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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?  
 timmy300 (199), bloomington, Illinois, USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/54/103/59/20
Jan 19, 2009  
i appreciate the creative attempt boston beer co made formulating this interesting lager, but it didn’t work. way too much astringent hop bitterness. appearance is a nice hazy glowing orange. aftertaste is like stale armpit sweat, but not in a bad way...what is an imperial pilsner? when i think of a big pilsner duvel comes to mind even though it is an ale i think it has the soul of a nice pilsner and is about the same abv as this mess.


aletales (73), , Oklahoma, USA
2.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/54/103/56/20
Jan 18, 2009  
The aroma, appearance and mouthfeel are all great, but the overwhelming hoppiness keeps me from enjoying them.


 Derek881 (492), Frederick, Maryland, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/104/514/20
Jan 16, 2009  
Poured from a regular-sized bottle into a pint glass to drink. The beer had a strong hop aroma focusing on citrus tones, maybe some grapefruit in particular, and a somewhat spicy and grainy undertone. The beer has a cloudy, straw-orange color with a smaller, foamy, white head that had very little retention and only minor cling. There truly is an explosion of hoppy flavor in the first sip, particularly featuring a grainy, somewhat citrus effect. It tastes strongly bitter with a bit of hop-induced sourness too; no sweet flavors present here. Very lively and fizzy in the mouth, full of carbonation, and best for sipping. An intense mouthfeel, with a slightly thinner character, and noticeably drying effect. Definitely a high quality beer, but quite powerful on the senses.


 iride15 (171), Orlando, Florida, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Jan 12, 2009  
Good foggy orange pour with a thin head and a little lace. Smells mostly of hops and a bit of citrus and malt. Obviously a hoppy flavor (it is a Sam Adams after all) with malt and alcohol. It’s a slow drink good for us hop heads.


 jgb9348 (2494), Arlington (Pentagon City), Virginia, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Jan 11, 2009  
Nice hazy deep orange coloured body with a golden tint and a nice thinnish white head that tops the beer. Aroma of fresh hops, peaches, apricots and a nice maltiness. Full-bodied; Strong hoppy flavour with some good malt to back it up and some stronger alcoholic tastes to accomdate the flavour. Aftertaste shows some fresh hops and a good amount of malt with little else. Overall, a nice beer - definitely a bit more than the style dictates. I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased at Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia on 25-December-2005.


 patrick767 (2018), fort wayne, Indiana, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/515/20
Jan 10, 2009  
12oz bottle - Pours copper with a thin white head. The nose is mainly hops with a touch of citrus and a little bready malt. The flavor is, as one would expect from the commercial description, led by the hops. That it’s all Hallertau is readily apparent in the dry bitterness with a hint of citrus. A little sweet malt in this medium bodied brew keeps it from going overboard though I wouldn’t consider it "one of the hoppiest in the world" by any means. Nice brew.


 scooterbub (332), Lander, Wyoming, USA
2.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/102/510/20
Jan 8, 2009  
Bottle, but says 8.1% ABV. Pours a cloudy, light amber color with a decent foamy, clingy, white head that slowly fades. Taste is of hops, citrus, pine and caramel, with a good malt finish. I do not like the bitter and dry finish or the aftertaste, which makes me want to stop drinking it. Kind of sweet. Has a good mouthfeel and is easy to drink, minus the finish/aftertaste. Overall, decent, but overpriced and not that great.


 webbcreative (111), , Oklahoma, USA
2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/53/103/53/20
Jan 6, 2009  
uhg! this is not good for me! TOO BITTER! my word! i will admit that i prefer malt to hops but good lord this is too extreme for me to even try to enjoy! and that bitterness just lingers the whole time on the side of my mouth. I will definitely not be having this one ever again. well balanced? seriously, holy cow I cant taste anything but bitter.



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