Nelson - Alpine Beer Company

UnknownKoger

California

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

Very excited to try this. Poured from bottle into my Sierra Nevada pint glass. Smell is amazing. Strong, piney, grapefruity hop notes. In the background there is a lot of malt sweetness. Color is pale straw. Head quickly dissipates to a thin head. The taste is really interesting and unique. There's the sweetness but also a bit of grassiness in the hop notes. The rye really contributes to the unique flavor. Mouthfeel is medium bodied.

Overall it's very delightful. I would definitely buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 00:33:53 | More by UnknownKoger

Drazzamatazz

Maine

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

Another share with Brez07, another borrowing of review.

A: Slightly cloudy brownish orange. 1 finger fluffy white head upon initial pour. Decent lined lacing

S: Grapefruit. Pure, unadulterated grapefruit. A little bit of bready rye comes out as well. After allowing it to open, the grapefruit begins to fade and you get more rye

T: Grapefruit, but not as prevalent as the nose. Other citrus flavors, including orange and mango. Weird, but it almost tastes a little watered down. Just a little bit of hop bitterness

M: Medium bodied. Lighter carbonation, so overall a smooth beer. Light pine bitter aftertaste

D: When first cracked open, it smelled amazing. While it didn't live up to my lofty initial expectations, it was definitely a solid IPA. I would drink this beer often if it was available in my area. [Grapefruit reminded me at first of fresh Finestkind, but then I got more of the juicy fruit character you get from Nelson Sauvin . Rye also added a little something extra to set it apart from most other IPA's.]

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 19:53:10 | More by Drazzamatazz

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into my Chicago Bears pint glass. Once again, huge thanks to Brett!

A - Pours a golden yellow, with just the slightest hint of orange, and also with two fingers worth of pale white head. Retention is very nice once again, with half a finger's worth of head lasting throughout the experience.

S - Smells of fresh grapefruit, mixed with citrusy hops. There is an almost cider like quality in the nose that reminds me of Half Acre's Galactic Double Daisy Cutter, which makes sense as the main hop used in both beers is from the same part of the world. Really a perfectly balanced nose.

T - Follows well from the nose, but with more funk emanating from the hop profile than the nose would suggest. Definitely an interesting beer, as the hop funk dominates the mouth, with the citrus proving to be more of a background element than the balancing force it seemed to be in the nose. The cider-like quality to this beer is in full effect in the mouth, a perfect companion for this cold fall evening. As I swish it around in my mouth, the grapefruit and citrus comes through more, providing the balance present in the nose. When I do this, the taste is simply astounding! It's strange that it requires me sloshing this around a bit for the flavors to come together, and for that I'm docking it half a point.

M - The beer is very pleasant on the tongue, with a perfect amount of carbonation and absolutely zero alcohol burn, despite the slightly higher alcohol content for the style.

O - Overall a very well done beer. One I would definitely drink regularly if I had access to it!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 02:41:48 | More by MarkIntihar

Dijeriduster

California

4.85/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this as fresh as they come straight from the brewery. Growler fills are cheap here so I always get a few.

A - Light, slightly hazy golden colour. Very district luster - shimmery and clean vs. super hazy and amber in some IPAs

S - Amazing citrus notes. Grapefruit dominates the palate, actually a sweet smelling beer with only a hint of hoppy bitterness.

T - Again superb - grapefruit notes are just overflowing with this fresh Nelson. This comes from the Nelson hops a la New Zealand... Some malt notes, but pretty much only enough to support the massive hop profile.

M - Quite nice and drinkable. Thinner then some might like - Alpine IPA's usually are, but supports this sweeter IPA very well.

D - High. This is a stunner with the Nelson hops. Never had a bottle but I imagine it'd be almost as good as the fresh growler I got. Look for this and be suprised!

Serving type: growler

12-02-2009 21:34:27 | More by Dijeriduster

Allpe45

Arizona

4.47/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz, no freshness date
purchased at the brewery less than 2 weeks ago
poured into a nonic

Appears bright golden orange, great clarity, easy to see the carbonation. Short fluffy yellowish white head, about 1 finger, good retention and a thick layer of sticky lacing.

Smells like fresh grapefruit, citrus rind, pine and a hint of what must be rye.

Tastes incredibly balanced. Grapefruit up front, malt and rye sweetness followed by a tropical and piney hop finish. Full of hop flavor, moderate bitterness.

Smooth. Medium bodied, low carbonation that is slightly active in the mouth. Lingering bitterness that makes me want to take sips faster.

I should have bought more.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 01:37:18 | More by Allpe45

awalk1227

Georgia

4.8/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Consumed 10/25/10 Sent by Rock4sc96 thanks Chris!

Poured into an Alchemist Brewery pint glass.
I've been extremely excited to try this beer; not only have I heard good things about the Nelson Sauvin hops, but I have sought out Alpine's highly regarded IPAs for some time.

A: Pours a hazy sunshine yellow with a thick white head. Dissipates fairly quickly but leaves a white collar.

S: Perfect, perfect, perfect! Oh lord, I could smell this beer as I was pouring it. I can smell it right now, as it sits to my left while I type this. HUGE aromatic hops, citrus, tropical fruits, mango, pineapple, delicious.

T: Oh lord, this has RYE in it too? One of my favorite beers is Terrapin's Rye Pale ale, along with Founders Red Rye and Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye. I love hoppy Rye IPAs, and this is now up in the big leagues with them. Delicious creamy malt starts it off, then a blend of spice from the rye and citrus blast from fresh hops finishes.

F: If you've read my other reviews, you know how I like my IPA mouthfeel. This is perfect. Prickle from the carbonation, but a smooth creaminess that denotes a fine balance.

D: No alcohol detected, and such a complex IPA you want more. A lot more. I love it.

Alpine, you've wowed me once again. I will seek you out soon.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 03:41:55 | More by awalk1227

uturn

Florida

4.3/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22 oz bomber poured into a Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery pint glass.

A: This beer poured a nice rich golden amber with a 1 finger white head.

S: As soon as you open up this bottle you get a whiff of citrus which keeps improving as it is poured into the glass.

T: As you taste this IPA you get a nice mildly bitter grapefruit taste followed by some mild sweetness from the rye which really balances this brew.

M: The Mouthfeel is light with mild carbonation.

D: The drinkability was exceptional. This is a great everyday brew, especially on hot Florida days/nights and for pairing with spicy foods.

If you are looking for something with a bit more of a hop kick you should try out Alpines "other" hoppy brews, such as Double (Imperial) I.P.A Pure Hoppiness or if you dare their Triple IPA Exponential Hoppiness

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 19:42:18 | More by uturn

Centennial

Pennsylvania

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

22oz. poured into pint glass

A. hazy honey yellow, 2 finger head with excellent retention. A lot of sandy-like sediment floating around leads to a opaque appearance.

S. Bready Rye, lemon zest, pine and tangerine

T. Bitter pine hits first and then followed by rye and a spicy finish.

M. Crisp and clean but with a nice body, slightly grittiness come intermittently as you drink this, but still smooth.

O. I really enjoy this, I feel as if this bottle is slightly off from normal though and missing some of its "pop" will re-review shortly.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 02:08:33 | More by Centennial

fox227

California

4.85/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Hazy golden color with a small head and nice lacing.

S: Lots of goodness going on here. Lemon and stone fruit are present. I smelled the rye before I even poured this into my glass. You know that you're in for something good when you can get the aroma before you even pour!

T: A very complex IPA. The taste follows the nose very much as I get lemon, peach, rye, a bit of yeast, and the nelson hops come in at the end and lends a bitter balance.

M: Good carbonation, but not too much. The hops linger on the tongue, but not for long. This beer goes down very easy.

Overall I must say that beers wins out massively in every category that matters to me. Nelson is not a hop-bomb IPA, but a delicately complex and deliciously balanced one. Seek this one out.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 21:04:15 | More by fox227

LSUPT

California

4.33/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to DeathVader, 22oz bomber to Stone IPA glass.
Pours a deep straw yellow with a great 3-inch white head. Leaves tons of thick lacing that dissipates gradually over the course of the drink but I prefer a bit darker IPA with better clarity.

Smell is amazing, not strong, but the grapefruit, pineapple and orange scents are divine.

White wine characteristics are noticeable, juicy, juicy hops, some pine, lots of grapefruit, similar to Sculpin but with, in my opinion, a greater complexity of flavor and Nelson Sauvin hop bitterness is really great.

Carbonation is pretty low, and the almost creamy mouthfeel is a bit weird for me for an IPA.

Overall, this is a very good IPA with the mouthfeel the only drawback for me, but I would love to be able to drink this beer more often.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 04:46:30 | More by LSUPT

BeerThursdays

Delaware

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

A - Poured from the bottle into a Smuttynose snifter, this is burnt orange with a two finger white head. Very nice, clean looking beer.

S - Piney hops, some sweetness. Lemon and grapefruit.

T - Out of this world. One of the best. Sweet and juicy hops, decent malty backbone, but not over powering. Bitterness on the tongue.

M - Good feel, just what you would expect. Not over carbed, no alcohol. Excellent.

O - Great beer. Pretty easy to get in a trade, so it ranks very highly. Love the taste, look and smell of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 23:19:41 | More by BeerThursdays

Telix

Michigan

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

Poured from the bottle into a Sam Adams sensory glass.

A: Pours super fizzy with a 2" fluffy cloudlike head. It's nearly sparkling with tons of carbonation streaming from the nucleation points. The color is a wheaty yellow color, and it's almost clear, but not quite.

S: Nice big aroma - citrus, slightly spicy, rye malts, grapes - it's sweet and slightly tart. Unique.

T: Tangy! It's almost champagne like in texture, with big sparkling fizzyness on the tongue that lends bitterness and a dry finish. The tart grape flavors mesh with the rye to make a unique, unexpected beer. I detected a subtle frutiness and a roasted chocolate note, but there can't possibly be any roasted malt in there. Full of flavor, unique, crisp, tart - this would be great in the summer or with food. It's really more like a saison than an IPA.

M: Sparkling champagne-like, fizzy on the tongue with huge carbonation levels. As the carbonation dies down a little and the beer warms up, the mouthfeel calms down into more normal territory. Refreshing, clean finishing.

D: I was surprised by this beer, as it really wasn't I expected. Instead of a rye IPA this was more like a saison, with huge carbonation and a lot of tartness. I'd love to have this again with some pork.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 01:26:32 | More by Telix

rmalinowski4

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a Mikasa tulip from a 22oz bomber.

Pours a clear straw color with two fingers of fluffy white head that sticks around for awhile and leaves tons of lacing. Very aggressive pour. You can see lots of tiny bubbles dancing up the glass to the nice crown that seems to be sticking around.

Smell is citrus, tangerine and pineapple, with some earthy pine in the background. The smell is somewhat faint and you really have to work to pick up the different components. Smells nice but should be stronger.

The smell is the opposite of the taste, lots of earthy pine upfront with some faint citrus grapefruit and pineapple in the background. The finish is of more bitter pine and earthiness. Was hoping for more citrus, but still not bad. I just expected a different flavor from the nose.

The mouthfeel is thin but not watery, and the carbonation is lively. It is easy to drink and pretty refreshing.

Overall this is not a bad beer, but it not great either. Expected more citrus than what was delivered. I would drink it again and reccommend that others try it as well. Slightly above average.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 23:59:42 | More by rmalinowski4

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

GradyS1

California

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

A- a light golden color with a one finger head, the color is almost a light yellowish green
S-light hops, small malts, almost a smell of fresh cut grass, smells fresh
T- Very nice, an awsome balance of hops and rye the mix perfectly
M- Nice carbonation and a slight sweetness
D- Great beer, I could have glass after glass of these

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 06:53:29 | More by GradyS1

charliedvrs

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light golden amber with two fingers of fluffy white head, sticky lacing all the way down the glass. The aroma and taste are both full to the brim of white grapes, giving it a flavor similar to white wine. Sharp hop blasts of grapefruit, musky wet grass and herbal notes, backed by a slight spiciness I assume is from the rye, which complements the hop profile perfectly. Also getting a bit of that catty, onion flavor I'd normally associate with simcoe, though in a much more subtle way. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a low to medium carbonation and slightly dry, finish. Fresh, slightly acidic citrus notes linger on your tongue for longer than you can wait to take another sip.

Really a beautiful beer. Sometimes I feel I've reached a point where even the best Double IPAs taste repetitious. This one was refreshing - in more ways than one.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2011 02:29:35 | More by charliedvrs

slentz

Pennsylvania

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

Thanks to Brett for this bottle in our recent trade. Served at 50 degrees. Split into two tulips.

A: Easy pour leads to about a fingers worth of nice white head. Really nice lacing here with a couple floaties but seems like that is just the yeast. Nice golden straw color...looks really nice. 4.5

S: Smell is awesome. Really nice hops and fresh fruit, little bit of grass but lots and lots of grapefruit and citrus. This beer smells super delicious. 5.0

T: Really enjoying this beer, tastes awesome. Lots of super fresh hops with really nice bitterness. Just the perfect amount of sweetness. 4.5

M: Mouthfeel is very nice carbonation is spot on and this beer leaves a really nice hop resin throughout. 4.5

O: Overall I really really like this beer. Tons of super fresh hops and great smell. Alpine hit a home run with this beer. Really glad I got to try this one and will be looking for more at any chance. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 02:22:44 | More by slentz

eyncognito

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle received in a trade from HopHead84, thanks Shane. I've been wanting some Alpine for some time now.

Pours a bright gold, hazy with a white head and good retention. Spotty lacing. An incredibly attractive pour. Aroma is a strange mixture of rye and hops. Citrus-orange and grapefruit dominates with notes of spicy rye, along with a strange piss smell that toes the line, not offensive, but it mingles with a dank weedyness.

Taste improves upon the nose. Citrus-orange and lime, tropical fruits-mostly unripe pineapple, along with some floral notes, the rye seems more subdued here, malt is toasty. Incredibly clean and dry finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, medium bodied with ample carbonation.

Drinkability is pretty high. Worth seeking out. Alpine's reputation seems deserved as a first rate brewery of hop-forward beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2010 21:57:03 | More by eyncognito

Dspohn

California

4.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes. Purchased back in 2010 from a recent shipment which had arrived at Hollingshead Deli in Orange so I could confirm it was nice and fresh, and it did not disappoint.

This beer currently edges out the competition for my favorite IPA to date. A great looking golden beer with a bit of haze and solid white head that left a bunch of sticky lacing.

Explosive hop freshness, honestly it has an aroma and flavor profile that I find to be completely unique in the world of IPAs. A crazy combination of super juicy tropical fruit hops with a delicious spicy edge and just enough malt for support to balance things out. Ideal bitterness for my personal tastes. Something about it reminds me of the first Blind Pig I ever had which is the only other beer that I recall having this particular sort of zesty sweet and bitter fruit quality that I have trouble describing. Unfortunately the blind pigs I've had since haven't really had this character for some reason.

Any way you look at it, this beer has an outstandingly good hop profile that just perfectly fits my palate. I'm confident I could identify this beer correctly out of a line up of 10 top IPAs everytime. Alpine makes some damn fine IPAs and this one's my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 05:17:05 | More by Dspohn

OTB

California

5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picked up a couple cases of various IPA 's at Alpine on Friday including a bunch of Nelson. This beer is a golden with a beautiful dense one inch cap that has amazing retention and leaves behind serious lacing as I sip down. The nose, like all Alpine brews is a work of art. Sweet tropical fruit, Nelson Sauvign hops and malty biscuit round out the package. The flavor profile follows the nose down the road, gorgeous rye, pine, sweet dank hoppiness all balanced by a minimal malt backbone. I cannot say enough about the uniqueness of this work of art, it is simply one of the best IPA's I have ever had, and Alpine may be the little giant that continues to craft ultra uber cult status beers according to their own rules.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 23:08:54 | More by OTB

Intelligentsia

California

4.15/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22-oz. bottle. My first thought was that this is clearly a rye beer. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill IPA, it's more complex and definitely quite challenging. Ultimately I liked it a lot.

Amber color with some marvelous lacing that stuck the entire time I drank from the glass. Not a whole lot of head here, but some nice soap bubbles.The lacing is really impressive, however.

The aroma wasn't extravagant, and to be honest a bit disappointing. Mostly tropical fruit, but it didn't make me want to jump into it like many other IPAs have done. Better than your average beer, but not by much.

Taste was dominated by the Nelson hops. Very, very unusual. Not what I would expect from a San Diego IPA, but I definitely savored the flavor. Where else can one find Nelson hops? Tropical fruit on the finish, nice malt backbone to it as well.

Not much carbonation and a fairly average weight make it very drinkable. The 7% doesn't hurt, either. Hidden well.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 07:21:19 | More by Intelligentsia

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

brydeen

Minnesota

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

poured from a 22oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Pours a slightly murky, golden color, with a creamy thin white head. Dissipates slowly, but clings to the glass the whole way.

S: A tropical yet earthy aroma. Not a punch you in the face aroma like many of my favorite IPAs, but very pleasant. Grapefruit and mango up front, with a dank spiciness behind it.

T: A light sweetness right off the bat, but finishes with a spicy bite of the rye. Really quite smooth and subtle. Not overly bitter with hops.

M: Very light carbonation and a surprisingly creamy texture.

O: Really solidly balanced beer. The flavor and aroma are subtle but delicious. Always a favorite of mine.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 23:59:30 | More by brydeen

Anaz

California

4.65/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into a Bruery Tulip

A: Wow, beautiful gold color. The bottle says golden IPA, and it lives up to the description. Big, fine white head, dissapates fast, and leaves lacing down the glass like I've rarely seen. Faint haze.

S: Juicy, tropical, floral, faintly grapey...instantly got my mouth watering in anticipation. A winey/Sauvignon Blanc aroma opens up along with tangerine and candied lemon zest. It's really too much for words. The best aroma from an IPA I've experienced yet.

T:The flavor nearly lives up to the aroma. Loads of guava, cherimoya, spicy honey, citrus. Hop bliss in a glass, with a clean bitterness and just enough malty sweetness to leave a pleasant counter to the lingering hop bitterness. This beer tastes almost as good as it smell, and finishes almost too cleanly. The rye comes through more as it warms, and the sweetness comes to the fore on the finish, so it's best to drink this one before it gets too warm, but it's so good, it's a shame to drink it too fast.

M: Medium-light body, faint carbonation, I would like it a bit higher. There's a slight oily feel, which I kind of expect from a beer with this much hop presence.

O-This is an utterly fantastic beer, and as stoked as I was to have found it, I was still blown away. My only real complaint is that I know I won't find it next time I look for it, and the drive down south will surely become more and more tempting as time goes by. If I was able to drink it on a more regular basis it would be fast favorite.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 05:48:57 | More by Anaz

gthornton

California

4.47/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of my favorite IPAs out there. A creamy haystack yellow with a thick head that recedes shortly leaving a beautiful lacing that covers the whole glass.

The Nelson hops smell outstanding here. Up front, with a mild citrus and dare I say roasted Marshmallow and very subtle hazelnut. The flavor follows very closely along these aromas, and finishes cleanly with a lingering of fresh rye/whole grain bread.

Very drinkable, and an overall pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2010 08:51:38 | More by gthornton