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Pure Hoppiness
Alpine Beer Company
- From:
- Alpine Beer Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 96
- Avg:
- 4.33 | pDev: 8.08%
- Reviews:
- 953
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 20, 2021
- Added:
- Dec 18, 2002
- Wants:
- 1,170
- Gots:
- 627
So mega-hopped it will take you to hop heaven. We’ve used hops in the boil, more hops in the giant hopback, and added to that, an incredible amount of dry-hopping for that cutting-edge “hop bite.” Once you’ve tasted this unique beer, all others pale in comparison. 1.072 OG Classified IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by msubulldog25:
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon
4.57/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.57/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A 22 oz. bottle without a freshness date, courtesy of BlindPig. Poured to a pint glass.
A: Gorgeous golden-orange, glowing in the sunlight with a slight suspended haziness. About 1-finger of creamy, soapy white head. Head dies to a thin film within a couple minutes and I noted just a few random streams of carbonation, more like single bubbles rising here and there. Very pretty bands of sticking lace from top to bottom of the glass.
S: Enticingly sweet, smelling of fresh citrus, pine and a hefty dose of caramel. Aroma also offers ripe melon, orange zest, and a grassy spice. Rises high and lasts forever, an excellent introduction to this beer.
T: A lovely beer, extremely well balanced! Hops are appropriately strong, tasting of oranges & tangerines, a dash of grapefruit juice, spicy pine oils. Malted grain is not a supporting layer but an equal here, gently easing off the bitterness throttle and keeping this one on course. Caramel and a lightly biscuit-y maltiness provide just enough sweetness. Very tasty!
M: Not the strongest, fullest mouthfeel; I judged this one as 'medium', considering some other DIPA's that induce a powerful pucker, strip off tooth enamel, and generally kill the tastebuds. The Pure Hoppiness is a gentle giant - an 8% DIPA that's smooth, balanced, creamy in th mouth and finishes surprisingly clean. Yes, there's some hoppy/bitter aftertaste and just a hint of alcohol warmth, but this is one of the nicest DIPAs I've ever had.
D: 5's are pretty rare for me, but it's also rare I find a DIPA with so much flavor that is also so drinkable. Often flavors and hops get so overwhelming, I want to quit a bomber about halfway through. Not this one...terrific flavors, aroma and mouthfeel make this a new favorite. Deserving the reputation and highly recommended!
Jun 28, 2007A: Gorgeous golden-orange, glowing in the sunlight with a slight suspended haziness. About 1-finger of creamy, soapy white head. Head dies to a thin film within a couple minutes and I noted just a few random streams of carbonation, more like single bubbles rising here and there. Very pretty bands of sticking lace from top to bottom of the glass.
S: Enticingly sweet, smelling of fresh citrus, pine and a hefty dose of caramel. Aroma also offers ripe melon, orange zest, and a grassy spice. Rises high and lasts forever, an excellent introduction to this beer.
T: A lovely beer, extremely well balanced! Hops are appropriately strong, tasting of oranges & tangerines, a dash of grapefruit juice, spicy pine oils. Malted grain is not a supporting layer but an equal here, gently easing off the bitterness throttle and keeping this one on course. Caramel and a lightly biscuit-y maltiness provide just enough sweetness. Very tasty!
M: Not the strongest, fullest mouthfeel; I judged this one as 'medium', considering some other DIPA's that induce a powerful pucker, strip off tooth enamel, and generally kill the tastebuds. The Pure Hoppiness is a gentle giant - an 8% DIPA that's smooth, balanced, creamy in th mouth and finishes surprisingly clean. Yes, there's some hoppy/bitter aftertaste and just a hint of alcohol warmth, but this is one of the nicest DIPAs I've ever had.
D: 5's are pretty rare for me, but it's also rare I find a DIPA with so much flavor that is also so drinkable. Often flavors and hops get so overwhelming, I want to quit a bomber about halfway through. Not this one...terrific flavors, aroma and mouthfeel make this a new favorite. Deserving the reputation and highly recommended!
More User Ratings:
Rated by gefinley from California
3.93/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canned 5/11/21.
Oct 20, 2021Reviewed by blazerkor from Nevada
4.25/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I get a lot of herby hops and just a little bready sweetness.
Bitterness and an herbal dankness dominate an extremely clean taste that only has a slight hint of malt.
It's really thin and has medium carbonation. The finishish is dry, bitter and quick... like John Oliver's wit.
Overall it's a delightful, clean and interesting IPA that I give a 5.1 out of 6.
Aug 18, 2021Bitterness and an herbal dankness dominate an extremely clean taste that only has a slight hint of malt.
It's really thin and has medium carbonation. The finishish is dry, bitter and quick... like John Oliver's wit.
Overall it's a delightful, clean and interesting IPA that I give a 5.1 out of 6.
Reviewed by laketang from Arizona
4.33/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured out a clear golden amber with a barely sustainable head.
Fresh citrus with orange peel, some dank hop notes.
Pucker upon first sip, resin and a biting hop flavor. Lemon and grapefruit rind.
Nice bitterness and okay carbonation.
Great hop experience with this one.
Jul 10, 2021Fresh citrus with orange peel, some dank hop notes.
Pucker upon first sip, resin and a biting hop flavor. Lemon and grapefruit rind.
Nice bitterness and okay carbonation.
Great hop experience with this one.
Reviewed by AleManDan from California
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This is a big, classic West Coast double IPA and it’s one of the best specimens of that species. Juicy, piney, and full bodied while achieving a dry finish.
Smells of huge hops but not one fruity flavor stands out. Usually doubles don’t have as much hop scent due to all the maltiness, but this thing is “mega” hopped—dry hopped big time I bet. I get sweet malty orange spicy hops. Wow.
On the tongue piney, orange zest hops and cracker bread and toasted malts. Finishes fairly dry despite the thick, wet feel it hits you with.
It’s big, it’s flavorful and it’s pretty amazing.
I loved this review by a real pro and amend mine with it:
By: Tracy Hensley lJudges Rating:
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
A consistent aroma blend of clean pine resin, pineapple syrup, freshly ripped mint and cracked black pepper lead the way in the front of the nose. From 8 inches away, Tahitian vanilla bean pods, baked whole wheat bread, low sulfur notes and white grape-like fruitiness also appear. The white head does not persist but does create a fine foam above a slightly hazy, golden appearance. Flavors start as intense dank pine extract and continues into the aftertaste where it is accompanied by sweetened white bread, which keeps the bitterness in check with a moderate, throat-coating alcoholic warmth. The second sip showcases tropical mango juice before pine again dominates as noticeable alcohol warmth and low motor oil elements come through. Full body and full fat creaminess coats the mouth, and the medium-high carbonation and moderate hop mouthfeel close out the finish while alcohol tingles on the lips.“
Jun 15, 2019Smells of huge hops but not one fruity flavor stands out. Usually doubles don’t have as much hop scent due to all the maltiness, but this thing is “mega” hopped—dry hopped big time I bet. I get sweet malty orange spicy hops. Wow.
On the tongue piney, orange zest hops and cracker bread and toasted malts. Finishes fairly dry despite the thick, wet feel it hits you with.
It’s big, it’s flavorful and it’s pretty amazing.
I loved this review by a real pro and amend mine with it:
By: Tracy Hensley lJudges Rating:
Overall Impression:
18 / 20
A consistent aroma blend of clean pine resin, pineapple syrup, freshly ripped mint and cracked black pepper lead the way in the front of the nose. From 8 inches away, Tahitian vanilla bean pods, baked whole wheat bread, low sulfur notes and white grape-like fruitiness also appear. The white head does not persist but does create a fine foam above a slightly hazy, golden appearance. Flavors start as intense dank pine extract and continues into the aftertaste where it is accompanied by sweetened white bread, which keeps the bitterness in check with a moderate, throat-coating alcoholic warmth. The second sip showcases tropical mango juice before pine again dominates as noticeable alcohol warmth and low motor oil elements come through. Full body and full fat creaminess coats the mouth, and the medium-high carbonation and moderate hop mouthfeel close out the finish while alcohol tingles on the lips.“
Pure Hoppiness from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating:
96 out of
100 with
3755 ratings
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