19/10 O'Brien's Anniversary IPA - Alpine Beer Company

Nugganooch

California

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

19/10 – On tap at Obrien’s

A: Pours a light golden caramel color with some pure clarity and a thin cap of dirty white foam. Some honest retention leaves light tracks of stick running across the glass after each sip.

S: Smell is a potpourri of real exotic herbs and flora. There is a solid layer of caramel malt sweetness coming through the flowers and a light twist of pine with some underpinning citrus zest. I get a faint suggestion of some alcohol there as well. Interesting nose and pleasant overall but very floral.

T: Taste is a very unique and perfumey floral character that is hard to pinpoint. Like tropical hibiscus with some wild herbs and a light citrus twist. Malt is nearly a factor in flavor yet with a firm support of caramel sweetness. Each sip brings forth some crazy hop spices and unfamiliar fruit flavors like prickly pear or dragon fruit coming through. There is a relatively smooth amount of soft bitterness to the beer and some really well incorporated alcohol notes. Very smooth with nice balance and impeccable craftsmanship however quite unique in flavor.

M: Moderate body with a spritzy carbonation and nice creamy texture overall. There is a soft constricting bitterness and a nice drying crisp in the finish. Touch of residual hop oils and malt sugars that linger on the palate.

D: A very unique IPA and one that took me a while to come around too. Not a huge fan of the perfume like flowerness here but I do appreciate the experience. I have brewed with Columbus plenty of times and have never achieved a flavor profile like this. Real fine craftsmanship shines through the balance and smoothness of the drink. Very clean and precise. Alpine certainly has a way with their IPA’s...now where the hell is Nelson!

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 01:37:20 | More by Nugganooch

pperez38

California

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

05-02-2013 10:43:16 | More by pperez38

errantnight

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

04-21-2013 04:07:22 | More by errantnight

drbenzo

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

04-15-2013 18:04:25 | More by drbenzo

mookihouse

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%

02-25-2013 05:26:55 | More by mookihouse

Beeradelphia

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

02-20-2013 07:45:57 | More by Beeradelphia

phingdong

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -5.2%

02-19-2013 22:40:43 | More by phingdong

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

On tap at the wide open Societe tap room. First selection I tried there, ironically, right after I was at Alpine (well 1/2 hour after) and they didn't have it on tap.

Anyways, poured out a bright yellow with Lake Tahoe like transparency and clarity. Pure driven snow seems like it was used to make this beer. Pretty, but thin appearance basically. Aroma, hoppy, plenty of Chinooks, they didn't skimp in any sense, but it wasn't the olfactory blast that almost every hoppy Societe or Alpine beer is. Good, not great. Plenty of pine and light citrus along with it.

Taste, good taste, weak body. My girlfriend even said it was watery. Seemingly, more watery than a lot of session hoppy beers like Drake's Alpha Session, Bruery humulus session/xpa, jupiter xpa etc. . . I've had in recent years. I'll give this beer one thing, it really does drink like a session beer, which makes the 7.5% alcohol kind of a shock to read about. Couldn't really pick up the zest of the Chinooks in here, again, the watery malt aspect. At least it just wasn't simply bitter.

A very good beer, its probably the best hoppy thing within 100+ miles of where I live, but I dunno, maybe the weekend of other superior ones chilled my excitement for this one. Pretty good, but quite a few others i'd reach for first from Alpine/Societe.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2013 21:30:12 | More by Beerandraiderfan

popery

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

02-14-2013 21:13:22 | More by popery

baybassboy

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%

02-02-2013 18:35:11 | More by baybassboy

kojevergas

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served on-draught at Alpine's pub in Alpine. Expectations were high given the brewery, which I love. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a half finger head of beige colour, nice cream, and nice thickness. Body colour is a clear orange-yellow. Quite vibrant. Translucent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Nectary, floral, and citrusy. Light hop bitterness is obscured nicely by a bit of pine. It's somewhat grassy. A touch soapy, even. Pale malts. Quite appealing. Moderate strength. Very refreshing and appealing.

T: Nectary and delightful. Wonderful floral hop notes. Excellent pale malt body. I love it. Just a touch of hop bitterness on the climax obscured nicely by citrusy, light piney, and nectary hop notes. Refreshing and delectable. Malty and sweet. Impeccable balance, with none of the soapiness from the aroma. Complex and subtle. Brilliantly executed for the style.

Mf: Sticky and nectary. Smooth and wet. Perfect carbonation. Refreshing. Custom tailored to its flavour profile. Excellent presence on the palate.

Dr: Quite drinkable and enjoyable. I really like it. A hit from Alpine. As refreshing as could possibly be. I'd definitely get this again. I'd buy a keg of this (if only I were so lucky). Delicious. One of the best IPAs I've ever had. Incredible stuff.

A

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 00:00:01 | More by kojevergas

ALBuff

Hawaii

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The champagne of IPAs, 1910 was light and effervescent, with a nice hoppy aroma. It was easily Alpine's most unique (but not most delicious) IPA, and it was quite tasty. Evidently, the brewing company couldn't keep this on the shelves when I was there. Every other person walking in for asked for it by bottle, but they were only pouring tasters and growler fills.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 21:37:30 | More by ALBuff

jvillefan

California

4.43/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: It had a golden yellow appearance with an ivory white head that vanished very quickly.

S: The aroma was a little muted but it did have some citrus hops, rye, and caramel notes to it.

T: Very hoppy but had the malt to back it up. It start with the citrus and pine flavors that Alpine never fails to produce then finishes up with a caramel, toffee, and rye finish.

M: Great carbonation and viscosity. Very smooth.

O: Amazing beer that is not going to be around for very long. Get it while you can.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 03:58:34 | More by jvillefan

UCLABrewN84

California

4.16/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

On tap at O'Brien's Pub in San Diego, CA.

Pours a clear yellow with a foamy bone colored head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with a citrus zest flavor on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with some solid aroma and flavors that make it easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2013 21:04:34 | More by UCLABrewN84

drewone

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

01-20-2013 17:07:15 | More by drewone

ehammond1

California

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

O'Brien's Pub
San Diego, CA

Clear light golden with a small head of near-white foam. Dotted and lined stick down the glass.

Resinous aroma, pine notes, and just a hint of citrus. A class display of Columbus hops put to good use. Expressive and powerfully resinous, without smelling too much like marijuana. Which is a bummer I know.

The flavor follows the aroma, and, as advertised, showcases the Columbus hops very nicely. Pine, resin, mild citrus, and crisp bitterness combine magnificently. Zero alcohol harshness.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Very drinkable.

This reminds me a lot of Bad Boy, which happens to be one of my favorites. Would never turn down a pint of this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 05:26:07 | More by ehammond1

pmarlowe

California

4.36/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On tap at O'Brien's. Pint glass.

A: Pours medium-light golden with a thin veneer of very fine, bright white head. The sparse head still manages to be persistent and leave some nice lacing on the glass.

S: Very mild caramel, juicy citrus and pine hops, and some jasmine floral notes.

T: Complex mix of pine-coney pine and slight citrus (orange and pink grapefruit and the bitter peel) hops, backed up by a rich caramel malt backbone (a la Pure Hoppiness), tangerine, and finishing with a moderate, crisp bitterness.

M: Medium-high carbonation and medium-full body.

O: Another well crafted and drinkable IPA. It won't blow you away, but it's worthy of Alpine. A bit more bitter than ideal for me, but the flavors are very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 15:45:51 | More by pmarlowe

rand

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

On tap at O'Brien's, poured into pint glass

A: Clear yellow-tan, little head and lacing. Nice refreshing look, could pass for a lager

S: Fresh pine and citrus, and that tropical bend unique to Alpine. Not the most pronounced nose for their line-up of IPA's, but it has an especially crisp and clean aspect.

T: Strong notes of citrus and pine up front. Hop essence isn't especially bitter, but dry and citrusy. Strange because its extremely hop-forward and your palate expects stront malt counterbalance, but malty sweetness is fairly reserved. Spicy and peppery to the surprisingly short, dry finish. Amazing IPA.

M: Light for the ABV, but oily slick as hell.

Not sure what else to say here but no one makes IPA's like Alpine.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 08:01:41 | More by rand

funkel81

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%

01-19-2013 02:29:54 | More by funkel81

HopHead84

California

4.31/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

01/18/2012

On tap at O'Brien's. Pint.

A: Transparent yellow gold with a finger of white foam.

S: Pungent pine resin aroma with earth and a little spicy citrus (lemon and grapefruit). Concentrated and powerful. Great aroma.

T: A Columbus explosion. This is unlike any IPA I've had. Powerful resin profile with earthy characteristics. Very dry with a little citrus rind and lemon flesh. Smooth upper moderate bitterness. No astringency but very dry and fiery resinous finish. Malt has no noticeable influence.

M: Lower medium body with medium draft carbonation. Dry and sticky mouthfeel.

Overall: A unique experience and one I'd recommend. Another delicious IPA from Alpine.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2013 22:44:02 | More by HopHead84