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Exponential Hoppiness
Alpine Beer Company
- From:
- Alpine Beer Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 98
- Avg:
- 4.42 | pDev: 9.05%
- Reviews:
- 405
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 27, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 08, 2003
- Wants:
- 1,454
- Gots:
- 101
This Hop Monster uses multiple kettle hop additions with the technique of doubling the hop amount each addition (exponentially). Add in the hop back and the continuous dr- hopping and your starting to get the picture. The beer is finished off with a "body-bag" sized hop-bag full of hop cones and oak chips. There it ages and mellows, disguising the alcohol content for a double strong, incredibly hoppy, yet drinkable beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by beagle75:
Reviewed by beagle75 from Iowa
4.3/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.
A: Slightly hazy, dark orange-gold color with under one finger of diminishing white foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass. A lone stream of eager bubbles rise from the contoured side of the glass. A wisp of drifting yeast is seen low in the column.
S: Caramelly treacle and fermented grain make the smell rich with sweetness and heady vapors that stop well short of being boozy. Tropical fruit in the form of pineapple is faint but present, as is coniferous foliage. Trace amounts of well-cured oak, but no alcohol, is detected in the smell.
T: Begins sweet, with snappy herbaceous spice hop aromatics and candied citrus amidst lively moderate acidity. Fairly intense caramel malt emerges in the middle as spicy hops decline, replaced by the more mellow pineapple tropical fruit from the smell. Oak is also first detected in the middle, although it comes on quite strong in the brisk, drying finish. Bitterness seems restrained at first, but repeated visits reinforce it until the lingering presence is quite significant and faintly medicinal. Intense flavors throughout mask the gentle alcohol presence, although it is frequently hinted at.
M: Medium viscosity; syrupy, resinous, and warming on the palate; with moderate carbonation.
D/O: As indicated by the name, this is a huge DIPA that dominates the palate but also entertains it mightily. Hops and malt, bright and sweet, scintillate on the palate, threatening to overwhelm the senses. Every other wood-aged DIPA encountered thus far could stand to learn a thing or two from this beer, which is surprisingly mellow and easy to tolerate despite all of the senses saying that this is as extreme as it gets. While this beer falls in the same sub-family as Port Hop 15 and Firestone Double Jack, it is its well-practiced balance in the face of ballsy intensity that sets it apart. The palate does not tire of this, even if all reasonable judgment says that it should.
Apr 29, 2011A: Slightly hazy, dark orange-gold color with under one finger of diminishing white foam head. Scant lacing remains on the glass. A lone stream of eager bubbles rise from the contoured side of the glass. A wisp of drifting yeast is seen low in the column.
S: Caramelly treacle and fermented grain make the smell rich with sweetness and heady vapors that stop well short of being boozy. Tropical fruit in the form of pineapple is faint but present, as is coniferous foliage. Trace amounts of well-cured oak, but no alcohol, is detected in the smell.
T: Begins sweet, with snappy herbaceous spice hop aromatics and candied citrus amidst lively moderate acidity. Fairly intense caramel malt emerges in the middle as spicy hops decline, replaced by the more mellow pineapple tropical fruit from the smell. Oak is also first detected in the middle, although it comes on quite strong in the brisk, drying finish. Bitterness seems restrained at first, but repeated visits reinforce it until the lingering presence is quite significant and faintly medicinal. Intense flavors throughout mask the gentle alcohol presence, although it is frequently hinted at.
M: Medium viscosity; syrupy, resinous, and warming on the palate; with moderate carbonation.
D/O: As indicated by the name, this is a huge DIPA that dominates the palate but also entertains it mightily. Hops and malt, bright and sweet, scintillate on the palate, threatening to overwhelm the senses. Every other wood-aged DIPA encountered thus far could stand to learn a thing or two from this beer, which is surprisingly mellow and easy to tolerate despite all of the senses saying that this is as extreme as it gets. While this beer falls in the same sub-family as Port Hop 15 and Firestone Double Jack, it is its well-practiced balance in the face of ballsy intensity that sets it apart. The palate does not tire of this, even if all reasonable judgment says that it should.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Beers-es from Virginia
4.4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
From a month-old pint can, pours a very clear darkish-gold. Small white head with little lacing, as you'd expect from this ABV. Smell and taste are classic West Coast IPA, with pine and honey malt in balance. Good hit of bitterness in the finish. No trace of alcohol, medium feel. Great beer.
Mar 17, 2021Reviewed by Hooded from Texas
4.37/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.37/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Notes from 12/20/2019
On tap in a half pint snifter at The Draft House Austin Texas.
Look is golden and a little cloudy. There is almost no head because the staff pour carefully to the brim to give you more beer. 4.25
Smell is hops, citrus, stone fruit, and a little spice. 4.00
Taste is mango, citrus, alcohol, some malt, pine, and moderate bitterness. 4.5
Feel is medium and a little slick. 4.5
Overall it is a big IPA with a lot going on. It's too much for me to drink it offten but it is a great beer. 4.5
Dec 22, 2019On tap in a half pint snifter at The Draft House Austin Texas.
Look is golden and a little cloudy. There is almost no head because the staff pour carefully to the brim to give you more beer. 4.25
Smell is hops, citrus, stone fruit, and a little spice. 4.00
Taste is mango, citrus, alcohol, some malt, pine, and moderate bitterness. 4.5
Feel is medium and a little slick. 4.5
Overall it is a big IPA with a lot going on. It's too much for me to drink it offten but it is a great beer. 4.5
Exponential Hoppiness from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating:
98 out of
100 with
1350 ratings
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