Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Pahn

New York

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Re-reviewing this beer. 2011 version got "Look: 4 | Smell: 3.5 | Taste: 3.5 | Feel: 4 | Drinkability: 3.5." The written review could be summarized as "Powerful grapefruit and tropical fruit hops, overly aggressive solvent booziness, heavy bitterness, small malt backbone."

2012 version is much better. 12oz bottle into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Free pour yields a 1.5 inch fluffy, bubbly white head that dissipates steadily and leaves a web of lacing. Pours a translucent orange/gold and leaves sparse spots and arches of lacing.

Smell: Dank, pungent marijuana-like hops is the dominant aroma. Slight melon, along with citrus and tropical fruit. Some toasted grain aromas underneath.

Bold hop aroma befitting the name and label.

Taste: Heavy bitterness carrying thick flavor; reminds me of Summit hops but very light on the onion/garlic and heavy on the pungent weed + sweet melon. Citrus undercurrent. Same mild toasted malt / cracker backbone, though hops and bitterness are the major players. Finishes dry and leaves some warmth in the chest, but no solvent flavor at all.

This is an excellent DIPA. Tons of hop flavor, and extremely drinkable. Could be off-putting if you don't want maximum bitterness, but this isn't a flaw... this beer is exemplifying bold, American hop flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Soft feel underneath the aggressive bitterness. Moderate carbonation. Dry finish. While not really a complaint, I would like this beer to be "juicier". As is, it's a good feel.

Overall: This beer supplies as good a hop fix as the best beers that come out in wet hop season. That you can buy it pretty much anywhere in America is icing on the cake, and further illustration of how grateful beer drinkers ought to be for Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 01:35:12 | More by Pahn

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

mctizzz

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

06-17-2013 13:05:53 | More by mctizzz

BSUBronco

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-17-2013 10:36:36 | More by BSUBronco

spw109

New York

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

06-17-2013 07:13:32 | More by spw109

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

06-17-2013 02:37:42 | More by twenty5

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-17-2013 01:47:40 | More by MN_Beerticker

Matt73

New York

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-16-2013 23:43:27 | More by Matt73

blastoderm55

Texas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-16-2013 23:01:35 | More by blastoderm55

bacher468

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

06-16-2013 19:10:20 | More by bacher468