finish is not quite overbearing and on the spicy/earthy side. Not a bad offering at all. doublebock (196), USA Nov 23, 2007 Copper orange color. Aroma is a sweet malty piney whiff. Taste is crisp with a matly honey citrus zest
The finish has an Intense hoppy bite cellardoor (45), St. Louis, Missouri, USA Nov 23, 2007 Ran across this in the store and was surprised that such a beer existed. I expected nice hop flavor but nothing like tihs. Had more of a west coast citirus hop flavor. Don’t think I could have more than a bottle or two. kerplun1 (11), New York, USA Nov 23, 2007 2007 offering. Pours pretty murky, and I was sure to not pour the last 1/4" or so as I could see some sediment at the bottom. Head was average and dissipated quickly. Aroma is hoppy but nothing out of the ordinary. Leaves nice legs on the glass, texture wasn’t as creamy as I anticipated it might be but then again it’s a pils so I guess it’s par for the course. Feels very dry on the tongue, and has a great amount of bitterness with a nice bitter aftertaste. Great offering to come from SA but a bit expensive for what it is. There are better alternatives for the cost, but this was a pleasure to try and is both enjoyable and well crafted. riversideAK (2648), Shoreline, Washington, USA Nov 23, 2007 Hazy gold with a thin sticky head. Aroma is citrus hops, grass hops, and some bread like maltiness. Wow this is intensely hoppy. Bitter. Bitter. Bitter. But not over the top. Lots of pine, notes of grapefruit, earth, herbs...man! The slightest bready malt notes make an appearance, but this is hop dominated. Very dry, resiny, pungent. A little warmth, but for the most part the hops cover it up. This is hands down, the best Sam beer I have ever had. hiddenvariable (194), pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Nov 22, 2007 bottle. pours a hazy honey gold with a medium off-white head that slowly fades to a film and leaves a good lacing. great smell of citrus hops and bready malts. taste is more citrus hops, some pine hops, that same bready malt. there is a lot more depth to the hop profile than i expected. it tastes young and deep, like a fresh-hop beer. the finish is remarkable. medium-bodied and lightly sweet, but the bitterness is only moderate but lasts forever and seems to grow in tingliness. perfect carbonation for adding to those tingles. yet another beer that i wish i could drink more regularly, and great stuff from sam adams. xnoxhatex (1305), Grand Rapids/Chicago, Michigan, USA Nov 22, 2007 12 oz bottle from West Lakeiew Liquors, Chicago. Hazy orange color with medium white head. Surprisingly large amount of orange citrus hops and sweet malt. Big citrus hop flavor, caramel, no lager flavors, slight noble hop spice is the only lager like thing about this beer. Medium body with light carbonation. A very big hop flavor with not a trace of lager flavor/aroma, you could have tricked me. ketchepillar (475), Viña del Mar, Chile Nov 21, 2007 Updated: Oct 28, 200812oz bottle on 11/21/07. Wonderful strong, yet non-aggressive hop aroma. Hops are strong in the taste as well, but again, it’s not an aggressive bitterness. Quite soft. The hallertau was a good choice. Long, very dry finish. The alcohol is noticeable but doesn’t really affect the taste. 9/5/9/5/18-4.6
12oz bottle in stemmed flute 10/28/08. A ton of apricot in the aroma and flavor of this beer. Also smells like ice tea. Tied in with the apricot is the experience of licking an ashtray in there. Aroma is really, not very hoppy, more malty, but maybe it’s just the character of the hallertau. Flavor is definitely fairly malty. Not really cigarettes, not really cigar, more like swisher sweets, but not in a bad way. Apricot is all the way through. The mouthfeel is very good, maybe a little overcarbonated; In the finish is where it really comes alive-I think it’s the hallertau making it really hoppy, but in a soft, interesting way, which creates dichotomous confusion on my tongue between wrenching bitterness and gentle waves of apricot swisher sweet ice tea. Grass in the finish as well. 7/4/8/4/16-3.9
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