I stopped in the local beer store after seeing a sign saying they had Sam Adams Utopias in stock. I was disappointed to learn that they were, in fact, out of Utopias, but decided to pick up a four pack of their Hallertau Imperial Pilsner instead. The label proclaims this to beer to be “an Intense Hop Experience,” so I was intrigued at how it might compare to the hoppy ales I’ve been drinking lately. Hallertau Mittelfrueh, a Bavarian Noble hop, gives this double pils its name and its predominant flavor. The beer pours a cloudy amber color with lots of carbonation, a little yeast in the bottom, and a thick white head. As the carbonation settles there is some uneven lacing evident.
The beer smells of hops, hops, and then some more hops, true to its tag line. This style is noted for a very bitter hop taste, offset by malty sweetness and fairly aggressive alcohol on the tongue. The hops and malts were both very evident on the tongue, but they did not seem to balance particularly well. The first two of these that I had were probably a little colder than they should have been. As they warmed the tastes started to mellow and blend a little better. My third pour was done after letting the beer warm for several minutes and yielded a more unified taste. The carbonation makes this beer very full in the mouth. I liked the hops in here but missed the coppery finish of a good IPA. This is an interesting style; I’ll have to taste a few others before I can really decide whether I like it or not. So far, though, I’d say it’s not as high on my list as Dogfish Head’s or Clipper City’s IPAs.
My Rating:
