What qualifies a beer as “Imperial”? I have heard of Imperial Stouts, Imperial IPA, Imperial Amber. What makes an Imperial imperial?
Ken
Depending upon how pedantic you want to be - only Imperial stouts qualify as “Imperial” because they were produced for the Russian Imperial Court. Everyone else using “Imperial” is wrong!
Ok, but if you’re going to be relaxed about the world and look askance at the pedant, then really there’s no hard guidelines except to say - “It’s Imperial if it is bigger than you’d expect the base style to be” (i.e. the OG is above the OG range of the base style)
and thus you have my Imperial Barleywine.
Fred
Is that a session beer?
not by my standards
To add to this conversation, on another thread I read someone attempting to brew an Imperial Pilsner. I wondered about the Imperial and thought, isn’t that just a Bond Bock, or a Helles. I have never heard of an Imperial Pilsner, is this just a fancy term used to stimulate curiosity?
Exactly right. The term Imperial has really just been reduced to being a marketing gimmick by the micro industry (and even the bigs are starting to use it too).
“Double” (as in DIPA) is another overused one that never fails to make me chuckle.
There’s a few out there. To my mind, an Impy Pils has more strength than a Maibock and a hell of a lot more hops. So while in general “Imperial” and “Double” are just eye catchers, this one does indicate something a little different that you won’t typically find even with the “Strong” European Golden Lagers.
I think I may just brew an Imperial Mild.
Hey… its my beer… I can call it whatever the hell I want.
P.S. Sam Adams and Rogue both make a GREAT an Imperial Pils…
You wouldn’t be the first.
ETA: Actually, there’s an "imperial"esque mild recipe going in my next article right now, but it’s not as absurd as it seems on the face of it since Mild’s really did use to be strong beers, they just weren’t very hoppy or aged.
hmm, I may just have to brew that one.
Fred
I have heard a couple of “'Imperial Milds” lately and laugh at the oxymoron that it is.
Other than the fact that the term “Imperial” itself has become something of a cliche these days, the fact is that historically the term “mild” had nothing whatsoever to do with the strength of the brew (and according to more than one researcher, some of the original ‘milds’ didn’t even have reduced hop rates).
“Mild” meant only that the beer wasn’t tart from extended age.
That means that all my beers are “Milds” ;D ;D ;D
Cool.
I’ve been looking for an official name for my 7% lawnmower beer.
Imperial Cream Ale.
Two words. . . jumbo shrimp. 
Ha! For the most part and with only a couple exceptions, mine too apparently.
Basically, and historically speaking, your probably not far wrong about that. Just serves to further illustrate that the recent phenomenon of pigeonholing beers into SO many new so called “styles” has really become something of a joke.
Seems these days, if one extra hop cone gets added to an existing style everyone wants to make it a new “style”.
In any case, I still say that “Imperial” and “Extreme” have become nothing more than tired marketing gimmickry. I know that I’m not alone in that feeling, too.
In the end, it’s BEER.
Small breweries need all the tools they can use to compete against the monsters churning out yellow beer. “tired marketing gimmickry”? How about “Triple Hopped” or “Cold Filtered”? Or Bud Lime or Bud Wheat? Those are gimmicks, much mroe powerful gimmicks than “Imperial” sized brews. I agree, however, that sometimes the “Imperial” nomenclature is taken too far. But, if it helps the small, struggling brtewer to sell more beer … well then, more power to 'em.
Also, I pride myself in very often meshing or skewing styles. however, I think that learning styles makes one a much, much better brewer as opposed to those who do not. I also have an art degree. Would we not agree that there are “styles” in art? In the end, it is just art. But the educated know what art “styles” are and how those “styles” evolved. You could make the same argument for music. Is all music “just music”? Or is Jazz a style? Is “classical” the same as “hip hop”? Of course not. Art has differences that define style. And, IMO, beer is art. 8)
Ok so I think we’ve come to the chicken and egg part of the thread. Is it better that you brew a great beer and then stick it into a style; or pick a style and try to brew within those guidelines?
Which ever. Point is that style is a categorization and it is appropriate for any art form. I consider beer an art form. I see no problem with styles guidelines. I also see no problem in breaking style guidelines. If someone wants to “super size” a style and call it “imperial” … by all means. Have at it. I may be chuckling right along side of professor, but if it is a good beer I’ll drink it up! ;)