Alpine Beer Company Exponential Hoppiness

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

650 ml bottle from Bev4less. This is the first bottled production of this brew, all previous releases were tap-growler. I’ve had this several times in small samples, but I’ve waited until now to get a proper rating. Pours a slightly cloudy orange-ish color with a small white head that soon fades to a fine film. The aroma is big with citrus, mostly grapefruit, also present in the nose is a bit of sweet caramel and some thyme. The taste is a big blast of biter grapefruit with caramel, nuts and something soapy. There is also a bit of acid from the oak aging (which works here). The palate is full and smooth, with lively carbonation. The finish is long and biter with lingering grapefruit. Overall: A very solid DIPA with the high ABV very well hidden. Very tasty, I am officially buzzed now.

Intense floral and citrus aroma. Hops, hops, and more hops; it hits you with just the right amount of bitterness. Dangerously good - the high ABV goes to your head more than your palate.

5-batch vertical on tap at O’Brien’s in San Diego: 5/07, 12/07, 2/08, 8/08, 4/09. Slightly hazy but mostly clear golden color with a small creamy white head and good lacing on the older vintages. Fresh rough citrus hop aroma with some sweet malt. Flavor is a little sweet pale malt and sugar along with loads of fresh citrusy hops. Older versions have some sour apple and a mild brett-like tartness - interesting and barleywine-like. This beer is best either fresh or about 2 years aged, not as good in between. Great rough hoppy palate with medium body. Feels like you just sucked on a fresh hop cone. Overall this is pretty awesome.

Sampled at the ’09 RBPTE, courtesy of Beerman6686. Heavy floral nose, with resin, grapefruit and peach. Average malt sweetness. Amber-orange hazy body with creamy off-white lacing, lasting head. Medium body, sticky, with medium carbonation. Bitter throughout with long lasting moderate sweetness. Fresh, grassy. A nice IIPA.

So I went to Pizza Port Carlsbad planning to log my official 100th ratebeer rating... I saw this up on the board and had to get a pint. Pale amber pour with a thin white head. Beautiful aroma of fresh cut grass, pine needles, and freshly broken citrus rind. The mouthfeel of this brew is awesome. Pleasant hop bite but smooth malty feel. This is probably the freshest tasting hops that I’ve ever had. Juicy pine and citrus flood the palate followed by steady flow of caramel and orange. Best IPA to date and a pleasant surprise for rating #100. Well done Alpine.

This deserves its following. Tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Nose is full of flora, oranges, roots, malt and white pepper, but mostly oranges. Color is a nice enough orange with a nice enough head. Flavor is that bolstered citrus with an indelible thick creaminess and a nice entrance of Red Ale malts. Finishes sweet, hoppy and long. Fucking fantastic DIPA. I said at the time that I imagine this is what Frank tasted like.

Much thanks to Maltomeal for sharing this. Aroma of very fresh nops, pine, and mandarin oranges. Pours a pale lager color with a thick frothy head. Flavor is tropical fruits (papaya/mango) with flowers. Full, rich, creamy body with a soft bitter finish. Outstanding IPA on many levels. Thanks Bill!

Sampled from a growler at the Pittsburgh Ratebeer gathering this beer poured a vibrant yellow-golden color with a large white head. The aroma was sweet, fruity, floral and had lingering grapefruit. The flavor was tangy and sweet with a strong grapefruit presence, moderate pine and very little else going on. No attempt at all for malt balance. Long finish and fairly full in body. Completely dominated by the hop but in a good way. Very nice.