Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
Beer: Hoptimum
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: Sierra Nevada tulip
Information: 2012 Vintage, 10.4% ABV, 204820 810 on label.
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Price: $9.99 / 4-pack
Availability: Seasonal Release
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Peppery or sharp cheese, spicy cuisine.
Appearance
Vibrant clarity shows off this gorgeous deep honey golden amber-colored beer wonderfully. A dense ivory head springs up only to lower slower than molasses caking the tulip in sheets of lace.
Smell
Abounding with hop resin, notes of pine fill in around the ripe exotic fruit aroma. Plenty of grapefruit and pineapple blend with balled melon in the voluptuous aroma. Traces of sweet honey and caramel-draped biscuit balance deliciously.
Taste
A splash of honey and caramel sweetness is quickly swept away by total hop domination. Bitter, sharp pine is closely followed by smoother, sweeter pineapple and lingering grapefruit bitterness.
Mouthfeel
Medium-full-bodied, the abounding hops are battled by plenty of malt. Rich with an underlying sweetness, Hoptimum kicks it into high gear with a bold bitterness that lingers through the finish.
Overall
Well-balanced across the board, Hoptimum showcases a bold level of citrus-fruity hops with pine notes and a sweet malt profile to back it up. Flavorful, powerful, but nicely drinkable.
Score: 91 / 100 - Exceptional
Cheers,
-Andy
