Imperial Frambozen
New Belgium Brewing Company
- From:
- New Belgium Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Fruit and Field Beer
- ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 7.25%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 12
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Feb 02, 2020
- Added:
- Jun 27, 2017
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 8
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
Big raspberry flavor complimented perfectly with single origin Ghana cocoa husks and a touch of vanilla.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Keepnitrl:
Rated by Keepnitrl from Washington
3.66/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 08, 2018
3.66/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dec 08, 2018
More User Ratings:
Rated by dave_ackbar from Hawaii
3.28/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.28/5 rDev -15%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
The cocoa really comes forward in this, the raspberry is the final taste as you finish the sip.
Feb 02, 2019Reviewed by Davedrinkinbeer from Indiana
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Bought as part of a NB gift pack. And I am glad I did-- this is good stuff!
Poured beer into a flute glass, it pours a nice ruby-red with a 1/4" head that quickly dissipates. Smell is definitely raspberry, but also a bit of chocolate at the end of the scent. Taste is a perfect blend of cocoa and raspberry-- and is not bitter at all, and leaves a pleasant chocolate aftertaste like a piece of high quality candy. Mouthful is even, low carbonation, and is refreshing. The feel is much different than most Christmas/Winter speciality beers in that it is very easy to drink.
Good Job NBB-- I had no idea this existed, but now that I do, please make this available every Holiday season! Very recommended holiday beer.
Jan 12, 2019Poured beer into a flute glass, it pours a nice ruby-red with a 1/4" head that quickly dissipates. Smell is definitely raspberry, but also a bit of chocolate at the end of the scent. Taste is a perfect blend of cocoa and raspberry-- and is not bitter at all, and leaves a pleasant chocolate aftertaste like a piece of high quality candy. Mouthful is even, low carbonation, and is refreshing. The feel is much different than most Christmas/Winter speciality beers in that it is very easy to drink.
Good Job NBB-- I had no idea this existed, but now that I do, please make this available every Holiday season! Very recommended holiday beer.
Reviewed by iheartmyTHO from Georgia
3.84/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I'm not the biggest fruit beer fan, but I couldn't resist the combination of raspberry and chocolate. This beer does taste like it too, but more raspberry than cocoa. It's a bit tart for my liking but still good enough.
Jan 06, 2019
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
3.62/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Hazy burgundy pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Solid lacing. Kind of an ugly color... not the prettiest brew.
S: Raspberry with light cocoa. Smells like a nice dessert.
T/F: Muted... raspberry up front but not crisp/sharp, and almost watery. The cocoa is nicely done... subtle but present and it does complement the fruit. Mild sweetness... no real tart flavors I'd expect from a raspberry brew. Medium bodied.... a bit sticky on the tongue.
O: A disappointment. Looks meh, smells great, and rather lacking in flavor. There's a good beer in there somewhere trying to get out but it tastes muted/aborted and never delivers what the aroma promises. To me this one's not worth a revisit.
Nov 18, 2018L: Hazy burgundy pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Solid lacing. Kind of an ugly color... not the prettiest brew.
S: Raspberry with light cocoa. Smells like a nice dessert.
T/F: Muted... raspberry up front but not crisp/sharp, and almost watery. The cocoa is nicely done... subtle but present and it does complement the fruit. Mild sweetness... no real tart flavors I'd expect from a raspberry brew. Medium bodied.... a bit sticky on the tongue.
O: A disappointment. Looks meh, smells great, and rather lacking in flavor. There's a good beer in there somewhere trying to get out but it tastes muted/aborted and never delivers what the aroma promises. To me this one's not worth a revisit.
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina
3.89/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours the color of Dr. Pepper, with the slight hint of raspberry juice infusing the cola color; dots of lacing line the glass
Smell: The cocoa powdered tone is intense and is balanced out by the raspberry juice
Taste: On the palate, the predominance of the cocoa powder is reversed, with the raspberry driving the flavor profile; it is not sweet nor is it particularly tart, but the cocoa is almost an afterthought
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: I was excited to try this as I really like the base beer (unlike many on BA) and was hoping this would amp up the malt character; unfortunately, it was a let down, though I did enjoy the aromatics
Apr 20, 2018Smell: The cocoa powdered tone is intense and is balanced out by the raspberry juice
Taste: On the palate, the predominance of the cocoa powder is reversed, with the raspberry driving the flavor profile; it is not sweet nor is it particularly tart, but the cocoa is almost an afterthought
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation
Overall: I was excited to try this as I really like the base beer (unlike many on BA) and was hoping this would amp up the malt character; unfortunately, it was a let down, though I did enjoy the aromatics
Rated by OompaMentor from Georgia
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tinypalozza 3/24/2018
Mar 27, 2018
Reviewed by bbtkd from South Dakota
3.79/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
New Belgium Imperial Frambozen, 8.5% ABV, 13 IBU. Pours deep red with a one finger beige head. Nose is raspberry and chocolate, taste follows, slightly tart, no bitterness, slight sweetness. Decent mouthfeel though a bit watery and over-carbonated, overall very excellent.
Mar 18, 2018
Reviewed by Rmiles from Georgia
4.37/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The mixture of the raspberry with chocolate is quite impressive. It’s very flavorful and smooth. I was quite taken with this beer while at NBB and bought a bottle to take home and explore further.
Feb 20, 2018
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best before October 21st 2018.
Pours a really dark amber red, loads of off white foam, lacing running amok.
Still the smell of raspberries like in the regular Frambozen. Cocoa and vanilla, running a distant 3rd. I was kinda hoping for this. The regular was one of my favourite seasonals.
Raspberry tartness up front, cocoa and a distant vanilla follow up. The 2 added tastes are there but still let the fruit shine through.
Medium body with medium carbonation.
I like this a lot but the added alcohol and flavours aren't, imho, worth the trouble. Regular Frambozen is my preference.
Feb 09, 2018Pours a really dark amber red, loads of off white foam, lacing running amok.
Still the smell of raspberries like in the regular Frambozen. Cocoa and vanilla, running a distant 3rd. I was kinda hoping for this. The regular was one of my favourite seasonals.
Raspberry tartness up front, cocoa and a distant vanilla follow up. The 2 added tastes are there but still let the fruit shine through.
Medium body with medium carbonation.
I like this a lot but the added alcohol and flavours aren't, imho, worth the trouble. Regular Frambozen is my preference.
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