Widmer Brothers Nelson Imperial IPA
Man, it’s been quite along time since I’ve had a brew from Widmer Brothers and even longer since I posted a review of one of their products on the site (Barrel Aged Brrrbon to be exact). I’m a big fan of their Drifter Pale Ale and usually look out for their limited one-offs, but with so many new beers coming out on a regular basis these days, it’s tough not to get caught up in trying them all and, ultimately, forgetting those that I’ve enjoyed in the past.
At any rate, I picked up a single of the Oregon brewery’s Nelson Imperial IPA the other day and must say that it’s pretty damn good. This year round release heavily employs Nelson Sauvin hops (hence it’s name) along with a blend of Alchemy, Cascade and Willamette varieties. The end result is a beer that focuses on the flavor and aroma of the hops and not just punching you in the palate with over-over-the-top bitterness. Despite the beer’s 70 IBU, it’s not overly biting which allows for the true character of the hop to come through cleanly.
Appearance
Nelson Imperial IPA pours golden amber in color with a billowy, off-white stack of foam that dropped slowly.
Aroma
Loads of pine, grass, grapefruit, orange, a touch of pepper and a faint, toasted malt background fill the nose wonderfully.
Taste
An avalanche of peppery hops wash over the tongue with a healthy serving of pine resin, grapefruit and tropical citrus notes. A light malt sweetness accompanies the moderate hop bitterness as the medium bodied and softly carbonated brew slides smoothly to the semi-dry finish. The bitterness is tamed on this big beer, allowing for the hop flavors to showcase themselves wonderfully. The 8.6% ABV results in a light glowing warmth in the chest.
Overall
I love a big hoppy IPA that doesn’t overwhelm with bitterness to mask a lack of flavor. Widmer Brothers’ Nelson Imperial IPA is a shining example of this line of thinking — this beer is packed full of juicy, peppery hop flavors. If it weren’t such a big beer alcohol-wise, I’d sit down with several of these tasty brews. This was the big surprise of the mixed six pack that it was purchased along with. Excellent beer.
Rating: 4/5
