Nelson Imperial IPA
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

Nelson Imperial IPANelson Imperial IPA
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From:
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,893
ABV:
8.6%
Score:
88
Ranked #15,035
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 12.02%
Reviews:
305
Ratings:
751
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 04, 2023
Added:
Jan 08, 2010
Wants:
  30
Gots:
  34
Formerly Deadlift Imperial IPA

70 IBU
8.6%
Original Gravity : 21 Plato
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10-L
Hops: Alchemy, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade, Willamette
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Bolivian22:
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Rated by Bolivian22 from Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

Jan 22, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Critofur
Reviewed by Critofur from Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Easily the best non-Belgian triple beer of all time (I would put this second behind Pere Jaques being my #1 GOAT and probably tied w/the old Rochefort 10 before it declined). Cracking the cap off this one releases a deep dank intense hop aroma, even if the bottle is not close to your nose - simply incomparable to any other IPA in this regard. The flavor is excellent but a little bit more complexity/fruitiness/"juicyness" could have put it over the top. The balance between not being overly bitter and maltiness is quite good and the mouthfeel is excellent, but, not quite as thick as I'd expect for an "Imperial", just excellent for an "easy drinking IPA". What really sets this beer apart is how intensely hoppy and how amazing the nose is without turning into a bitter bomb the way most Triple/Imperial IPAs do when trying to reach even close to this amount of hope amazingness. I'm tempted to go back and increase the taste from a "4" to "5" just because I can't rate the smell 7/5 - it's just so far beyond the realm of other great IPAs in that category. (All this hyperbola only applies when the beer is still pretty fresh - if it's been on the shelf for a few months, then it isn't even as good as a Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA at that point).
Feb 04, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Oct 17, 2020
 
Rated: 4.03 by Squire from Mississippi

Jun 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by icemanls4 from Switzerland

Apr 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chucker17 from South Dakota

Feb 01, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Solid orange liquid, full inch of dusty white head, dense, tight lace. Aroma was that Nelson funk you up.

Easy drinking, plenty hop flavors, pungent, hides the booze, malt just right, this was an easy widely distributed imperial ipa with dank proprietary down under hops.

Possibly the best beer Widmer has ever made.
Jan 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Brandon632 from North Carolina

Nov 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by einman from Minnesota

Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.6 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dilbert65 from Maryland

Sep 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.81 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 02, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours brilliant amber under a 1” white foam collar that is moderately persistent and clingy. S: Berry, pine, maybe rosemary and tropical fruit aromas. T: this has a real fruity palate dominated by berries and tropical fruit riding on a light caramel malt backbone. The hops are big but exceptionally well done with the hop and malt flavors balancing the hop bitterness. F: Medium body and carbonation. O: This is an exceptional beer that might very well appeal to wine drinkers.
Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.83 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.29 by Jmikepow from Georgia

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by kjkinsey from Texas

Jul 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by aussiebeer from Illinois

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by ovaltine from Indiana

May 28, 2015
Nelson Imperial IPA from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 751 ratings