Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

dwilson01

California

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from a bomber into my arrogant bastard pint glass, the body color is a clear yellow tinted with orange and brick red to give it the look of the browned top of a buttermilk biscuit. The carbonation rises quickly through the beer keeping a nice half finger of head atop it.

The smell is amazing, I get a sweet citrus scent that refreshes my nostrils. The orange smell is great, it smells so fresh like it was just bottled a week ago. There is a slight sweet matly scent on the back end and the bitter hops are just barely intermingled there. Must have dry hopped like crazy to get that aroma.

The flavor has a profile and a half. It starts right where the smell left off, citrusy sweetness hilts your palate and washes out anything that was there beforehand. This is followed by the body of malt which imparts a sweet bread and clover honey flavor. The last part is the bitter hopping, it comes in slow but it definitely comes, that pine flavored bitterness reminiscent of Sierra Nevada brews comes out with a vengeance to let you know just what you're getting into. No alcohol flavor at all on the back end, the bitter nops linger for a long long time.

The mouthfeel is perfect, just before you take a sip your lips touch the light fluffy head which is ultra soft, the beer itself is smooth as I can remember any IPA being with a strong malty creamyness.

The drinkability is amazing, I feel like I could session on this beer...of course there is no way I could keep that up for any length of time, but it's definitely that good. If you're not into the super bitter IIPA's then this is definitely one to try out.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 05:14:32 | More by dwilson01

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

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