Nelson Imperial IPA - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pour is a glowing golden amber orange with a half finger of dense white head. Modest amount of lacing.

Nose is mighty strong, with lots of ripe, floral hops, and bright citrus character.

Taste follows the nose, with big fresh juicy fruits, passion fruit, a little grape fruit. Luscious throughout. Finishes with nice pine resin hop, with just a softest bitters too it.

Mouth feel is on the thicker side of medium. Works well with the flavors.

Really a fantastic DIPA. Love all the fruit and flavors. Could have used just a touch more hop on the finish for me, but really phenomenal overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:03:38 | More by dheacck11

RuEXP1

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Poured from Bomber into standard pint. Has a hazy golden/yellow color to it. Low amount of bubbles from carbonation, and a thin layer of white head on top. Good amount of lacing.

S - The smell is just plain awesome. I get hints of caramel malt, earthy, and citrus tones. Hops come through but not overwhelming.

T - Caramel is still there, but the hos come through for me more on taste than they do on smell. The citrus from the hops offers a really nice balance to the sweetness from the malt. Bitterness lingers after each sip. For being 8.6% it does not have an 'alcoholic' taste to it.

M - This drink is on the thicker side, but the carbonation comes out well when it is sipped. This helps it dissipate over the tongue quite nicely.

O - I was very pleased with this beer, not knowing much about it when I purchased it. The aroma is really my favorite part. The entire experience was enjoyable and I would buy this again (It's a good price for the quality!).

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:01:17 | More by RuEXP1

jjboesen

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Having visited the Widmer Brothers Gasthaus during my many trips to Portland, Oregon (See Review), I was delighted to find their beers here in the Washington, DC area.

Nelson Imperial begins with a moderate head nestled atop a translucent copper body, which is home to a small, but determined, school of carbonation bubbles racing one another to the surface. The rim bears minor lacing that eventually slips away to leaves a resinous film stubbornly stuck to the glass.

The initial whiff is a plentiful bouquet of pine, apple and grass, which would be appropriate for taking a horse to the senior prom. Ha Ha – Charlie Babbitt told a joke. But enough of Rain Man references; the palate is immediately wrapped with a heavy blanket threaded with large spools of malt. At the end of the quaff, there is a subtle buttery texture making for a substantial mouthfeel.

As a Hop Head, I can attest to this exemplary version of our most popular style (IMHO). The Nelson Imperial proves that you can have hoppiness without the usual explosion of bitterness. But after all, it is brewed in Beervana - nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:04:26 | More by jjboesen

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle served in a snifter.

L - dulled brass color with a white head that thinned to a ring.

S - tangerine and earthiness.

T - mix of sweet and tart orange/tangerine flavor with a twist of lemon.

F - medium bodied with mild carbonation.

O - tart and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 20:55:23 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

TheSixthRing

California

3.79/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottled on date of October 12, 2012

Appearance - Pours a hazy golden copper with an off-white finger width head and fair retention. Lacing clumps in spots, and is spotty in others. Nice stick.

Smell - I can smell the caramel malts from a mile away. Hops are secondary, coming across as floral with touches of citrus.

Taste - Caramel malts are predominant to start, with lesser notes of orange popping through cleanly by mid-taste. Lightly floral. Mild grapefruit pith bitterness comes across in the aftertaste, which builds after each sip.

Mouthfeel - Medium to full body with fair carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall - I should have checked the date before buying the bottle. At nearly 5 months old, I'm sure the hop bite in this beer has taken a substantial hit. I still enjoyed it, but a definite candidate for re-review with a fresher sample. I'm guessing I didn't get the Full Nelson experience (yes, pun intended).

UPDATE: Had this fresh on tap the other night, and there wasn't much of a difference. The hops were maybe a smidgeon stronger. Maybe.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 05:40:39 | More by TheSixthRing

arizcards

Arizona

4.04/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber at the Foodland Grocery Store in Kapaa, Kauai last week for around $6. Bottled on 12-9-12.

Beer poured golden orange with a nice white head that is leaving lacing behind.

Nose is very pungent with floral and citrus hops.

Taste is hop forward, tropical notes were first noticed but grapefruit and pine are asserting dominance. Malt backbone is strong but not sweet.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with some carbonation that makes it lighter than most in this style.

Overall i like this brew, good flavors and solid aroma are nice. Widmer bros have been stepping in up over time which is really appreciated!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 01:34:54 | More by arizcards

Florida9

Illinois

3.71/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Clear orange-amber in color. Forms a moderate sized off-white head. Good retention and lacing.

S: Aroma is characteristically Nelson Sauvin, with a strong grapey, vinous, white wine quality.

T: Taste is weak and watery for a DIPA. Mild caramel malts, white grapes, mandarin orange, and peaches. Rather fruity for a DIPA. Moderately sweet. Foxy white wine on the finish.

M: On the lighter side of medium. Thin for the style. Mild bitterness. Lower-medium carbonation.

O: This is a weak DIPA and at 8.6% I'd say its barely pushing the DIPA boundary. However, I suspect that with a hop like Nelson Sauvin, the goal was to make a lighter styled beer to showcase the hop. In that sense they succeeded, but they did not succeed in making a beer that is overly memorable or special.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 23:40:13 | More by Florida9

tdm168

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - orangish amber with a big, white head that fades to a thin lacing

S - huge floral aroma with some underlying citrus and sweet malts

T - floral, citrus, faintly spicy, faintly herbal, some orange, orange rind, sugary sweetness, mildly bitter finish

M - dry, well carbonated, a bit warm, well carbonated

This is a nice IPA, but it doesn't have the intense hop character that I would have liked. I do like the orange, citrusy notes that come through and the faint herbal notes. Ultimately, however, for a DIPA this is underwhelming. It's a solid, drinkable IPA, but not a great DIPA. I definitely will never turn this down, but I won't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:37:23 | More by tdm168

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz from a 4 pack poured into a snifter.

A- nice orange with a finger of white foam, a touch of haze.

S- malt aroma with hops and some citrus notes.

T- malts with floral hop flavor, which goes well with the citrus aroma. Bitterness is pretty mild for a DIPA.

M- medium rich body with medium carbonation.

O-Good beer, but with better DIPA's out there, don't know if I'll get again.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 14:48:27 | More by Damian74Shensky

augustgarage

California

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Dogfish Head oversized snifter. Bottled in December, 2012.

Clear, deep carrot orange liquid with brighter highlights and a thin rim of beige up top. Average retention at best, vague lacing.

Spruce, orange, candied ginger, and menthol in the nose...faint caramel as well.

Sweet moderately bitter flavor profile - syrupy, earthy, peppery, with cherries and mint throughout. An odd collection of tastes, like a kiwi making the most of a rainy PDX winter. Aftertaste of overcooked apricot and herbs. Would go well with a number of Moroccoan dishes actually...

Oily, medium-bodied mouth-feel with light carbonation with a bit of a bite from the alcohol.

A decent example of the style, though not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:01:29 | More by augustgarage

StJamesGate

New York

3.71/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Amber edging towards nut brown and clingy taupe froth that speckles.
Wood spice, gooseberry jam, passionfruit and tangerine skin – yummy.
Caramel and orange juice up front then lots of cinnamon, spruce, and sandalwood hops.
Spiced grape and Orange Swedish fish finish and tingly peppermint linger.
Medium, chewy, round, oily, slight burn.

A fair whack of caramel; too much malt for the hops. And it somehow buries the NS (which only comes through at the end) under what tastes to me like a lot of Willamette pepper and blackberry. Interesting, but not really as advertised.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 18:00:12 | More by StJamesGate

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a finger and half of head on a cloudy, copper colored body.
The aroma is a nice grapefruit, lemon and a touch of caramel.
The taste is loaded with malt, which is well balanced by the moderate bitterness.
The texture is crisp with moderate carbonation and medium body.
It's a tasty and drinkable DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:21:42 | More by Fatehunter

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

2.15/5  rDev -45.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

Poured from a 12 FL. OZ. bottle into a pint glass. Bottle date MAY 08 12. Hope this is bottled on date and not best by date - either way pretty out of date.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy hazy orange body with a relatively thin white head.

Aroma: Strong caramel malt. Smells like a beer that has aged somewhat. Not much on the hop side.

Taste: Probably one of the maltiest DIPAs I have ever tasted. I don't detect any of the Nelson Sauvin hops I came for. It's a bit of a sugary boozy mess.

Mouthfeel: Thick and heavy. Not a lot of carbonation.

Overall: A huge disappointment. I have been loving a lot of the Nelson Sauvin beers I have tasted recently, but this is not representative. I'm guessing it might be the age, but with no plans to revisit, I may never know. In my experience, 7-8 month old DIPAs do not do too well.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:44:50 | More by JednoPivoProsim

rajendra82

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The amber color and hazy body, had this beer looking almost like a textbook DIPA, but the pinkie thin head was not long lasting and spoiled the look somewhat. The smell had some citric hops and some pine, but wasn't as assertive as a DIPA can be. The taste was very citric, with grapefruit, mandarin oranges, and tangerine, with mineralized mid palette feel, and some candy like sweetness. The finish was citric with some pith bitterness. The mouthfeel was medium to thick and slippery, rather than sticky. Nice overall, but I like my DIPAs more extreme in their approach.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:17:01 | More by rajendra82

SerialHiker

Illinois

4.76/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours an awesome golden orange color…lots of bubbles dancing on the inside…head is just off white, about a finger width thick and somewhat lasting…(4.25/5)

Smell: Mmmm…citrus hop boom to the nose…very rich and lively aroma…it’s more hoppy than citrus which I like…smells of fresh hops bursting out of the glass making my mouth water…(5/5)

Taste: Complex flavor here…citrus and piney hops all over, but this one is deep and very tasty…sweet malts are evident, certainly not lost on the tongue…cascade hops definitely in there…a fruity sweet after taste lingers…though it’s an imperial, the alcohol isn’t a major factor in the flavor and is only noticeable by the growing grin on my face…very tasty, excellent finish…(5/5)

Mouthfeel: A watery full bodied beer (if that makes sense)…carbonation is medium with a little bite to it...citrus and malt all over the palette…fresh, crisp and lingering…not overly bitter anywhere…(4/5)

Overall: Fantastic beer…love the hops but appreciate the discreet nature of the ABV…flavor all over the place here with enough hops for the heads but plenty of malt balance for the beer snob…it’s citrusy without being lemony or overly zesty in any way, which for me adds to it’s drinkability…I will definitely get this one again and set it aside for a later date…highly recommended for sipping on during MNF or really anytime…(4.5/5)

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:41:08 | More by SerialHiker

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured a healthy few fingers of soapy off-white foamy head, really great retention and lacing, colour is a muted copper gold.

Smell has soapy grapefruity notes, piney hops, lots of tropical fruity overtones, probably coming from the nz hops, thick ripe and juicey.

Taste has a sweet start, some pleasant malty notes, with plenty of juicy tropical notes, pineapple, apricot, some pleasant sweet nutty notes, for a DIPA this is surprisingly sweet and fruity, with the hops coming through as a pleasant countering citrus bitterness. Finish is dry, a bit bitter, and smooth.

Mouthfeel has a moderate light carbonation, smooth body, drinks very nicely, quite refreshing and smooth for the style. Really juicy and nice.

A really nice take on the DIPA style and it works really well with a ton more tropical fruit flavour, less of the west coast pine and grapefruit, and the change is really nice, an interesting and complex brew that deserves a try for its uniqueness.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:59:16 | More by mick303

Nugganooch

California

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle to standard pint glass
BD: Oct-12-12

A: Pours a copper amber body with fine clarity and a thick finger of sudsy eggshell colored head. Looks picturesque with some nice retention noted and a sticky trellis of lace down the glass.

S: Aroma is pungent with heavy grapefruit flesh, white wine, and some gooseberry. Has a real musk and turns a little catty even. Mellows out to a surprisingly nice nose with a tropical fruit medley of mango and melons. Some soft sweetened bread lies underneath it all.

T: Taste delivers on the Nelson hops with a flourish of white wine grape, melon, unripe berry, mango and grapefruit. Nice intense bitterness to the beer. Malt offers a soft caramel note on top of some doughy breads. There is just enough sugary bits to bitter ratio and a tease of alcohol. Very green hop flavors with a nice long linger. A really great tasting and well done IPA. Very hoppy and refreshing.

M: Mouth feel is moderate and on the lighter side in body. Even carbonation gives a nice spritzy feel while there is big drying crisp towards the finish. Ends out a bit wetter than some but not by much. A constricting bitterness gives way to some residual sugars and sticky hop oils.

D: Overall this is probably the best beer Widmer has put out. A real tasty and drinkable Imperial IPA that really focuses in on the Nelson hops. Nice balance here overall. I rather did enjoy and would gladly purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 20:57:19 | More by Nugganooch

kylehay2004

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Single finger head with decent retention and lacing on a clear golden copper body. Mustiness of Nelson hops are well represented in the aroma with candied fruit and caramel malts. Flavor is similar and is fairly malt forward with more candied citrus and typical earthy and musty Nelson hops. Medium body and moderate carbonation, oily on the palate. Booze are well hidden, the hops are as good as Nelson hops can be but are in a good degree.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 00:54:46 | More by kylehay2004

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

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

S: The aroma contains floral hops, caramelized malts and fruity citrus.

T: The taste starts out with sweet flavors of caramel and citrus. Then a strong hops bitterness comes in. The malt character is hearty and provides a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly hoppy.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, good kick, good representation of style, this is a very solid 2IPA to drink for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:01:03 | More by TheManiacalOne

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

More bottles from my latest Philly run. I am feeling adventurous today and may try to eradicate the bottle backlog that has been an albatross since school started back.

From the bottle: "Series 924"; "'Prost! Or if you prefer, Haka.'"; "Hopped to Perfection".

Before I begin to describe the head coming off of the pour, let me tell you about the nose. It was astounding! I have been a self-avowed hophead for some time, but this acted like air freshener in the room. It was pungently floral and my mouth was watering in anticipation as a result. The two dense, rocky fingers of eggnog-colored head sat there and defied me to disturb them. No problem! I was quite content to sit there and let the aroma fill my sinus cavity. Notes of orange zest, lemon peel, fresh mown grass and caramel malt satiated me nicely. Color was a golden-amber, the color some people tan to or like a chicken's skin when you know that it is ready to come off of the rotisserie, along with NE-quality clarity. As the head slowly fell, sticky lacing remained in its wake. My first sip and I heard the singing of angels as the hops went to work on my tongue, scrubbing away dead and unused taste buds to enhance my enjoyment. Mouthfeel was medium and the citrus fruit flavors were just wonderful. This simply reaffirmed my decision to be a hophead. It was not too bitter, nor too malty, either. This was Goldilocks beer - just right. Finish was dry, but not gaspingly dry, allowing me to savor the taste that much longer.

S**t, I forgot! I am no longer a hophead but a hops junkie and I haven't fixed for a while! Now, the singing has changed to the screeching of a monkey on my back. I gotta go score, man.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 11:52:32 | More by woodychandler

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

32 oz. growler from House of Brews. I've always found this beer to be a sleeper.

Appearance - Clear orange. Not much of a head. Some wisps on the surface and a collar of big discrete bubbles.

Smell - Lots of nice citrus hops. Bright orange hop aroma. A little bit of sweetness back there, but a lot of nice hops. Finishes with a peachy fruit flavor.

Taste - Nice citrus hop again. Balanced with a good dose of pale malt sweetness. Hardly bitter, but enough of a hop presence to balance the sweetness.

Mouthfeel - Easy drinking if a little heavy. Definitely feels like a DIPA, Medium carbonation.

Overall - I drink the hell out of this when it's on tap. Remarkably well made. Maybe not the same quality has some of the top-tier DIPAs, but for a regular beer I don't have to fight for, it's excellent.

Serving type: growler

11-22-2012 01:27:57 | More by Alieniloquium

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Large bubbled head but it settles tightly to a thin layer of tiny bubbles. It leaves an extensive blanket of lace. The broth is light amber and mildly hazy.

Creamy pale malt smell with a strong pineapple hop aroma. Well balanced for a DIPA.

Strongly flavorful, but well balanced. Despite the style, this is not extreme. The initial taste is oily from the alcohol level. The floral hop bitterness is slow to intensify but it dominates the swallow and aftertaste. Full bodied with an elevated level of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 02:56:16 | More by smcolw

davey101

Connecticut

3.73/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled August 27, 2012. 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Pours a clear dark golden amber body. Two finger creamy white head with great lacing and retention.

S - Grapefruit, biscuity crackers and just a touch of those exotic Nelson hop notes...kiwi, mango, pepper, and musk.

T - Grapefruit, crackery malt, mango, and tangerines. Finish is spicy and peppery. Less complex and exciting than the nose. Mouth feel is well carbonated and slick.

O - Excellent aroma, but the taste falls a bit flat. Probably not a great spoksebeer for the Nelson hop variety, but quite a solid DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 02:50:08 | More by davey101

BhamBeerLover

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

All in all one of my favorite imperial IPAs recently. This beer is not too much on the malt side or on the hop. The Nelson Sauvin hops are a new favorite of mine and I will always buy anything mentioning this fine hop breed on the label. Impressed me significantly more than the Pitch Black IPA, which was by no means less than satisfactory. Keep it up Widmer Bros et al. Awesome option for the hophead desiring higher abv.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:23:58 | More by BhamBeerLover

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ba Review #229
Served On: 10/12/2012
Glassware: Duvel Glass
Labeled ABV: 8.6%
Date/ Code: 01/09/12

This was a 22oz bomber from Evergreen Liquors in Frederick, MD. It was $5.49 a bottle - not bad.

Look: The resiny brew poured a semi-clear orangeish yellow color. The head was an initial 2 fingers of eggshell foam consisting of mostly tight bubbles. Within a few moments all that remained was a patchy coating of lace. Carbonation level was rather low.

Smell: Some complex notes of berries and tart pine over a smooth mango. The aroma seemed surprising mild given the hops added.

Taste: First was a sweet malt that gave way to a quick powerful bitterness. Then the hop profile seemed to open up towards the end of the palate followed by a nectar-sweetness of mango and peach. The aftertaste was a lingering fruity sweetness.

This was a very balanced IPA that seemed to break away from the typical west coast Imperials. No alcohol heat was noticeable. This would make a great alternative to the hop bombs found in so many Imperial IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 17:22:39 | More by CraftBeerTastic