The Beer Guy Review #12 – Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

The Beer Guy
August 9, 2012

The Beer Guy

Occupation: Beer Taster & Reviewer
Web: http://thebeerguy.lifeofdad.com
Twitter: @TheBeerGuyLOD
Facebook: TheBeerGuyLOD

View profile »

Name of beer:  Hoptimum

Brewing Company: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Brewing Location: Chico, CA

Type of Beer: Imperial India Pale Ale – ABV: 10.4% / IBU: 100

Beer Description: From website:

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put —Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped, AND torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas.

Resinous “new-school” and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar, and tropical fruit—all culminating in a dry and lasting finish.

The Beer Guy Review:

Hey there…you miss me?  Sorry it’s been a while since the last Beer Guy review.  I’ve been too caught up in these Summer Olympics and travel to get to these.  Sorry.  But now I’m back, and ready to continue the weekly reviews.  And today, I present Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum: a Whole-Cone Imperial IPA.  I just bought two 12 oz. bottles of these at my beer specialty store.  For the review, I knew all I would need is one.  Just check out the IBU and ABV on this beer!  The other one?

!!! SPOILER ALERT !!!

Perhaps to go along with my outgoing Beer It Forward package.

!!! END SPOILER ALERT !!!

See how to do a proper spoiler alert ESPN, NBC and Samuel L. Jackson Twitter feed?

Alright, now back to the beer.

The first thing I noticed was that this is a Whole-Cone Imperial IPA.  Check out that label.  It’s a Whole-Cone in a suit.  It just begs the question, “What is this referring to?”  This refers to the flower cluster known as hop cone, or hops.  That picture on the label?  Yep, that’s hops.  There are many different varieties of hops that contribute to, among other things, flavor and an antibacterial effect that favors yeast over microorganisms.

Ok, ok ok…I’ve been away too long.  What the heck am I doing spending so much time talking about the Olympics and…what is it…botany?  Get to the beer!

At first whiff, I knew this was a keeper.  Again, I figured as much after checking out the IBU and ABV.  A citrus, floral aroma prevailed.  And it didn’t stop there.  After pouring and seeing the golden body and thin layer of head, it was time to drink.  Those flavors of pine and grapefruit continued through each and every taste.  This is a hoppy beer, in odor, taste & aftertaste.  What would you expect when you have a Whole-Cone Imperial IPA, right?  As Beer Advocate says, Imperial IPA’s (or Double IPA’s) tend to have a hop profile that “might rip your tongue out.”

As for The Beer Guy review, I give the Sierra Nevada Hoptimum a:

I’m glad I’m a hop junkie.  And, I’m glad my tongue wasn’t ripped out.  This is a really good beer.  As much as I’ve grown to appreciate the malty aspects of an IPA of late, it’s the hops that bring me back.  And I’ll be back to visit the Sierra Nevada Hoptimum, that’s for sure.  For such an alcoholic beer, I found this to be lighter in body.  Sure, I could drink another…but one is plenty.  I’ve got a slight buzz with that 10.4% ABV.  The Hoptimum has big flavor too.  As much as I love the hoppiness, though, it really does overpower the malty notes.  Sometimes, it’s nice to have that counterbalance.

Nevertheless (again), this is an outstanding beer.  A perfect beer to sit back with and enjoy diving, gymnastics, equestrian or dressage (pronounced dr-säzh, I now know…by the way, give the horses the medal, not the human) or whatever else the Olympics have to offer.  The Hoptimum is most favorable and desirable: the optimum.

So, what do you think?  Have you had this beer?  Do you like it?  Do you not like it?  Send me a note at The Beer Guy’s mailbag, TheBeerGuy@lifeofdad.com.  You can follow me on Twitter (@TheBeerGuyLOD), Facebook and LinkedIn as well.  Take care, happy (and safe) drinking, and enjoy your weekend.

About The Beer Guy – A dad, husband, friend and drinker of beer. I review & blog about it all on LifeOfDad.com, the premiere social networking website for Dads.  The Beer Guy enjoys IPA’s and Pilsner’s, but will really try any kind of beer.  You may disagree on some of his opinions.  Let The Beer Guy know.  Reviews are published on Thursdays.  Blogging is done on Tuesdays.  Read more here to learn about The Beer Guy, who he is and his beer rating methodology.

The Beer Guy, and Life of Dad, promote responsible drinking.  Never drink and drive.

[Back to Ramblings]