Samuel Adams Imperial White - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Samuel Adams' Imperial Series beers are made to be big, so it comes as no surprise that even the aroma on their Imperial White is exaggerated. Huge fruit aromas are present, reminiscent of oranges, berries, and apricots, surrounded by the spicy scent of coriander and lightly toasted grains.

On the tongue, the explosion of fruity flavors was so immediate and intense that it caught me quite off-guard: massive apricot and orange flavors dominate, far closer in their strength to a liqueur than a beer. Even the coriander spice is large, and between that and the grapefruit-bitter hops, my soft palate was left lightly tingling. Malty sugars make up the rest of the mix, bringing sugary alcohols and toasted grain notes.

Overall, this beer definitely pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a Witbier, as it contains all of the flavors regular fans of the style expect, but pushed to an almost inconceivable extreme. This beer is the flipside of nuanced. No doubt this will have a polarizing effect, some thinking the result fantastic and others finding it too powerful. Personally, I think it's superb.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 16:02:29 | More by jondeelee

mfigueroa713

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%

05-19-2013 03:59:43 | More by mfigueroa713

Buck6196

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%

05-19-2013 02:26:37 | More by Buck6196

lucasj82

Indiana

4/5  rDev +15.6%

05-15-2013 01:44:15 | More by lucasj82

aty11b

Texas

2.75/5  rDev -20.5%

05-14-2013 01:53:43 | More by aty11b

BlesstheHarvest

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-13-2013 15:04:02 | More by BlesstheHarvest

JamesStreet

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-12-2013 16:16:42 | More by JamesStreet

rph97

Texas

3/5  rDev -13.3%

05-09-2013 23:14:04 | More by rph97

blknikon

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -20.5%

05-07-2013 23:04:21 | More by blknikon

ksimons

New York

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%

05-05-2013 22:04:45 | More by ksimons

shockrocker65

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +37.3%

05-01-2013 02:44:05 | More by shockrocker65

FliryVorru

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%

04-29-2013 17:30:25 | More by FliryVorru

GRE680

Michigan

2/5  rDev -42.2%

04-28-2013 22:54:41 | More by GRE680

DonDonLongJohn

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%

04-28-2013 17:30:38 | More by DonDonLongJohn

odement

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%

04-25-2013 00:23:50 | More by odement

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%

04-24-2013 03:02:48 | More by SmellsofMahagony

pma7779

New York

5/5  rDev +44.5%

04-21-2013 22:22:16 | More by pma7779

Hophead420

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%

04-13-2013 07:32:59 | More by Hophead420

acevenom

Louisiana

3.71/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. The beer pours slightly hazy copper with a thick, off white head that dissipates slowly. The beer appears to be well carbonated due to the presence of lots of tiny bubbles rising in the beer. Not much lacing is left behind on the side of the glass. I pick up the wheat in the aroma as well as the spice notes. It's not a strong aroma overall, but I can pick up hints of coriander with citrus. Also make no mistake about it. The booze is noticeable in the aroma even when this beer is well chilled. Like in the aroma, the spice notes take a back seat to the malt and the booze. The spices notes are there and I do get the coriander, pepper, and citrus in the flavor. The sweetness is almost like honey in many ways. The body is full with enough carbonation to make this beer clean on the finish. The alcohol provides a nice warming feel. This is a good beer for what it is, but I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a witbier. It doesn't quite reach the levels of quality of an excellent wheatwine, which is how I'm judging this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:07:17 | More by acevenom

lsolanilla

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +37.3%

04-08-2013 16:14:17 | More by lsolanilla

alelover

Michigan

4/5  rDev +15.6%

04-07-2013 02:31:41 | More by alelover

HisBoyElroy

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +22.8%

04-04-2013 22:26:36 | More by HisBoyElroy

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, no apparent date present, just a code. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours about a quarter inch thin white cap which dissolves instantly. Dark orange amber colored body. Some alcohol legs noticeable. Of the four pack I bought, one of these beers had a very noticeable giant yeast strand / bacterial culture squid looking thing taking form. The one I'm drinking now has the slighting bit, but nothing like the first one I had.

S - Smells strongly of Belgian yeasts and floral spices. Coriander. Light peppercorn. Caramel malts. Alcohol soaked oak barrels. Not a very powerful aroma, but smells boozier than other witbiers. Still, an underwhelming aroma.

T - Taste is of Belgian yeast, bubblegum malts, some faint brettanomyces taste, and alcohol soaked oak wood / bourbon vanilla presence is both surprising and pleasing. Witbiers definitely aren't my thing typically, but this one isn't bad. Warming alcohol presence.

M - Sticky/ bitter. Yeasty/bready. Buttery, although I hate using that word as a descriptor, that's what comes to mind. Nice aftertaste.

Overall, a job well done from the Boston Beer Company once again, easily the best witbier I've had from them yet, as their others were forgettable at best. Quite possibly one of the better witbiers I've experienced in general, so that is also something. Definitely interested in trying more from their imperial series.

Samuel Adams Imperial White ---4/5.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 23:10:36 | More by mfnmbvp

DruC4

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +8.4%

03-31-2013 04:11:38 | More by DruC4

bmwats

Louisiana

3.63/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Medium amber. Pours about a half finger, bubbly, white head. Settles pretty quickly, leaving a smattering of foam on the surface, and a ring around the rim of the glass. No real lacing.

S: French bread, lemon citrus, a little orange citrus, and a little bubble gum.

T: White bread, a little maple syrup and honey, a little clove and lemon.

M: Thick and syrupy. Dry finish, but little aftertaste except for a little acetone.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Slight head, but no real lacing. Nose is full of character with some fruity and indistinct sweet notes. Bready flavor with lots o' balancing components.... fruit, honey, spice, and citrus. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 03:53:41 | More by bmwats