Imperial Pilsner

Imperial Pilsners were incredibly rare up until a year and a half ago when it seemed like this strong double Lager was all the rage. I've had three different Imperial Pilsner style beers and I've enjoyed them but I've had the same one twice, and I don't have a strong desire to pick up another Imperial Pilsner any time soon. Pilsner is one of my least favorite styles, it seems I only ever enjoy this style is during the hottest days of the summer, and even then I'd rather be drinking a Kolsch or Helles. This bottle of My Antonia comes from Birra del Borgo in Italy and was brewed in collaboration with Dogfish Head in Delaware. Dogfish also bottled their iteration of this beer, which I've had and wasn't too crazy about, so I'm curious to see if the Italian take on the Imperial Pils is any more enjoyable.

I first had Boulevard's Imperial Pilsner at the beer's release party in Lawrence, Kansas. In case you hadn't heard, this Imperial Pilsner is a collaboration between Boulevard Brewing Company and Orval's master brewer Jean-Marie Rock. Steven Pauwels, Boulevard's brew master, and Rock met at a conference in Tucson last year. It was there that these two Belgians hit it off and agreed to collaborate and resurrect a beer Rock had brewed some 30 years before. The style that beer most closely resembled is what we now call an American Double or Imperial Pilsner.