Alpine Hoppy Birthday

The Stats
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 5.25%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.38/5
- RateBeer: 3.88/5

Last year, Green Flash Brewing out of San Diego acquired (partnered up, etc) with Alpine Brewing out of Alpine, CA. Alpine is known in the craft beer world for making some of the best IPA's on the planet. I've reviewed a few of them myself. The acquisition made it possible for Alpine to not only produce more beer, but it allowed them to give their employees benefits like a 401K. Originally, the Alpine beers made at Green Flash were to remain in California only, but, for reasons unknown to me, it appears that all of Green Flash's markets are now starting to get the Alpine beers made at Green Flash. Even some of my local stores in Southeast Massachusetts have begun receiving Alpine beers.

Needless to say, the craft beer community was up in arms over the acquisition as they immediately thought that the Alpine beers made at Green Flash would not be anywhere near the quality as the same ones made at Alpine Brewing. As I said, I have had several of Alpine's beers before the protested "merger"and they were all fantastic. Today I have Alpine's Hoppy Birthday, which I have never had before (Alpine or Green Flash)  and yes, I do have the Green Flash version.. It markets itself as a session ale, but all sites I've visited call it an American Pale Ale made with six different hops. I'm never one to let the public tell me how to think, so I will just let the beer itself do the talking.

Pours a beautiful, glowing orange which is mostly transparent. It produced a finger of white head.

Aroma has that classic west coast IPA garlic and onion, but also a big pine sap kick and a sweet, candy-like smell too.

The taste is predominantly pine, but it's still not all that flavorful as it doesn't really burst onto the palate with authority. It's present enough to be noticeable, but still slightly faded. The back end actually transitions nicely to the aforementioned sweet, candy flavor reminiscent of Spree or Skittles. That finish helps even out the intense (surprisingly intense for the abv and style) bitterness that is experienced at the front and especially in the middle of the mouth where the dank hops and onion seem to be clinging to my taste buds. Some of the onion/garlic can get heavy at times, but at the same time, it is impressive how big of a punch the hops are for a 5.25% pale ale.

Mouthfeel is full and not thinned out or watery; it's spot-on for the style. Some of the bitterness is getting a tad bit cloying, but again, the sweet finish makes the save and ends up making this highly drinkable.

Hoppy Birthday had a surprising amount of hop bite, but that west coast garlic and onion would have spoiled the party if it wasn't for the 11th hour save by a nice, fruity, candy flavor. This actually drinks bigger than 5.25% thanks to a full body and flavor contribution from all of the hops used. It's nice to see some pine in a west coast beer, but the pine itself could have been a little more intense. Regardless, this pale ale has all the hallmarks of a west coast IPA, but for me, it drinks easier than what I've come to expect from other offerings from out there.

Rating
8.7/10

Alpine Duet

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.00%
Current Ratings... 
- Beer Advocate: 4.42/5
- RateBeer: 3.96/5

Another Alpine beer today as I dive into Duet. This American IPA is brewed with Amarillo & Simcoe hops "in harmony" as the bottle says.

Duet pours a beautiful, hazy orange with a finger's worth of head which left some nice lacing on the glass.

The aroma is fruity and bitter. It has a lot of that typical garlic I associate with West coast IPA's, but a huge hop bitterness balances that out. There's also a big orange peel presence as well. If you've ever had Ballast Point Sculpin, then this will immediately draw comparisons.

This is nice and hoppy with tons of bitterness throughout. There is some big lemon notes on Duet and the orange is here along with a small garlic/onion feel that isn't strong enough to take control of your taste buds. The mouthfeel is nice and light and considering how bitter it is, it is actually going down easily.

Duet doesn't break the mold of West Coast IPA's, but it is one of the more drinkable and refreshing ones I've had in recent memory. Incredibly bitter and smooth, Duet is an easy-drinking IPA that will please both the East and West Coast.

Rating
9.1/10

Alpine Exponential Hoppiness

The Stats
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 11.00%
Current Ratings...
- Beer Advocate: 4.45/5
- RateBeer: 4.07/5

Alpine isn't screwing around with this one. Exponential Hoppiness is a "Triple IPA" coming in at 11.00%. The front label means Exponential Hoppiness = Pure Hoppiness squared with Pure Hoppiness being another one of their Imperial IPA's. This beer is hopped throughout the brewing process, then dry-hopped, and then they add oak chips at the end.

I get to use my new, giant-ass snifter for this review. Yay! It pours a dark, rusty orange bordering on amber. It has a very hazy appearance - can't see anything through it.

At 11.00%, I'm glad to say the aroma isn't all resin and syrup. A lot of orange and grapefruit at first which give way to earthy, herbal hops. The orange is almost sugary in a way and I pick up some subtle white grape aromas too which may point to some possible New Zealand hops being used. It reminds me a lot of Founders Devil Dancer, but not as resiny.

The taste reminds me of a lot of "Triple IPA's" with it's resinous, piny notes. It's quite dry and bitter up front, but not too much to be a turn-off. When it hits the back, those tropical fruit juices make themselves known. I pick up oranges and white grapes, which makes for a delicious combination.

It finishes with bitter hops lingering on the back of your tongue with a slight sticky dankness. I have to say for 11.00%, the alcohol is practically non-existent with the only evidence being a miniscule warming on the finish, but otherwise the alcohol is hidden well.

When it comes to a Triple IPA, Exponential Hoppiness gives you a ton of bitterness balanced with notes of orange and white grapes. While there is a residual resinous aftertaste, this drinks lighter than an 11.00% beer while maintaining plenty of hoppy and fruity flavors.

Rating
9.4/10

Alpine Nelson

The Stats
Style: American IPA
ABV: 7.00%
Current Beer Advocate Rating: 4.47/5

Alpine Nelson is an American IPA utilizing Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand. I love New Zealand hop beers, so I'm hoping this one blows me away.

Pours a dark yellow, pale orange color with two fingers of white head.

Right off the bat I get acidic grapefruit on the aroma. There is a considerable sweetness to this beer. It has a somewhat orange creme, almost sherbert smell to it. On the back I pick up some white grape and white wine aromas. This is more complex than I thought it would be.

That acidic grapefruit is front and center, followed by an assault of white wine. It's pretty bitter and dry on the finish, but not before those tropical fruits hit you first. Imagine a slice of grapefruit dipped in white wine and that's what you're getting with Alpine Nelson.

With an abundance of flavors and bitterness, Alpine Nelson is a winner. It runs the spectrum with it's sweet, creamy orange flavors to the white wine to it's dry, hoppy finish. The acidic taste is the only slight deterrent, but I will gladly let that slide.

Rating
9.2/10