Nelson - Alpine Beer Company

Rayman

3.55/5  rDev -20%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured into a chilled 16 oz glass, the bottle itself was just pulled from my refrigerator at the said temperature. Yellow golden hue that is transparent with a very light head.

S - Smell was very pleasing and a strong citrus aroma which can only be described as piney and grapefruit. The smell of this American IPA alone makes my mouth water

T - Having the privilege to try a lot of IPAs this ranks up there really well. Its not your average IPA, that being said the initial taste goes in well, but after it is sharp. The taste of rye really comes in that instance. It feels as if your mouth puckers a bit and just wants to keep drinking.

M - Mouth feels a bit puckered, perhaps because this is where the grapefruit characteristic comes out. If i were describe this after taste. I think it is what gives the characteristic of the grapefruit used and that gives it a personality. Which is strong flavorful and tad bitter like a grapefruit

O - This is definitely a must try because this beer will not disappoint the IPA enthusiasts. It will definitely be a plus if you do like grapefruits.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:15:03 | More by Rayman

kojevergas

California

3.81/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Uinta Pilsner pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Acquired at Alpine yesterday. Expectations are very high; I've had it before on-draft and loved it. I'm a huge Alpine fan.

Served refrigerator cold. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

I had this side by side with Alpine Duet for comparison.

A: Pours a one finger head of beige colour, nice cream, pretty good hickness, okay lacing, and above average retention. Colour is a clear translucent vibrant pale yellow. It isn't much to look at, but I'm looking forward to trying it. No yeast particles are visible (not that they should be for the style). No bubble show.

Sm: Piney potent citrus ester hops. Some floral character. Hop oil. Very hop-laden, but the lack of bitterness in the aroma suggests good balance. Clean malts provide the foundation; I don't detect any rye. A rather strong aroma. I could smell it before I poured it (and my nose is broken). Much more piney and oily than the Duet.

T: Quite piney, with some citrusy and more minor floral impact. Light grapefruit citrus. Little bitterness - to its credit. The rye comes through a bit in the flavour, but the foundation still seems to be mainly pale malts. I suspect rye wasn't the primary grain used. It's well balanced in terms of both flavour and structure, but it's actually rather simple (at least in comparison to the Duet); the hop character is well layered but lacks true complexity. It has good depth of flavour, however. The finish is my favourite aspect due to its somewhat refreshing quality. It's a good IPA for what it is. No alcohol or yeast comes through. I'm impressed by the balance in particular.

Mf: More dry and coarse than I'd expect. I blame the rye, but it's nicely complemented by the refreshing feel of the pale malts. The roughness in the second act makes the smooth wet finish that much more refreshing. It could be more crisp, but it complements the flavour profile very well. Not as soft as Duet.

Dr: It's a very drinkable IPA and hides its above average ABV quite well. Would I get it again? Definitely, but preferably on-draught. This will please fans of the style and is more balanced than most IPAs. Rye was an interesting choice here. Another incredible IPA from Alpine.

Having had them side by side, I have to say the verdict is in: I prefer Duet.

A poor candidate for aging. Drink Fresh.

Drank fine out of a pilsner glass, but a conical pint glass is recommended.

Would pair well with spicey food or an aggressively dressed salad.

Probably best on-draught.

B+

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 06:05:49 | More by kojevergas

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Before I even comment on the appearance of this beer, the aroma after opening the bottle was outstanding. Big tropical lush citrus with another note which jumped right to peppermint in my brain, but I can't really place aside from that association. Maybe some spicy and crisp. An IPA second only to masala mama in aroma. Appearance is average. Mildly cloudy orange color with a short white head that dissipates to a thin film. Very sparse lacing, almost none. Flavor is very tropical fruity as well. Lush and full, but does not quite live up to the world class aroma of this beer. There is a similar unique characteristic in the flavor which I cannot pinpoint, perhaps earthy, or maybe herbal, but not in an english way. Very balanced with a nice, but definitely not overwhelming, caramel quality. Mouthfeel is medium light and is lacking a bit of carbonation, but it is not so bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 03:37:19 | More by Agold

rawfish

California

4.65/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Agitated the bottle to stir up the yeast. Poured into a pint glass, smooth pour nets a small white one inch head over a slightly hazy gold orange body. Average retention and beautiful curtains of lacing.

Tropical fruit and citrus busting at the seams. Doesn't fill the room like some other IPAs but it's so exotic and inviting. Spicy and dry grains, floral grapefruit with mango, soft apricot and ripe papaya.

Malts leave a very indistinguishable profile, slightly bready and simple, hops are grapefruit, lemon pith with some pine backing and bright, a shift from the tropical and floral aroma but excellent. Finish is drying and a bit spicy from the rye.

Mouthfeel is perfect, medium-light body with adequate carbonation that is a smooth drink, just as smooth as Duet without any noticable alcohol. Finishes bone dry, and peppery with just a bit of stick.

Amazing IPA, aroma is only matched by the likes of Sculpin and Double Sunshine while the flavor is integrated well, a balance of hops and malt that's ideally drinkable. Alpine knocked it out of the park with this beer. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 23:09:27 | More by rawfish

sweemzander

Illinois

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

22oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint. Thanks to anacrime for the bottle!

(A)- Pours a hazed golden yellow color. Produced a great cap of white froth. Solid retention and plenty of lace left behind.

(S)- A nice burst of citrus up front: lemon, lime, grapefruit, and pineapple. Subtle pine behind the awesome citrus. Even has a light spicy zest in the far background.

(T)- Very nice. Similar to the smell. The same great burst of citrus, smooth and subtle caramel malt, and that same subtle zesty spice in the background.

(M)- A smooth/nice carbonation level. A great balance to it as well. Great citrus with a subtle balanced pine. Great malt balance too to make this quite harmonious.

(D)- Its been awhile since the IPA style has surprised or impressed me since the market is just flooded with them, but this one is quite excellent. A refreshing beer for a style that I have been bored with for awhile.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 22:12:53 | More by sweemzander

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle share in Hoboken, NJ.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden orange in color with some very light visible carbonation. This beer has a finger tall light beige head that reduces to a condensed thick cap over the entire surface of the beer. Significant lacing is observed.

S: What a great hop aroma - lots of citrus/grapefruit and tropical/pineapple. This is a heck of a wonderful smelling beer.

T: This has a really nice flavor, there is a bit of hop bitterness bite but it is not overpowering. I love the flavors from the hops, the tropical/pineapple and the citrus/grapefruit. There is a very light rye spice as well.

M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy.

O: This is a really great beer and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would like to have more than one of these at a sitting though I am not sure this is really sessionable. Definitely one I would like to have another time.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 00:11:53 | More by dbrauneis

nrbw23

Ohio

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

A- Pours a bright clear golden orange with a white head. Head has really good retention and leaves some nice lacing on the sides of the glass.

S- This beer smells great. A huge amount of tropical fruits. Hops are everywhere.

T- Taste follows the nose perfectly. Huage amounts of tropical fruits. A nice amount of bitterness. Just a tiny hint of bready malts and rye spice.

M- Medium in body and carbonation.

O- This is an outstanding brew. Seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 22:27:10 | More by nrbw23

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

jeonseh

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bottle, poured into my GI tulip

A - Apricot color with hints of lemon. Slightly cloudy with light carbonation trailing upward. Nice one finger head sits on top with nice lacing near the top

S - Very, citrusy nose. Nose is sweet orange juice, grapefruit, slight pine. Very fragrant nose

T - Taste at first is slight orange juice again. There is a nice kick of grapefruit that comes through next that gives the beer a bit of a bitter kick. Near the finish I get a slight pine hint. Overall, the beer has a nice malt backbone that helps balance the hops out well. It allows you to get a strong hop presence without becoming overpowering.

MF - Medium to light body. Good carbonation that leaves a slight tingle on the tongue. There is a nice malt stickiness that stays on the lips along with a nice, slight resin that lingers on the tongue

O - Overall, a good beer from Alpine. I liked the balance between the hops and the malt with this one that allows it to be tasty without being overpowering. However, while this was good, there was nothing overly great about it.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 04:03:17 | More by jeonseh

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4.48/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Half-finger white head, light golden-yellow color, good carbonation, okay lacing

S: Very appealing aroma, a lot going on here with the nice blend of hops and fruit smells, grapefruit and other citrus, pine

T: Sweet, some spice, pleasant hops then very nicely balanced with malts (specifically rye)

M: Very smooth, medium-bodied, good carbonation, appealing aftertaste

O: Very good IPA, extremely drinkable and tasty

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 05:56:26 | More by derkfromwi

PerHops

California

4.6/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Gorgeous light golden orange with a nice bright white head. A little bit soapy, but full bodied enough to stick all over the glass.

S- Now that's an IPA! Super fruity, a faint hint of pine, some herbacious goodness.

T- Pineapple, mango, orange, with a sweetness that asserts itself without overwhelming. Super hoppy, super fruity, clean semi dry finish. Outstanding.

M- No complaints here in the least. Just enough carbonation to hold up to the intensely fruity flavors.

O- Great IPA in every way imaginable. Really happy I got to try one of these a day removed from the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 01:51:43 | More by PerHops

brystmar

New York

4.33/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'll preface this by saying Single IPAs really aren't my thing.

Picked up a 2-day-old bottle at the brewpub, brought it home and shared with some friends last week (~5 days after bottling). Last bottle of Nelson shared with me was a few weeks old. For those of you wondering, lemme assure you there's a HUGE difference in IPAs when they are super fresh.

Incredible aroma of fresh, juicy oranges emanates from my glass. Hops not far behind, but this is orange central. The citrus fruits carry over strongly into the taste and really help balance out the hoppiness. By far the best Single IPA I've tasted to date, and arguably the first one I've ever enjoyed enough to want more.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 05:00:53 | More by brystmar

hansgruber

Indiana

4.08/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice hazy orange color with a one finger off-white head. Leaves a consistent cap of foam and nice lacing. Real nice looking beer overall.
The nose is full of citrusy hops and a touch of the rye used. Also getting some floral notes and an odd synthetic off flavor too.
Taste is full of floral, citrusy, and grapefruit flavors. The rye blends in nicely for some subtle spice notes. As in the nose there's a bit of an off flavor in there but it's minor. There's also a nice bitterness that lingers on the palate. The carbonation level is great as with any of the other Alpine beers I've drank.
Overall it's a solid easy to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 17:59:37 | More by hansgruber

jtingue

New York

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

Poured into a tulip.

Appearance. Very hazy golden orange in color. Pours with 3 fingers of tight white head, which descends beautifully forming meringue like peaks and tons of thick lacing.

Smell. A split between tropical fruit and hearty rye bread aromas.

Taste. Starts out with the bite of a bitter, bready rye malt flavor. Lots of citrus hops follow, with tangerine being predominant. A garlic like flavor develops, and is accompanied by the bitterness of the hops, but not the citrus flavor. The finish is slightly herbal and sees the return of those citrus hops. Herbal bitterness lingers.

Mouthfeel. Medium to heavy body and tight carbonation give this one a very creamy mouthfeel. Reminds me more of a double IPA than a single.

This one is very interesting, and different than what I expect out of california IPAs. The addition of rye seems to make this a completely different beast. Not sure how I feel about the metallic flavor in the beginning.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 23:38:42 | More by jtingue

gkatsoris

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Super murky! Honey in color. Big thick, foamy head. The head lasted forever.

S: Yellow Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juice. Unripened green grapes. Honey. Pineapple. Tangerine. Ginger.

T: Pretty malty considering the smell. Damn this is balanced. Grapefruit rind. Grassy.

M: Thick, fluffy and chewy. Yum!!!

O: This went down like butta. Crazy delicious!!!

Crazy props to aekoops for the gift!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 02:39:07 | More by gkatsoris

spicelab

Australia

4.68/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bomber with big thanks to BdubleEdubleRUN.

Mildly hazed light apricot with a very resilient white head and a vigorous bead. Eventually leaves a curtain of lace around the glass. Looks brilliant.

Smashed passionfruit, pulped grass, compost, kiwi fruit, white grapes, lime sherbet and apricot. Smells almost alive.

Similar flavours joined by a gentle and divine bitterness that doesn't intrude on the hop profile one iota.

Velevety mouthfeel, thanks to amazingly smooth carbonation and bitterness which, although moderate, is so unassuming you almost forget it's there.

Stunningly brewed IPA that demonstrates how making an outstanding beer is not about more, nor about less, but about zeroing in on that elusive 'just-rightness'.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 05:53:58 | More by spicelab

silentjay

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

hazy golden color with a nicely sized pure white head that sticks around a while and leaves tonnns of lacing.

grapefruit, tangy tropical fruit, mango, a bit of spice, light rye bread, crackers.

juicy hops. not terribly bitter, but tangy and a bit sour like unripe mango with some peppery spice and grapefruit. light rye bread is definitely noticeable balancing the nelson hops.

lighter side of medium bodied with a nice supple carbonation that finishes pretty crisp but with a slightly tangy and sweet aftertaste. pretty refreshing actually.

another good hoppy offering from Alpine. good, but it doesn't redefine the style for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 03:04:52 | More by silentjay

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared 22oz bomber obtained in trade from Vanlingleipa.

Cloudy, pale yellow liquid poured into DFH snifter. One-finger white head, thick lacing.

Aroma of sweet hops, lemon, orange and spice/pepper.

Smooth hoppy bitterness, mild spicy rye notes, grapefruit. All very subtle compared to Alpine's usual hop marvels. The pepper/spice rye lingers on the lips and tongue. Nice touch.

Medium body, well carbonated. Rye provides a bit more body.

This is a quality brew, for sure, but for the effort, I will take the more hop forward offerings from Alpine.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 21:40:26 | More by CaptCleveland

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Stone Ruination IPA pint.

A- Pours a cloudy gold with a 2 finger bright white head. Excellent lacing remains on the glass.

S- Citrus, floral hops, and some spices as well.

T- Some citrus (orange mainly) and pine. Has some spicy notes with slight peppery taste.

M- Medium body with lighter carbonation. Very smooth and easy drinking.

O- Good IPA but not getting that vibrant citrus notes that I saw from a few other reviews. Never read reviews before I do my own, but was told that this beer could be off so wanted to see what I should expect.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:51:09 | More by kawilliams81

Auracom

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Big thanks to John (pmarlowe) for sending this one a couple of thousand miles to me.

A - This is a homely old brew. Bizarre, dirty, murky golden coloring. Great looking head though - very much the same as Exponential Hoppiness. White and fluffy with solid retention and lacing.

S - Such a unique nose. Herbs, grass, rye, peppercorn, and other spices combine with a lightly fruity, juicy white wine hop profile.

T - Intriguing balance across light hop notes, more rye, soft bread, butter, white grapeskins, melon, more herbs, and honey-coated malts.

M - Medium-high carbonation. Somewhat creamy. Light-medium body. Dry finish.

D - Wonderfully creative. The balance the rye imparts with the distinct New Zealand hops makes this an easy standout for me. Reflecting on this brew a bit further, I realize that this is a pinnacle of differentiation in a style chock-full of generalized aromas and flavors. I've been drinking a ton of APA/IPA/DIPA's lately, and nothing has stood out as much as this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 15:29:44 | More by Auracom

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Hazy golden body with a huge froth monster of a head. Almost looks like a hefe.

Nose is spicy-sharp citrus. There's an almost vegetal spiciness contribution from the rye. Love it!

Flavor is a study in contrasts. Smooth up front, sharp on the finish. Light on the palate, but with solid rye and hops all over. Not quite as hoppy as I expected, but really a tasty brew.

Mouthfeel is light and highly carbonated. For impact on the palate, this drinks more like a blonde than an IPA.

Hard to believe this is 7.1% It's almost quaffable. Really a good brew.

My first from Alpine. Duet is in the fridge and Exponential Hoppiness is on the way! Thanks to nogidrew63 for the trade on this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 01:41:44 | More by ghostwalker

dogfishandi

New York

4.55/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

big thanks to LaChupacabra for sending me a box full of Alpine!

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

pours out a hazy, cloudy golden color, a little orange in there with a very nice looking pure white head with some big, solid bubbles that stick around. some good retention and lots of sticky lace clings to the glass. just a bit of sediment noticable. looks ideal.

holy aroma! packs a powerful dankness with lots of tropical fruits, oranges, and nectarines. vegetal, but in a good way, fresh pine as well.

am i nawing on a handful of fresh hop cones? lots of tropical fruits as well as fresh nectarines, peaches, and oranges. some spiciness most likely from the hops and rye. the dank vegetalness seems a lot more subdued in the taste when compared to the aroma. a bit of a white wine, berry like flavor, but its definatly not as noticable as some proclaim.

such a smooth feeling beer, the bitterness really isnt overpowering at all, almost has a creamy feel to it. minimal carbonation as well which i think actually compliments the beer.

this is really one hell of an IPA. very unique and an absolute must try for any hop head. insanely strong hop flavors with a very approachable bitterness. i hate to say this, but i think id even take this over pliny. i really cant wait to get into the rest of these alpine IPAs. the beer is gone, but my burps still taste like awesome nelson hops!

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 00:18:22 | More by dogfishandi

SkiBum22

New York

4.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours almost a golden orange. Slight haze to it. Thin white head.

S - Juicy, citrus hop bitterness, hints of pineapple and grapefruit rind. There is some spice from the rye as well.

T - Tropical fruits upfront with a hint of spice, rye and bready malts follow. Very unique flavors here, unlike any other IPA I've tasted to date.

M - Not quite a medium body. Lower carbonation.

O - This is the most unique IPA I've ever had. Really like the white wine characteristics from the Nelson Sauvin hops. Another solid IPA from ABC.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 00:36:39 | More by SkiBum22

tobelerone

New Jersey

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

App: Dark orange-gold and hazy, with a smallish, quickly settling head and lots of sticky lace clinging to the glass.

Smell: Big, fresh aroma of grapefruit and grass with a subtle, spicy rye note underneath.

Taste: Follows the nose, vivid citrus hoppiness, fresh-cut grass and pine, the rye is buried in there, just peaking its head out in the finish. Booze is nowhere to be found. Subdued bitterness underneath it all carries into the aftertaste a bit. Modest sweetness with a very reserved underlying malt character.

Mf: Medium body with moderate carbonation, crisp and clean, yet smooth and just a wee bit creamy. Long finish is spicy and bitter.

Overall: A truly phenomenal beer. Preferred it slightly on tap, with its lower carbonation and fuller mouthfeel, but you can’t lose with this one. As good as anything made in this style without a doubt. Had a hard time not guzzling this one down like a racehorse.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 18:57:24 | More by tobelerone

jegross2

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewing Nelson from the Alpine Beer Company.
Score: 93

Unknown vintage bottle received as part of a trade in early January 2012. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 01/31/12.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, translucent yellow-orange color with some cloudy and flaky sediment floating around. I was concerned that I was inadvertently using a dirty glass, but my roommate's freshly cleaned Duvel contained the same cloudy and flaky sediment. The sediment is really off-putting, but obviously it's the aroma, taste and mouthfeel that matter most in a beer. I think it's the floating "flakes" that is bothering me. This beer makes Heady Topper seem "clean" in appearance by comparison. Pours a full finger of slightly off-white sea foam head that slowly settles into a thin layer across the top of the glass. Excellent lacing with sticky sheets of head that cling to the side of the glass. 3.5/5

Smell: Loaded with vivid and fresh tropical citrus and floral aromas that leave me to believe this one uses Citra hops. Reminds me a lot of Zombie Dust. Bright grapefruit, orange juice, mango, pineapple juice and lemon rind. Some Mellow doses of pine and fresh grass clippings with a light maltiness in the background. 4.5/5

Taste: Sweet, slightly earthy citrus, bready malts and subtle amounts of rye/spice. The citrus is more pronounced upfront, while the finish is more malty than citrusy. Not very bitter. Very refreshing and drinkable. There is a light "white wine" grapiness throughout. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium, maybe medium-plus, carbonation. Carbonation level is perfect for the flavors. Creamy mouthfeel. Slightly dry, malty/acidic finish 4.5/5

Overall: This beer might be towards the end of its freshness life, as I received it roughly a month ago, but it is still extremely delicious. I would love to see how this one tastes right off the bottling line. This is an excellent single IPA that I wish I had easy/ready/consistent access too.

Recommendation: Fans of Zombie Dusty, Heady Topper, Lagunitas Sucks, Anti-Hero IPA and Surly Abrasive Ale should seek this beer out.

Pairings: Sherbet ice cream or hamburgers.

Cost: $7.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 06:48:54 | More by jegross2