Samuel Adams Imperial Pilsner 2005 Harvest
Poured into a half-liter German oktoberfest glass. Pours out a hazy, cloudy amber with swirling bubbles and a half-inch of frothy foam. Lacing is excellent. Absolutely lovely beer. Fresh, flowery, spicy hop aroma, not strong or overwhelming but clean, rich and pleasant. Hops hit squarely on first taste, in the middle, and at the end. Unfortunately, the flavor is very harsh, almost medicinal in quality. Extremely resinous. Malt is almost completely hidden by the hops. Finishes very dry. Full-bodied, crisp texture, with a hoppy astringency. For such a promising start, I found this beer extremely disappointing. It lacks any sort of balance. I'd like to try this again after a year or two have lessened the effect of the hops. It might be enjoyable then. Bold concept, poor execution.