Duet IPA - Alpine Beer Company

DocJitsu

California

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very clear class golden color with a quickly evaporating white head. Grapefruit nose that draws you in like a Siren. MF is wet and full and accentuates the overall experience of the beer. Grapefruit citrus yields to pine in the flavors that get balanced nearly perfectly by the grain. This is a stupendous IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 00:34:10 | More by DocJitsu

Thedaver4220

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Chuglife for this one.

22 oz. Bottle poured into a pint glass

Duet poured a nice golden color with very little head. A very nice citrus hop nose, very classic west coast smell. Silky smooth mouthfeel, maybe a bit to thin IMHO, but very nice. Well balanced malt sweetness with hop bitterness. This is the second alpine beer I have had and it didn't disappoint. It's extremely easy drinking, and at 7% it's a devil in bottle, in a good way!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 04:50:56 | More by Thedaver4220

warnerry

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear golden brown with a bit of orange and one finger of white head. Nice lacing and pretty good head persistence.

S - Aroma is largely floral and citrus. Not much else in the aroma, but what is there is wonderful.

T - Similar to the smell, a lot if citrus, mostly grapefruit and grapefruit zest, with a lot of florals as well. Not a hop bomb by any means, but nice hop bitterness complemented with a nice biscuitt malt. Very well balanced.

M - Mouthfeel is ridiculously smooth and creamy. Some lingering bitterness.

O - Initially I was a bit disappointed that this wasn't more of a hop bomb, but it is such a tasty, easy drinking IPA that it rapidly becomes clear that this is a great beer. Drinkability is off the charts.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 03:46:43 | More by warnerry

pschul4

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Having this right after my Nelson. Again ehammond1 is the fucking man and anytime you see him give him a highfive for me please.

A- Pours a medium orange/yellow with a 3/4 inch head that leaves a good amount of lacing.

S- Really nice floral notes here, slight pine/citrus hoppiness and some pale malts. Really solid

T- Wow this really blew me away. The floral notes perfectly translate to the taste and the other minor players in the nose (citrus/pine) come through much stronger and it all blends together PERFECTLY

M- Just like Nelson it's super smooth, love what Alpine does with their Mouthfeels

O- Holy crap Eric you have spoiled me terribly. Ever IPA Alpine makes is to die for. Might move out there just for the whalesbro

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 03:20:40 | More by pschul4

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received as an extra from ikaika122. Awesome. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a nice crystal clear light copper hue with a one finger creamy white head that faded to leave some thin lacing and light retention.

S - Nice aromas of light tropical mango/pineapple, with light citrus notes. there is a light bready aroma as well as candied malts.

T - Ah...to get back to balanced IPAs. I've almost forgotten what thats like. Great harmony of light tropical hops and super faint pine (light alcohol too) along with sweet malts. Not overly sweet though. Excellent balance.

M - Mouthfeel is awesome, lighter carbonation but not boozy. Super drinkable.

O - Overall this was a solid beer from a brewery I've been dieing to sample from. Been a long time since I had a "balanced" IPA, very solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 22:05:31 | More by rudzud

cosmicevan

New York

4.2/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

thanks to ehammond1 for hooking up the alpine! Notes from 8/29.

a - transparent yellow with thin fizzy head that was gone almost instantly.

s - soft citric hop bouquet. fruit medley some grapefruit. crisp.

t - nice bitter blast of citrus and orange. some tangerine and grapefruit. mellow and easy drinking ipa.

m - good carbonation. smooth and even. subtle bitterness.

o - overall, hell of an IPA. alpine doesn't disappoint again.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 03:46:18 | More by cosmicevan

brystmar

New York

3.9/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Ulcers are bad. Beer is good.

Light, straw body; plenty of handsome white head up top. Surprisingly bready aroma with a kiss of sweet malts before the piney hops take the reins. I suspect there were fruity notes to this aroma too, though ~2 weeks after bottling they are gone.

Crisp, smooth taste. Bready, very dry, grassy, hoppy, bitterness is under control. Pretty well balanced for a Single IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 22:26:58 | More by brystmar

match1112

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

another alpine courtesy of ehammond1, thanks! you sure know how to pick em!

half inch of off white creamy head sits atop of a crystal clear bright copper body. head has good staying power and excellent spider web lacing making abilities. I can smell the floral presence in this beer several feet away. also hints of grapefruit, pineapple and orange with a subtle caramel malt presence. taste is heavenly! more big bright citrus flavors. tastes just like it smells. has a med-lite mouthfeel. carbonation is right, bitterness is just right for me. overall i have nothing bad to say about this beer, but if i had to pick something i would say i can't. love it and you will too, now go get a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 13:17:17 | More by match1112

jeonseh

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a FFF tulip

A - Deep amber with golden tones and a slight sheen. One finger rocky finger head sits on top throughout the beer and leaves a ton of lacing. Really nice looking IPA

S - What a great nose. There are big scents of mango and pineapple intertwined with slight hint of pine. Very fragrant as well.

T - Malty and pineapple sweetness are the first flavors. There is a slight hint of grapefruit in the middle that leaves a slight bitterness in the finish. Flavors are much subtler than the nose would let on.

MF - Very light in the body, yet not watery. Has just enough there to keep it from being too thin. The light body goes well with the flavors and makes it easy to keep drinking this one

O - A nice beer from Alpine that, while solid, I wished tasted as good as it smeled. The beer thrives on its balance and subtlety and not from strong, in your face flavors

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:47:27 | More by jeonseh

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into Founders snifter. Big thanks to airfoil for this one. No visible bottle date (picked up from the brewery less then 2 weeks ago). 2nd time having this.

A- Pours a slightly hazy golden slightly brownish orange with about a finger of fluffy slightly bubbly head that has about average retention. Nice carbonation.

S- Floral citrus hops, honey, a little bit of grapefruit/lemon citrus mixed with some light sweet malts. Lightly sweet and definitely a little bit above average aroma strength.

T- Lemony citrus hops balanced with sweet lightly sugary malts with a hint of honey, finishes with a hint of bitterness and a smooth malt presence. Everything is very well balanced between the hops and malts.

M- Medium bodied, decent carbonation, goes down easily, smooth.

O- This was definitely a nice IPA that is a little bit different then the typical East Coast IPAs that I'm used to having. It wasn't overly citrusy or hoppy but had a nice lemon hop presence that balanced very well with the sweet malts that provided a smooth very enjoyable IPA. I would definitely recommend trying this and I would love to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 00:25:12 | More by jaasen64

libbey

Washington

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

22oz bottle poured into a Town Hall tulip. Thanks to Bdubbs for the chance to finally try this one.

A: The beer pours a crystal clear amber/orange with a nice fluffy cap of head that held nice retention leaving a trail of sticky lacing throughout the session.

S: Big blast of evergreens and citrus. Waves of pine and grapefruit intermingle. There is a hint of candied malt in the background but it is minimal. The hops are the big players here. Great nose.

T: Taste follows the nose with a big hit of grapefruit and orange peel mixing with a nice piney finish. Malt backbone lingers subtly in the background giving a nice base for the hops to play upon. Excellent.

M: The mouthfeel is lush and creamy with each sip coating the pallet and the finish is nice and dry which I love in my IPA's.

O: Overall this is really tasty IPA from Alpine. Certainly worthy of the praise. World class pursue accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 02:45:58 | More by libbey

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured a clear yellowish orange color with good carbonation leaving a small white cap, a good amont of bubbles and light sticky lacing

S: Pine needles and a citrus bouquet on the nose, very smooth and prominent all at once. Citrus notes lean toward some lemon zest, orange peel witha hint at pineapple and light grapefruit

T: Starts with a crisp pine note followed quickly by strong orange peel and lemon. The finish is lightly bitter, a little slick but still rather clean and smooth. Very balanced with a nice malt backing, perhapslight caramel, went down way to easy.

M: Light to medium body, well carbonated, some sweetness with loads of citrus and pine lingering on the palate

O: Probably one the nicest Single IPAs I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 18:53:46 | More by barleywinefiend

durrrr

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed recently on tap at Alpine. Reviewed from notes.

Appearance is a clear golden/amber yellow with a 1 finger head that fades quickly to a coating.

The nose is amazing. You get great citrus, grapefruit, sweet malt, and a hint of pine.

The beer tates so fresh bursting with hop flavors right away. Leads with the citrus and grapefruit hops with just the right amount of sweet bready/biscuity malt for balance. Alcohol well concealed. It is unbelievably clean, crisp and refreshing while still delivering a world class hop experience. The Simcoe and Amarillo blend is mastered here.

Medium to light body for a 7% IPA with medium carbonation. The beer is scary drinkable. The flavor profile and overall experience reminds me a bit of PTE. For me, this beer on tap or fresh in bottle, is one of my all time favorite IPA's.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2012 23:52:05 | More by durrrr

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thick, fluffy, white head. Light orange body.

Nose is sharp and crisp pine encrusted citrus. Just a smell sensation.

Flavor is top notch. I mean it. There are few better. This is kind of like Pliny juice light. A blend of super light, but still slightly sweet malt, with a hop blast that strips the enamel off your teeth without ever going overboard.

Mouthfeel is tart, tangy, low carb, stripping.

Overall is tops, just a truly great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 01:10:50 | More by ghostwalker

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bottle, no bottled on date, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a clear golden orange color, thin white head that recedes over a couple minutes, good lacing.

S- Very, very fruits, loads of orange aroma that's just absolutely amazing, also some pine resin and dank hops.

T- Extremely earthy hops, some dankness, solid pine bitterness with citrus, but lots of earthy, dank, slightly herbal notes. Malt is light and bready, adds a touch of caramel sweetness.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel, a slightly dry finish.

O- Another amazing IPA from Alpine, it's really flavorful and very easy to drink, excellent stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 05:40:15 | More by WillCarrera

argock

Virginia

4.23/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Downtown Johnny Brown's (San Diego, CA) in a Shaker pint. Reviewed from notes.

A: Beautiful golden amber with short cap of off-white head that leaves thick slabs of lace.

S: Delicious floral and tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and mango mixed with a touch of citrus. The malt backing is mildly sweet with a hint of crystal.

T: A easy drinking IPA that you could drink many pints of if you are not careful. The floral and fruitiness of the aroma carries through nicely and there is big mango, pineapple, lemon, and passion fruit - very lush in the flavor department. There is not a ton of bitterness in this beer. The malt is straightforward pale maltiness with some light caramel from the crystal. A great IPA to sit around and enjoy several of with friends.

M: Despite the lush flavor profile, this is a medium bodied ale with a fairly dry finish which gives it a very light feel overall. The carbonation is midrange but maybe a bit more active than most.

O: Duet is a great IPA that I was thrilled to get to try on tap. I tried to back to back with Nelson and actually liked Nelson a bit more for its raw hoppiness and increased bitterness and complexity. But if I knew I was going to sit down for several hours or an entire evening and both were available, I might have one Nelson and then go with Duet for the rest of the night as it is such a flavorful, dry, easygoing beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 02:50:27 | More by argock

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – Pours a clear golden orange color with a nice head and medium lacing.

Smell – Grapefruit, tangerine, and mango. To much citrus for my liking.

Taste – Grapefruit, mango, and some hoppiness.

Mouthfeel – Good carbonation, lightly creamy.

Drinkability – Pretty good, but a touch too much citrus.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 05:42:27 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

Philousa

California

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured an orangeish gold color with metallic shine in the light. Good amount of head and great clarity. Decent lacing, but nothing spectacular. Aroma is resnious and piney. Lots of grapefruit - very acidic and citrusy. Hinting towards a thick mouthfeel, Double IPA style. Malt is lacking, or hidden. I get more of a true pale malt backbone instead of an IPA. Nearly sweet, but bitter definitely comes through right away in the taste. A bit grassy, but mostly nectar flowery flavor. Some orange citrus fades to the hop flavor. The hop bitterness takes over but is mild. Balanced feel, maybe a little on the watery side. Dry finish.

Some of the above comes across as disappointment, but it's really surprise. I'm surprised at how mild this tastes. It tastes more like a slightly bitter Pale Ale, but smells like a Double IPA. The aroma is great, and the flavor is very palatable. I could drink this all day long.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 04:30:10 | More by Philousa

ocelot2500

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dandelion color with a tight, white head that leaves chunks of lacing.

Smells of tropical fruit and some grassy hops.

Tastes of the tropical fruits upfront with a solid malt backbone. Hops lead with pineapple and mango notes that blend with some pine and grass with a moderate amount of bitterness. Malts come in with skme light bread notes and some sugary sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium with a smooth amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is quite good and is definitely worth trying out.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 04:12:07 | More by ocelot2500

sukwonee

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Clear golden yellowish brown color with 2 finger fluffy head, lots of lacing.

S: Smells like grapefruit, pine-y hops, floral aroma.

T: Surprisingly maltier than I expected. Quite bitter, but you can taste the malt. Citrous, Grapefruit, pine, finishes slightly bitter (but not too bitter).

M: Medium thickness, good amount of carbonation.

O: I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't anything mind blowing. I much much prefer Nelson over this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:02:10 | More by sukwonee

kojevergas

California

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, Calfiornia. Reviewed live. Acquired at the brewery. Expectations are high given its current ratings. I've had this before on-draught and loved it. 7% ABV confirmed. I'm a big Alpine fan.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a four finger head of beige colour, nice cream, nice thickness, and very good retention. Colour is a clear pale yellow-copper. Translucent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Pretty vibrant, but predictable for the style.

Sm: Nice floral hop aroma with hints of hop bitterness. Evocative grapefruit citrus esters. Lovely pale malts. Clean and fragrant. A mild to moderate strength aroma. It's refreshing and subtle. Very pleasant. Nectary character. Hints of hop oil.

T: Brilliantly floral and nectary, with divine grapefruit character. Citrusy and luscious. Clean and refreshing. Delightful pale malts build the light foundation, which allows the hops prominence without intruding. Very subtly executed, with incredible balance for an IPA. Light oily character. A bit creamy. No alcohol or yeast comes through. Quite complex for an IPA. Hop bitterness is nowhere to be found. Really an incredible taste. I'm amazed by the balance.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some nice cream. Near perfect carbonation. Dryness and coarseness comes through on the climax to coax out the flavours. It's not as oily as many IPAs. Good thickness. Feels custom-tailored to the flavours.

Dr: Very drinkable. I like it and I'd definitely get it again, preferably on draught. Well priced at Alpine. An incredible IPA that I'd definitely recommend to friends. Amongst the best beers in the style, for sure. Very refreshing. I could down this all night.

Would pair nicely with spicy food.

A poor candidate for aging. Drink fresh. I had an older bottle of this from Wally's Wine and it had dropped off considerably.

A-

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 02:34:03 | More by kojevergas

suspect

New York

4.48/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

A: Crystal clear light golden color. Aggressive pour leads to a two finger had that slowly and unwillingly retreats back to its home. Lacing is thick and provides excellent coverage.

S: Man. Just a full nose of citrus-first hop followed by the sting of weed resin brought by the hammer that only west coast hops are known to bring. Extremely full nose with big boy malts to back up the big boy hops.

T: Follows the nose for the most part but the hops are blended a bit better and the malt doesn't skip a beat. This is a wonderfully blended beer with every single ingredient playing its part humbly yet at the top of its class creating a world class orchestra of flavors. Absolutely delicious IPA.

M: Not too heavy a la your big boy double IPAs but most definitely not thin - even a little. This has perfect carbonation and such a crisp finish for an IPA. Brings the hop oils with it making me pucker and reach for another sip.

O: Beautiful IPA. Really, one of the best balanced I've ever had in this style. Alpine and Kern River are probably some of the least heralded brewers in the country. Bra-effing-vo.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 02:07:26 | More by suspect

dfillius

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Aggressive pour into pint glass yields 1/3 finger white head with good retention. More head though please. Crystal clear and golden. Pretty. On the very light side of IPAs. Minus points for that.
S: Tangerine, mango - Man Candy all the way! Some earthiness belowdecks is a nice accent. Maybe some savory garlic too. Some apple cidery esters too that tingle a bit but are not boozy.
T: Well balanced, clean crisp malt up front. Good gentle but substantial hop bitterness. Savory side and piney side of hops are stronger. Dances on the edge of APA and AIPA. So tasty. The only strike against it is that it seems more like an APA in balance. Too bad for semantics.
M: Very smooth, balanced, full-flavored. Dare I say perfect? Crisp but round.
O: Delicious and very drinkable for 7%. Smooth. I'd drink a lot of this if I lived in San Diego. I'll definitely buy again and have a second. Sarah likes this one a lot!

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 18:44:33 | More by dfillius

LegalBrew87

California

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a nonic.

A: Really pale, golden yellow for an IPA. This is probably lighter in color than SN Pale Ale. Really great head retention and lacing. A really, really light but nice looking IPA.

S: Tons of sweet peach, floral aromas, followed by some of the usual tropical fruit, pine, and citrus. The smell comes pouring out as soon as the bottle is opened. Almost all hops and very little malt; the way an IPA should be.

T: Peach and citrus flavors upfront, followed by just a slight bit of bitterness and then a tiny backbone of pale malt. This is one of the most flavorful, hoppy beers I've ever had, without that overwhelming bitterness you get from some of the other west coast IPAs. This beer tastes perfectly balanced, is not overly sweet and is one of the best beers I've ever tasted.

M: Perfect mouthfeel with the perfect amount of carbonation. Looking at it you might think it would feel a little thin, but looks can be deceiving. Nice medium body without being syrupy at all.

O: I haven't had all of Alpine's signatures (bad boy and exp. in particular), but this is probably my favorite of the other offerings I've tasted. The taste is just as forward as any of the other great IPAs like Sculpin or Union Jack, but the bitterness is in perfect balance with the flavor. The 7% ABV is perfectly hidden and this beer is scary drinkable. An absolute must-try for any IPA lover.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 22:52:13 | More by LegalBrew87

Agold

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with almost no head on top of a golden clear body. Aroma is really fruity, pineapple, citrus, grapefruit, mango. A bit sweet, but fruity sweet not caramel sweet. Lots of citrus, tropics, similarly sweet to the aroma. Nice bitterness that balances a bit of the fruityness and sweetness. The mouthfeel is nice. Unremarkable. Ok carbonation. Pretty nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 01:18:20 | More by Agold