Sierra Nevada - Hoptimum

Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum is a “whole cone” Imperial IPA with an ABV of 10.4% and an IBU of 100.  I knew I would be in for a “hop-bomb” and I was looking forward to it.  This one poured a beautiful light amber with a nice head.  Be careful as you pour because it is very easy to pour a huge head with this beer.  Hoptimum is crystal clear when holding up to a light with bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass - very nice eye appeal.  Aroma is excellent with nice grapefruit and pine/resin.  The taste was hop-forward, but I thought it was a nice balance and the grapefruit / tropical fruit notes had a very nice dry finish.  Sierra Nevada’s website describes “Hoptimum as “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.”  This is a great beer and if you like IPAs and consider yourself a “hop-head”, go buy this limited run.  I think that Sierra Nevada should add this to their year-round collection.