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Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner  - European Strong Lager

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 Percentile 
96
overall
Brewed by Boston Beer Company
Style: European Strong Lager

Boston, Massachusetts USA

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
9563.73/5.03.72/5.0Special8.8%99.2Lager glass
View Statistics  P 

Commercial Description:
2005 info:This lager is made with fresh Bavarian hops, straight off the vines from the 2005 harvest in Germany, and packs an 8.8 percent alcohol content that's twice as strong as most popular beers.
Boston Beer Co. is brewing only 60,000 24-oz. bottles, which are due to begin arriving in stores in November.

2007 release info:
Yes, we're a little obsessed with hops. Every autumn for over twenty years, Jim Koch has traveled to one of the oldest hop-growing regions in the world, the Hallertau region of Bavaria in Germany, to hand-select Noble Bavarian hops, including the Hallertau Mittelfrueh variety. This special variety is considered to be one of the best in the world, prized for its unique taste and aroma. Samuel Adams® Hallertau Imperial Pilsner is a celebration of these extraordinary hops. This beer is one of the hoppiest in the world, without being overly bitter. With the first sip, you will experience an explosion of some of the world's finest hops. And we mean “explosion” in a good way. Brewed as a showcase for the hops, this bold brew highlights the spicy, citrus flavors and aromas of the Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops that are abundant in the recipe. The intense hops flavor is balanced with the slight sweetness from the malt. The brew remains pleasantly well-balanced from beginning to end, due to the quality of the hops, and continues to always be, well, "hoppy," providing hop lovers with an amazing beer drinking experience.
Available in 12oz. bottles.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 theisti (1640), Leawood, Kansas, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/514/20
Oct 31, 2007  
12 oz. bottle from Gregis (2007 version). Pour is a very slightly hazy orange, with visible carbonation bubbles and a off white head. Aroma of grain, hops and some black pepper spice. Also, a bit of earthiness in there as well. Taste is primarily a hay - grassy hoppiness that is quite mouth coating. Finish has a lingering spiciness and bitterness that is quite pleasant. Very fresh tasting.


 Palidor19 (1750), Brandon, Florida, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/104/516/20
Oct 31, 2007  
the aroma reminds of strong white pepper. taste is an overwhelming sensation of hops flavor with spicy notes. malts takes a back seat with the hops being the star of this beer. for the true hop lover beer.


 nick76 (2636), Tampa, Florida, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/104/512/20
Oct 31, 2007  
The aroma is very hoppy with a grainy malt character. The appearance is light amber gold with a foamy head. The flavor has an astringent bitterness with plenty of malt to back it up. The palate is thick with a peppery finish. Overall it’s good but not great.


 mj (4975), Colorado, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Oct 31, 2007  
12oz bottle, 2007 version. Clear medium golden orange color. Intensely hoppy and crisp nose, with grassy and fruity notes mixed up with some pils malt and pears. Flavor is similarly hoppy, grassy, fresh, lively and delicious. The hops are festive and grassy and suggest this is more of an IPA than any imperial pils, but style complaints notwithstanding, this is a really delicious, well-made beer. Thick and full and almost a bit frothy. Out of my price range for regular drinking, though, but still very good.


 oldno7 (135), Spokane, Washington, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Oct 30, 2007  
Pours a copper orange with a thick white head. Aroma is mostly hops with a little floral and pine. Flavor is a little aggressive and not quite balanced. I think aging this one for at least one year would be appropriate.


 MadMan (497), Tempe, Arizona, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Oct 30, 2007  
Bottle. 12 oz. 2007. Pours a hazy orange color with a giant frothy off white head, tons of sticky lace. Aroma is hoppy, floral, perfume, herbal, piny, grapefruit and orange rind, and other hoppy stuff I can’t describe. It smells lovely though, if this is hallertau, then I have decided I like hallertau. Nice to learn my varieties like this. Flavor is moderately to highly bitter, with a malty sweetness that persists through constant hop assault. Hoppy and bitter, with more of a floral sweetness and herbally earthiness than the PNW style pine like thing I’m used to drinking on a regular basis. It also has that back of the throat/tongue weird thing going on that I find trouble describing, along with straight resinous and citrusy grapefruit flavor. I dunno man. Sticky and intense, with a clean and lightly bitter dry finish. Peppery, but not overly so. This must be one good ass hop, because everything is in balance and yummy to me in this glass of hop juice. I’ll get some more when I can, hands down the best I’ve had from this brewer yet.


AndyCap (5), USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner  does not count
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/57/103/513/20
Oct 29, 2007  
12 oz. bottle Came in a 4 pack. Would have been nice to have 6. Lots and lots of hops. Plenty of flavor, and plenty of character. Tastes like a Hefe with an attitude problem. Sam Adams did a nice job here, and it is worth looking for. Not the best you will ever have, but tasty. Just need 6 bottles, not 4.


pdiddy (22), San Marcos, Texas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Oct 29, 2007  
Pours a hazy golden color with nice crisp head...blah, blah, blah. This is a good beer. It very closely resembles a pilz (moreso than expected) yet dares to go beyond. It packs a punch but is still quite drinkable. A good beer for hop heads- one that would make a certain brewer patriot proud!



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