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Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner

Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner  - European Strong Lager

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 Percentile 
96
overall
An European Strong Lager brewed by
Boston Beer Company

Boston, Massachusetts USA

bottled
common

on tap
unknown

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
9433.73/5.03.72/5.0Special8.8%99.6Lager glass P  Stats

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?  
 jhumphries69 (656), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/58/104/516/20

Nov 2, 2007  
12 oz. bottle. Pours a cloud, deep gold with hints of light orange. The foam is thick and consists of fine, small bubbles at first - but they slowly collapse into one another forming ever larger bubbles until a thin layer of off-white foam remains, consisting of medium-sized bubbles. The aroma is heavenly. It definitely reminds me of Samuel Adams Boston Lager - big German Hallertauer hop nose and what smells like the same yeast. The aroma also has other decadent layers beneath the hops: lemon meringue and poundcake with a slight lacing of ethanol. The malts provide a vinous quality to the aroma that blends nicely with the hops. The flavor is quite pleasant - the front of the tongue detects a pleasant amount of biscuity, sweet malts, balanced by a strong, but no overpowering, level of bitter hops. The carbonation zing blends with the bitterness to provide something akin to acidity - but not unpleasant (almost refreshing, in fact). The middle of the tongue picks up on the battle waged between sweet, caramel malts and spicy, noble hops. It is great while it lasts. But therein lies the strange part - it doesn’t last long. The finish is very dry and peculiarly short-lived. The beer finishes with only the faintest memories of sweet malts and big, bitter hops (some alcohol, too). The mouthfeel is excellent - perfect level of carbonation for this type of brew. It lends a nice. crisp zing to the tongue. Overall - a knockout beer. Perhaps I say that because I love hops. The only thing disappointing is the finish - it is simply too short-lived. It makes the tongue feel dry and unloved. Perhaps this is an artifact of the incredible amount of hops (supposedly 110 IBUs, and -unlike many other heavy-hitters- this bitterness level was actually *measured*, not just calculated/projected).

 Bhops (274), Dallas, Texas, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Jul 4, 2009  
Pours clear amber with thick head. Nice hop aroma with some malty sweetness. Nicely balanced flavor, with some alcohol. Creamy and thick. Very surprised by this beer.


jcp23 (47), Duluth, Georgia, USA
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/510/105/519/20
Jun 28, 2009  
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.


 DerBiermeister (480), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/102/513/20
Jun 21, 2009  
Smells strongly of hops. Pours cloudily with minimal head. Flavor is bitter, with strong hops, hint of caramel and wheat. It is sweet while bitter, but not overly so. Lightly citrusy. Overall impression favourable.


JJBeerMan (5), Burnsville, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner  does not count
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
Jun 17, 2009  
Traditionally a huge fan of pilsners, this beer reaches a new level of exceptional quality. Light copper color is capped with an ivory head. The nose is very floral but almost a bit acidic due to the abv. The hops explode on your palate as you savor the intense creamy hop indulgence. The finish is smooth with hints of oak. Very exceptional. Caution, you can really taste the alcohol in this offering.


jungheimer (16), Brazil
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/517/20
Jun 12, 2009  
One of a kind, the Boston Beer people has done one of the best beers of the USA, and even growing bigger and becoming a medium brewery, Sam Adam’s folks didn’t give up and stayed with the consumers.


 Rciesla (2800), Exit 15W, New Jersey, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/515/20
May 29, 2009  
Bottle. Pours an amber body with an off white head. Very hoppy body with lots of grapefruit, citrus, and spicy hop pine accents. Moderate etoh warming but well masked in this hop haven. V.Nice.


 WVHouseofBeer (246), Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/515/20
May 14, 2009  
I never would have thought that a pilsner could have so much taste to it. Heavy hop aroma and taste; it was close to being too much. Overall, it was an excellent full flavored beer that I would definitely buy again. LC


 zizzybalubba (125), Elizabeth City, North Carolina, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/105/57/104/515/20
May 3, 2009  
12 oz. bottle purchased from Sam’s Quik Shop (purchased October 2008; sampled May 3, 2009). Orange in color, similar to an IPA, with a thick and creamy off white head. Aroma of grass and canned tomatoes. While bitter in flavor like I had hoped there is a hint of the tomato flavor I was getting in the aroma. Still enough in the way of the hops to make this one good. Palate is nice and sticky like a good DIPA. My guess is that a different hop other than Hallertau would have been better although it probably would not have given Sam Adams what they were going for. A good beer but I long for the day’s of Dogfish Head Golden Era.



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