Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

RickS95

Indiana

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

2012 vintage

A bit darkish, coppery bronze color, opaque. The head is brilliant white, and foamy, like a cloud. Big bubbles mixed in with little, a sloppy lace left behind.

Standard smell for the type, no surprises. Faint citric fruits, but mostly resinous pine. If you've had enough hop bombs, you can tell what's coming just from the smell.

Taste is similar to the smell with light notes of warm-weather fruits, but mostly pineforest.

For a split second, there's a malty feel, then the hop bomb explodes and let's you know what kind of beer it is. The bitterness curls your toes and makes your teeth hurt. Along the way, there is some sweet bite of the citrus. The finish is dry and sticky.

All ales from SN are exceptional and this is no different. It's hard to drink, but that's the style. It's high ABV, but it's hidden very well. It's a must drink for beer fans and hop bombers alike.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:43:43 | More by RickS95

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

mxchap

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 04:18:39 | More by mxchap

sparx1100

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 03:40:03 | More by sparx1100

da_beers

Vermont

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Have heard great things on this one, even the girl at the checkout counter commented on it... Knew I was in for it!

A - Pours a nice coppery orange with a finger of head, great carbonation coming up.

S - Hops, hops, hops! What a blast to the nose. This smells like the Yakima Valley during the hop harvest. Brings me right back to home. Sweet malts dance around the nose as well.

T - Out of this world hop experience. The full cone hops make a great difference. Resiny quality comes through brilliantly. Some sweet malts, but mostly masked by hops.

M - Sticky, medium bodied, great across the palate. Full flavored for sure.

O - LOVE it! this is fantastic, and it being somewhat readily available makes my day! Will be getting a sixer of this next time at the market.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 02:58:12 | More by da_beers

olivermonster

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 02:55:43 | More by olivermonster

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 01:48:21 | More by johntfox

OGunner77

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-21-2013 01:32:19 | More by OGunner77

deniserat

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-20-2013 22:26:29 | More by deniserat

QuakeAttack

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-20-2013 21:27:33 | More by QuakeAttack

jbeervt

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-20-2013 19:26:43 | More by jbeervt

jarrett123

New York

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-20-2013 04:11:37 | More by jarrett123

StoughtonGuy

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 04:03:27 | More by StoughtonGuy

dt_gbpackersfan

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%

05-20-2013 03:03:33 | More by dt_gbpackersfan

HisBoyElroy

Michigan

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 01:57:50 | More by HisBoyElroy

bmurray10

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 01:26:58 | More by bmurray10

Immortale25

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 00:52:50 | More by Immortale25

menacho1

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 00:30:53 | More by menacho1

Arithmeticus

Maryland

4.59/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured chilled in standard ale glass with @davewhite4

A: copper color; 1-finger head; clear; decent lacing
S: begins with a pilsner aroma, then pales to nothing; give it four minutes and voila it opens up into a pleasant bubblegum-hop aroma
T: unbelievably good; complex, sweet, very piney and fresh; boozy but complemented so nicely by the hop array
M: thick, mealy

I have not had such a good IPA in...forever. Wow. Get it. It's very repeatable.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:15:59 | More by Arithmeticus

DO_Fly

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-19-2013 21:54:04 | More by DO_Fly

bcuz7

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-19-2013 21:39:58 | More by bcuz7

DelMontiac

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 20:42:34 | More by DelMontiac

Billpare

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-19-2013 18:52:05 | More by Billpare

birdsellam

Indiana

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-19-2013 18:12:46 | More by birdsellam