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Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 3.72 959

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

Percentile
96
overall

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
9593.73/5.03.72/5.0Special8.8%99.2Lager glass
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?  
 whaleman (2171), North Wales, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/104/515/20
Dec 7, 2005  
Attractive, clear deep golden body with medium carbonation and a lush, cottony white head. Aroma of buttery nuts (distinct, but not overpowering diacetyl) and notes of flowers, stonefruits, and cut grass. I expected a more assertive hop aroma. Flavor is alcoholic with some decent, medium sweet malt character suggesting honey and baked biscuits but this beer is unmistakably hop-centered, drying and mega-bitter. Has aspirin and plastic characters that linger. I wish they would have saved some of those bittering hops for the dry-hop addition. Definitely a beer for folks with an affinity for hops and alcohol. I appreciate the effort from Sam Adams coupled with a reasonable price tag and hope they do more along these lines.


 BDR (2170), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/516/20
Oct 26, 2007  
Very good for a pils. Light grainy nose. Some citrus hops in an otherwise grainy body. Alcohol doesn’t stand out as much as I’d expect.


 Silphium (2160), Haslett, Michigan, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/103/514/20
Nov 26, 2005  
Rating #1200.
A very strong offering from Sam Adams, a brewery that has stepped up to the plate the past two winters with the delicate, rich Black Lager and now this hard-hitting hop monster. Extremely hazy orange body, thick light tan head. Big spicy, peppery hops aroma, leafy and grassy, with the classic lemon undertones. Intense perfumey body, making this more-or-less a "hop tea," lemony, earthy, and peppery, with a long, bitter finish. Alcohol is surprisingly subdued. I’ve tried a few English-style IPAs that entered this territory but ended up way too bitter and medicinal; this somehow achieves balance while maintaining the intense hop character necessary to carry the style. A pleasant surprise, and worthy of another purchase.


 NYHarvey (2154), New York, New York, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/56/104/514/20
Jan 28, 2006  
Courtesy of Brock_landers. <P> Citrus laden hoppy aroma is long and deep. Hazy orange in color with a damn fine, lasting, two finger thick white head. Fore is very bitter with hops and is followed by a heavy malt thickness, but the hops carry all the way through and never step back to let the rest of the beer shine. Another hopapalooza here.


 zach8270 (2138), Henrietta, New York, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/58/104/514/20
Jan 18, 2006  
(bottle - 24 oz) Thick and cloudy orange pour with a thick and creamy tan head. Very light and floral hop aroma with hints of caramel and toffee. Extreme amount of hops at the beginning of the flavor with a hoppy and caramelly middle and a hoppy finish that leaves a hint of apple peels on the palate. Very thick and creamy.


 jsquire (2123), St. Marys, Ohio, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/516/20
Dec 12, 2005  
Murky golden color with a small white head. The nose was of acetate, bananas and raw bread dough. Strong flavor with noticable alcohol, some corn and malt sweetness. Nice big beer.


 mds (2112), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/515/20
Dec 8, 2005  
bottle. hazy orange body with a fluffy white head. aroma is very hoppy and leafy with some biscuit notes. wow, this is quite hoppy and resiny with a warm yeasty alcoholic body. very long lingering finish. good stuff, though there obviously isn’t any attempt at balance.


 SSSteve (2105), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/515/20
Oct 13, 2007  
12oz. thick pour. dark murky gold with a large creamy off-white head. good retention. citrus, mandarin orange hop aroma. flavor is citrusy and bitter. hint of alcohol. fairly dry finish. medium-full bodied.



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