Hoptimum Imperial IPA brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing - Chico, CA

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.

 
Beer Stats
ALCOHOL CONTENT 10.4% BY VOLUME
BEGINNING GRAVITY 22.8 PLATO
ENDING GRAVITY 4.5 PLATO
BITTERNESS UNITS 100
YEAST ALE
BITTERING HOPS GERMAN MAGNUM
AROMA HOPS SIMCOE & NEW PROPRIETARY VARIETY
DRY HOPS SIMCOE & NEW PROPRIETARY VARIETY
TORPEDO HOPS CITRA & CHINOOK
MALTS TWO-ROW PALE, GOLDEN PROMISE, MUNICH & WHEAT

Beer Review by Beer Advocate
This is a huge bitter DIPA. Agressively hopped with a big "torpedo" dry hop addition. Hoptimum comes off the tap a grassy yellow amber. It comes with a creamy double finger white head. The hops make a definite impression, they are intensely bitter resins, dank and like a fresh cracked hop cone. There are big hits of stingy pine and cutting grass. The alpha oils add a lemon zest, lemongrass, and green tea.

The taste is big and mouthwatering. This is a northwest hop lover’s delight. If you enjoy sticky pine and mouthwatering grapefruit this is your beer. The firm malt base makes the big hops more palatable. There is a slight funk to this beer as well. It’s hop farm fresh. The mouthfeel is oily and sticky.

This is a fine Double India Pale Ale. Sierra Nevada demonstrates there ability to make the most of the fresh northwest hop harvest. Enjoy.

  
   
About Sierra Nevada
Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America's premier craft breweries, highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the finest quality. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for its extensive line of beers including the flagship Pale Ale, Torpedo, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis, four seasonal beers, Estate Ale, Harvest Ales, Ovila Abbey Ales and a host of draught-only specialties.