Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

The color itself is magnificent. An opaque, deep burnt apricott. Somewhat of a Sauterne bouquet with the earthy acitone, and a hint of chared citrus malt. Pours a tall, dense head with good hangtime. Superb lacework consisting of a full silky canopy w/ a few islands and a full, fluffy ring. The palate is super full bodied, almost like jello. I get alot of flavors here. Malted citrus up front turns to caramel, creamed coffee, butterscotch, and leather. I caught a glimpse of smoke. It’s pretty hoppy and hides the alcohol well. With everything I’ve mentioned I have to certainly call this a very complex Pilsner, unlike any I’ve ever had. One thing I’ve noticed, you can swirl the brew into a thick lather down to the last drop. Overall: Intense, complex, thorough, and most definatley enjoyable. I got one bottle this vintage and can’t wait for the next. I highly recommend.

What a wonderful beer. The brewers at Sam Adams really did it with this one. A wonderful imerial pilsner that I would recommend to the beer lover.

Pretty close to the perfect beer on the planet. I havent rated a 5 yet, but I reserve the right to go back and give it to this one. Cloudy amber, light pumpkin color with a full white head. Nose is hop explosion. Alot of graperuit, piney resin, pineapple and lemomgrass perfectly balanced with the sweet, biscuity malts. Expertly carbonated, with a medium body an smooth finish. A Sam Adams finest.

Almost an IPA because of the citrusy hop profile, but cleaner and more pilsner, but not too much like the Dogfish Head IP. Very well balanced for an 8.8abv and great aftertaste. Best Sam Adams and best Imperial Pilsner!

12oz brewery fresh before Jan 08. Pours a very hazy amber orange color with a dense one finger off white head that laced to the bottom. Aroma is the breath of the hop gods. Even after months of sitting in the store the citus and floral aromas of the hops are intense and green, like opening a package of hops for brewing. Flavor is almost all hops. Citrus, earth tones, and green hops dominate the sense of taste, yet the bitterness is very slight. The sweet maltyness it seems you have to wait for while the hops take a slight break in the long lingering finish. Light med body, soft mild carb, almost syrupy texture, and dry hoppy feel. This is probably a little out of "style", but one of the best beers I have ever drank and it seems to age very well.

Bottle into snifter. Intensely rich, resinous, floral hop nose. Solid hazy perfect glowing golden orange colour with thick off-white head. Lots of splattered lacing on the glass. Flavor is full, rich, citrusy, resiny Hallertaus. These hops deliver a huge punch, while also displaying a smooth, mellow character that coats the tongue in heavenly hoppiness. The huge hoppinesss is supported by a perfectly balanced sweet, sumptuous caramel malt that blends and flows beautifully together. A rich, palate filling symphony of lusciousness. I can’t say enough about this beer. I love it. Absolutely one of my all-time favorites. Best beer I’ve had from Sam Adams(come on Utopias!) I call SAIP "Beer Nirvana". Please make more. Soon.

Wow! Pours like hazy gold with orange notes, or hazy orange with golden notes, either way it’s gorgeous. Nice foamy with head that dissipates fairly quick but leaves some decent lace in its path. Highly fragrant with all the citrus, pine, and sweet fruit presence that I crave. Flavor is well balanced with a sweet malty palate that dances with alcohol sprinkles and finishes in a nearly brutal hops assault. Honestly, to me, this beer is damned near perfect.

Obtained from the kind folks at Bullock’s in Marietta, Georgia, who were kind enough to hold onto their limited supply of this beer in the back until I showed up. Thank you folks, that is some customer service. Anyway, on to the review.

The 24 oz. bomber packaging, and a label different from the rest of the family line were the first hints that this was a different kind of Sam Adams beer. The pour confirmed the Über status of this Pils. Thick, cloudy, and deep orange, the beer looked much more imposing than its pedestrian non-imperial brethren. The head was relatively small at first, and all but vanished shortly after pouring.

The smell was a showcase of spicy and grassy noble hops. If you are susceptible to hay fever, you better watch yourself, or you might sneeze in this one. The only detriments to the fresh cut hop smell were the occasional alcoholic fumes. But hey, how much ABV can you hide under the pale malts.

The taste was even hoppier than the smell, with a salt and pepper pungent zing that was the primary taste overtaking all others. The malts were difficult to notice under this assault, but they were sweet and unobtrusive with nary a tinge of graininess. There was a bit of an apricot taste detectable as the beer got warmer. I couldn’t help but grin with each gulp as the hoppy waves washed over the tongue and down to my throat. That’s right folks I said gulp, since this has to be one of the most drinkable 8% ABV beers out there.

Mouthfeel was thick and juicy, and aftertaste longingly dry. A minimalist masterpiece, this seemingly simple beer just won me over. The draw here was neither the complexity of flavor, nor the potential of aging. Instead it was like a fresh bread coming out of the oven, aromatic, filling, easy to partake, and flawless.