Imperial - Cerveceria Costa Rica

Reaper16

Alabama

3.05/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle served into a pint glass
Presenting the latest installment of the critically acclaimed series, "Reaper Drinks Beer that People Left After a Party."

Pours a sickly pale yellow color. It's kind of the same color as the yellow on the beer's label, only desaturated a bit. I'm scoring it a 4.0 because I score to style, and this beer has some awesome head retention for the style. Most adjunct lagers have a nice bubbly head but it dissipates in a flash (see: High Life, Miller). Not Imperial. Large bubbles and lots of lacing.

I think I smell blood. It's smells like some old rusted coins. Steely hops meet some old musk grain aromas. Some light candy aromas too -- like apple-flavored cotton candy or something. It's more interesting than your standard adjunct lager, though it isn't anything that I really want to be smelling.

Imperial is one of the better adjunct lagers I've tasted in a long time. There's flavor here! Imagine that you cooked some rice and then you sauteed some yellow appleskins and then you garnished that dish with some powdered donuts. Voila! Imperial!

The mouthfeel is as thick and luxurious as tapwater.

Overall, this is kind of an alright beer. It's better than Budweiser. It's certainly better than the Corona/Sol/etc. school of Latin American lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 03:51:29 | More by Reaper16

Samp01

New Jersey

2.03/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle pours a pale yellow with a thin short lived white head. Aroma and Taste of grassy grain, some fruity notes. Palate is a light body with low carbonation. Finish is grassy, grainy with a somewhat funky aftertaste. Not much else. Overall aroma and taste quickcly fades and is quite bland, would not drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 19:55:36 | More by Samp01

ronniebruner

Arizona

3/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Oversll this is an extremely bland brew. The beer pours a yellowidh gold color with a light amount of head, carbonation and lace. The aroma is of cheap hops, but not horrible. It goes down smoothly on a warm evening. All in all there is nothing good nor bad about this beer... It is amazingly mundane. Worth a try if you come across it though. But buy a single bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 02:51:35 | More by ronniebruner

Duff27

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Three inch white head on a golden cerveza. Surprisingly good head retention and clumpy lacing.

S- Not much to the smell...straw, bread.

T- Pale pilsner malts. Good balance with the hops, not too sweet.

M- Decent carbonation. Medium-thin mouthfeel.

D/O- Not as bad as I thought it'd be. Refreshing. On par with other adjunct lagers commonly found...but better because its a Costa Rica tick ;)

Serving type: can

09-25-2011 21:25:27 | More by Duff27

JayS2629

Alabama

2.58/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a pale, hazy yellow with a fizzy, soapy head that fades fast and leaves minimal lace.

The aroma is of toast, faint bready notes, clean malts, and earthy-grassy hints.

Very clean and watery, with faint bready notes, grassy elements and some earth tones.

Very thin, fizzy, and boring. Will not buy again. They call this imperial?

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 01:53:12 | More by JayS2629

UCLABrewN84

California

3/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear yellow with a 1 inch fizzy white head that settles to a thin cap. Random small areas of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grains, corn flakes, and some grass notes. Taste is somewhat watery with grain, corn, and grass flavors. A decent carbonation level makes for a crisp and smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is an average lager all around with nothing special whatsoever.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 05:21:19 | More by UCLABrewN84

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Crystal clear and straw yellow with a lasting thin cap of fine white bubbles. Spotty lacing. Mild aroma, a bit of sweet malt, faint cereal notes - clean, but that's all I could pick up. There was a bit more going on in the flavour. Mild bitterness with dry malty sweetness, a hint of grassy and spicy hops in the finish. Medium bodied, creamy carbonation, a bit dry. Overall, it was pretty clean and had a better texture than most in this style.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 00:33:05 | More by DrJay

Paincane

Georgia

2.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from the can into a pint glass. Yellowish straw in color. Corn and grain aroma. Light bodied and watery with corn flavor and moderate carbonation. A yellow fizzy beer that is best consumed on hot days and can be refreshing served cold. This is THE beer in Costa Rica and is ubiquitous.

Serving type: can

08-02-2011 02:14:26 | More by Paincane

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.23/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Yellow macro lager, very thin white head, less than 1/4" I'd say, nothing to look at by any means. Aroma was cooked corny, a little bit of sweetness, not terrible by any means.

Taste, bland watery, lightly sweet, nothing in terms of hops, fizzy, highly carbonated. Total hot weather beer, nothing going for it otherwise really, had worse, had much much better.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 18:59:56 | More by Beerandraiderfan

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Imperial is very pale even for a lighter, Latin American lager. In fact, it's yellow tint is so slight that in some lights it appears not even straw, but straw-tinged, and near colourless much like a white wine. Indeed, it shares the same glossy complexion and every bit the clarity. Heck, if it weren't for the mound of white mousse on top I might be confused.

Trying different beers from around the world sounds much more exotic than it actually is. You might be surprised to learn that typically the more exotic the country, the more mundane the beer. That is certainly true of Costa Rica's national brand, as the familiar grainy, corn-sweet aroma would attest. If you've had a beer, this scent is not unfamiliar to you.

And neither will the taste be - provided you can find any. As sarcastic as that may sound, as the beer's colour would have indicated, malt was not exactly used with joyous abandon; a light-body was surely intended. Apart from a faint cereal graininess, tinged with a little bit of corn flavour, this beer leaves little to describe it by. Which, again, is the idea.

Given the very light body and minimal flavour, the beer's most marked characteristic would probably be its sweetness. While beers are inherently bitter, the mainstream palate responds better to sweet and, when making a light beer, it's cheaper and more convenient to use sugars (rather than more malt) to generate alcohol. That's obviously what was done here.

National brand lagers are the easiest reviews to write when the beer is bad and the hardest to write it's just boringly average, like this one. Not much can be said about a beer that is so mundane, by design emasculated and yet, so far as most people would be concerned, easy and agreeable. I found it to be just that... and I'm sure most Costa Ricans do too.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 18:43:23 | More by biegaman

morebeergood

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Just got back from Costa Rica, and like everyone says, Imperial is everywhere. Cerveceria Costa Rica rules the market there. Picked up a sixer for the the hotel room, plus had it on numerous occasions with meals. Fizzy yellow body, with lots of carbonation. Smell was a bit musty. Taste was decent with mostly notes of corn; not offensive or skunky. Mouthfeel was thin, but that was expected. A good hot weather beer that you can drink on the beach or with any meal. From the same brewery, I liked it more than Pilsen, but honestly I think that Bavaria Gold was slightly better.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 03:18:28 | More by morebeergood

Heischman

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Beer/Brewery - Imperial/Cerveceria Costa Rica
City/State- San Jose, Costa Rica
STYLE – American Adjunct Lager
ABV – 4.6%
IBU – 18
DATE – 28 JUN 2011
SERVING TYPE – 12 oz Bottle
GLASSWARE – Tumbler
APPEARANCE – Yellow crystal clear, Nice head of about ¼ inch and a good flow of bubbles from the bottom of the glass.
AROMA- A little musty and grass a little like a Bud (sorry)
TASTE – Kind of blah, taste like an average light lager. Noting special.
MOUTHFEEL – Crisp
CONCLUSION – Not a bad beer, just boring to me. I am not much of a light lager fan
-JH-

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 23:17:06 | More by Heischman

ktrillionaire

Florida

3.58/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer was legendary, growing up in a surf-crazed area of Florida; I was a skateboarder, so I never traveled to Costa Rica, and therefore never got to drink Imperial, though I did have plenty of Guaro/Cacique liquor that my teenaged friends smuggled home. Decades later, I am having my first Imperial. It looks pretty good for the style, as it has a persistent head, some lace(!), and all the hallmarks of a golden fizzy lager. The nose is mildly sweet, and offers pale grain, corn, and mineral notes. The flavor is about the same, elementally, but it is more impressive than the nose for some intangible reason. I take that back; as the brew airs out, the nose is also taking on some additional positive traits: there seems to be some legit fruitiness, albeit very mild, from either the yeast or hops, I cannot say. The feel is light and refreshing. I ilke it.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 15:39:49 | More by ktrillionaire

Stunner97

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Apearance- pours off with decent nice white head, and good sharp carbonation as many bubbles stream the glass

Smell- the smell is light unoffensive but light slight grain malt

Taste-the flavor is actually much nicer then i expected, good crips malt and slight hop flavor , the flavor is not super complex but its overall very nice for the style, very clean and smooth flavor,

Mouthfeel- good carbonation and very smooth and extremely crisp

Drinkability- very highly drinkable and highly refreshing typical of they style yet certainly alot better then my expectations, more reminds me of a lot of euro lagers in flavor, a good beer for hot summer time weather thats extremely affordable and one i would try again for sure

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 02:40:43 | More by Stunner97

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I picked up a six pack of bottles at the local Bottle King for $4.99.

It is a very light beer. Typical fizzy yellow beer, very clear.

A slightly sweet, yeasty, malty smell.
The taste is mild. Some yeast comes through, but not a real flavorful beer.

Over all, this is a real easy drinker. Perfect hot weather beer when you want something not too heavy. It is a fun beer being from Costa Rica.

This is what to serve at a cook out or BBQ on a hot summer night.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 00:39:31 | More by JohnFatAss

elginirishpunk

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +58.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had in Costa Rica only a day out of the brewery. Amazing while sitting on a beach.
Suttle smoothness more then other pilsners. Is has not sense of bitterness and is quite refreshing as a pislner. It is the major beer in the country, ect Bud in the US> It is everywhere and 90% in bottle/can. Only found on tap in Resorts.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 05:41:10 | More by elginirishpunk

matjack85

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottles that I was surprised to find at the local Jewel/Osco store in Glendale Heights, IL. $6.99 for a six pack. Just another Central American macro lager, but my first one from Costa Rica.

The pour resulted in only a small white rim for a head, and even that fades in a heartbeat, leaving no lacing behind. Completely clear pale gold color with lots of carbonation bubbles.

The smell is weak, but not unpleasant for a macro - a little cereal grain and light lemony hops.

No great flavor here, but nothing bad either. Mild sweetness that I didn't pick up in the smell. In fact the warmer it gets the sweeter it gets. I liked it best ice cold with just a little sweetness blended with a mild lemon hop citrus bitterness along with a little corn adjunct.

Very light but also very carbonated, giving it a spritzy refreshing mouthfeel. No alcohol flavor at all.

For a macro it's better than most. They go down easy and I'd rather drink this than a Corona any day. Nothing to seek out, but does the job of quenching a thirst.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 12:57:26 | More by matjack85

jimthepisces

New York

2.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Having recently visited Costa Rica, I had a chance to sample this beer frequently. There's really not much to say about this beer. It's pretty plain and boring. I would say it's Costa Rica's very own Budweiser. I do think I liked it better than Pilsen, which seems to be it's big competitor, but not by much.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 16:45:32 | More by jimthepisces

JMad

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A friend brought over a six pack of this so I went ahead and poured one into my glass mug...

The beer pours a pale golden yellow color that had a thin, bubbly white head that left some lacing on the glass.

There is a musty smell along with some grassy hop notes and hints of hay.

Not much flavor here, it's a little metallic, there lemony hop notes and hints of corn.

It's light with sharp carbonation.

This beer is not something I would ever spend my own money on.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 03:43:03 | More by JMad

chinchill

South Carolina

2.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle served in pint glass. Fresh, according to date on label.

A - clear and golden; lmedium/light carbonation; thin and short-lived white head that quickly dissipates to a thin ring.

Light aroma and flavor, but more like a standard macro-brewery lager than a light beer. Body closer to medium. Flavor of grains and light hops.

Should be a refreshing summer drink, but not a recommendable beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 23:42:46 | More by chinchill

yemenmocha

Arizona

2.93/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours pale, or very pale straw yellow with minimal head. Nose is grainy. Cereal grainy sweetness on palate, light body and flavor, almost outright watery. Little hop presence back of the Palate and through the finish. Light hops on aftertaste too. Beats U.S. BMC but still FYB.

Serving type: can

01-08-2011 03:47:22 | More by yemenmocha

Beerbluesbiology

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a typical macro brew head and gold body color. Really quite a light beer, but when you are in Costa Rica, nothing tastes better. No, it is not a world class beer but it has good flavor, albeit little, and great refreshment value. Overall a fun and tasty beer but only to be consumed cold and during a warmer time of year.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 22:47:05 | More by Beerbluesbiology

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.05/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle (this is going to be the first of a long list of rating for some pale lager form Costa Rica). Poured a bright golden color lager with a small bubbly head with minimal retention. Aroma of of lightly sweet adjunct and not much else is bland. Taste is also quite bland with balanced sweetness originating form adjunct. Body is medium for style with OK carbonation. Not gross in any way and I guess it is just what it intended to be.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 03:27:43 | More by Phyl21ca

gkunkle

Oregon

3.08/5  rDev +10%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My wonderful girlfriend brought this to me on her return from s semester abroad in Central America. Pours a pale golden color with a 1 finger white head that slowly dissipates to a ring between glass and beer. Smells slightly of adjuncts and I think I caught a whiff of alcohol. My first sip was pretty cold and there wasn't a lot of taste to it, but as it warmed it actually displayed some nice flavors. Once it warmed a little you could taste the sweet malts and little bit of hops. Light bodied, with a bubbly carbonation and a crisp mouthfeel. At 4.6 ABV its pretty sessionable. Overall, this is not a good beer compared to many of the exceptional styles of beer on this website, but it certainly held my interest more than a Bud or any other Adjunct Lager I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 22:58:09 | More by gkunkle

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.13/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light yellow color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is very faint but contains adjuncts, light malts and a even less hops than most beers in the style.

T: The taste starts out with mildly bready flavors of grain and adjuncts. Then some sweetness comes in from a light malt character. The hops presence is weak even for the style and as a result there isn't much balance. The after-taste slightly bready.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Not very flavorful, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, even considering the style it's a bit subpar, I've certainly had much worse but this still isn't a beer I would choose unless my choices were severely limited.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 23:03:19 | More by TheManiacalOne