Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

JWU

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle poured into a snifter

A- a translucent orange/amber with a half finger of off white head that dissipates fairly quickly

S- a bready/biscuity malt is mixed in with a very SN hop profile. Reminds me of Torpedo a bit, with some Grapefruit, citrus, and an earthy pine element.

T- some boozyness leads into the slight biscuity/caramel malt note which is quickly dominated by big piney/grapefruit notes. A pronounced bitterness ends the sip. The bitterness dries

M- a solid medium mouthfeel, maybe slightly heavy for the style. The bitterness on the end dries the mouth out fairly significantly.

O- Certainly unapologetic in its west-coastness, you certainly need to enjoy big, grapefruity, piney, bitter DIPA's to enjoy this. I think it's good, but doesn't rise to the level of the Hopslams and Stoudt's Double IPA's of the world.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 01:34:02 | More by JWU

mrchrisray

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-20-2013 01:26:35 | More by mrchrisray

cfaulman

Louisiana

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

06-20-2013 01:12:21 | More by cfaulman

davidlandy

California

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

06-20-2013 00:37:53 | More by davidlandy

olivianjeremie

Quebec (Canada)

4.11/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This is a very good, smooth IPA. I enjoyed this on cask. It has a nice light golden color. Not to much of a head(a litt fizzy looking). Nice smooth, hoppy finish. Not to sweet. I enjoyed this beer on Cask at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. A good irish pub with a good selection of local and craft beers. Enjoy!

Serving type: cask

06-19-2013 22:52:21 | More by olivianjeremie

REESE367

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-19-2013 20:24:24 | More by REESE367

billbeers

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-19-2013 19:05:40 | More by billbeers

SeeAych

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

You know how SN pale ale is hoppy and tasty compared to bud light? and you know how SN Torpedo is way hoppier and better than SN Pale Ale? Hoptimum is up 2 more levels than that, it literally makes Torpedo taste like club soda. This is the Double IPA to beat. Dogfish or Stone can't even touch it for simple classic IPA goodness.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 17:00:32 | More by SeeAych

mtomlins

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A: A clear copper colored beer that pours to 1-2 fingers of off-white head that settled to a white collar fairly quickly leaving some lacing.

S: Hoptimum has a huge hop nose, lots of citrus (oranges and tangerines) and floral PNW bittering (no surprise there). There are also some nice malty, bread notes.

T: This is a hop-punch-in-the-face! Those PNW hops hit you at the front, middle and end; you can taste every one of those 100+ IBU’s. There is a big, sweet malt backbone helping to balance off the massive hop profile. The hops are king in this beer though and the finish is long and dry and bitter.

M: Med body and carbonation; smooth and creamy.

O: An aggressive, in-your-face salute to hoppy bitterness; I would go so far as calling it a palate wrecker. I have no doubt that this was the intent of the brewery, but for me, I prefer something with a bit more balance. This is obviously a personal preferences and I applaud SN for their efforts.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 12:54:51 | More by mtomlins

heavenlyStash

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-19-2013 06:07:56 | More by heavenlyStash

Greywulfken

New York

4.24/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: medium amber beer in a pint, few fingers of fat tan head, clingy lace inside the glass

S: sweet and piney, almost a toasted caramel aroma from the malts, lots of hoppier flowers and herbals

T: bitter pine resins and grapefruit pith, chewy caramel malts, butterscotch sweet, well-rounded bitterness comes in waves and with varying amounts of malt sugar underscoring it

M: medium-full bodied, bittering and drying finish, chewier up front, wet and juicy

O: fantastic DIPA - lots of hops for the hoppy, a strong malt base - sweeter than I expected

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 01:26:22 | More by Greywulfken

BanditoJunkie

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-19-2013 01:24:14 | More by BanditoJunkie

LEdubs

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-19-2013 00:33:33 | More by LEdubs

Matthewpakula

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-18-2013 15:55:54 | More by Matthewpakula

jgammoniv

Maine

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

06-18-2013 12:27:00 | More by jgammoniv

Gardmark59

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-18-2013 11:21:59 | More by Gardmark59

slatetupelo

Mississippi

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-18-2013 04:31:59 | More by slatetupelo

BeerMeInStl

Missouri

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-18-2013 02:38:00 | More by BeerMeInStl

mpedara429

Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured out a slightly hazy dark amber color with three fingers of a frothy yellow-orange head. Nice retention.

S Pretty vibrant nose with semi dank pine, grapefruit, orange, and tart lemon scent. Some floral hops in there as well.

T: Pine, grapefruit, and floral flavors in there. The finish is grassy and earthy. Bitter and hoppy, yet, more malt balance than I'm used to from SN. ABV is somewhat noticeable.

M: Medium, creamy body and medium carbonation.

O: Probably the best beer I've had so far from SIerra Nevada. Most of their offerings are solid, but I usually find myself wanting something deeper. Hoptimum is built like a champion at a great price.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 01:06:53 | More by mpedara429

TargaFlorio

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-17-2013 23:43:09 | More by TargaFlorio

Ivegotmule

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-17-2013 20:13:21 | More by Ivegotmule

Lognar

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

06-17-2013 17:08:22 | More by Lognar

TheConnMan

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-17-2013 15:27:43 | More by TheConnMan

Hoptron_3000

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-17-2013 14:56:06 | More by Hoptron_3000

JVan

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-17-2013 13:26:03 | More by JVan