Alpine Windows Up IPA

Alpine Windows Up India Pale Ale. 7% ABV. 70 IBU.

Lightly hazed, bright golden color, lovely white head. Looking great.

In the nose: beautiful aromatics, pungent pine and citrus notes.

In the mouth: fresh and fruity. Citrus notes, orange and tangerine, at play on the palate. Nice and smooth. Low bitterness, lean bodied, easy drinker. Light and breezy, while intensely bitter. Just the way I like them.

"This IPA is extra dank and resinous. Enjoy it's piney aromas and tropical notes from a blend of Citra and Mosaic hops." There they are again, the dynamic duo. You can't miss with Citra and Mosaic.

Alpine Mandarin Nectar

Alpine Mandarin Nectar.  Brewed and bottled by Alpine Beer Company in San Diego, California. Orange Blossom Honey Ale with Orange Zest and Coriander.

I had this beer for the first time a few months ago at a neighborhood pub. I like it so much I tried to get a keg of it for Acadia, but I was too late. Settled for some Willy Vanilly instead. Now, I've finally got a bottle of Mandarin Nectar and it's time to open it up and see what's inside....

Clear, deep golden/amber hue, hefty helping of ivory froth atop.

Aroma: citrus and cream hits the nose first. Lots of fruit and spice.

In the mouth: citrus zest begins the fray, juicy malt holds it up from behind. Hardly any hops here, it's all malt and smooth and fruit. Orange aplenty. Low bitterness. Good balance. Tasty. Consummately consumable. Coriander never quite quits, butting in amid the citrus from time to time.

This one is a beautiful summertime refresher, and yes it's still summertime, and I'll continue to say so for the next few weeks until I'm forced to wear a jacket everywhere. Until then, ....ah!!! Delicious. So good. Go out and drink it. You won't be sorry.

"Delightful and zesty--like a mountain breeze through the citrus trees. Mandarin Nectar is a crisp blend of the finest malts. We've added generous amounts of citrus zest, coriander, and a touch of orange blossom honey for exceptional flavor. Perfect for warmer weather. Don't drink more. Just drink better." Also, "DRINK ALPINE BEER or GO TO BED!" Yikes, no need to yell it!

Alpine Pure Hoppiness Double India Pale Ale

Here's a beer I was excited to get a keg of (less than a dozen available to the state), jumped at the chance, and finally hooked it up a few days ago. Looking back, it seems that I'd had it for the first time over 11 years ago. Holy ---! It was November of 2004 that I first got my hands on this beer. I took a picture of the glass that I enjoyed on tap today, and now I share those original notes:

This beer's reputation and the exhuberant exultation of the label description have me greatly anticipating this bottle...hell, I'm glad the hunt is over and it's in my mitts at last, now all that's left is the experience..let it begin...

hey, I just cracked the crown and the happiness, and hoppiness has begun already....now, it's freed from the bottle and into the glass...pure honey gold, fine head of pure white froth bobbing on top...

the nose, that's the treasure! Piney and sprucey, sweet tropical/citric fruits...gorgeous!...hop oils aplenty, raw and delicious, this is a heavenly thing, a halo fit for a hophead...I don't want to disrupt this lovely thing by drinking it, but I have no choice...the beer beckons..will it be as savory once past the lips?

A blast of bitterness, a phalanx of fruit, creamy and juicy, with an enhanced hop profile. Some what lightish in body, but the flavor is so high to render that moot, too huge in hoppiness, buzzing every inch of the mouth with the tasty hops..which ones? Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial? How'd I do?* Maybe more, maybe less, but whatever they are, they're there in plentitude.

this is an experience in a bottle, a very happy thing to have in the mouth, I'm an instant admirer, and have a new favorite to add to my must-drink column, ...although that reputation had already put it there..now that it's been in my lucky stomach, it's assumed a rightful place among the greatest IPAs I've ever known. A real humdinger,...which means, literally, as far as humming and dinging goes, it's the real deal!

*I know know it's Cascade, Columbus, and H-something--whoops, I lost...

Alpine Nelson Rye India Pale Ale

Alpine Nelson Golden Rye India Pale Ale. 7% ABV. Brewed and bottled by Alpine Beer Company, in San Diego, California.

Lightly hazy, bright golden appearance, with a large, voluminous, gorgeous cloud-white head, leaving lace and looking beautiful.

Incredibly fresh and vibrant aromatics, but not with the usual pine and citrus notes we expect in an IPA. Rye malt comes across, subtly, and some white grape notes, some white wine character, and just a whiff of the ol' cat pee, the common traits of the Nelson Sauvin. Tropical fruit essence rolls up. Intriguing stuff.

In the mouth, it's all the hoppy goodness. Rye spiciness creeps up just a little, but the hops are tops here. Bold bitterness, with fruity notes abounding. Amazing beer. So full of flavor, big on the hops, and a delight to drink. Just about perfect. Mmmm.

Great beer, go drink it.

Alpine Hoppy Birthday Session IPA

Alpine Hoppy Birthday Session IPA, (or American Pale Ale).  5.2% ABV. Alpine Brewing, Alpine, CA.

Lightly hazed, bright golden coloring, ivory head leaving lace, looking lovely.

Bold, citrusy aromatics. Lemon and lime, orange, and pine. floral. Incredibly fresh leafy, green hoppy nose. Beautiful.

In the mouth: a bracingly bitter entrance on the palate. Fresh hop attack, more citrusy goodness. Lean-bodied. Easy-drinking. Bitterness never quits, and alcohol doesn't stand in the way of having a few, if that's what you want to do.

Label side gobbledygook: Hoppy Birthday. "The Most Celebrated Beer in the World." Truth is, everyone has a birthday. And when you want to celebrate, this Session IPA is a gift to the senses. Made with 6 different hops, this brew is refreshing enough to enjoy again and again. Now, make a wish and blow out the candles. But, don't tell anyone or your wish won't come true."

Sure. Okay. Well, I liked it, so go out and drink some.

Alpine Duet

Alpine Duet India Pale Ale. 7% ABV.

This is my first time with this beer, but not my first Alpine. Records claim that I had Pure Hoppiness back in 2004. This is my first locally purchased Alpine, so we've got that going for us.

Beautiful. Gorgeous. Clear, bright golden, lovely chalk white head.

Perfect. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, ...pine and citrus aplenty. Yeah, man.

Taste: yum. All kinds of hop delights. All the best. Mmmm. Lush, luscious, full-on fruity and fantastic. Loads of citrus and touches of tropical. It's so good. It's ....it's wonderful. It's exactly right. Everything is right right now. It's all good.

They know what they're going out in Alpine, California.

Damn it, this is a good beer and I can drink it. You should, too.

Hey, there's some stuff on the label. Let's read it: "A West Coast IPA that features Amarillo and Simcoe hops "in harmony," giving a bright, floral aroma. Duet is nicely bitter with the perfect amount of malt concealed behind the hoppy goodness. Immensely drinkable, amazingly nimble on it's feet."

Oh, there's more: "Drink Alpine Ale of GO TO  BED!"Pat Mc M----, I can't read the small type.