Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

tylerprince

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed a pint on tap at Falling Rock in Denver.

A: Hazy orange copper with one finger of off-white foamy head. Retention isn't great but lacing is.

S: Hits the nose with hop oils, citrus, and some pine, with a subtle fresh bready malt toward the end. All the aromas are in the head of this beer...once the head fades, which happens quickly, it gives off nothing.

T: Delicious. Starts with a grapefruit-like citrus that gives way to an extremely mild malt backbone - perhaps too mild. Finishes with a hoppy bitterness, which lingers with a nice alcoholic bite.

M: Crisp and clean with the alcohol evident only at the end. Ever so slightly resinous. Low on the carbonation, which is nice.

O: A solid DIPA but not as killer as some make it out to be. It's pretty well described in the name, but I don't think a hop fad should make it OK to dismiss the malt backbone a beer of this caliber really should have.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 21:20:23 | More by tylerprince

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

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-21-2013 23:16:11 | More by GinsuDave

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 20:10:40 | More by ubenumber2

likeemdark

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 17:49:53 | More by likeemdark