Alpine Beer Company Exponential Hoppiness

Brewed by Alpine Beer Company (CA)
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Alpine, California USA

Super-fresh growler courtesy of naven. This is the hoppiest beer I have ever sampled. Bar none. 24 hours after I polished off the growler, I had sanitized it twice w/ warm soapy water and it still had an intense hop aroma. Hops so intense it almost singes your nose hairs. This is a very dangerous brew. I love it.

draft @ obriens - had it next to pliny the younger and it was way milder...but that isnt exactly a bad thing. it was totally different...very unique. citrusy, mainly lemon aroma as well as very herbal. taste was the same...to be perfectly honest...it tasted a lot like sweetened lemon tea. definitely wasnt what i was expecting but very enjoyable to say the least.

Good beer. Milder than Pliny the Younger. Let me take this time to write about the happiness I am experiencing right now as drinking the exponential hoppiness. I’m sitting at Obrien’s, possibly the best beer pub in the world, at the bar (rare for me get a seat when it’s so busy), eating sausages, apples, cucumbers, pears, tomatos, a brie, a cheddar, and crackers (blissful combo). I’m debating on whether to choose Swami’s IPA or Maharaja (chose Swami’s). The crowd is great, the waitresses are beautiful, Tom’s washing glasses, my beard itches, and life is really great. Yes, life is great. and so is the expo!

Some pretty bomb stuff! Had a sampler at the brewery in Alpine with my buddy jarspag. Dark golden color with a medium-sized head and a citrusy aroma with some pine. A HUGE New Zealand hops blast that finishes sweet with defined notes of oak wood, malty grapefruit, and a pretty earthy undertone. Damn good stuff, but agreeing with jarspag, yes the Pure Hoppiness is better, more balanced.

Draft at O’briens. Alpine continues to impress. A very nice hop presence with very little malt balance. A slight tast of wood, makes the swallow smooth and a little smokey. Decent warmth. I drank this one right after RR Younger. Very good camparisons of the different styles within the IPAs.

Fresh Growler via trade with WeeHeavySD - Pours a clear orangish color with a half finger thick off white head. Light spotty lacing. Aroma is floral, pine, and citrus hops. Very nice. Flavor is all hops. Not much malt. What strikes me about this beer is it’s so smooth with no astringent after taste. Alcohol isn’t overbearing. Medium body. This is an excellent beer. Hopefully ABC will have some on tap when I stop by in June. Thanks Jonathan.

Had this numerous times, including the 5 batch vertical tasting at Obrien’s... (July ’06 was my fav)..I must say, the most dangerous beer in america really does sneak up and kick you in the ass. Very well balanced and delicious for being 10.5% - can’t taste a bit of it - alcohol in camouflage. Much respect for pulling this beer off so well. Very similar qualities to the Pure, but a little bigger - citrus, malt, orange, and a ton of pine! Great stuff.

Growler from the brewery - shared with Bartzilla and WeeHeavySD. Aroma is awesome, with tons of piney, fruity hops. Color is a hazy, golden amber color. Flavor is nice, with lots of hops going on - however, the hop presence seems a little reserved this time around. I remember liking this beer alot more last time I had it. Apparently, they oak chipped it this time around. Im not sure if this is a new thing for this beer, but it may have something to do with the diminished hop presence. Probably shouldn’t have had this after I had some of the Nelson, which was just a superior beer.