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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

Not Your Grandfather’s Lager

Imperial Pilsner

Pilsners are one of the latest styles to be “imperialized”: with characteristics, generally alcohol and hops, bumped up sufficiently to constitute a new style but with a familiar profile. These new imperial pilsners may sacrifice pilsner’s famed delicacy, but they retain the floral aromas and dry, bitter finish of their progenitor style.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

94 Morimoto Imperial Pilsner, Rogue Ales (OR). 8.8% ABV (3/09)
Deep golden amber color with a white blanketed head. Aromas of dried peach, baguette crust, and minerals follow through on a round, silky entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with tart grapefruit and toasted meringue notes. Finishes with a long, chewy citrus and pine accented hop fade. A big, delicious and balanced strong lager.

92 Hallertau Imperial Pilsner, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 8.6% ABV (11/08)
Brilliant orange amber color with a blanket of mousse. Dense and vibrant aromas of leafy piney hops and oregano herb bread follow through on a rich entry to a dryish full body with layers of buttered rye toasts, kumquats, grapefruit rind and sweet pepper. Finishes with a long, oily resinous and leafy earthy hop fade with great bitter astringency. Impressive.

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