Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appears a bright copper pale ale with a billowing white head, maybe a touch of off white color. Fine even speckled lacing layers nicely down the sides of my glass, I've also recently had this on tap equally as impressive. Green aromatics, a bit of earthy vegetable notes, green onion, citrus, you name it when it comes to hops and it's here. It almost gives you a buzz based solely on the hop aromatics, a dank weed nose forms as well within the earthy citrus notes. This label states 10.4% abv which is noticeable on the palate with each sip, a beer so big with hops malts and alcohol that it tastes that way. Strong full on bitterness earthy, citric, vegetable hops like opening a bag of fresh hops...this beer has it. Whole cone hop concentrated in a double IPA malt base. Mouthfeel has a full bodied oily hop based texture with even carbonation that flows evenly. Overall excellent flowing DIPA, that has mucho mucho hop character, gotta love it.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 23:37:07 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

True to form, Sierra Nevada puts out a nice dipa. Thick body on feel and flavor. Consistency all the way through. It's a good beer. The only downside is that it gets salty as it warns. I'm sure I could say that it's over hopped, but who cares. Tastes nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 07:39:24 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured a orangish copper color with good carbonation and a nice white cap.

S: Nice fresh hops with a good hoppy aroma. Very green, fresh, citrus, floral notes

T: Some caramel, booze sting, good amount of hopoils and sitrus, floral notes. The bottle tasted more hop forward then the draft version to me

M: Medium bodied with a biting feel with a boozey, hop bite

D: Pretty good but after i fnished the bottle I diod not want another

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 03:25:21 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Good three-finger head. Slightly off-white. Leaves abundant spider web lace. Neutral amber color with a mild chill haze. Minute bubbles continuously float to the surface. The head never seems to die.

Fulfills the advertisement--lots of raw, floral hop. More citrusy than anything else.

Initial sip show some malt, but it's gone in no time. Strong grapefruit hop bitterness in the swallow and aftertaste...completely dominant to any other flavors. In fact, long after the swallow, my mouth still feels as if it is sucking a hop pellet. The alcohol content, although quite high, does not show up. The body is as expected.

For a DIPA, this is an amazingly easy drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 00:05:13 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice hazing golden orange color, nice carbonation, with a nice little fizzy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is hoppy, sweet on the lips, with some malt notes, nice citrus/pine notes. The taste is pretty good, hoppy, a little bit of malts thrown in, nice balance of pines/citrus. Medium body, with a nice bitter/dry finish. Overall a pretty tasty brew. Was very surprised to see this in a Utah SLS.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 00:46:02 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer pours a deep copper body with a red hue and a thick bubbly boiling head of yellowish beige. There is a strong carbonation of big bubbles that pop to the surface.

S- The faint green hop aroma and some mint and cat nip hints and a musty pineapple finish. As the beer opens up the aroma changes to more of a green pungent quality.

T- The green hop flavor has apricot notes and fades to a dry alcohol bite in the finish. There is a pungent bitterness that lingers after the hop character fades. As the beer opens some green pine flavors come through but the alcohol covers that up. There is also a flinty and buttery flavor that follows the hops after the beer opens a bit.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a big alcohol heat that covers up a lot of the flavor.

O-This is a hop mess with to much alcohol to taste the hops and no malt sweetness to balance the alcohol heat. There are some nice unique hop characters underneath but they are lost. I bought this beer the day it hit shelves and chilled it 24 hours before consuming it so I hoped to drink it as fresh as possible but I don't know if the hops had already faded or were just not there.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 21:32:07 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness code on the bottle

LOOK: Bright golden hue, amazing lace

SMELL: Spicy, celery, vegtal, peppery, clementines, clean esters, marmalade, light caramel

TASTE: Chewy, creamy, smooth, very firm bitterness, blood oranges, lime leaf, tangerine, grapefruit rind, green peppercorn, rose water, faint broth, biscuity, bread crust, boozy, semi-dry bitter finish

Massive, a sipper ... this is Bigfoot's older half bother. Very nice to meet you. A real beer geek will need to have this notch on their belt and will most likely want to go back for more and more and more.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 01:52:51 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear, lighter amber. Middle of the road/respectable lace. Enticing floral and resiny hop nose. Hop lovers rejoice, cuz this one delivers with a noticeably fresh tasting and crunching hopped presence. Sweet malt undertones and undercoating provides the bring it all together counter point. No surprise when SN puts out another outstanding and obviously well crafted and high quality brew. California style and very enjoyable DIPA

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2010 03:28:09 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 01/21/11 notes.

a - Pours an orange color with one inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, fruity malts, caramel malts, and light pine.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, pine hops, and fruity malts. A bit bitter.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A pretty nice DIPA. Lots of citrus in the nose, would try again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 02:23:16 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big creamy 1.5 finger head, sticky lacing, clear copper orange color.

Nose has some interesting pine hops, fresh hop oils, light citrus hops and hints of tropical fruit, light sweet malty backbone, very light must hop resin.

Taste is unique, fresh bettering hops, fairly bitter, hop oils and a bit of resin, light pine and citrus fruit hops, some spicy hops, light sweet malty base, light tingly booze and little sticky. Finishes dry with some lingering bitterness and fresh hops, bit of hop oil and resin linger.

Mouth is med with decent carb.

Drink is decent, touch of warming booze, somewhat bitter but balanced by bit of malts and dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 19:40:21 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

24oz bottle purchased at Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into my 2010 Pioneer Stein (#42), formed a 1/2" beige head over the clear golden amber brew. Head lasts and lasts, with ample sporadic lacing. Aroma is powerful aromatic hops, all citrus and pine.

Taste begins sweet, goes citrus hops in the middle, and closes with powerful pine cones. Alcohol warms after the swallow. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth, and drinkability is dangerously easy. Worth the search.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 00:47:40 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear orange colored beer with a small tan colored head.

Smells strongly of pine. Scents of grapefruit, eucalyptus, mint and ginger. Faint trace of menthol.

Starts out hoppy and savory before your mouth can sort out the bitterness. Little bit sweet and herbal with a pineapple flavor. Papaya and a race of garlic and some mint.

Mouthfeel id OK.

Drinkability is OK. This is an OK Double IPA but it just didn't wow me.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 05:07:00 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

24 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Huge thanks go to sholland119 and vickster259 for hooking me up with a bottle of this. You two are awesome!

Pours a brilliant crystal clear copper in the glass, topped with 1-2 fingers of rich off-white colored head. This retains with a frothy ½ finger, which just absolutely DRENCHES the sides of the glass with creamy lacing. Man, what a nice robust look to this! The aroma is flowery and deeply herbal smelling, with some additional sharp pangs of grapefruit and pine. Juicy tropical fruit, caramel, and toasted grains do a nice job of sweetening things up some here. This just has a real nice balance of flavors here in the nose.

The taste is also a well balanced blend of hop flavors, with bitter grapefruit, spice, and dry sticky resins all running into a wall of luscious ripe fruit character. There is also a maltier splash of toffee and toasted grains across the back of the palate but it's mostly that heavy tropical fruit presence that coats the tongue and brings most of the sweetness to the profile. This finishes very dry, with a good bit of green bitterness and pine sticking in the mouth. The mouthfeel is full bodied, with a crisp yet creamy chewiness to it that is undercut by a smooth undercurrent of oily slickness. Unfortunately, this is showing a bit too much alcohol warmth here in the body. This does lessen some as the warms and balances but it just retains an overall beefy warmth the whole way through that cuts back on the approachability of this.

Well this certainly was a full flavored but still well balanced hoppy punch in the face from SN but they really need to dial the ABV of this back a bit. If they could maybe get this in the 8-9% range, this could end up being something special. For now, it's just another tasty but ultimately overly warm big DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 18:06:34 | More by Kegatron

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.73/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Slightly hazed orange body. Thin dirty white head. Spotty lace drops down from the thin frothy cap. Fragrant aroma of citrus and pine oil. Flavor is quite good. I think of hop oils when I drink this. Reminiscent of Hopslam in my opinion. Citrus and pine. Oily. Fragrant. Easty drinking for the A/V. Fairly clean bitterness. This is really good.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 05:05:21 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

1.85/5  rDev -55.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

On draft at London Grille.

Pours a clear golden yellowish orange color with pale golden yellow hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger frothy white head that slowly fades into a thin lasting ring. Sporadic spots of lacing left behind.

Earthy hop aroma with hints of pine as well as citrus and tropical fruit. There's also a prominent sweet alcohol aroma which takes away from the hops significantly and a nice biscuit/Graham cracker malt character. Subtle grapefruit and citrus peel but the nose is overpowered by an earthy/soil like and sweet alcohol presence.

Chewy body that's on the fuller end of the spectrum with a blast of earthy bitter hops up front that lingers throughout but fades toward the sweet, hot finish. Slick and oily feeling with a one dimensional hop profile. Very faint citrus/tropical fruit character and again, a way too powerful alcohol presence that kills the better qualities of this beer. Sweet pale malt backbone that lacks the graham cracker biscuit character that the aroma suggested. The ABV is well masked as far as heat is cncerned but there is a lot of alcohol flavor.

This beer is kind of a mess really. Not very hoppy, especially when the palate adjusts to the original earthy pine flavor. Half way through the glass it tastes like a mildly hoppy sweet phenolic failure. I'm a big fan of SN and I was really excited to try this one but it was a huge disappointment. I'm glad I didn't sprig for the bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2011 04:16:49 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I too had this at the Bistro DIPA fest.

Immediately, I saw this as a double anniversary ale from SN. Looked the same pale straw yellow, aroma was SN cascade, taste a stronger anniversary ale. Plenty hoppy, minimal malt bill compared to its other hoppy beers. An enjoyable sweetness to it, stays light on its feet while delivering massive hoppiness.

Mouthfeel was more complex than SN Anniv. Maintained the minimal fruity yeast effect. Very drinkable, would like to see this bottled.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2010 17:03:55 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

This is the bottled version of the 2012 Hoptimum.

The beer pours a very attractive copper amber color with very good head retention and considerable lacing. Color is a bit darker than SNPA, and the head is pillowy and long lasting. The nose is equally attractive, as I get coniderable dry citrus, pepper and dank earth, as well as considerable tropical fruit. I get the impression this intensely hoppy beer will have a considerable malt backbone (which it does). On the palate, this is quite good. The flavor profile generally replicates the nose, and I'm impressed by how well balanced this massively perportioned beer is. The hoppy bitterness carries the day on the finish, as the malty sweetness dries out. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full, with a long, malty, bitter finish. Alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile, though you can tell it's up there a bit.

Not that I would expect anything else, but this is a pretty impressive beer from SN. It's a bit malty/sweet for my taste, but is still a beer I can admire and appreciate. Impressive.

Note: Found this beer on draft the next day at Max's, and found I preferred the bottled version. The draft version was similar, but was a bit sweeter and maltier than the bottled version.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 17:08:02 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Monk's, Philly, PA

Served in a flared pils glass, a slightly hazy golden-amber color with a small foamy cap of white head that receded to a ringlet; bubbly carbonation visible. Herbal hop aroma, not too strong. Taste is a bit subdued for an imperial IPA, crisp herbal and piney hop bitterness, lightly toasted grains, biscuity hops. The weakness in flavor is made up for in the mouthfeel department; this is one drinkable beer, smooth and light on the tongue for the style, clean aftertaste, with the higher ABV almost unnoticeable. Nice beer overall.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 01:13:32 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Marlay House in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy deep copper color with a one-finger cream-colored head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of huge amounts of herbal and pine hops backed caramel malts. As the beer warms the herbal hops recede a bit and hints of deep citrus come into play.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sticky caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined almost immediately by resinous pine hops and lighter herbal hops. Midway through the sip the pine flavors intensify and a strong bitterness sets in. The pine hops carry t hrough to a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a smooth thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall this was a hugely robust beer but the bitterness was too much to let it go into the upper tier of DIPAs. Still, well worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2011 01:15:36 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Nice bengal-tiger orange with a good clarity, a one finger frothy tan head which showed moderate retention and left a weak and whsipy lacing on the vessel. Decent medium sense of effervesce.

S: Leafy fresh green hop aroma of pine, complexity is limiting but shows some herbaceous notes of parsley and oregano which i found interesting. Moderate strength overall aroma wise but lacked a bit in the malt detection.

T: Nice malt base in the flavor is picked up on, warm caramel toast presence that was weak on the nose. Herbaceous notes of parsley and oregano, dry lemon flower, and leafy vegetal matter. Dry leafy bitterness perhaps from dry hopping leaves a gentle dry hopping bitterness that goes on for quite awhile. A final farewell warmth of pine-alcohol comes on the close.

M: Decent level of carbonation, though not snap worthy or crisp, but still leaves enough for some appreciation. Good malt consistnecy, warm pine-alcohol lingering.

O: Overall theres quite a bit of alcohol going on here. The hops come upfront while things are dry and bitter with a knock out of piney-alcohol. The nose is a bit slight per style but flavor was solid if thats all you care about give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 23:41:11 | More by beerthulhu

kojevergas

California

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

10.40%. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average; I'm in the mood for a good IPA.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger head of khaki colour, nice thickness, and great retention for the high ABV. Colour is a clear copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Piney oily hops, floral hops, some hop bitterness, clean malts, some caramelization, and cream. An average strength aroma.

T: Lots of pine on the backend is what I notice first, with floral character and caramelization throughout. Clean malts comprise the foundation of the body. Crystal malts. Slight cream emerges underneath the body. The piney character is overdone, negatively impacting the balance. Otherwise, it's nicely built. I like it for what it is, but it lacks real complexity or subtlety. There's nothing unique or special here.

Mf: Coarse and somewhat dry. It doesn't fully commit to either characteristic, leaving a middling unconfident beer. Good carbonation. Some nice cream. The crystal malt tingle/coarseness is a nice touch. A bit heavy on the palate. Too thick.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. I'd try it on draught, but it's nothing exemplary. Hop heads might like it, but its lack of balance really holds it back.

C+

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 05:39:23 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice golden color with a fluffy two-finger head into my glass. Very good presentation here.

Aroma is a mix of grassy/floral hops, though it's somewhat muted.

Whoa! Intense citrus essences from the hops bombard my tongue, leaving a "hot" feel on the tongue from the alcohol. Definitely a hop monster!

Mouthfeel is full of lingering grassy/citrus essences from the hops. Again, somewhat muted but no less hoppy.

Very nice example of the style. I can't say that it's the best but I certainly don't regret picking it up. Try it!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 02:17:01 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

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

Stubby 12oz bottle into a pub glass. The brew appears a clear copper color with some particulate stuck in suspension keeping the brew from being perfectly clear. A yellowish stained cap that is about a finger strong composed of large bubbles stays atop due to streaming carbonation maintaining a thin lace atop for quite a duration. As the cap fades, it leaves some strings of webby lacing effect sticking to the glass.

The aroma is a pretty intense wack of fresh hoppy goodness. The nose initially is fresh and fruity with a floral bouquet that rapidly changes into more of an herbal aspect that gets quite dank with some pine inclusion. As it warms up, it gets a little grassy which is just an extension of the previously mentioned dank aspect mixed with a touch of alcohol tingle to the nose.

The taste is absolutely resinous with hops but surprisingly the hops carry quite the punch of flavor without getting excessively bitter. The resinous bite includes flavors of herbs, pine, grass, rinds and pulp. A bit of grass inclusion mixes with some fusel alcohol and towards the back it gets more focused on herbs and a bit of catty touch. Despite the assault of enjoyable hop flavoring, underneath is a respectable amount of contrasting caramel malt flavoring that is a bit toasty which provides enough sweetness to keep things enjoyable and rounded.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. I regret waiting this long to partake in this brew. In some ways, this was minorly reminiscent of that most fantastic experience I had with Ghidora back when it was originally released as a beer camp brew. This is a pretty intense brew from tip to hilt. It is sure to satisfy the most profound hop craving.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 03:06:48 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Bronze with an off-white head, thin ring of retention leaves a little leg.

S: Not a huge aroma, but there's plenty of depth: Pine, sponge toffee, mango, candied pineapple, papaya, marmalade, tangerine, nectarine, somewhat floral and herbal with a hint of steelie grass. A bit dank. What are those hop geneticists up to now?

T: Assertively bold bitterness. Plenty of piny resin, grapefruit rind, candied pineapple, mango, papaya, steelie grass, sponge toffee, alcohol is remarkably well-hidden under all that flavour.

M: Moderate body has a slight residual sweetness with PLENTY of hop acidity. Slightly drying alcohol finish.

D/O: This bold and the hopping is rather unique. Makes me wonder what they're cross-breading... have they been playing with Nugget?

Another big thanks to Rutager!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 01:40:44 | More by Derek

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

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

Pours a white head. Good retention. Some lace. Color is a clear golden orange.

Aroma: a ton of hops and a ton of fruits. Floral and pine hops. Grapefruit and lemon citrus. A little bready malts.

Taste: tons of juicy hops. Floral and piney. Grapefruit stIckiness. Some bready malts. Hop resiny. Very oily.

Mouthfeel: sticky and bitter. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends sticky.

Overall, this was a tasty. It wasn't world class, but it was solid and definitely something I would drink again. Very nice iipa.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 04:56:29 | More by mothman