Alpine Beer Company Exponential Hoppiness

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

Bottle, Vail Beer Fest. Head is mostly diminishing. Body is dark yellow. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted bread), moderately to heavily hoppy (herbs, grapefruit, resin), lightly yeasty (dough), with a note of wood. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, heavily bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Must admit this was a surprise and fairly enjoyable for the style. The wood was quite apparent in the nose, although I did not know at the time it was oak chipped...I just kinda figured it was aged in oak. Anyways, the hops are strong but not annoying, and the flavor balance was quite drinkable and fairly non-abrasive. I tried the Pure Hoppiness in the same session (though I didn’t bother rating it), and it was boring in comparison.

Tap @ Pizza Port Carlsbad: Clear deep golden color with a small off-white head. Large grapefruit and citrus hop aroma. Hops definitely dominate the aroma. Flavor is perfectly balanced with hop, grapefruit, and malt. Bitter finish is light but present.

Draft. Hazy yellow orange with a small creamy white head. Heavy pine resin with grapefruit aroma. Vegetal hop character up front, followed by a crushing resinous flavor. Hot grapefuity finish with residual bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium heavy, fairly hot.

Tap at the Stick. Pours slightly cloudy light orange with no head. Aroma is heavy with pine and citrus. The taste is incredible. Full on hop assault with grapefruit and light sweetness. This taste remains with you throughout, but mellows due the oak chips (I presume). Very smooth, almost a syrupy mouthfeel. The best Imperial IPA I’ve ever had

Draft at Liar’s club with legion242. Nice to meet you John. Hazy orange with a decent head. Classic IPA pineyness and citrus. The flavor was nice and sweet. Nice Grapefuity hoppiness on the finsih. Pretty tasty.

On tap at Liar’s Club: Beer pours golden amber shot with orange and a moderate off white head. Aroma is of strong hoppy goodness, reminiscent of a pine forest after it rains. The flavor is industrial strength hop juice. Very juicy, fresh fruit, grapefruit, and orange juice. A shocking hop experience even for a dedicated hopophile like myself. Wonderful juicy mouthfeel. Lovely hop juice. Give me more please!!!!!

Sampled at Falling rock during GABF (Me so Hoppy). Foamy medium head, great carbonation in this copper colored brew. As you would expect, a great hoppy aroma. Fresh leaves, spicy and grapefruit. Light sweetness. Big hoppy taste! A bit soapy at the beginning and the end but in-between there is spruce and pine as well as some orangish hops. Malt is adequate to hold it up but not quite enough to really balance everything out. Bitter finish. Body was medium, a bit soapy. A little disappointed with this one but still very good.

On tap at the Liar’s Club on 7/30/05: Very clear pale copper bronze with a thin, lightly-lacing white head. Aroma is very fresh, hoppy and grassy with lots of sweet caramel maltiness. Body starts with a nice sticky sweetness turning more herbal and grassy toward the bittersweet finish. A different and unique beer that uses a different kind of hop than I am used to in imperial IPAs.