Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

CHickman

New York

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy amber orange color with a big 2 finger foamy beige head that was full of tight little bubbles and faded slowly, leaving great foamy lacing sticking all over the glass and rings as it went down. I thought that it would fade slower, but it was still a very good looking beer.

WOW, smells like hops; all kinds of hops: fresh hops, wet hops, dry hops, juicy hops. The nose is a mix of mango, piney hops, grapefruit, citrus shops, pineapple, tangerine, floral hops, herbs, pepper and other light spices; it’s amazing that the hops all kind of negate each other but still all add something at the same time and completely hide the high ABV. Best way to describe this is fresh smelling hops mixed with citrus fruit.

Tastes like big juicy wet hops, oozing with citrus hops, piney hops and herbal notes; the flavor starts off with grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, lemon zest, sharp citrus notes that are bitter and then lead to a sweet mix of floral hops, herbs, pepper, piney hops, grains, sweet malt, wheat bread, caramel, brown sugar, what seems like roasted yeast and other light spices like coriander and pepper; the oily hops fade and allow the malt to steer you back before the alcohol warmth rushes over like a wave of flavor and then smacks you with some piney notes. The alcohol shows itself, but seems to get lost in the dynamic hop assault that keeps coming; wave after wave of hops just keep crashing on your palate and providing a massive array of complexities that works just about perfectly. Sierra Nevada pioneered using hops in this way and shows it’s mastery in this brew.

Mouthfeel was very smooth with light carbonation, a medium chewy body that was almost thick and viscous, alcohol warmth and a bitter finish that was sweet and hoppy. Malts were accents in this beer, which was hop napalm…textbook DIPA, this was full of very complex hop flavor, had some real punch to it and yet went down easy considering how aggressive this beer is.

This is a hopheads dream and a macro-fans nightmare. This was outstanding, I wish I could get it more here in NY because I would; it is a lot of fun to sip and savor. I highly recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 04:43:49 | More by CHickman

morefackinghops

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-22-2013 21:37:37 | More by morefackinghops

hodak1172

Michigan

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-22-2013 21:17:00 | More by hodak1172

hoptualBrew

Florida

4.71/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Light copper in color near glowing shade of orange. Clear without any sediment or cloudiness. Cream white head with active carbonation rising. Sticky lacing.

Aroma of wet pungent piney grapefruit hop varietals. Very perfume forward hops with a complimentary floral bouquet and caramel malt sweetness to balance out. Clean, no yeast esters.

Bitter floral, pine and sweet citrus. Sticky hop oils, sweet caramel malt and building astringency. Bitterness stays around for a long time, balanced by character of the malt bill. Very easy to drink, the 10.4% abv is not transparent with the exception of a very mild heat in the back.

Carbonation is perfect, lets the hop oils stick while also allowing it to be easily drinkable. Medium full mouthfeel with lasting bitterness and hop flavors.

Great IIPA, by one of the best in the business. Sierra Nevada nails just about every beer they put out, with this being the epitome of their style.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 20:36:08 | More by hoptualBrew

Heretic42

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 18:41:35 | More by Heretic42

KVNBGRY

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-22-2013 15:14:40 | More by KVNBGRY

GabeQ

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 15:03:56 | More by GabeQ

ajtorres311

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 14:50:12 | More by ajtorres311

scottyu27

Virginia

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-22-2013 13:06:27 | More by scottyu27

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 03:25:19 | More by SmellsofMahagony

TravisR

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 03:11:21 | More by TravisR

ryancl

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-22-2013 02:35:00 | More by ryancl

kgar2121

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +19.3%

05-22-2013 02:27:35 | More by kgar2121

jmcgahran1

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 01:39:48 | More by jmcgahran1

TheDoak

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-22-2013 01:17:26 | More by TheDoak

jampics2

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 00:09:45 | More by jampics2

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-21-2013 23:16:11 | More by GinsuDave

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 20:10:40 | More by ubenumber2

likeemdark

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 17:49:53 | More by likeemdark

Hopmarc

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 17:42:04 | More by Hopmarc

jibjib513

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 12:46:52 | More by jibjib513

RollTide7

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 12:34:15 | More by RollTide7

lenbert

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-21-2013 10:10:53 | More by lenbert

Ilovebeer1549

California

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 06:50:50 | More by Ilovebeer1549

Josiah2729

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 05:02:45 | More by Josiah2729