Cerveza Imperial (Costa Rica)

Brewed by Florida Bebidas (Heineken)
Style: Pale Lager
San Jose, Costa Rica

Clear yellows settle under a white head which wastes no time dissipating into a thin white collar. Someone else must have hailed a nearby taxi cab because I sure as heck didn’t, but judging by the cerveza in my glass that is exactly what I got. Some colors are just not natural when seen in one’s beer, not natural at all. Giving her taxi cab yellow depths a few vigorous swirls, fields of fresh corn-on-the-cob make their way past my nose. Riding atop a river of lemon extract and artificial sweetener, corn ears bob up and down, teetering precariously on the edge of drowning. Ah, artificial sweeteners… blue death or pink death, the choice is yours to make. But I digress. Digging into her nose one more time, saltines and lemon skin struggle against the tides as more sweet corn flounder about. My first quaff is a big one; why not, I’m feeling adventurous. I take another, a bit slower this time because if I don’t pay extra attention, her palate rushes on by without even a hello or a wave. A watery mouthfeel reveals watered down lemonade of powdery origins while saltines finish with a soggy splat. Seltzeresque and bubbly her finish is faintly sweet with artificial sweeteners. Sweet corn burbles to the surface for a brief showing before being sucked back under as her watery tide continues to wash over my tastebuds. The Cerveza Imperial isn’t quite yellow water, but pretty darn close. Watery, corny, and seltzer with artificial sweeteners leading her upon a destined path down my kitchen sink drain.

Seriously? Really? I’m supposed to sit back and accept a beer such as this as Beer? And not only beer, but the whole of my beer choice and beer future? I think not, and as the craft beer scene continues to flourish, grow, and diversify, I am not alone. I have no doubt there are some great Cerveza varieties out there, but unfortunately, Imperial is not one of those.

Wow I have never seen a beer in my life so saturated into a market. On a recent trip down to Cost Rica I drank gallons of this stuff one of the reasons in a lot of places this is your only option, you can’t go 10’ without seeing adds for it signs hang out of every bar, restaurant, and store tourists and locals all have Imperial t-shirts hats and towels this stuff is everywhere!! The good thing is its not actually that bad of a beer probably helps I’m getting it fresh from the source. Clear Yellow gold with a tall pillowy cap and the cap stuck around for a long while. Grassy soft aroma some metallic hops and some corn. Very full bodied feel for a pale lager. Flavor is very smooth with no offensive elements at all. Corn, grass, mild mild mild metallic hops goes down smooth, not to sweet, and a clean finish. But for the love of god drink it fast and cold.

330 ml bottle that some friends of mine brought to from Costa Rica. Very pale yellow color, with a good head that last for a while and leaves some lace. Other than that, nothing significant in this beer. Anodyne aroma just grainy and with some malt. In the mouth it feels the same with a bit of citrus. Flavor? What flavor? Of course in a very hot weather I guess I could have some of them, it’s just refreshing. Just boring.

12 oz of some of the worst beer I have ever been subjected to purchased at Spirits Red Bank. Poured almost clear with just a trace of gold and a big bright white bubbly head but I just can’t get past the lack of color on the body of this one. The aroma has some classic honey sweet grains and sweet cream corn notes going on. The body is over carbonated and fizzy yet somehow foams up in your mouth so you get the best of both worlds, both worlds of suck that is. The initial flavor is seltzer which is quickly washed out by some bad malt notes. Oh my God is this shit wretched. I would of poured this down the drain but I felt my drain pipes don’t deserce this type of punishment so outside and off my property was this one properly disposed of.

Sampled in Costa Rica! Clear gold with a moderate white head with a little retention. Flavors are light with some sweetness consisting of wheat, grains and light fruit. Very mild bitterness. Not a lot there but no skunk or foul flavors either. Very clean and actually rather refreshing. I’m sure getting it fresh from near the source makes a difference.

Bottle. Pale golden pour with a short-lived bubbly white head. Grainy, malty aroma with faint hints of honey and citrus. Flavour is almost the same as the aroma except the honey and citrus are more noticeable. Light body with some mild bitterness on the finish, which is fairly short. Overall a pretty ordinary lager which, though easy to drink, isn’t worth seeking out.

12oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours clear yellow with a very small white head. The aroma is almost nothing - a hint of grass and hay. The flavor is quite light as well - some malt and a touch of citrus. This is quite light, smooth, and drinkable.

12 oz bottle, freshness date of Feb 28, 2010.
Pale golden with a fleeting white head, no lace left behind. Lively carbonation.
Aroma is mildly grainy, but not much else. Possibly a sign of things to come.
Flavor is as expected, grainy malt, lightly sweet. finish is short. average