Nelson Imperial IPA - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

OTB

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, picked this up at WF tonight. Pours a nice amber orange with nice two finger head that leaves gorgeous lacing as I drink down. The nose is muted, more malt sweetness than the citrus I would expect in a DIPA, not bad but not like a Alpine Nelson nose.
The flavor profile is where this kicks it in gear. Really nice initial hit of sweet malt perfectly balanced with the beautiful Nelson hop profile opens onto even more sweet tropical fruits, grapefruit and bitter lemon. The mouthfeel is resinous and cull, departing quite dry and demanding another quaff. A really nice DIPA that I would definitely go to again.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 04:32:04 | More by OTB

GratefulEdd

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

06-19-2013 14:12:31 | More by GratefulEdd

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

06-17-2013 18:55:36 | More by ChrisMon02

J_Beloved

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

06-13-2013 22:50:25 | More by J_Beloved

DrDaves49

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

06-13-2013 06:00:45 | More by DrDaves49

Braz

Washington

4/5  rDev +1%

06-13-2013 05:57:40 | More by Braz

ChalupaBatman

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

06-12-2013 03:16:03 | More by ChalupaBatman

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

Note: this review is primarily for myself. I received a four-pack as a gift and unfortunately it was a good 8-months old. Given the other reviews on this site I would like to try the fresh version.

A - a nice clear amber with about an inch of head. The head faded, but never disappeared, and left a really nice amount of lacing on the glass all the way down.

S - Maltiness, the hops have faded on this 8-month old beer.

T - actually tasted something like the Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shutdown Ale, which I found both too malty and too boozy. I don't think the level of alcohol is the problem with this one, so I'm chalking it up to old age.

M - Classic DIPA feel. Soft, medium-full body.

O - I argued with myself over whether or not to review it, but ultimately I'd rather have the record, and a reminder to give this one a fair shot.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 00:11:49 | More by Andrew041180

Spikester

Oregon

3.71/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Clear amber with one finger of off white head. Head fades in 5 minutes leaving a curtain of lace behind.
Smell is quite bold, hop oil and some grains.
Taste is grapefruit zest, resin, leather, pineapple, and some homemade short cake.
Mouthfeel is thick and chewy with just enough carbonation to steer it clear of wine territory.
Overall a nice beer from Widmer. Finish is a piney lingering slightly wet bitterness. Alcohol was noticed but in the effects rather than the taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 06:53:02 | More by Spikester

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

06-09-2013 19:43:28 | More by jarrgal

DeutschesBier

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

06-07-2013 15:55:35 | More by DeutschesBier

RBassSFHOPit2ME

California

4/5  rDev +1%

06-07-2013 04:41:37 | More by RBassSFHOPit2ME

TonyT013

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

06-06-2013 02:52:53 | More by TonyT013

Geno206

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

06-01-2013 00:55:23 | More by Geno206

craftbeerasian

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-31-2013 00:41:56 | More by craftbeerasian

DarthKostrizer

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

05-30-2013 00:49:37 | More by DarthKostrizer

BRLockwood

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-27-2013 11:44:48 | More by BRLockwood

Rekrule

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-27-2013 03:44:15 | More by Rekrule

Imperial_Sapient_Groat

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%

05-27-2013 00:08:22 | More by Imperial_Sapient_Groat

DrewShalvoy

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-26-2013 00:16:58 | More by DrewShalvoy

immobileman

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

05-22-2013 20:27:20 | More by immobileman

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
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

Chegui

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

05-14-2013 20:44:10 | More by Chegui

RuEXP1

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +7.6%
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 +6.1%
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