Sam drops a few new Imperial beers
by Beeraroundtown ~ March 31st, 2009. Filed under: New Beers.I have to keep this post short since I’m in between work projects, but I thought I’d drop in a post about a few new beers I picked up this week. You may have noticed two new offerings from Samuel Adams that arrived in stores. Seems they are expanding on their “Imperial Series” with a new Imperial Stout, Imperial Wit, and Double Bock. Last year they had released an Imperial Pilsner that I actually really enjoyed. I don’t have one in front of me or notes on hand, but as I recall it was a Hallertauer hopped imperial pilsner with a big hop profile and around 8% or more abv. For the couple dollar price tag it turned out to be a great value, so I picked up the next three in the series hoping for a bit of the same, sadly it wouldn’t be for me.
The Imperial Wit is a chewy cloying mess. Pours a hazy deep amber (SRM 20 Doc?)with red hues to it and a tall white head. Nose of sweet banana, wheat, dried apricot, and coriander. Thick heavy body, carrying the sweetness from the start until you wash it down with a water chaser. I really enjoy wit beers, but this took everything I like about them away, no crispness to the finish, no dry prickly spicy character, nothing refreshing about it, although it makes water taste more refreshing after. Maybe this style shouldn’t be done imperial?… no wait, Mikkeller made a nice Imperial Wit, although that sided toward more of a tripel.
The Imperial Stout, similar to the wit in the cloying category, was at least drinkable, although far from imperial stout tasting. Nice ebony body (SRM 38 Doc?) with a tall light brown head. They seemed to imperialize the sweetness, but forgot to add more hops to balance it out. Big milky lactose sweetness reminiscent of a heavy Widmer Snowplow. Roastiness needs to be amped up to give this some depth and complexity. Finish shows soft notes of vanilla and anise. Overall this wasn’t awful, but far from a beer I would normally reach for, even for the $2.00 price tag.
Anyone else try any of these yet? I’d like to hear what others thought of these. I was really hoping for better results from this “Imperial Series”.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Widmer did an Imperial Wit for OBF in 2007 (2006?). It was widely mocked, but I liked it.
I haven’t had a Sam Adams of any kind in years, but about 15-16 years ago I really liked the Double Bock when it was available.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:10 am
Bill, the double bock is now available and also in the imperial series now at Belmont Station. I think the Imperial Pils DA mentions is great, I also liked the double bock and didnt much care for the Imp. Stout and Wit.
By the way, anything Mikkeller rules, you should try all their stuff, anyone who is reading this.