Bad Boy - Alpine Beer Company

oline73

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler into a goblet.

Appearance: The beer pours a beautiful clear amber color with a half finger of off white head. The head fades to a ring around the pour and leaves some mild lacing on the glass.

Smell: The hops aren't overpowering, but they're very nice. I'm getting some citrus peel and pine notes along with a rather pronounced sweetness from the malt. I'm also getting some citrus fruit notes along with the hops.

Taste: The hops are the star, but it's not one of those DIPAs that completely crushes your taste buds. A good amount of malt sweetness backs up the hops rather nicely. The hop bitterness contains some grapefruit rind notes along with some pine needles. The finish is quite bitter, but the malt still shows up.

Mouthfeel: The body of this one is just on the syrupy side of medium with smooth, tingly carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Overall: This is a very good DIPA, but I feel it's a step below some of the big boys. I would drink this all day if it were easily available to me, but I don't know that I'd trade for another growler given the risk involved.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2012 02:31:59 | More by oline73

Enish266

California

4.38/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a day-old growler picked up from Alpine myself.

A - pours a very light copper/amber with a 1/4" milky-white head on an average pour

S - dank and piney in the very best way. A touch of grapefruit and pineapple sweet mixed in for good measure.

T - slippery on the tongue leading into a bitter bite. Grass and resin coat the tongue all the way down the throat. Dry, bitter finish that lingers on the palate for a few seconds after swallowing. Leaves just enough piney goodness to warrant more tastes.

M - very clean with medium-low carbonation (I think I prefer it with a touch more carb like the times I've had it on draft).

O - one of my favorite IPAs period. Hop profile is very distinctive to me and I always try to get a taste every time a new batch is available.

Serving type: growler

09-03-2012 08:10:00 | More by Enish266

rawfish

California

4.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hour old growler pours tangerine and gold into the glass. Neat one inch high head of white froth with good retention. Average lacing, spotty for an IPA.

Pungent and floral. Room filling aroma, rich with tropical fruit, deep citrus tones, and an oily and resinous undertone. Absolutely fabulous, ready to dive right in.

Honey and bready malt quickly give way to intense hop oils and a resinous hop flavor that is pure and flows over the palate with a sneaky and lasting bitterness. Quite a transition from the nose. Alcohol well hidden.

Smooth, but quite a thick and viscous body. Carbonation is adequate. Shot through almost the entire glass in no time.

It's like Alpine took Ballast Point Sculpin and Stone's Ruination, shotgun married 'em and then stole the couple's first born child, put him on steroids and raised a Bad Boy indeed. Perfect aroma, well hidden ABV, thick and resinous hop profile. Well crafted offering from Alpine, a must try for any hop head.

Serving type: growler

09-01-2012 00:23:26 | More by rawfish

OTB

California

4.7/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Fresh growler from Alpine. Poured a beautiful tangerine orange with a nice white dense cap that left thick curtains of lace on my glass as I drank down. Nose is dank, hoppy, sweet and floral, magnificent on all counts. The flavor profile is extracted orange peel oils, pine, bitter lemon pith and huge hop oils. The mouth is clean, crisp, refreshing and very balanced for the rather high abv. It finishes clean and refreshing, leaving bitter orange peel and pine sap that linger for a good half minute. Excellent DIPA from Alpine.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2012 21:25:26 | More by OTB

evilc

California

4.9/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is bar none the best IPA Alpine makes. It was a tossup for me between it and Exponential Hoppiness for awhile but the latest batch ( Week of August 27, 2012 ) turned the tide.

A: Beautiful golden appearance, copper in lower light. Crystal clear. Large 3 finger, fluffy head on a normal pour.

S: Pungeant hop aroma with a differing character from most WC IPAs - probably due to the British malts?

T: The ultimate IPA. Perfectly clean, malt/hop balance in perfection, dry finish. 9% that you can literally down a growler in an hour if you don't watch it. So damn good and smooth.

M: Resinous, syrupy, oily perfection.

I wish Alpine would switch Pure Hoppiness and this beer around. Bottle Bad Boy year round and make PH from time to time.

Serving type: growler

08-31-2012 17:36:06 | More by evilc

iadler

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to hamilton23 for this growler. Very much appreciated sir! From notes:

A- Pours a bright gold with a one finger head that leaves adequate lacing.

S- Pungent peach and mango with some pineapple, pine needles, floral hops and a touch of caramel malt. Reminds me of fresh Dreadnaught.

T- Again plenty of peach and mango with pine needles, floral notes, caramel, grapefruit and some fresh herbs including rosemary.

M- Medium carbonation and body that finishes pretty dry. ABV is hidden very well.

O- Once again, Alpine makes a kick ass DIPA. No sign of the abv, which makes it dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: growler

07-08-2012 20:55:43 | More by iadler

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the FW invitational. Came out a slightly darker, light brown dark orange pour compared to their many other excellent hoppy beers. Somehow the head and lacing were pretty damn impressive here. Aroma, usual mix of simcoe and amarillo I would suspect, but since its Alpine, it has that extra deliciousness going for it. Enjoyable musty light onion and sweetgrass almost makes me think about sauvin and summit hops.

Big hop flavor, pine resin, herb resin, light fruit, warming alcohol nowhere near as strong as 9% usually tastes. Good bitterness, not grating, but not nonexistant green lushness either. Best of both worlds. Super dry finish and mouthfeel like all of Alpine's hoppy beers.

There's nothing really to set this apart, for better or worse, from Alpine's big lineup of ipas. Which means its awesome just like the rest of them.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2012 16:37:32 | More by Beerandraiderfan

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Alpine pub. Poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a bright golden color, topped with an inch of creamy off-white head, great retention, lots of spotty lacing.

S- Very complex hop aroma, lots of dank, earthy hops as well as juicy citrus and pine resin. Nice balance from a sweet malt aroma.

T- Follows the nose with loads of citrus and pine resin, powerfully bitter, also some dank flavors. Bready, chewy malt lends some balancing sweetness, finishes with a leafy bitterness.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel with a dry finish.

O- A pretty excellent DIPA, awesome hop flavor, very drinkable, I'd probably put this on par with Pure Hoppiness, this is some great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 06:28:00 | More by WillCarrera

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big Thanks to Patrick for sharing this growler.

Tons of sticky lace, dull finish and gold in color.

Aroma was fantastic. Juicy/resinous pine with some tropical fruit just below the surface. Thick and almost dank. (good dank) You can sense a higher ABV in the nose.

Dried Mango and a very interesting malt flavor. Big malt back bone here. Really juicy and just shy of sticky. It started off as interesting to me and it really grew on me as I worked through my glass. I swear I tasted almond for a moment. Just a really interesting and complex flavor. Again, the abv was present.

Fairly bold and big. Made you think sticky….

Alpine strikes again. Many thanks for the share. Excellent beer

Serving type: growler

06-17-2012 14:15:01 | More by Reagan1984

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from growler into a Half Acre tulip. Thanks evilc for the hook up!

A- pours a bright dark, golden color with a 2" off-white head. Strands and waves of lacing stick to the glass.

S- huge citrus aromas, grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple. Sweet caramel some spicy, pine.

T- Semi-sweet caramel with citrus. The citrus does not stand out as much as it does in the nose. Bitter grapefruit and orange with some citrus rind and pine bitterness.

M- medium body and carbonation. Has a slight dryness at the finish.

O- very good dipa. If this beer had more citrus flavor like the nose, and a little oily/syrupy mouthfeel it would be near perfect.

Serving type: growler

06-11-2012 01:10:19 | More by kawilliams81

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler shared by mdfb79. Thanks Dan. Review from notes.

The beer is golden and clear with nearly an inch of white head. The aroma consists of hops, citrus, pine. A tad sweet, with hops leading the way. Nice blend of citrus and pine flavors. Very little malt profile. I don't think this is nearly as good as Nelson or Hoppy Birthday, which are some of the best beers on the planet, in my opinion. That said, this is another delicious IPA from Alpine. I would love to try this on draft from the source.

Serving type: growler

06-07-2012 04:28:34 | More by Huhzubendah

Phelps

Arizona

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

Poured from a growler shared by ejyoung, into a tulip.

Deep gold, like bullion. A little caramel as well, but the drink exhibits perfect clarity. One inch of head is white and fluffy as a cloud. It descends slowly, leaving sticky trails of bubbles.

In the nose: orange peel, dankness, honey, caramel, a little basil. It’s actually so dank as to be almost funky.

The flavor gets much maltier, with a nice sweetness to boot. Lots of caramel and burnt sugar with dank, sticky hops. Grass, a little alcohol, and very lightly toasted biscuits swirl in the finish.

Soft, medium body. Moderate carbonation breaks the beer into a little fizz. Mild bitterness, balanced with aplomb by the malt.

Good boy, Bad Boy. It’s got incredible balance, with a big malt presence to balance them crazy dank hops, and is very drinkable for its strength. A fabulous IPA.

Serving type: growler

04-06-2012 22:59:06 | More by Phelps

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 64oz Alpine growler to Portsmouth glass on 3/10/12
*From notes

-- Many thanks, Bill --

A: Clean and clear 24k gold. A carefule pour yields a .75 finger head. As it fades, a healthy white collar rims the glass.

S: Phenomenal. Juicy to the max, the fruit here is out of bounds.

T: Bitter melon, pink grapefruit and juicy hops dominate from the get-go. It's not overly bitter mind you, merely a perfect balance of hop oil and on the finish, a touch of golden malt. God damn this is good.

M: From a growler shipped from the opposite end of the country, this has held up incredibly well. The density keeps the massive flavors in check, and carries the beer to greater heights then you'd expect for a Double IPA.

O: Reach high and grab that bottle of Bad Boy off the top shelf. Seriously - this is pretty incredible and maddeningly drinkable. My hats off to another Alpine winner, a brewery I hold close to my heart.

Epically recommended.

Serving type: growler

03-19-2012 21:23:31 | More by Rhettroactive

billab914

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a growler into my Devil's Backbone glass. It poured crystal clear and bright orange amber in color. A thin, sticky white head barely covered the top.

The aroma is bright and juicy with some really great tropical fruit notes to it. I get lots of pineapple and peach to it with a little bitter citrus rind and grapefruit. Some sweeter candied fruits come through as well and really compliment it well.

The taste shows a little more citrus rind and grapefruit bitterness mixing with a sweeter, candied orange and pineapple flavor. Some juicy, peach notes come out in it as well with some of the grapefruit bitterness lingering into the finish. I love the candied fruits that come out in it. It was very juicy and fruity but also felt relatively balanced and drinkable as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation being moderate. It feels light and easy drinking for the style. Great beer overall, it was so juicy, fresh and easy drinking as well. I loved the sweeter, candied like fruits to it .

Serving type: growler

03-13-2012 17:08:52 | More by billab914

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

As with other Alpine beers, this one looks great. I tad murky, but the burnt orange/rusty body is topped with a fluffy, sticky white head.

Strong aroma, mostly grass, pine and resinous. A hint of citrus zest.

yeah, more pine, grass and resin with the flavors. I like it as a contrast with ExpHop, which I thought was more citrus forward. This beer has hops, for sure. Malt? Not for sure. Joking...but the malt gives a very subtle hint of a backbone with some caramel. That's about all for the malt.

Nice bite to it. It digs in. The resinous side leaves a bit of a filmy feel. This kills the snap or zip on the end. Oh well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2012 21:59:04 | More by Mebuzzard

mdfb79

New York

4.28/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 03/03/12 notes. Big big thanks to Nugganooch for sending me a growler of this one; thanks Dane! Big want of mine. Poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a clear orange-amber color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks very nice.

s - Smells of pine hops, citrus hops, oranges, grapefruit, fruity malts, and some floral hops. Ton of pine, and I enjoy the oranges, though there isn't as much as in Nelson. Really awesome fresh and hoppy nose.

t - Tastes of pine hops, oranges, citrus hops, tropical fruity, fruity malts, grapefruits, light earthy notes. Very nice taste though not as great as the nose. Some bitterness in the taste.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation with some light bitterness. PRetty easy t drink for 9% ABV.

o - Overall another really nice hoppy beer from Alpine. It isn't my favorite Alpine beer, but it is right there with the majority of them. I think I actually like Duet the best personally, followed by Hoppy Birthday, but this is probably tied for third, and they're all great. I think if you can find this, or any of their hoppy beers, fresh you should get it in a heartbeat.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2012 18:16:13 | More by mdfb79

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler provided by Dan. Thanks, this is sort of a big deal...a top 100 beer that I have never ticked. At the time of this review, this is the #67 beer on the "Top Beers - Popular", #11 on the "Top Beers - Double IPA", #48 on the "Top Beers - United States", and the #19 beer on the "Top Beers - West Coast" lists, one of my biggest wants. Thanks Dan. Ultimately this is not the best IPA they make...I like fresh Nelson better. I wll definitely have this again if I find it on draft when I finally make it to Alpine. But as it stands now this was a let down for me.

Beer is orange, mostly clear, off white head, nice retention, some lacing, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is grassy, piny, mildly citrus, earthy.

Beer is very hoppy, sweet mildly and earthy, grindingly hoppy, nice flavors with moderate to high bitterness on the backend. Very strong, nice, but the hops seem slightly decayed and the beer is quite resinous. I would definitely have it again on draft but in a growler probably not.

Serving type: growler

03-06-2012 14:16:31 | More by drabmuh

DarthKostrizer

California

4.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler shared by Ehammond1 thanks bud

Look: Pours a nice shade of yellow with some orangish hues. Only a 1/8 inch on the pour but that was probably my fault for pouring it too slowly there is some spotty lacing left on the glass

Smell: Very powerful nose and for me the clear cut winner of this beer. Very bright crisp and clean citrus notes with some piney hops hiding in the background

Taste: Very similar to the nose but just not as bright and crisp still a damn fine tasting beer

Mouthfeel: A touch thinner than medium body with not quite medium carbonation

Overall: Just another damn fine IPA from Alpine

Serving type: growler

03-06-2012 02:52:26 | More by DarthKostrizer

UCLABrewN84

California

4.6/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap for Churchill's Renaissance at Churchill's Pub & Grille in San Marcos, CA.

Pours a clear honey orange with an off-white head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. No lacing on this one. Smell is of citrus zest, citrus fruit, and honey aromas. Taste is quite exceptional with a very nice balance between citrus zest, citrus fruit, and a honey sweetness. There is a medium amount of bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good IPA with an awesome citrus presence.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2012 22:50:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

ehammond1

California

4.6/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

Alpine Beer Company Pub
Alpine, CA

Clear, light golden yellow in color with a loose, big bubbled, near-white head that leaves ribbons of stick down the glass.

Incredible aroma. I could smell how pungent and bright this beer smelled even as the waitress placed it down in front of me. The aroma is a big, powerful combination of citrus (orange and grapefruit) and big notes of pine forest. This would make for a wonderful air freshener for my car. This stuff smells great!

The flavor is big, bold, and aggressive. The bitterness is fairly high with lots of pine/resin/marijuana flavors. There's some mild citrus present as well, but this is big, dank, and piney. Very nice.

Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.

Just fantastic. This isn't as unique or interesting a beer as Nelson, but it's just as good as Pure Hoppiness, and in my opinion, better than Exponential Hoppiness.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 23:43:55 | More by ehammond1

FosterJM

California

4.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1109th Review on BA
Draft to 10oz

@Downtown Johnny Browns

App- A weird looking light medium orange with a smalled one finger head that was a bit off white in color and then falls to reveal great great cling.

Smell- A pine forest in a nose. Grapefruit, orange juice, hop oil and a biting bitter nose rounds out this one.

Taste- For a profile I don't seek out, I would on this one. Opens with a damp deep citrus nose and then moves to a pine tree esque biting bitter flavor. Its damn good and I dont like this profile. Important so I said it TWICE!! Huge flavor and layers of citrus and bitter

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonation with huge residual pine tree, orange zest and dampness. Just a good feel.

Drink- Its really good but for a profile I dont seek out cant go 5. Find it, drink it! This means you E!!!

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2012 03:58:51 | More by FosterJM

xpimptastikx

Texas

4.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - slightly golden orange, with two fingers of off white head and a few legs.

S - grapefruit and pine trees

T - More floral piney hops with the citrus taking the back seat. alcohol is completely hidden.

M - creamy body with good carb, way too easy to drink.

O - Another outstanding DIPA from Alpine, who'd a guess.

Serving type: growler

12-30-2011 01:14:50 | More by xpimptastikx

islandboi8204

Hawaii

4.47/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden straw color with small head and some lacing.

Smells really hoppy, lots of fruits, grapefruit, mango, lemon. A ton of hops that overwhelm the malts in a good way. I love hop forward beers from Alpine and this is a great example.

Tastes similar, with tropical fruit flavors. Finishes crisp and dry, medium body with an oily mouthfeel.

Another great IPA from Alpine.

Serving type: growler

12-05-2011 03:10:13 | More by islandboi8204

seeswo

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

As part of a trade where I brought the Matt and Coldponcho brought this growler. I proceeded to drink half of it, despite there being more than 2 people :)

Pours a dark orangey color that suggests a malt profile. The nose is big tropical hops, citrus goodness, medium malt body and resiny pine. Tum. Tropical citrus (orange, pineapple) and dank pine hoppiness on top of a moderate malt base. This beer is crazy good. So drinkable that I would likely drink too much before I knew what happened. Good carbonation, good medium body. Not too much of a sugary mouthfeel like you sometimes get with IIPAs. Overall, this beer is really, really good. I would like many more growlers of this. Yum.

Serving type: growler

11-15-2011 02:06:13 | More by seeswo

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Biglobo for this one!

Pours a half finger of white head. Really nice lace rings. Color is a clear golden orange. Solid.

Aroma: Dank and hoppy. Cascade hop flavor. Light onion notes. Not to fruity, but a little shows. Very solid.

Taste: Very dank and weedy. Again, a cascade onion touch shows. Grassy and floral. Straight up hops. No malts.

Mouthfeel: Bitter but smooth. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends sticky, but clean.

Overall, a really awesome beer. Very drinkable. Top notch dipa. I could drink a lot of this in a night.

Serving type: growler

11-09-2011 23:42:54 | More by mothman