Nelson - Alpine Beer Company

hayesez

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Yet another Alpine brew received as an extra from Kaiser81. The Duet and the Pure Hoppiness have both been exceptional, and I can't wait to give the Nelson a shot. Split with Ridgley and K-Rho and poured into my Portsmouth snifter.

A light golden-yellow colored beer with a slightly gray dense foamy head. Quite a few tiny bubbles rise around the floaties suspended in this brew. The recession of the cap is leaving an impressive lace on the inside of my glass. This continues all the way down the top 2/3 of my snifter, as I slowly put this one away.

I had a bit of trouble placing all of the smells in this beer. It is a bit fruity and grassy as one might expect. But there is something else in there as well. This is going to be out there, but the aroma that comes to mind is new car tires. Kind of a rubberish smell. Mixed in there is a bit if grapefruit and a hint of pineapple. Weird. Can't say I've smelled anything quite like this one.

Fortunately, the Nelson doesn't taste like new car tires smell. The fruits are more pronounced - grapefruit, pineapple, and perhaps a bit of orange. Not sure I know exactly what the rye is supposed to taste like...this is definitely different than others I've had, but I can't necessarily attribute it to the rye. The taste is dulled down a bit from the nose, but definitely better. Again, a bit thinner than I would like, but still has a small element of creaminess.

I guess I'll place this as my least favorite of the three Alpine beers I've had (Duet, Nelson, and Pure Hoppiness). Still a fine brew, and one I would never pass up, but the smell just didn't quite do it.

Consumed: 8/5/2010

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 07:46:23 | More by hayesez

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

IPeteA91

Texas

5/5  rDev +12.6%

05-12-2013 22:40:11 | More by IPeteA91

hilgart1

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-12-2013 21:39:34 | More by hilgart1

vitese

California

4.75/5  rDev +7%

05-12-2013 18:11:35 | More by vitese