As a self-profused beer snob, I have tendency to look down upon the “macro” brews. You know those rice and corn bottles of pissy water. Everything from their lack of balls to the awful color turns me off to these beers most of the time. That’s right, I said most of the time. Imperial Cerveza is a macro-brewed beverage that is native to Costa Rica, and when I am down there it is great. Light, cool and readily available. It’s a great beverage when looking out onto the the seemingly never-ending Pacific from a swing at a beach bar. Even the way condensation sweats along the recycled a thousand times bottle is attractive.

Truth be told, if I were to have this beer at home, I would most likely rail against it. I would say something like, “Its Bud Light’s Latino cousin. All of the pissy flavor with a Central American flair.” But, have it on the beach in Costa Rica, Imperial is a great brew. It enjoys what few beers have - situational greatness.

Dark and nitrogenated. It appears to heavy, but it is lighter than expectations would have had it. The brew has nice earthy overtones in the flavor. Overall I enjoy this beer, although it does not crack my top favorites list.

Appearance: Moderate head and amberish-straw in color. Head retention is low and it is very cloudy.

Aroma: Orange nose (duh) with banana and other flavors in the background.

Mouthfeel: Sharp fruitiness up front followed by clove and orange.

Overall: I love this beer, a great fruit hefe. I know a lot of tasters do not give it favorable reviews, but, hell, I like it.

RockiesBrew Information

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Bozeman Brewing Company was brewing a cask-aged, Brett infected Great One “Imperial Red”…well, Sam and I were lucky enough to get a snifter or two of this incredible brew. It is my all-time favorite brew of all time. It had everything that great beer has; balanced flavors, a nice alcohol heat, and proper bitterness. It is quite simply the greatest beer that has ever cross my lips.

The sad note about this beer is that it may never be recreated, but like a great work of art, some things are meant to once in a lifetime. And maybe that paradox allows the memory of this experience to be that much brighter and clearer.