Alpine Ale - Alpine Beer Company

2beerdogs

California

3.61/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I know it's Alpine, but I was warned that it's not in the hoppy vain they are famous for. Yet still this is pretty good. The smell is crisp and lagerish, maybe a hint of citrusy grass. The taste light malt, not forward as i expected. Slight, clean, dry hop on the end. As a lite APA it's very approachable. My wife found it quite refreshing. Be nice on a hot day--sessionable!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:03:05 | More by 2beerdogs

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out looking like a pale ale, mild to average color yellow, 3/5" head on the top, white in color, average retention, average, somewhat inconsistent lace on it.

The aroma is minimally hoppy, if you're looking for the hop bomb aromas that many of their ipa's have, you're going to be a little bit disappointed. It still smells nice, but its really a background smell that shares its place with a grainy aroma that is clean, not heavy.

Same with the taste, clean, not heavy, mildly hoppy, probably appropriate for style, but about the most minimalistic pale ale for Alpine. Comes out a little more English style-esque with the breadiness of the malts, almost a Sorachi ace like lemonness. You start to pick up on a little too much toffee and caramel to a lesser extent, making the minor hop vibe fade away a little too early.

Its a little expensive to pay around $6 for a bomber of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 18:00:23 | More by Beerandraiderfan

TheLostGringo

Connecticut

2.48/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 22 oz. Bomber into my Peroni Pilsner style glass.

A: A yellowish/Orange pour with an aggressive billowy white head, nice lacing throughout.

S: A little funky, almost a skunky smell but not overly offensive.

T: Slighly malt forward but a real short dry, perhaps bitter finish. rather boring in the end.

M: average for the style, easy drinking.

O: Certainly not something I would search out but nothing offensive either.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:29:03 | More by TheLostGringo

merc7186

New York

3.76/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to Monkeymagic72 for this bottle.

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw/Mildly Amber Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Decent Lacing

S: Mild Floral Hops, Mildly Bready

T: Grainy, Floral Hops, Mildly Bittering Hops

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Drying

Overall, a nice bitter APA but gets kind of boring after a few sips because of the cascade hop character.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 20:05:08 | More by merc7186

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.79/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Thanks merc for sharing

The beer pours a slightly orange amber with a thin halo of white, streaky head. The nose is a bit toasty/caramely malts and subtle hint of hops. The taste is more like an amber with a clean drinking malt forward base followed by a sweet, lingering grapefruity hop bitterness. Well carbonated & attenuated, bitter semi-dry finish, light-medium bodied, drinkable. This is a good beer, almost sessionable, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 20:04:32 | More by ThePorterSorter

rand

California

3.03/5  rDev -17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

From 22 oz bomber to pint glass

A: Straw-yellow in color, effervescent. Forms a tight little head that leaves little patches of lacing.

S: Touch of citrus meets floral hop notes. Earthy, cracker-y notes run-up against slightly sweet bready notes. Fairly subdued nose overall.

T: Dry citrus-rind balanced by grassy notes and a touch of honey sweetness. Very dry. Woody aspects in the middle, almost salty. Did I say dry? Finishes short and dry with lingering bitterness.

M: Medium-bodied, prickly carbonation throughout.

This isn't a bad beer, but it tastes more like a nondescript lager than an Alpine treat. Definitely grading on a curve here...I suspect they're brewing for the masses, but for a beer geek or a hophead I don't see the point given Alpine's limited distribution. Alpine makes one of the best Pale's you'll ever come across in Hoppy Birthday, it's too bad that's not as available as this one is.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 07:36:51 | More by rand

mactrail

California

2.94/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Pours a regular amber color with a sub-par head in the Duvel tulip. Spritzy enough on the tongue. Light bodied with a slightly soapy mouthfeel.

Some flavors of dark biscuits and an aroma of those cheap creme sandwich cookies. A fragrant hint of malt followed by some hoppy bitterness. Flavor just flattens out. Bitter aftertaste without much else.

It's hard to find much fault with this, but overall it's a plain and not very pleasing quaff. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Bine & Vine on Adams Ave.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:39:29 | More by mactrail

BucannonXC5

California

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Type: Draft
Glass: 12-oz. pint glass
From: Alpine Beer Company in Alpine, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2013
Price: $4.50 (I think)
Misc.: N/A

Poured a golden clearer color with 1-2 fingers (when I got it) of white head. Pretty good lacing on the sides and nice retention on the top all the way down.

Smelled pale malts, butter, honey, lemon grass and some bread.

Tasted similar to the smell. Butter, honey, lemon and grassy. Some light pine notes, but as citrusy as I would have thought.

Light body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Slightly bitter finish.

A decent pale ale overall. Considering I was drinking most of it in the cold darkness in the back patio, these ratings could change if I tried it again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2013 23:38:57 | More by BucannonXC5

DocJitsu

California

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light golden with a nearly pure white, quickly dissipating head. A nose comprised of notes of banana and green grape. Lagerish and pilsnery, if you will. Mouthfeel is certainly more full-bodied for a pilsner style lager. A little carbonation burn at the finish. this is a Candaian lager in full on collision with a Czech pilsner--on steroids. Not in my wheelhouse, but respectable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2012 02:25:16 | More by DocJitsu

kojevergas

California

4.15/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Purchased at Alpine Brewery a few days ago. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; I'm loving Alpine more and more.

Served after a period of rest once removed from the refrigerator. Poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with hard pretzels.

A: Pours a four finger head of smooth rolling foam, nice cream, great thickness, and great retention. Good lacing. Colour is a clear vibrant yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Pale malts, caramel, munich malts, background floral hopping, hints of yeast, and full barley. An average strength aroma.

T: Clean pale and munich malts. Full bodied barley. Some underlying cream. I like the creamy finish. Straw. It's quite nicely balanced, albeit simple. True to its label, it's not too sweet or too bitter. Clean, fresh, and refreshing. It's indeed a solid everyday beer, with more complexity than you'd expect from a beer in the style. I can't see anyone not liking this. Would be a great introduction to beer for anyone who claims not to like it. This is about as palatable as a beer can get. Naturally, it's neither complex nor subtle - but the mastery is in the balance. Surprisingly well layered for a Pale Ale. I'm impressed. Still, it's not fantastic. No yeast or alcohol comes through. It's not pushing any boundaries, but what it does, it does very well.

Mf: Light, lively, wet, and smooth. Suits the flavours very well. Clean and refreshing. Perfect thickness. Angelically soft. Ideal for the style. Lightly buttery. Creamy on the end of the third act and in the finish - which I love.

Dr: Incredibly drinkable and enjoyable. I like it more and more the more I drink. It's practically perfect for the style. Rarely does such simplicity yield such good results. Alpine didn't get showy with it; there's a ballsiness to sticking to basics. I'd definitely get this again, ideally on draft. There's nothing new here, but it's just so damn good within the style. Anyone would love this beer. I can't think of a better Pale Ale.

High A-

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 06:02:35 | More by kojevergas

harrymel

Washington

3/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottled recently.

Pours light amber with an etched surface and excellent clarity. Smells of floral hops and plenty of grainy, sweet malts. There is a good dose of wood on the nose too - not very impressive. Flavor is of slightly sweet crystal malts, some wood, a bit of bitterness, some zucchini blossoms. Medium bodied with moderate carb. A drinkable beer, and easy to guzzle at that, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 04:55:38 | More by harrymel

cosmicevan

New York

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to ehammond1 for hooking up the alpine big time! enjoyed from my capt lawrence tulip.

a - poured a transparent orange with some visible carbonation and a generous few fingers of frothy almost ipa cream colored head that dissolved leaving chunks of lacing on the glass.

s - malt forward with a sprinkle of some hoppiness in the background. some fruitiness but mostly malts.

t - very bready. again malt forward. some hopping on the finish with a slight bitter tail up. rather tasty. earthy. solid pale ale.

m - smooth and easy drinker. leaves a bit of tingle. good carbonation.

o - overall, a definite pale ale. i like a bit more hop kick to a pale, this is a good beer but not something i'd seek out regularly. fortunately alpine makes some unreal ipas that are really worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 02:56:02 | More by cosmicevan

azdback

Arizona

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my matching Alpine pint glass. Very light orange and almost yellow color. Clear in appearance with large carbonation bubbles that lead to a small soapy, one finger head. Head dissipates rather quickly and leaves just a small collar and some decent lace.

Smell is quite earthy, musty and bread notes. I can't really say that I like this much at this point. I can't pull out any decent hop notes.

Taste is much like the smell. Earth, grass and bread. Some sweetness I would describe as watermelon?

Mouth is a bit thin and watery. Carbonation is light and the finish is short and medium dry.

Overall I wasn't that turned on by this offering from one of my favorite brewery of all time. I would suggest you pick this up if given the opportunity but not something I would ever trade for or go out of my way to get again.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 06:14:23 | More by azdback

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A nice enough American pale, drinkable, but not particularly exciting when put up against the amazing hoppy beers Alpine makes. Nearly clear light gold/orange colored body, with a good-sized white head, decent retention, and fairly strong lacing. The look is right on.

Aroma is very mild; some citrus hops and a bit of lightly sweet malt character; somewhat generic here. Taste is pretty much the same; it’s mild, with a much more restrained citrus flavor than an Alpine IPA. Hints of grapefruit, orange, and lemon. However, this is not an IPA-light. Pale, grainy malt with a modest sweetness and caramel flavor. Uncomplicated.

Body is medium light with solid carbonation, finish is clean and crisp. Again, easy drinking, refreshing, but not particularly memorable.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 14:52:47 | More by tobelerone

BrewerB

California

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Medium golden color, great clarity. Slightly rocky white foam perched atop, retaining well with lacing along the sides of glass.

Floral hop presence with moderate fruity esters and a light toasty malt. Sweeter malt character, honey-like appearing as the beer warms.

Floral/perfume hops provide an initial burst of flavor though not at lower intensity than expected. Lingering bitterness into the finish. Mostly clean malt profile with just a touch of biscuit.

Medium bodied with a moderate-high level of carbonation.

Easy drinking ale that could use additional hop bitterness and flavor to help provide additional balance against the malt.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 01:26:50 | More by BrewerB

silentjay

Massachusetts

2.98/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured into an oversized snifter, this copper beer produces a two-fingered head which quickly recedes to a spattering whilst leaving behind decent lacing.

crackery malts with some herbal hops and a butterscotch/caramel presence.

peppery, with crackers and herbs being dominant... some citrus gives way to cracked black pepper and buttered crackers.

light/medium bodied with decent carbonation.

well.... At least Alpine makes some incredible hoppy beers which make this forgettable pale ale pale in comparison (pun intended). not terribly bad, but not any good, either.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 05:54:14 | More by silentjay

pmarlowe

California

2.83/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

The elusive Alpine Ale. Tulip glass.

A: Pours a light golden/straw color, superb clarity, with a half finger of pure white head which fizzles out almost immediately. Poor retention and some lacing.

S: Pale, bready malt and a whiff of orange citrus.

T: Pale malt, orange rind bitter/slightly sour off-flavor, and a hint of brightness from hops. Ugh, this is pretty mediocre.

M: Medium body and light carbonation.

O: So-so non-hoppy pale ale, one which is impossible to justify drinking especially considering Alpine's other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 06:08:38 | More by pmarlowe

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some good lacing.

S - The aroma is a mix of sweet caramel malts with citrus hops with some grapefruit. There is a bit of floral and grassy hop smells as well.

T - Starts off with some sweet caramel malts with some grapefruit and orange peel hops and a bit of bitterness. Through the middle, more bitterness comes through with some grassy hops. The finish is a mix of sweet caramel, orange peel, and bitterness.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a nice dry and lightly bitter finish.

D - Very drinkable. Very nice pale ale with a great balance of sweet malt and hops. Very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 04:21:50 | More by ngeunit1

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is clear and golden colored with an inch of pure white head that leaves a significant amount of sticky lacing on the glass. The aroma is malt forward, with a bit of hops and citrus. It actually smells like a lager. Good flavor, dominated by a slightly sweet malt bill. A light helping of bitter hops presents itself near the finish. Light bodied and pretty easy to drink. Overall, this was a decent beer, but nowhere near the quality of my favorite beers from Alpine. Light and refreshing with a nice, simple flavor. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 00:38:46 | More by Huhzubendah

draheim

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle into a glass.

Pours a clear honey golden color w/ a clean white head.

Aroma is slightly grainy pale malt and subtle floral & citrusy hops.

Taste is honey-sweet pale malt, balanced just right by hop bitterness. A hint of lemon. Clean water too. Medium-bodied, crisp finish.

Overall just a really tasty, drinkable session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 05:39:52 | More by draheim

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draft at the brewpub.

Pours a clear golden yellow color with a 1.5 finger white foam head. Good retention, slow fading into a lasting ring.  Soapy lacing costs the glass.

Light floral hop aroma with subtle citrus and sweet malt.  Kind of average with delicate hops and biscuity malt.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of fresh spicy hops and pale malts. Delicate floral hops with hints of biscuit, bread and graham cracker.  Nothing extraordinary but it's a good sessionable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 20:37:59 | More by corby112

dogfishandi

New York

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks to LaChupacabra for a box full of Alpine beers!

22oz bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter. no freshness info.

looks like the ideal pale ale. fairly clear golden body, a thick 2 fingers worth of white head. big bubbles mixed in with some creamy foam. great head retention and tons of sticky lace.

cereal like grains and a little butter noticable. also some biscuity breadiness. just enough leafy citric, somewhat herbal hops to balance.

subdued citric leafy hops balanced by a nice cereal graininess. some hop bitterness in the finish, but nothing IPA like.

a light feeling body, carbonation fits well for the style, crisp and somewhat refreshing.

a simple and clean pale ale. definatly different than most pale alpine offerings, but i see where they were going with this, something everyone can enjoy, very sessionable, and wont really wear your palate out.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 00:18:07 | More by dogfishandi

homebrew311

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours a crystal clear gold, nice white head, good lacing

S: nose is very bready and malty, notes of biscuit and a little bit of caramel, a dash of lemony hops come through at the finish, smells like Noble hops.

T: a bit of sweetness followed by cereal grains, a decent amount of hops round things out on the finish, a slight amount of bitterness, nice balance overall

MF: light body, crisp and refreshing, high carbonation

O: this is a nice well rounded APA, nothing special but certainly a good drinker

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 06:10:31 | More by homebrew311

kevanb

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From notes, bomber into pint glass.

It pours a nice clean copper color with a slim foamy head. There are lots of bubbles rising to the top so no carbonation problems, looks refreshing. Smells really bready, lots of toasted malts on the nose. The flavor is pretty enjoyable but rather basic, malty up front, not too sweet, not too bitter either. Reminds me more of a pilsner than an ale but its fairly refreshing for a sunday watching the game.

Verdict: Not the strongest offering from Alpine, but if you are after a lighter beer or sharing with a non beer snob it could be up your alley.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2011 05:38:32 | More by kevanb

jdense

Oregon

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. bottle hand carried by Carlsbad Homeboy to August golf tourney, poured into shaker pint glass 9.24.11

Hard pour resulted in two fingers white head, fairly slow dissipation with good lacing over deep gold clear body, multiple streams of carbonation. Nose is pretty biscuity, floral hops, a bit of citrus. Taste mirrors nose, decent hop bitterness on back end, but doesn't overwhelm the well balanced malt bill, biscuit, a wee bit of caramel. Mouthfeel just on light side of medium, good effervescence, fairly dry finish. Nothing earth shattering, but a nice balanced and tasty APA, though a bit light on the hops for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 02:24:48 | More by jdense