Bottle with thanks to DrnkMcDermott. Pours a hazy orange with little head and a near complete lack of carbonation. Aromas are boozy with a little bit of oranges. First sip has a white lightning like astringent alcoholic bite, but as it warms (or my taste buds become disabused to this presence) a little bit of an orange and honey flavor starts to peek through. It’s not bad, but like many Imperial Pilsners it just seems very boozy.

New Limited Edition, sold in 22 oz. bombers. I picked this up at the Downers Grove restaurant. Label also shows it as a "Brewmaster’s Reserve," and has a best by Nov. ’09 date. Pours a clear, golden Pils body with a short layer of foam. Smell is something on the order of a better malt liquor: I smell alcohol and malts, but none of the nasty medicinal or adjunct note. Taste is pretty nice; I get a nice, strong, slightly toasty Pils malt taste. Very warming altogether on the tongue, and not just from alcohol. Label on current offering lists Hallertau, and the spicy bitterness of a good German hop load is evident, although it doesn’t bring itself up to IIPA standards. Very slight yeasty dough taste. Worthy to stand up to any American brewpub iteration of this style, maybe a little less fully rounded than Sam Adams’ version. But a big leap over the imported Euro diesels. A good deal at $7 per.