Nelson - Alpine Beer Company

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Adam, 650ml into a snifter.

Clear golden orange with minimal head and almost no lacing. Nose has a really bright citrus quality, Nelson Sauvin is obviously prominent, tangerine, mango and perhaps a bit of white wine character I've always heard to be characteristic of the hop. A kiss of rye spice. Taste has more vibrant citrus qualities, mango, white wine, and again only a wee bit of rye, but just enough to be identifiable. Light body, lower medium carbonation and dries out super quick once the hops have made their appearance. An awesome Rye IPA - had this next to a FFF Rye'd the Lightning - two completely different rye beers, but each awesome in their own regard.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 15:46:57 | More by liamt07

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-golden orange with a white head. Good retention with considerable lacing.

S- Smells like an IPA... sort of.... The white-wine styled New Zealand hops are quite pronounced... and intriguing....

T- IPA-like, but quite funky at the same time....

M- Medium in body and carbonation.

O- Intriguing. Daring.... Not your typical IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:49:02 | More by UpToMeBeer

Duff27

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thins white head on a clear dark golden. Spotty lacing, good head retention.

Fresh bright hops. Tad of the rye.

Citrus noticed on nose isnt as prevalent on tongue. Rye spice on the back end but not overpowering in the least. Pretty easy drinkin, would guess around 6.5%abv

Good carbonation point, medium to medium thin mouthfeel.

Just a tinge different from most IPAs to set it apart. The rye aspect had me craving another sip repeatedly. Thanks kawilliams82!

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 22:22:09 | More by Duff27

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.23/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – Pours a hazy golden orange color with a little sediment. A nice head and minimal lacing.

Smell – Smells kind of citrusy, primarily grapefruit with a hint of lime. Also, a very nice pine scent that blends well with the citrus.

Taste – Taste is very similar to the smell, although the pine is a little stronger. Not terribly hoppy for an IPA, which is ok.

Mouthfeel – Nice carbonation, slightly creamy, with kind of a nice peppery aftertaste.

Drinkability – I find this very drinkable, as the hops doesn’t overpower. Maybe a bit too much grapefruit for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 05:04:47 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

Deliciously rounded and profoundly unique with malt flavors of caramel and butterscotch balanced with citrus and winy notes- Nelson delivers the familiar wash of IPA flavors, but with a unique twist here and there to create intrigue and identity.

Pouring a firm orange camel color, the beer carries the standard hoppy hazy that allows only a mild glow to penetrate. Very well headed with a creamy egg shell white foam cap, the beer's froth retains remarkably and laces the glass with left over traces of foam. It's a sturdy looking beer.

Rich and zesty aromas seem to alternate from malty caramel in one whiff, but orange marmalade the next. Notes of herbs, grapes, citrus, and tropical fruits continue to emphasize the fruity-hop dominance of the ale.

Flavors are full of caramel, butterscotch, honey, and crisp grain as the barley makes a moderate impact on flavor. But what makes it's mark is the hops. Starting citrusy with the taste of grapefruit, freshly zested oranges, and a light mango flavor; the beer also weaves in the slightly woody flavors of white wine, juniper-gin, and sassafras for a truly unique counterpart to the ordinary citrusy-resiny hops. But the resin quality comes into play in finish with a decidedly bitter finish of drying hops, alcohol warmth, and light mint.

Medium bodied, the beer's early creaminess is quickly sheds, in favor of fleeting caramel malts, high hop bitterness, mild grassy astringency, and sappy closure. Only a linger of grapefruit bitterness reminds me of how dry the beer is and encourages a quick visit to the glass, much sooner than it should.

Although the beer has a lot of classic and intelligent characteristics that set it apart, the mild buttery taste gives the hoppy ale a rounded and rich taste while the winy hops give extra acidity with a somewhat twiggy taste. Likely considered flaws to some, the moderate tones of these properties give the beer more intrigue and seduction than they do deterrents.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 06:24:15 | More by BEERchitect

sukwonee

Washington

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

A: Orange with 1 finger head with LOTS of lacing on the side of the glass. Cloudy body

S: I LOVE IPAs that smell like this. Reminds me of Zombie Dust. Grapefruit, not much pine in the nose, orange, peach, very fruity.

T: Grapefruit and peach. Not much piney bitterness until the very end and it's not too overpowering. I would says this is only slightly bitter but definitely more hop forward and dominent. The bottle says that it has some rye in this - I can't really tell. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Refreshing and fruity.

M: Crispy, light to medium body, near perfect!

O: I love this beer. My favorite Alpine IPA to date. I really like the hops used in this beer. Highly recommended. Perfect for summer!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 23:51:09 | More by sukwonee

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from a bomber into a Firestone Walker tulip. Pours a very pale shade of gold with a solid two finger head. Smell on this is citrusy with a tad bit of onion. Otherwise it's a pretty crisp scent. The taste is similar. Citrus foreground with a fade into onion. I typically don't like that quality even a little, but the citrus helps out tremendously. The finish is clean and crisp. Minimal bitterness or aftertaste of any variety. Overall, another solid Alpine IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 01:09:24 | More by Retail1LO

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