Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

Bottle.

I didn’t have particularly high hopes for this one, but after a long bicycle ride I was in the mood for a pils and while this is not your grandaddy’s pilsner, it seemed like it would do the trick.

Wow was I surprised. This is a really, really good beer. It’s a got a deep, rich flavor driven by the sterling hops but complemented strongly by massive amounts of pilsner malt and intriguing, slightly sour, bready yeast tones. The hops flavors are not as grassy and dry as those from a Saaz-based pilsner, but instead they’re deeply robust, slightly lemon, wonderfully flavorable - and with the malts behind them they make for a very nice chewy taste profile.

The mouthfeel is good - certainly showing its 8.8%, rather than coming off crisp like a proper pils, but that’s fine. For this beer it works. Kudos to Rogue; I’m not usually a big fan of that brewery but this is certainly among my favorite of their products.

I liked this a lot. in the realm of DFH prescription pils, big pine/spruce nose, slightly viscous. golden, inviting. Smooth, clean, fruity, drying into a more crisp finish.

Pour yellow-ish with foaming white head. Aroma is on the light side (could be it’s still too cold) with some sweet malts, some hop (pine needles) and a bit of yeast. The taste starts off smoother than I was anticipating. Pleasing hop bitterness that seems to edge out the pale and sweet maltiness and fruitiness. Don’t really notice any alcohol presence. A bit deceiving. Pretty good brew. Won’t get it again due to the price. Too many others still waiting for me to try.

Bottled, huge 1pint 10oz. Poured nicely and initially had good head. The taste is as described, dry hop with std pilsner flavor. I love IPA and DIPA, so this was very mellow for me. Easy to drink but nothing special, especially considering the cost of this big ol bottle...dang....

On tap at Rogue, Portland. Gold, thin off white head. Like a European strong sickly lager with some hop, but I quite like this style. It’s dumb and stupid, but man, it gets you pissed.

On Tap at Rogue Brewer’s on The Bay Newport OR. pours out a hazy gold topped with a small head. A nice hop to this one. I didn’t really know what to expect from it. Not bad at all.

Hazy golden body with a small white head. Sweet yeasty aroma with some floral hops. Sweet floral hops flavor with some more yeast in the background.

750ml Ceramic bottle. Dark yellowish/orange color. Very mild aroma. Hoppy flavor, with some malt finish. Heavy flavor. Alcohol isn’t too overpowring thankfully.