Exponential Hoppiness - Alpine Beer Company

dfillius

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass at O'Brien's Pub.
A: 3/4 finger head. Cloudy orangey-yellow with greenish edges. A couple floaty bits in it. Terrific head retention! Really tight foam. Only negative was color.
S: A lactosey creaminess. Dank, marijuana smell, piney as well with notes of candy corn coming through later.
T: Smooth entrance with hops easing their way in. Some cooked veggie/carrot taste was the only negative.
M: Mouth watering opening with bitter hops following, but oh so well balanced!
D: Pretty strong, but delicious!

Serving type: cask

01-18-2008 06:17:24 | More by dfillius

Stoneman78

California

4.8/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On cask at O'Brien's
A- Clear light orange hue, thin lacing of white foam, spotty lacing
S- Bouquet of citrus and pine hops, dark fruits and molasses
T- Taste starts with smooth pine and grapefruit hop wave, transitions to floral, earthy and grassy hops, a nice cascade of hop flavors
M- Medium-bodied, oily resin texture coats mouth, mild carbonation
D- This embodies complexity and layering within a bold DIPA, it is delicious from start to finish, the alcohol is totally masked which is a feat at 10%, this was an absolute joy to have on cask and one of my new faves

Serving type: cask

12-11-2007 08:51:54 | More by Stoneman78

Pagzzz

California

4.95/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dangerouse beer. Hides 10%+ ABV well behind a wall of rich hop flavor and smooth mouthfeel. Bitterness not as extreme as some Imperial IPA's (Stone Ruination) so very drinkable.

Cask ale really opened up aroma with warmer temp, though offset some by lower carbonation.

Another great Alpine brew.

Serving type: cask

01-16-2007 23:15:06 | More by Pagzzz

Morris729

Texas

4.47/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy golden amber color with a bright white head that leaves trails of sticky lace on the sides of the glass as you drink. Piney hops dominate the nose, but there are also aromas of fresh grapefruit, pineapple, and pear. The taste begins with some sweet fruity malt, but this is short lived before the piney hop oils take over with a strong and peppery bitterness. Despite the high ABV, this was quite smooth and drinkable.

Serving type: cask

09-14-2006 15:16:34 | More by Morris729

scottoale

California

4.72/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pumped from an 11gal. firkin, this special cask-conditioned "Triple IPA" is pumped too the max with hops. Strong, hopped beyond belief and very drinkable, it doesn't get much better than this !

Served in a pint glass, a glowing amber-gold ale with a sticky white foam head just over a 1/4 inch thick. Tons of sticky resinous lace mark the journey as you drink.

Hops up front, hops out back...hops throughout this one. Very piney hop nose with a sweet grapefruit citric note underneath. Hop Bomb, coming right up!

The taste is short lived sweet malt turning almost intantly citrus, mainly of grapefruit, then zapped with sharp pine-cones with a bite. And they keep biting till you swallow this golden, hoppy elixer.

A BIG 2XIPA with a ton of un-detectable alcohol and a body as large as the name...this one delivers over the top, yet o'so drinkable HOP bomb too please any true hophead. It's got to be the cask-conditioning that makes it so paletable...it goes down a little too easy. If you get the chance, don't miss this exceptionally (exponential) hoppy one !

Serving type: cask

08-11-2006 08:04:46 | More by scottoale

Vonerichs

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bright orange and crystal clear body. Bright white contrasting head and no lacing.

Huge piney aroma with dank and caramel sweetness. Faint bubble gum.

Enormously hoppy. Pine, tangerine, orange peel, and dank. Caramel then some wood add depth. The tangerine lingers with a strong finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and dry. Slightly boozy but as expected.

It's a top notch DIPA that's fresh and juicy. It's worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 00:18:54 | More by Vonerichs

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.26/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This poured out as a slightly hazy orange color with a white head on top. Nice looking lacing with a thin retention on top. The smell of the beer is very piney, very sharp aroma of hops on the nose. The aroma reminded me of another strong IPA I've had before. The taste is malty up front kind of boozy as well. The hops fill in nicely later in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel of the beer is sharp with carbonation. There is a oily feel as well. Overall it's a really good brew, similar to DfH 120.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 22:19:25 | More by Knapp85

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to peterdactyl (Reddit) for an awesome huge trade that included this. Shared with rudzud.

Smaller pale white fizzy fluffy head fades at a med pace, light lacing, semi hazy golden almost copper orange color with a bit of yeast or hop sediment.

Nose explodes out of the bottle, big hops, tons of citrus, orange peel, candied orange peel, light tropical fruit tangerine hint grapefruit like, big sweet malts, candy like, some pine almost sap like, and another earthy herbal fir tree pine thing like pine forest , very nice.

Taste is quite nice too but a little different, tons of pine and fir tree, earthy pine tree sap and light resin, etc. Then citrus but lighter, candied orange peel again, a spices like flavor almost the cedar like conifer flavor, almost as if they brewed it with small pine needles. Hint tangerine fruit, light tropical like. I think the oak and pine and citrus mixed give that light cedar like flavor. Bitterness is there but not crazy, fairly smooth, some warming booze but hidden fairly well by the sweet syrupy malt flavors. Finish its sweet, little syrupy, hint biscuity bready flavor, candied orange peel, quite a bit more bitterness and light spicy hops, more lingering pine tree and sap.

Mouth is med to fuller bodied, little syrupy, fluffy carb, some warming booze but not nearly 11%.

Overall very nice, not what I'm used to for alpine or west coast style, big sweet malty balance with booze hidden well, tons of nice hops citrus and pine bomb, but tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 13:10:02 | More by jlindros

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to JLindros for sharing.

A - Poured into a palm tulip a glorious slightly hazy golden apricot hue with a one finger white head that fades to leave sticky lacing, halo, and clouding. Excellent for the ABV.

S - Aromas of hop oil galore, pine and candy orange peel along with nice sweet malts.

T - Taste was not quite what I was expecting after the nose. Much more orange peel than pine along with sweet syrupy malts with a light bready biscuits finish. Faint oak notes on the finish as well as that excellent lingering bitterness.

M - Mouthfeel is a lightly carbonated slightly creamy feel. The booze is hidden incredibly well all things considered. Well done!

O - Overall I enjoyed this beer immensely. Just a tasty dipa that hits all the right notes. Lives up to the hype, not you're typical west coast dipa.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 20:26:56 | More by rudzud

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.76/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a medium caramel color, pretty hazy, huge off white head.

Smells super hoppy, big bright spicy kick, lots of bitterness, and also super sweet juicy citrus...peach? Bubblegum? Kindof crazy extremes both going on at once. Not sure if I've smelled anything quite like this, smells great though.

Taste is really unusual, hard to place. Pretty bitter but bitterness is overpowered by sweet citrus and super spicy hops. I don't know if the oddness is malt or hop in origin...I like this but it's kindof confusing to my palette.

Mouthfeel is really good for a high abv IPA, lots of carb but rich thick body too.

Not as straightforwardly awesome as the other Alpine IPAs, but really good and definitely worth trying.

7.7/10

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 02:50:21 | More by AlexFields

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.54/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, generously shared at the Peg's tasting on 3/8/13.

A- Pours a nearly clear dark golden color, topped with a finger of creamy white head.

S- Damn I love Alpine's IPAs. Loads and loads of pine, grapefruit and tropical fruit, as well as a really awesome dank, garlicy, earthy hop aroma.

T- The hops are back in the flavor, loads of pine and citrus and tropical fruit, but again it's the earthy, dank weed/garlic flavor that makes this as awesome as it is. There's more caramel malt than was noticeable in the aroma, which balances it nicely.

M- Medium-bodied, good carbonation, smooth and creamy.

O- Another fabulous DIPA from Alpine, the hop flavors are amazing as always, it's maybe a bit sweeter and less dry than others like Bad Boy, but it's a damn fine IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:34:06 | More by WillCarrera

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.94/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle poured into a taster.

Appearance - Deep amber almost copper. Not much of a head. Slight wisps.

Smell - Not as citrusy as I expected. Grapefruit and a ton of pine. Malt behind it. Musty.

Taste - Hoppier here, but it has just as much malt. Pretty damn hoppy. Grapefruit and resiny pine. Not my favorite hop profile but it's over the top and somehow balanced by malt.

Mouthfeel - Heavy for an IPA. Medium carbonation.

Overall - Least impressive IPA from Alpine. Still a pretty damn good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 20:15:37 | More by Alieniloquium

Mercury4040

California

4.7/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Split a 22oz bottle with my wife (well actually 60/40-me). Served in a tulip glass.

Appearance: Rich copper color with a finger of off white head. Great lacing separating ever delicious sip.

Smell: Extremely hoppy and oaky. Pine, sweet citrus, extremely floral and musky.

Taste: Very bitter with pine, citrus and mango coming through. Subtle malts that just barely balance out the bitterness to never let you forget you're drinking a hop bomb. A bit sweeter than the last release. (Cold weather delayed the fermentation process by 1 week, not sure if that had anything to do with it.)

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, mild carbonation and oily. Just the very slightest hint of lingering booziness at the end. What to you expect for 11%?

Overall: Go into it with the mindset that you're experiencing one of the most labor intensive special releases from Alpine and you wont be disappointed. Great celebratory beer even if it's celebrating the end of a long day at work. Alpine definitely has easier drinking beers (Duet and Nelson) but none better.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 15:58:23 | More by Mercury4040

jvillefan

California

4.79/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: A beautiful golden yellow orange body with a two finger off white head.

S: Tons of sweetness on the front of the nose. Caramel and huge hop resin contribute to this. There is a lingering bitterness in the background of pine and citrus.

T: Probably the best bottled IPA out there. All the flavors are blended perfectly and don't fight over the dominate each other. There is rich caramel, deep citrus, and crisp bitterness.

M: For an IPA this has a heavy body with great carbonation.

O: Amazing. Get this one fresh no matter the cost.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 16:05:41 | More by jvillefan

tarheels86

California

4.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tap at Alpine for SDBW. Poured a clear honey color with a billowing off-white head that has good retention and lacing. Aroma is gorgeous mango pulp, citrus peels, floral hops, fruit acidity. Taste is acidic, very chewy grapefruit peel and mango peel, soapy hops, perfume oils. Hard to get through the whole thing. I think Duet is much better overall.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2012 20:58:47 | More by tarheels86

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to leschkie for this awesome extra from a trade! Thanks Kurtis!
poured into tulip glass.

Appearance: copper colored almost amber beer with a finger of off white head. Sticky lace is everywhere on the beer glass.

Smell: Its smells very hoppy and oaky. Lots of pine, citrus, and dank hoppiness.

Taste: Its on the high end of moderately bitter. Pine cones and citrus. Earthy, oaky, grassy and floral hops. The malts are fairly bready and add some balance to this beer. Lingering pine and oak are found in the finish.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with moderate carbonation. This beer has an oily and resinous feel to it. Its still has a dry finish despite the oily and resinous qualities the beer has in the feel. Not a hint of alcohol.

Overall: This is a big hoppy beer. Its honestly also over the top hoppy! Alpine makes a fantastic beer here and you can tell this brewery loves their hops!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 18:50:35 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

kojevergas

California

4.13/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-draught at Alpine's brewpub. Served in a tulip. Reviewed from notes. Expectations were fairly high given Alpine's reputation. Boy, was I in for a treat. Cost was $1/oz for the pour.

A: Pours a two finger beige colour head. Quite creamy. Amazing retention for the high ABV. Great thickness. A delightfully foamy head. Body colour is a vibrant copper-hold. Transparent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Very appealing.

Sm: Delightfully floral. Clean malts and citrus come through, along with some pine and oily hops. A moderate strength aroma. Right on the money for the style.

T: Crisp, floral, citrusy, clean. Piney hops, some light oily character, probably grapefruit citrus. Floral vibrance is evocative and delicious. The clean malt backbone never intrudes on the diverse hop flavours. Bitterness comes through ever-so-lightly, reminding you of the hops without hitting you over the head with them. Quite balanced and tasty. No yeast or alcohol comes through, Quite impressive. Lightly cream.y Refreshing and incedible; I quite like it. A complex and incredibly (almost deceptively) subtle brew. No yeast or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Perfect thickness. Good carbonation. Suits the flavours very well. None of that awful coarseness and dryness from overdone hop bitterness. Just easy balance and enjoyable texture.

Dr: Amazingly drinkable for the high ABV. I love it. An amazing IPA; amongst the best I've had. Lives up to the hype. I'd recommend this to friends. A bit pricey, but worth it for the quality. Holds a candle to Pliny the Younger. I'd love to try them side by side. A huge wow from Alpine. Bravo. I'll definitely be having this again.

A terrible candidate for aging. Drink fresh.

Serve cold.

A-

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 05:13:25 | More by kojevergas

DovaliHops

California

4.1/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first visit to Alpine. Pours a slightly clear, amber color with a medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is more malty than I expected. There are a ton of hops with a good amount of citrus and pine, but definitely the biggest malt profile I get in the nose from any of Alpine's hoppy beers. Caramel malt with intense hop aroma. Almost like hop liquid or resin. No booze in the nose. The booze is in the taste, but not nearly as boozy as I was expecting. Again, this is the maltiest of the Alpine hop bombs. Lovely bitter hops mixed with a good amount of sweet malt flavors, this "triple IPA" is definitely worth seeking out. Mouthfeel is full bodied and chewy...probably from the hop resin. Drinkability is fairly high. Overall, this is a great beer when it comes to American...even West Coast DIPAS. However, Double Nelson was WAY better. Along with Duet and Nelson. Expo is a great experience, but not worth the craziness that is out there for bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2012 07:50:26 | More by DovaliHops

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I had this fine ale at the tiny and incredibly awesome brewpub in Alpine a couple days ago. This is from notes.

Huge rocky ivory head that coats the glass with foam. The aroma is pungent west coast hops, resiny and concentrated pine and white grapefruit and floral notes. Hop savagery overwhelms the palate first sip. Huge citrusy and tangy tropical hop notes mingle with a brash bitterness. Malts are more prominent than I was expecting, providing an excellent bready ballast to the hop maelstrom. Booze is imperceptable. That and the amazing balance makes this brew dangerously drinkable. Hop oils abound and coat the mouth in the medium bodied mouthfeel.

This is stellar stuff. Really showcases the breadth and depth of American hops. Incredible.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 16:41:52 | More by CAMRAhardliner

Prospero

Colorado

4.65/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Excellent clear dark copper color with a white head, good retention, pleasant floral and slightly piney aroma with sweet malt nose. Taste is equally similar balance with sweet malts giving it a full-rich body and the caramel and bready malts give this triple IPA a great backbone that support the overwhelming hops in this beer. While it's strong, it is smooth to drink and tastes phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 22:44:03 | More by Prospero

Treebs

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review #500

Big thanks to Eric (Holland) for hitting this long time want! 22 oz. bottle served in a Westbrook tulip.

A: Pours a clear amber color with a nice and thick pure white head forming on the pour. It recedes slowly to a thin cap and thick collar. Sticky sheets of lace are left down the glass. Looks great.

S: Sugar covered grapefruit, some bitter pith, a touch of malty sweetness and sticky fruit all fill the nose. There is a touch of booze in there which I would suspect being 11%. There is a touch of wood from the oak chips and slight flowery pine to it as well. There's a ton going on.

T: Wow, definitely drinks a lot lighter than how it smells and how one would guess. Sticky sweet grapefruit, some tropical melon, and sweet sugar cookie malts all hit up front. Candied orange peel with a mild orange pith bitterness. The slight boozy note from the nose is non-existent here.

M: Medium to light bodied with a nice medium plus carbonation level. Sticky sweet citrus fruit finish.

O: I though this was going to be a big and boozy hop bomb when I first smelled it, but it really toned down in the taste and it turned in a lighter drinking tropical fruit and sweet malt bundle of deliciousness. Very excited to have gotten a chance to try my first Alpine IPA. Thanks again Eric!

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 23:31:43 | More by Treebs

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a AleSmith Horny Devil snifter.

A- Pours a dark golden with a 1 finger off-white head. Lots of leopard spots and trails of lacing on the glass.

S- Caramel, huge wet/fresh hop and floral hop aromas.

T- Sweet caramel malts, again big fresh floral hops and some nice pine bitterness.

M- Full body and medium carbonation. Slightly syrupy but has a nice smooth finish.

O- Very nice DIPA, not overly bitter while still has lots of floral hop aromas & flavors.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 19:23:36 | More by kawilliams81

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very pleased to have finally had the opportunity to try this beer. No doubt it was on my IPA/DPA bucket list. Enjoying this bomber after some interesting meetings.

Not a great deal of head forms as I pour into y Charleston Beer Exchange glass. Bright Orange color with a thickness to the color. A few suds in the glass, but not a lot of lace left behind.

My GOD that aroma is thick in your nostrils. Resinous, Sweet, I can already tell it will be sticky just from smelling it. Tons of ripe and almost over ripe tropical fruit. Some sticky pine in the background.

First thought is about the sweetness that is so chewy and resinous. Lots o’ hops here. TOns of sticky sweet fruit as I thought. Lots of tropical notes at first then off to the pine forest. Some herbal notes late. I’d say the abv is tamped down by the sweetness, but I wouldn’t say it’s hidden. You can just tell this is a big beer.

Yep, this is a sticky resin bomb. Hop oils coat your tongue. Not for the faint of heart.

My God, this is a big beer. Almost bordering on over the top. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great... But it’s a mouth full.

I read the label and see there are Oak Chips used here. I’d never notice or mention this in a million years without having read this on the label. Even after knowing, I can’t tell you I sense their inclusion.

I believe that Duet (then Nelson) remains my favorite Alpine item. But this is a treat for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 22:40:03 | More by Reagan1984

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to LegalBrew87 on sending this my way!

A: beautiful straw to gold color with a small white head that leaves some lacing. Looks fairly thick, with not a hint of cloudiness.

S: woody and earthy at first, some spicy hop smells, and sweetness comes through as it warms.

T: pretty mellow, some apricot, wood, and a bitter bite mixed with a sweet candy-like taste. A big weird, but still good. Lot of other fruity flavors I can't identify, but it is full of flavor.

M: big body, medium carbonation, smooth feeling.

O: solid beer, and very well put together, but I'm rating it based on my tastes. It's fruity and woody and delicious, but not my favorite because it's not in my face with hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 01:36:22 | More by Holland

MrVonzipper

California

4.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Like Chris said, it does pour a clear honey color. Decent bubbly white head with good retention and lace.

Smells of candy and tropical fruit. Mango, peach, apricot.

Flavor is amazing. An amazing balance of malt and hops for such a big ipa. Amazing tropical fruit and honey/candy like sweetness balanced with the pineappley and mild citrus hops.

Mouth is a bit tacky yet still light with high carb.

Overall this beer is far beyond what I was expecting. Just fantastic and a breath of fresh air in a time where too many breweries are producing similar big ipas now. Just fantastic!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 09:07:31 | More by MrVonzipper