Keene Idea - Alpine Beer Company

OTB

California

4/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Finally getting around to my notes on this taken from my lunch at Alpine right before the holiday's. The beer pours a beautiful light copper with a thin head of beady white foam. The nose is the tell tale Nelson Sauvin hop profile meshed with sweet malty bisquits and the funkiness from the hop bill. For me this is a different beer than the last effort that was either called T-25, Double Nelson or whatever you wanted to call it. This seems a bit hotter, the booze is evident here, its bitter as it should be but almost in an unfinished clunky way that isn't as seamless as the last time I had it. The mouth is fine if not a bit hot but its a joy to drink none the less. I still prefer the regular bottling of Nelson to the more amped up version.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2012 01:53:47 | More by OTB

leschkie

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-19-2013 06:04:05 | More by leschkie

Zbeetleman

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-15-2013 03:17:31 | More by Zbeetleman

Scoot1969

Michigan

5/5  rDev +6.4%

03-01-2013 06:19:29 | More by Scoot1969

Azrael

5/5  rDev +6.4%

02-09-2013 23:23:13 | More by Azrael

jpeck13

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

02-07-2013 06:30:14 | More by jpeck13

baybassboy

California

4.5/5  rDev -4.3%

02-05-2013 00:02:29 | More by baybassboy

APreacher

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

02-02-2013 04:49:13 | More by APreacher

kojevergas

California

4.13/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-draught into a pilsner glass at Alpine's pub in Alpine. Expectations were extremely high; I love Alpine. Reviewed from notes. I don't recall the cost. Whatever it was, it was worth it.

A: Pours a half finger head of off-white colour, somewhat thin but of fair cream. Retention is average. Body colour is a vibrant understated copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Citrus, floral hops, a hint of hop bitterness, some pine, and pale malts. Evocative and inviting.

T: Heavy hop flavours. Very balanced; no hop bitterness comes through at all. Oily hops. Grapefruit. Hints of pine. Biscuity floral hops - amarillo? Crisp citrus. Floral notes. Pale malts. Very complex; has real depth of flavour. Dank. Clean and very enjoyable. The balance is masterful. Still, it's not as complex or subtle as I remember Exponential Hoppiness being.

Mf: Perfect dryness and smoothness for the style, coaxing out the flavours. Ideal carbonation and thickness. Not as luscious as some other great beers in the style. Buttery on the finish. Refreshing and custom-tailored to the flavour profile.

Dr: Extremely drinkable for the style and well hidden ABV. I could down this one all night. Really tasty, but perhaps not Alpine's best IPA. Slides down real easy. I love it. Another home run IPA from Alpine.

A-

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2013 22:54:36 | More by kojevergas

LSUPT

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-24-2013 05:22:25 | More by LSUPT

mrbubbler

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-23-2013 19:37:37 | More by mrbubbler

sdpaul

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-15-2013 19:32:22 | More by sdpaul

MarkIntihar

Michigan

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-15-2013 15:14:25 | More by MarkIntihar

ScottO

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-14-2013 16:20:29 | More by ScottO

wintbs379

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +1.1%

01-12-2013 17:18:22 | More by wintbs379

Romulux

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +1.1%

01-12-2013 14:19:13 | More by Romulux

camil1mj

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -4.3%

01-12-2013 00:51:38 | More by camil1mj

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev -4.3%

01-10-2013 21:23:03 | More by Rochefort10nh

surlytheduff

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev -4.3%

01-10-2013 15:11:30 | More by surlytheduff

spycow

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +1.1%

01-09-2013 22:40:21 | More by spycow

domtronzero

California

4.5/5  rDev -4.3%

01-08-2013 23:44:25 | More by domtronzero

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4.75/5  rDev +1.1%

01-08-2013 21:26:58 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

SageO

California

5/5  rDev +6.4%

01-08-2013 20:54:21 | More by SageO

Chambic

California

4.25/5  rDev -9.6%

01-03-2013 20:04:58 | More by Chambic

rand

California

4.93/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From cask to pint

A: cloudy yellow-orange in appearance; frothy, sudsy head that never fully recedes. Lacing everywhere.

S: Grassy, boozy, citrus-y, piny. The nose is less tropical than its little brother, but there's a buttery tone with a tropical edge. Nose is more subdued than expected.

T: Guava and orange flavors up-front - distinctively 'Nelson'. Flavor profile is a lot more layered than the nose, with sweet, bready malts bouncing off various citrus notes. Smooth and creamy throughout; by the short finish it's more sweet than bitter.

M: Probably the creamiest, most frothy IPA I've had on cask. I'm pretty shocked at how carbonated this is, might as well have been on tap.

One of the best brews I've had. Touches all of the hidden corners of the palate while still dropping huge hop character. And the amount of carbonation this has is incredible - puts to bed the notion that IPA's shouldn't be served from a cask.

Serving type: cask

01-03-2013 02:35:01 | More by rand