Alpine Beer Company Nelson IPA

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Sauvin cask version. Pours hazy apricot with a nice eggshell head. Aroma has strong note of dusty hops with fruity and malt hints. Hoppy flavor is quite evergreen and bitter, while malty and citrus tones provide support. Mouthfeel has firm body and good fizz, leaving a nice hoppy finish. Don’t go for a half Nelson, get a full one!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Wish list cross off at Toronado SD did NOT disappoint. Stood toe to toe (at least) with Blind Pig and lives to tell the tale. Huge dank tropical fruity hops in the nose and flavor. Light spice.Just loved every sip. Nothing else I can say... 4/13 Fresh bottle practically exploding with a wonderful vibrant fruity aroma and flavor without high abv while maintaining balance. One the best IPAs I've ever had. Aroma REALLY close to a 10.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

The last bottle that my friend brought up for me. This one was a bit of a disappointment. Cloudy orange color, extremely minimal head, something sour in the aftertaste. And a bit metallic. I was expecting more of a rye presence, and I don't find it anywhere. I think it is the white wine characteristic that I don't like...I remember having a couple other beers that touted such a flavor and I didn't like it for the same reason. This one isn't undrinkable, it just is not as good as the others I've had from Alpine.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

A slightly different angle on the standard West Coast IPA. This one is more grassy and floral than the Duet & Pure with a good bit of fruitiness. Much softer as well with a nice creaminess to counter the moderate bitterness.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Wow, let's just start with that. Wow. Pours a thick, opaque yellow with dense creamy head. I have never been more shocked by the appearance of a beer before. The aroma: I probably let it sit 15 minutes or so, resniffing again and again because I simply could not believe my nose. Strong evergreen notes meet light citrus, yet somehow that just doesn't describe the amazingness of this scent. Possibly the best smelling hoppy beer I have had and I'm no newcomer to beer or the style. Flavor somehow manages to highlight a complex grain bill and be hop-heavy. Medium-to-full bodied and well carbonated; still smooth despite warming. One remarkable beer!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

Poured a HUGE head that settled to a thinner but long lasting one. Lacing is apparent, although certainly not heavy. Good carbonation. Color is a cloudy orange/copper. Wow, this smells perfect for the warm day it is. Nose is lemon and orange and some spice. Taste is first lemon, orange/mango but with a great spicey bready malt and that rye backbone. Bitterness is very mild in the finish. So refreshing...it does NOT deteriorate as it warms. This is a pretty perfect balance for me. Sessionable? You bet. This is an amazing beer - great nose, so flavorful, and leaves you wanting more (and I DO)! How can you left-coasters sleep at night keeping this to yourselves!?

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 10 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Bottle, home. Alpine night #2. Another day, another fantastic IPA from Alpine. Whereas Duet was a nearly perfect version of what I look for in an IPA, Nelson is unexpected but also world class. This isn't my first encounter with Nelson Sauvin hops, but it's definitely the best use of them that I've tried. The beer smells of orange rinds, wild lilacs, honeysuckle and sweet white grape juice. The flavor is dry, bitter and spicy with rye. The whole package works extremely well. I have no real qualms with this beer, but I wouldn't mind if the rye was a bit stronger. I'd love to try an imperial version of this beer, so get on that Alpine. The mouthfeel has a nice hop oiliness surrounding the duel between hop bite and rye spice. It's an incredibly drinkable beer despite its unusual flavor profile. Alpine has managed to make a combination of rye and Nelson Sauvin hops feel completely natural and I'd love to spend a night with nothing but glasses of Nelson.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle from South Bay. Hazy gold color and pours with a thick fluffy off-white head. Lacing coats the glass like glue. Citrusy aroma; grapefruit, fruity zest, leaves. There’s a real biscuity saazy type of flavor to this. Very unique and interesting flavors. Tropical fruity sweetness is complimented pretty nicely by a sharp bitter hop bite. Herbal and oily with some orange peel and almond in there as well. The use of this hop almost gives it a Belgian twist but in a very unique way and not like those Belgian IPA’s out there. I enjoyed this beer

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 9

I have been waiting to sample a beer made with Nelson Savin since they first hit the market. Lightly hazy, it even has some floaties from the growler, the beer is a light, copper color and it is topped by a ring of wispy, light tan colored froth. The aroma is quite distinct, certainly hoppy, but not as I have ever smelled before. It is quite herbal, with a note reminiscent of garlic chives, some musky hemp notes, and an almost woody grass-like note that can be quite pronounced at times. There is a fruitiness from the hops too, and with all of the herbal focus, it is not too far of a stretch to say this is like Sauvignon Blanc. It even has a touch of cattiness to it as well as notes of unripe grapes, lime and even some grapefruit if you really dig for it.

Very weird flavors here; certainly quite distinct in its hop character. The hops contribute a definite catty note to the flavor that almost leans towards cat litter (though not nearly as bad as that sounds). Strongly herbal hop notes contribute flavors of pine tar, woody-rosemary, oil-laden hemp seed notes, basil and something that is quite, distinctly, reminiscent of a herbaceous flavor that I just can't quite put my finger on, but is so apparent that I can't figure out why I can't put a name to it. The beer is fairly light on the palate, and definitely is perceived as being quite dry. While the herbal notes seem to dominate, there are significant fruit-like flavors contributed by the hops as well; flavors of slightly acidic, under-ripe, green grapes, kefir lime leaf, star-fruit, and a tart citrus character mix in, and somewhat mitigate the herbal notes. As to the malt notes, well this is definitely an IPA, and they only play a supporting role here; just barely noticeable under all of the hop influence. The bitterness is not over the top here; it is at a nice, contributing level though and helps to clean up the finish.

This is certainly a fascinating hop, it is quite different from any other hop variety that I have direct experience with. Very interesting, and very tasty, I definitely could do with more of this beer. I have a feeling though that these flavors would get old if I encountered them at such levels on a more regular basis. The hop character (both the aroma & flavor) is so musky; it is makes me think of the essential oils of a mix of herbs. I am not sure if it quite works in the IPA format, but could definitely see using it in some of the lighter colored Belgian-styled beers. Definitely well worth it though, and I am still quite exited to use this hop in my own brewing.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Pours with a cloudy golden body topped by a medium thick head with some lacing. It’s slightly sweet and citrusy with underlying notes of pineapple to start, then turns bitter with notes of pine, rye and lemon. Medium bodied, dry and slightly warming.