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Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 3.72 957

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

Percentile
96
overall

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
9573.73/5.03.72/5.0Special8.8%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?  
 JFGrind (1353), Glenside, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/103/516/20
Oct 3, 2007  
Strong green hop aroma, cloudy, golden-bronze body, and a thick head. I doubt Boston Brewing in the first to re-invent the Pilsner, however, their version is well rounded, sweet, and bulging with German hops. Label said it was contract brewed inLatrobe which brought a smile to my face. It was good to know that the old Rolling Rock Brewery was up, running and producing good beer.


 Doppelganger (1353), Dry County, Arkansas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/105/515/20
Feb 9, 2009  
Slightly hazy copper (though handling before serving was a little rougher than ideal), good sticky white head. Lots of fresh herbal hop nose, hay, gentle grapeskin. Big mouthfilling pithy bitterness, but still delicate and balanced. Just a really nice, very hoppy beer.


 HonkeyBra (1350), Lemont, Illinois, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
Oct 3, 2008  
A copper color with a thick white head. Aroma is of deep, spicy hops. Flavor is all hops. Spicy, wonderful hops. Mouthfeel is impressive, and finish is still hops. Basically, much better than any imperial lager I’ve ever had. Obviously special, and very good.


 JohnnyJ (1343), Carlsbad, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Oct 21, 2008  
A nicely done , imperial pilsner. Well balanced and even with its strength still resembles a pilsner. Golden pour with an orange tinge and a fluffy white head. Crisp hoppiness, bready malt, grain, hints of lemon zest, and caramel sweetness. Full bodied, but ultimately feels light on the tongue.


 boto (1337), Granby, Connecticut, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/514/20
Jun 9, 2006  
24oz. bomber, 2005 edition: This one pours a cloudy orangish color. There was a fairly decent off white head that lingers and leaves a bit of lacing. Waiting for it to warm a bit and hopefully get more of a nose from it. It is currently a bit thin for a beer of this strength. I smell the hops, but they are faint. Mainly pine and grapefruit aromas. It wins a few more points on taste. Some sweetness poking through a good hop bite. I would classify this as an IPA and not an Imperial Pilsner. Still, a very drinkable brew.


 fly (1332), austin, Tejas, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/515/20
Oct 2, 2007  
I’ve never disliked SA beers, but never really found one I loved either. Have even become reluctant to buy some as I so often am left disappointed or underwhelmed. Thought I would give this a try after numerous comment. First one left me scratching my head, unable to wrap myself around just how I felt as it did come across as a hop bomb, but unlike any other I had ever experienced. Not the massively brutal bitter west coast variety for sure. I was tired and just let it go unrated. Then I tried one after having a DFH 60 Min and then the door was opened for me. Unlike some beers that get lost after having a ber like that, this time I "got it". Glad I still have two more to round out the experience. Perhaps I will buy more based on what transpires with them. Really enjoy the concept, if you want to call it that or that SA made a beer that’s somewhat extreme that I can enjoy.


 biz82 (1328), austin, Texas, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/515/20
Nov 10, 2005  
Hazy dull orange. Resinous hop aroma that reminds me of Stone IPA. Has some light caramel, citrus and cheese notes. Very sweet but balanced by a large hop presence and bitter finish. Makes me think of hop candy. Really seems like a big IPA more than any kind of lager. I was expecting it to be crisper. Still, a flavorful beer worth trying.


 kwoeltje (1322), Manchester, Missouri, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/105/514/20
Sep 30, 2007  
(2007 bottle) slightly hazy orange gold with generous white head. Abundant citrus hops aroma. Flavor is citrus/floral hops. If you’d told it was a west coast IPA I would have believed it.



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