Nelson - Alpine Beer Company

cavedave

New York

4.45/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to exraided for this bottle of Alpine Excellence. Haha I have shared 2 others with friends, this baby is MINE. Live review, can't find best by dating.

Pours an almost clear light amber with a finger of light beige head. Some bubbly lacicles cling to the glass, and a nice cap keeps the faith.

Neutral sweet, light grapefruit, orange zest, and perfumy lemon make for a med. strength aroma that entices the tongue.

Golly this a tasty beer. Usually don't start putting taste into words this quickly, but ten sips in this is just so fine. All the flavors of the nose, but in a bright clean medium strength taste that is just stupidly delicious. Clean (bears repeating) and vibrant flavors that end with hints of drying pine that never become resiny on palate giving a lasting enjoyment. As it warms the spicy rye character sneaks in to the sip.

Just as perfect here as the other 3 hop masterpieces from Alpine it has been my pleasure to enjoy. Just right low/med carb, just right viscosity and cling, just right thickness, and a perfect finish.

If I had enough of these I would drink them non stop until the polarity of our planet switches, and the most foolish among us are hurled into space.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 16:41:05 | More by cavedave

RayUF07

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-25-2013 05:51:46 | More by RayUF07

HopLuva

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-24-2013 04:54:11 | More by HopLuva

BUNZILLA

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-24-2013 03:27:44 | More by BUNZILLA

Lare453

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-23-2013 10:29:26 | More by Lare453

Hendry

Vermont

4.53/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Nelson pours a cloudy golden color with a super fine 1 finger head,and superb lacing.

Aroma is difficult to describe, but aside from some hops, there is a strange dampness to the smell, like the air just before it rains...difficult to describe, but I suspect it is the European rye that it is blended with that gives off the unusual nose. Smells like no other beer I have had.

Taste is another matter altogether: a precise blend of rye,hops,and malt create a unique flavor and finish. There is a distinct hopiness that is muted by the rye and the malts. Aftertaste is slightly bitter and enjoyable unlike some of the highly acidic beers brewed with rye that I have sampled. Medium bodied and quite smooth drinking.

Mouthfeel is medium,carbonation is lively moving everything along.

All in all, a really nice IPA with a rye twist. The funkiness of the aroma is a bit off, but outside of that, a solid effort from Alpine, and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 03:18:22 | More by Hendry

judkinst

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-22-2013 03:46:11 | More by judkinst

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy, golden-yellow with a bright white, soapy, fluffy head. Great lace and decent retention.

S: All pungent NZ hops with lots of resin and some pine.

T: Super delicious, sticky hops. Grassy, earthy, woody.

M: Smooth, clean, great body, massive flavor, proper carbonation.

O: This definitely highlights the beauty of NZ hops. They're so unique and delicious. Not the most delicious use of Nelson Sauvin hops but its such a great IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:25:49 | More by Gatch

aleman39

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-21-2013 21:24:10 | More by aleman39

moonknight31

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-21-2013 21:16:00 | More by moonknight31

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-21-2013 04:25:52 | More by CosmoHopHead

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 20:06:27 | More by InspectorBob

IP-EH

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 21:57:57 | More by IP-EH

Benny3000

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 14:21:43 | More by Benny3000

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-19-2013 14:17:10 | More by drgonzo2k2

BeerBeast

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 07:12:02 | More by BeerBeast

eyeenjoybeer

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-18-2013 18:24:14 | More by eyeenjoybeer

Rainblows

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-16-2013 14:37:09 | More by Rainblows

Zbeetleman

California

5/5  rDev +12.6%

05-15-2013 03:18:31 | More by Zbeetleman

Skeeze

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-15-2013 00:57:04 | More by Skeeze

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.53/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed 5/14/13

Big cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for getting this in a trade and sharing it

Appearance: Golden orange, rather hazy, with some straw around the edges - pours with a big, bright white head - fluffy, big, creamy head - fades to a remarkably solid, creamy cap - leaves sheets of lacing

Smell: Very, very unique and very, very hoppy - remarkably fruity, bright, and sweet in a very unusual way - malty sweetness kind of reminds me of cake - the hoppiness reminds me of my head exploding or something - extreme citrus and tropical notes - bright, lively orange and tangerine - some mango, pineapple, and melon - lightly spicy and lightly earthy - some rye, but not much

Taste: Brilliantly hoppy executed in a brilliant way - loads of citrus, with orange, tangerine, and grapefruit flesh - some oil, some pith - tropical notes with pineapple, melon, and something like lime - lightly grassy with some herbal and weed notes - moderately bitter - unexpectedly balanced with the nicely pale malts - the light spiciness from the rye adds to the unique, lovely character from the hops

Mouthfeel: Medium body, excellent carbonation, extremely smooth and extremely drinkable

Overall: You done broke the Nelson Sauvin, son!

I've had beers brewed with New Zealand hops. They have not been stellar. This is mind-blowingly awesome. I need to try everything from Alpine. Now. Seriously. Now!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:38:36 | More by angrybabboon

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to JayORear for the surprise bottle. Split with angrybabboon.

Appearance: Perfectly clear light gold. A slight haze after the last bit of the pour. Head is white and pillowy. Creamy and thick. Drops to a small spotty head with a slightly larger collar. Some small spots and streaks of lacing. Not what I was expecting to see, but that's because I didn't really know what this thing was.

Smell: Grapefruit. Loaded with grapefruit flesh, fresh juice, and rind. Deeply floral with a solid earthiness. Slight backing spiciness with a light, slightly sweet malt backbone. Sweet candied hops. Pine resin. Peaches. Mango. Very tropical and dank, but sweet. Cotton candy. Bright white wine as it warms.

Taste: Tropical fruit explosion. Mango and peaches. Juicy ripe fruit. Malts are light and bready. Slight hint of rye spiciness that I would miss and chalk up to hops if the bottle hadn't alerted me to it. Hops run the gamut. Earthy and herbal with a slightly damp earthiness. Lingering mild bitterness. Some oily pine as it warms. Some bubblegum/cotton candy, but it's more tropical. Nice backing spiciness as it warms.

Mouthfeel: Medium body that runs on the lighter side. Average moderate carbonation with a juicy feel up front. Finishes relatively clean, but slightly dry.

Overall: Ha ha!

A ryePA that doesn't go too far with a super awesome hop variety? Yeah, this wins and wins hard. Incredibly drinkable with a crazy amount of flavor. Never gets abrasive. Seriously, why can't I get more of this?

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 00:35:59 | More by Goblinmunkey7

woodchopper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%

05-13-2013 16:23:45 | More by woodchopper

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-13-2013 06:20:20 | More by Bonko_the_sane

mrcraft

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.4%

05-13-2013 05:35:50 | More by mrcraft