Samuel Adams Hallertau Imperial Pilsner - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Jordan1985rec

Maryland

3.33/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I was served this at the end of a brewery tour at Boston Beer Company, and to honest it was a bit too much for me.
Good if you like VERY hoppy beers, but for somebody like me who tends to like the more mild ales and such, this tasted kind of gross. Now obviously in a store I wouldn't pick this up because it blatently says on the bottle that it is extremely hoppy, so I don't blame the beer, nor do I think it is particularly bad, just not for me. I would recomend this beer to IPA fans and other such hop heads.
Look: Was very pretty to look at, amber-ish with a nice, lasting head.

Smell: Wow, hops and lots of them. To me smelled of citrus and maybe a bit like household cleaner.

Taste: Strong as F@*k, too hoppy for this guy. But good for hop fiends.

Mouthfeel: Almost burning sensation in my mouth from the bitterness of this beer. Honestly the overall package here made my girlfriend sick and me a little woozy.

Drinkability: I would only have one myself, but I can see my friends who really live for hops sticking with this for at least one more.
Just not for me I guess.
Slainte.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2008 22:37:50 | More by Jordan1985rec

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled this at the German Beer Festival and later out of a bottle.

Pours a cloudy golden orangey color with a fluffy white head that just wouldn't quit. Carbonation on this one is a bit on the high side. Smell is overwhelming hops, but not the spicy or citrusy smell that one would expect from an ipa with "c" hops in it. Definitely a much more flower like smell. The taste didn't really do it for me. Very bitter as one would expect, but not a flavorful bitter. Maybe my pallet isn't ready for this beer, but I would have liked some grapefruit, or citrus flavors in with the bitter, but it just wasn't there. Medium body with bitterness all around. I saved a couple of bottles of this and I think it will be really interesting to see how these hold up over time. As they are now, I think they are a bit harsh.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2007 02:20:14 | More by johnnnniee

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at the Hop Devil Grill in NYC.

Yes, it is an intense hops experience, but that aso means it's not a pilsner experience. Unlike the Rogue imperial pils, for instance, the hops here completely overwhelm any malt flavors. That leaves you with a thick grapefruit rind and noble hop spice. There's plenty of big beers that host big lhop levels like this one and without the malt or pilsner character, this is just another hop bomb for the most part. Still, the hops are pretty tasty, I'm just wish there was more pilsner in there.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2007 15:24:11 | More by tempest

jermar

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in 20 oz. draft cup at Uno's in Kenmore Square before Game 2 of the ALCS. I was surprised to find it there. The barmaid asked whether I was sure I wanted it, implying that other patrons had been turned off by the brew. I assured her that I did - and was pleasantly surprised to be charged only $6 for 20oz at such an establishment.

In any case, what can I say? It is a bit shocking to experience such full-blown hop assault from a lager-style brew, but it is simply delicious. And I think the malt held up its end of the bargain, providing just the right level of sweetness. I was not able to savor the drink for long as my party was getting ready to head to our seats at Fenway, but that drink was the least disappointing aspect of that long night. Go Sox!!

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2007 17:48:40 | More by jermar

shirfan

New York

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picture perfect appearance, with a 4-finger head that refused to leave for several minutes, and a lightly hazy dark golden liquid below, accented by several bubble streamers from the bottom of the glass. Copious lacing for the duration.

Grassy, lemony aroma doesn't quite do justice to the taste waiting behind it.

Taste: A hops behemoth. Absolutely chock full of hallertau flavor, outshining pretty much all other aspects of the beer. That said, it's not insanely bitter -- there is a light sweetness from the malts, adding at least a small counterweight to the overwhelming hops flavor. Leafy, lemon zest, mildly floral, hints of pepper.

Mouthfeel is on the light, drinkable side, especially since this brew isn't very sweet. Probably the hoppiest non-ale beer I've had yet.

Serving type: growler

10-10-2007 17:09:15 | More by shirfan

BattleRoadBrewer

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Sam Adams Beer Summit Oktoberfest in pint glass tankard.

Pours orange amber with a bit of haze, making a modest off-white head.

Aroma is fullsome with hops, but with less bite on the nerve endings, and a bit less rich and floral, than the bottled version.

Taste is sweet and buttery, not as clean, nor as citrusy, as the bottled version. Maybe such a big beer needs to age longer before serving, so that it can come into balance.

Mouthfeel is great, slick and bitter, goes down easy.

Drinkability is great or sinister, depending on how you look at it. 8.8% ABV is completely concealed, this beer is too quaffable for your own good! Overall, keg version suffers from being insufficiently aged compared to the bottled version, which I scored quite a bit higher.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2007 15:08:38 | More by BattleRoadBrewer