Good - Alpine Beer Company

Callenak

California

4.53/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled at the Pizza Port Strong Ale Fest this past weekend. It was part of the VIP beers and it was just called Alpine Good Barleywine. Can't find anything on their website about it.

Pours a deep and dark amber with a slight head. A little on the murky side. Carbonation seems slight but present.

The nose is what sold me on this beer. I've never smelled a beer like this. The closest way I can describe it is it smells like when you walk into a jamba juice. Just a mixture of fresh blended fruit. Strange I know but it was uncanny. I doubt any real fruit was used it the BW, but god does it smell like it. Big citrus bouquet, plenty of great continental hops no doubt. But the smell, it's mesmerizing. Think I smelled this beer longer than I drank it, and at 17% there is no doubt I took my time.

Taste was not a let down. The strong fruit nose didn't transcend to the taste. Pick up on some of the grapefruit from the hops. A nice taste of vanilla and brown sugar. A hint of chocolate and caramel. You would think that there would be a major alcohol burn with this one if it really is 17%, but it's very mellow. Secondary to the other taste. I can only imagine it was aged for quite a while (cask, barrel?).

We kept talking about if we had a favorite beer from the Strong Ale fest, I kept coming back to this one. I'm very glad it was the second beer I had so I could fully enjoy. I wish I would have know the ABV before I put down two or three of these monsters though. Nevertheless, in a day of amazing beer this one really stood out. I would kill for some more.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2006 16:49:46 | More by Callenak

VaTechHopHead

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-11-2013 22:24:08 | More by VaTechHopHead

moonknight31

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 21:14:16 | More by moonknight31

Zbeetleman

California

4.75/5  rDev +10%

05-15-2013 03:14:56 | More by Zbeetleman

grilledsquid

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-10-2013 23:00:26 | More by grilledsquid

Tom-Peters

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

04-29-2013 16:44:48 | More by Tom-Peters

RaulMondesi

California

3.68/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Is Raul part of NASA? Because LIFTOFF! As this bad boi checks in at 17%, Raul gets fruity notes on the nose and a donkey kick right in the nuts with the taste. It's very smooth, but you know that you are drinking some Apocalypse Now shit. Like the name says, "good," but not slap yo mama "great." Glad I tried it, but woo doggy!

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2013 07:55:40 | More by RaulMondesi

Pecan

California

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

04-21-2013 01:05:57 | More by Pecan

ehammond1

California

4.63/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On Tap

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

A dark, burnt orange in color. Thin, slightly creamy, off-white head. Looks a touch thick and viscous, but that is not surprising for the style and the known ABV. Leaves the glass spotted and oily.

A very hoppy American barleywine. Lots of pungent and toasted citrus zest in the aroma. Sweet tangerine caramel and syrup erupt. There's a bit of a pine and resin character as well. A touch of an alcohol presence. Quite stunning, really.

The flavor is similar to the aroma. This is a candied citrus (zest) monster, along with citrus syrup/caramel and an alcohol warmth, though not nearly as much as I'd expect from a 17% ABV. I truly can't believe the alcohol was that high, but Shawn (of Alpine) certainly didn't deny it. A big, beautiful, aromatic, yet ultimately, and most importantly, incredibly delicious, high ABV barleywine. Hoppy, sweet, aggressive, yet drinkable.

Full in body for the style, slightly sticky. Coating. Excellent.

Fantastic. This is as good as non barrel-aged barleywines can get, but this tastes like it was made for a barrel. It's going to be great!

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 15:53:03 | More by ehammond1

SocalKicks

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

04-14-2013 00:59:38 | More by SocalKicks

rand

California

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2013 batch on tap at the brew pub, poured into tulip glass

A: Brown-apricot in color, small wispy head leaves a fair amount of patchy lacing around the glass.

S: Citrusy, crisp hop essence and honey'd biscuits. Really biscuity and boozy.

T/M: The hop bite noticed in the nose steps up first, but is quickly answered by a huge malt-backbone. Lots of warming booze reveals noted is sweet honey and earthy, floral tea. Doesn't finish as long as you'd think, and its relatively dry at the end.

Barleywines aren't always my favorite style, but the hop-edge in this example adds a lot of drinkability. For the ABV it's pretty amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 04:25:18 | More by rand

hpthebull

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

04-04-2013 06:14:28 | More by hpthebull

AlexChillton

Arizona

4/5  rDev -7.4%

04-02-2013 09:06:13 | More by AlexChillton

kevindp9

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

03-24-2013 13:25:32 | More by kevindp9

djaeon

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

03-10-2013 16:26:25 | More by djaeon

EricTheRed

New York

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

03-08-2013 03:54:54 | More by EricTheRed

mcdonald422

California

5/5  rDev +15.7%

03-08-2013 00:25:45 | More by mcdonald422

CEDAMA

California

5/5  rDev +15.7%

03-04-2013 16:48:30 | More by CEDAMA

pmarlowe

California

4.24/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

On tap at the brewpub. Tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear caramel gold/burnt orange with a generous few cm of fine, off-white head. Very good retention and sloppy lacing.

S: Alpine-y citrus and apricot hoppiness coats straight-up light caramel.

T: An intense, almost burnt caramel/toffee character, nice hoppiness (citrus, apricot, floral, stone fruit) reminds you this is a cousin to an Alpine IPA. The fruit notes are nice and interesting. Very mild, grippy bitterness on the finish which is overwhelmed by the moderate residual sugar.

M: Soft, light carbonation. Mouth coating, sticky, full body. Superb. A little alcohol shows through, but I would peg this at like 10% (not 17%) if I had to. Superb body.

O: Rich, well executed in the style, with interesting complexity.. The hops in the nose works really well, but the taste is not quite there with the burnt note.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2013 06:00:28 | More by pmarlowe

LegalBrew87

California

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

03-03-2013 20:34:25 | More by LegalBrew87

mookihouse

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

02-25-2013 05:27:17 | More by mookihouse

DtheVillain

California

5/5  rDev +15.7%

02-20-2013 05:27:12 | More by DtheVillain

miadw3

California

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

01-09-2013 23:07:59 | More by miadw3

TheRealDBCooper

Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands

5/5  rDev +15.7%

11-16-2011 17:48:46 | More by TheRealDBCooper

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

11-14-2011 18:22:49 | More by westcoastbeerlvr