Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

PreacherBrewer

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

First of all, the bottle design is kick ass. I love the dollar bill-esk design with the hop in the place of the face. Brilliant!

A - Pours a deep golden brown with a generous, creamy, eggshell-white head. Darker hue than any other DIPA I've seen. Makes my mouth water!

S - Sadly, not as complex as I had hoped. The scents of fresh pine, bright citrus and a hint of alcohol are pleasant once you can pick'em out. I'm used to DIPA's having wonderfully complex bouquets...not so with this one unfortunately.

T - Wow. Can you say Hop-bomb!?! You get some deep smooth malt on the palette right away, then quickly get smacked with very in your face hop bitterness. There is some pine sap, bark, and faint citrus notes. The piney-ness really takes over this brew, and even lingers long in the finish and aftertaste.

M - Almost full bodied and crisp. Not as creamy as other DIPA's so it might turn off some, and make other smile (Neutral difference).

0 - Honestly, it tastes like a glorified Torpedo. Nothing was special about it. I can drink one, but wouldn't reach for another. Hop bitterness is flirting with the line of tolerance. Definitely not worth the $9 price tag.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 17:48:44 | More by PreacherBrewer

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-23-2013 13:08:47 | More by ipas-for-life

mmcnaughton

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-23-2013 11:42:42 | More by mmcnaughton

arfenhouse

California

4.34/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Hazy orange-copper with off-white head. Good retention and some lace.

S: Spicy hops and tangerine. Pine needles and a bit of floral hops. Very light on the malt and a just noticeable alcohol. The aroma is small compared to the taste, about 2 mo. so maybe that's the problem.

T: Upfront grapefruit, pine needles, and some pineapple. Decent amount of malt sweetness and floral hop that reminds me of honey.. Pine, resin, and tangerine at the back end going into the aftertaste.

M: Medium-full mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Coats the mouth and has a dry bite.

O: Bitter, hoppy, and high ABV. Great if you're looking for something with a a big hop kick.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 07:36:07 | More by arfenhouse

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

3.74/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

this was my first DIPA so take this review with a grain of salt. when i popped open the bottle, a wave of hops hit me. the smell was pungent and delicious. the first taste is pretty good, lots of pine and grapefruit. however, there is a strong lingering bitterness that stays with you long after you swallow. there is also an astringent alcohol taste. when i swallow, i'd wince a tiny bit as if i was drinking hard liquor. the initial flavor and aroma is great, but the bitterness and booziness did not make for an enjoyable drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 06:52:12 | More by JesseMurdock

rhizomatic

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-23-2013 05:01:01 | More by rhizomatic

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%

05-23-2013 02:29:38 | More by Dave_Treat

UWBadgerFan4Life

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-23-2013 01:51:26 | More by UWBadgerFan4Life

J10Jordan

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-23-2013 01:19:09 | More by J10Jordan

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.89/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle > Pint Glass

A - Pours a nice orange yellow color, shy of a finger of head that fades quick, medium lacing.
S - Orange preserves, toffee, hop oil, earthy and herbal hop scents, sweet caramel malt.
T - A bigger and strong assault against your palate, orange candy, light pine, syrupy malt, and a tad boozey.
M - Overly sticky feel, and very very heavy. Not something you'd want more than one of.
O - There's wayyy too much of everything in this beer, too much IBU, malt sweetness and over the top alcohol flavor. I cant remember what I thought when I had it last year, but I'm not really a fan. Its not god awful, but if you're looking for a full forced palate-obliterating beer, this would be one.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:31:49 | More by Omnium

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