steveh
04-21-2004, 08:04 AM
Specialty Lager, Old Dominion Brewing, Ashburn, VA - 12 oz. bottle, 9/MAR/04 bottling date, 8.5 ABV!!
Yes, my first "Imperial" Pilsner.
Poured a clear, bright gold with the slightest touch of amber. The head settled to a thin, white to cream colored cap. Much bubbly carbo in the beer's body.
Surprisingly, more Pilsner and Munich malt on the nose than hops. Slightest sulfur notes - tangy, citrus character (but not Cascade-like in any way) Tetnang hops become apparant with warming.
Nice melanoidin malt in initial mouthful, followed by a bitter blast of tangy Saaz and Tetnang hops, ending in very warming alcohol. Lingering, biscuit character Pilsner malt in the finish and surprisingly little hop bitterness in the aftertaste. Is this the result of cold lagering on 70 IBUs, a mellowing of bitterness?
Body is thin to medium, tending more toward medium with warming. Syrupy mouth feel.
Oddly flavorful cross between a Mai Bock or Blonde Doppel and an IPA. Having never had a beer so highly hopped with the nobel variety of hops before, I was surprised how nicely they mellow in bottom fermentation and cold lagering and still compliment the nice melanoidin malt sweetness. Of course, the heavy use of malts as well as hops probably has much to do with the balance of flavor.
However, at 8.5% this shore ain't no session beer! Too bad too, I'd like to have another...
S.
PS - Thanks again Chaz! Have you had the opportunity to try this one on tap? I bet it's good - dangerous, but good!
Yes, my first "Imperial" Pilsner.
Poured a clear, bright gold with the slightest touch of amber. The head settled to a thin, white to cream colored cap. Much bubbly carbo in the beer's body.
Surprisingly, more Pilsner and Munich malt on the nose than hops. Slightest sulfur notes - tangy, citrus character (but not Cascade-like in any way) Tetnang hops become apparant with warming.
Nice melanoidin malt in initial mouthful, followed by a bitter blast of tangy Saaz and Tetnang hops, ending in very warming alcohol. Lingering, biscuit character Pilsner malt in the finish and surprisingly little hop bitterness in the aftertaste. Is this the result of cold lagering on 70 IBUs, a mellowing of bitterness?
Body is thin to medium, tending more toward medium with warming. Syrupy mouth feel.
Oddly flavorful cross between a Mai Bock or Blonde Doppel and an IPA. Having never had a beer so highly hopped with the nobel variety of hops before, I was surprised how nicely they mellow in bottom fermentation and cold lagering and still compliment the nice melanoidin malt sweetness. Of course, the heavy use of malts as well as hops probably has much to do with the balance of flavor.
However, at 8.5% this shore ain't no session beer! Too bad too, I'd like to have another...
S.
PS - Thanks again Chaz! Have you had the opportunity to try this one on tap? I bet it's good - dangerous, but good!