Nelson Imperial IPA | Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
Oregon, United States | website
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 8.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
70 IBU
8.6%
Original Gravity : 21 Plato
Malts: 2-Row Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10-L
Hops: Alchemy, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade, Willamette
Added by olmatty on 04-06-2011
Reviews: 184 | Ratings: 572
Reviews by Icedogs:
4.5/5 rDev +15.4%
Icedogs, Oct 03, 2013
More User Reviews:
3.53/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
In a snifter the beer was copper colored with a medium tan head. There was some lacing.
Mostly a piney/herbal aroma. A little bit of citrus. Some sweet malt.
The taste was dominated by piney hops. There was a little bit of citrus and tropical fruit. Fairly strong malt background.
I thought this was kind of a "meh" beer. Nothing too damning to say about it, but more on the average side.
★ 391 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
In a snifter the beer was copper colored with a medium tan head. There was some lacing.
Mostly a piney/herbal aroma. A little bit of citrus. Some sweet malt.
The taste was dominated by piney hops. There was a little bit of citrus and tropical fruit. Fairly strong malt background.
I thought this was kind of a "meh" beer. Nothing too damning to say about it, but more on the average side.
★ 391 characters
3.33/5 rDev -14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Been seeing alot of the Widmer line in my area since they started brewing the beers @ Redhook in Portsmouth, NH so decided to give this a try. $9.49 per 4-pack.
Pours and looks like a good DIPA should. Bright orange with a little head that disappears quickly. Sure smells like a DIPA too, it's got a nice nose.
Strong hop presence in the taste. A bit of hot alcohol too. Both these characters become more evident as it warms up, not in a good way. Last few sips to finish the glass are tough.
An OK, not bad DIPA, but the bar has been set pretty high with this style and this beer doesn't quite measure up.
★ 609 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Been seeing alot of the Widmer line in my area since they started brewing the beers @ Redhook in Portsmouth, NH so decided to give this a try. $9.49 per 4-pack.
Pours and looks like a good DIPA should. Bright orange with a little head that disappears quickly. Sure smells like a DIPA too, it's got a nice nose.
Strong hop presence in the taste. A bit of hot alcohol too. Both these characters become more evident as it warms up, not in a good way. Last few sips to finish the glass are tough.
An OK, not bad DIPA, but the bar has been set pretty high with this style and this beer doesn't quite measure up.
★ 609 characters
4/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with a bottled on date on the label.
Shiny pale brass color with a great clarity, the suds do their job to keep the beer appearance up. Minty, mango, peppery, lime zest and mandarin orange come from the hops and light biscuity grain and alcohol round out the hoppy nose. Smooth and slick with a moderate sized creamy body. Bitterness might not be massive which is fine, the hop flavor is the real showcase here. Peppery, mint and exotic fruit hop flavor though I am sure some of that fruitiness is coming from the alcohol. Star fruit, ripe pineapple and papaya comes to mind. Faint caramel and cake malt flavors, alcohol is very noticeable but does not distract from any other flavor.
Looks like the complete re-vamp of Deadlift ends up being a win now.
★ 773 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle with a bottled on date on the label.
Shiny pale brass color with a great clarity, the suds do their job to keep the beer appearance up. Minty, mango, peppery, lime zest and mandarin orange come from the hops and light biscuity grain and alcohol round out the hoppy nose. Smooth and slick with a moderate sized creamy body. Bitterness might not be massive which is fine, the hop flavor is the real showcase here. Peppery, mint and exotic fruit hop flavor though I am sure some of that fruitiness is coming from the alcohol. Star fruit, ripe pineapple and papaya comes to mind. Faint caramel and cake malt flavors, alcohol is very noticeable but does not distract from any other flavor.
Looks like the complete re-vamp of Deadlift ends up being a win now.
★ 773 characters
4.2/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, from a $8.99 four pack, purchased at Anconia's, Ridgefield Ct.
"Mar. 29 11" printed on front label. Bottling date?
Pours clear, lighter honey amber. Medium khaki head, stays nicely, tightly knit, then a thicker film, collar and respectable scattered fine lace.
Nose is full of tropical fruits and sniffs, like lime and ginger.
Flavorful and enjoyable DIPA, more lime, mint, ginger, gin picked up. Easy drinking, hops crushing but not overpowering the fruity goodness abounding here. Well done, well worth a try.
★ 533 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, from a $8.99 four pack, purchased at Anconia's, Ridgefield Ct.
"Mar. 29 11" printed on front label. Bottling date?
Pours clear, lighter honey amber. Medium khaki head, stays nicely, tightly knit, then a thicker film, collar and respectable scattered fine lace.
Nose is full of tropical fruits and sniffs, like lime and ginger.
Flavorful and enjoyable DIPA, more lime, mint, ginger, gin picked up. Easy drinking, hops crushing but not overpowering the fruity goodness abounding here. Well done, well worth a try.
★ 533 characters
4.5/5 rDev +15.4%
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.
★ 483 characters
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.
★ 483 characters
4.09/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
poured from a bottle into a wine glass, comparing it head to head with Green Flash Green Bullet Triple IPA and New Belgium Imperial IPA.
I've heard of Widmer Brothers, but didn't think of them as a "craft" beer brewer until today. I read about this IPA and was anxious to try it. It did not disappoint...
Lovely dark amber color, and subtle hop aroma and flavor. Subtle... nice, but not overwhelming. You can taste the malted barley with the hop flavor balancing it.
this is a beer I will come back to again... not a bargain, but a well crafted IPA that I will look forward to enjoying again
★ 594 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
poured from a bottle into a wine glass, comparing it head to head with Green Flash Green Bullet Triple IPA and New Belgium Imperial IPA.
I've heard of Widmer Brothers, but didn't think of them as a "craft" beer brewer until today. I read about this IPA and was anxious to try it. It did not disappoint...
Lovely dark amber color, and subtle hop aroma and flavor. Subtle... nice, but not overwhelming. You can taste the malted barley with the hop flavor balancing it.
this is a beer I will come back to again... not a bargain, but a well crafted IPA that I will look forward to enjoying again
★ 594 characters
4.25/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a beautiful orange color, 1" of white head on it, great small bubbles, decent lace, excellent retention. Aroma, when fresh, very nice and Nelson hoppy. Really did a good job with the nelson sauvin hop, one of my favorites, really comes across tropical and citrus wise in the nose.
Taste, effortless to drink, covers alcohol amazingly well, tons of hop flavor to it. Gets some of the funky white grape nelson kind of mouthfeel to it. Just really excellent beer, at an excellent price, with excellent production numbers and availability.
Widmer has really been knocking it out of the park hoppy wise the last 2 years.
★ 624 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a beautiful orange color, 1" of white head on it, great small bubbles, decent lace, excellent retention. Aroma, when fresh, very nice and Nelson hoppy. Really did a good job with the nelson sauvin hop, one of my favorites, really comes across tropical and citrus wise in the nose.
Taste, effortless to drink, covers alcohol amazingly well, tons of hop flavor to it. Gets some of the funky white grape nelson kind of mouthfeel to it. Just really excellent beer, at an excellent price, with excellent production numbers and availability.
Widmer has really been knocking it out of the park hoppy wise the last 2 years.
★ 624 characters
3.95/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A true DIPA, as advertised, particularly in the tasting where a strong, hoppy flavor hits mid-taste and then lasts a long time.
Aroma is excellent if a bit subdued for style.
Hops are mainly piney, but also have a notable citrus component.
The malts are definitely present, but the balance favors the hops. Nicely strong, bitter, and hoppy without being challenging (at least for a fan of IPAs).
★ 398 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A true DIPA, as advertised, particularly in the tasting where a strong, hoppy flavor hits mid-taste and then lasts a long time.
Aroma is excellent if a bit subdued for style.
Hops are mainly piney, but also have a notable citrus component.
The malts are definitely present, but the balance favors the hops. Nicely strong, bitter, and hoppy without being challenging (at least for a fan of IPAs).
★ 398 characters
Nelson Imperial IPA from Widmer Brothers Brewing Company
3.9
out of 5
based on 572 ratings.