 shintriad (675), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dec 4, 2007
This is even better than I could imagine, on par with the Alpha King...yet more so. Cloudy, coppery orange with a slick wall of lacing that isn’t going anywhere. The fresh, exotic hop scent is right on the money, lets you know you’re drinking a beer with balls. One of the stickiest mouthfeels I’ve ever had in a beer, much less a Pils. Full, soft carbonation with a grapefruit-soda like sweetness and a harsh bitterness in the finish and maybe even wine-like astringency, but it’s at an almost perfect level of balance. Not sure all that alcohol was necessary. Other than that, this is a wickedly good take on the style.
Imaena (240), Portland, Maine, USA
Aug 22, 2008 Bottle from 4 pack 08’. Pours a ruddy orange amber with nice bone white head. Cirus and floral hops abound in the nose. Bitter and thin bodied. Hops explode in this. Interesting brew.
kosko20 (81), Bemidji, Minnesota, USA
Aug 16, 2008 So I forgot to rate this...don’t know how because I poured it next to Bell’s Hopslam and compared that way. Its tough to compare the beer to something like Hopslam but oh well. Aroma is strong hops, earthy notes of pine mostly, and also in there are lemons, floral and malt. Appearance is top notch, a nice semi-cloudy orange-red with an off white head. Flavor is hops, then afterthoughts of pine, malt, and lemons. Palate is thin bodied but with a nice bitter kick. Enjoyable, will buy and drink more.
HyreOne (8), York, South Carolina, USA
does not count  Aug 15, 2008 Nice straw color with a little haze. Not much of a head - little lacy (maybe my glass is dirty). Smells of hops and malt. Strong hop flavor and nice bite. Malt tries to balance with flavor and aftertaste. Little bit more than medium mouth feel. A bit warming alcohol after taste. Keep forgetting this isn’t an Imperial IPA.
NomDeBeer (143), Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Why doesn’t Sam Adams make more beers like this? Definitely their best offering that I’ve ever had. Incredible hop aroma, flavor, and bite. Earthy notes of grass and hay but just enough malt sweetness, body, and alcohol to back it up. Odd-looking hazy, orange-ish color.
alobar (624), Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 12, 2008 Thick cloudy amber color with a tall soapy head. Powerful aroma of hops with excellent lacing. Lots of hops in the taste. Bitter but with a nice sweet balance. Best Sam Adams I’ve ever had.
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