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Imperial Original

Imperial
Costa Rica·Lager
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Imperial Original puts notes of malt and cereals next to a precise bitterness, in what its brewers call a perfect balance. The Costa Rican lager goes back to 1924, when Cervecería Ortega set out to combine German brewing tradition with the taste of Costa Ricans, and it still leads the national market. It is the original of a line with Silver, Light, Ultra and Cero.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyclean
malty
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with clean, grainy malt notes and subtle cereal character typical of a well-crafted lager.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Imperial Original

◎ Appearance

Imperial Original presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright transparency. A fine, white head forms readily and maintains steady lacing around the glass. The beer displays vibrant carbonation throughout, with small bubbles rising evenly in the body.

pale goldencrystal clearfine white headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with clean, grainy malt notes and subtle cereal character typical of a well-crafted lager. Noble hop aromatics provide a gentle, herbaceous complement without dominating. The overall impression is restrained and balanced, with no yeast esters or off-aromas.

cereal grainsnoble hopclean lagermalt-forward

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and clean, establishing a malty foundation that carries through the mid-palate with grain and breadlike sweetness. A precise, measured bitterness arrives mid-sip and builds steadily, offsetting the malt without becoming aggressive. The balance between sweetness and hop bitterness defines the beer's character.

malty coremeasured bitternessgrain sweetnessrefreshingly dry

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering bitterness that fades gradually. The aftertaste remains crisp without becoming harsh or overly astringent.

dry finishpersistent bitterness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
75
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
76
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Imperial Original

More from Imperial

Imperial Cero
Imperial Cero
Alcohol-Free Lager
0%·Lightly bitter
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About Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same bitter, malty, clean character as Imperial Original will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Lager beers in hopIQ →Browse Costa Rica beers →