Hoppy Birthday
Alpine Beer Company

Hoppy BirthdayHoppy Birthday
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From:
Alpine Beer Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #36
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,262
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 8.37%
Reviews:
507
Ratings:
2,888
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 18, 2022
Added:
May 24, 2010
Wants:
  630
Gots:
  524
Truth is, everyone has a birthday. And when you want to celebrate, this Session IPA is a gift to the senses. Made with 6 different hops, this bold brew is refreshing enough to enjoy again and again. Now, make a wish and blow out the candles. But don’t tell anyone, or your wish won’t come true.

69 IBUs
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Dreadnaught33:
Photo of Dreadnaught33
Reviewed by Dreadnaught33 from District of Columbia

4.89/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Thanks again to starrdogg for sharing a growler of this amazing beer, thanks Matt. Alpine is quickly becoming in my book the go to brewery for hop heads like me.

A: Very clean almost lager like look with an orange/gold hue with a small ring of head and some good lacing. Some chunks of hops are floating in there, a good sign in my book.

S: What an amazing dry hop smell. So open and inviting, the smell has all the hop goodness of pine, grass, citrus rind, and weed in there. Some sweet candy malt compliments nicely to the hop barrage in the smell. Outstanding smell, just incredible.

T: The taste is so complex, I'm amazed the ABV is so low, not to say I detected any heat, but 5% beers are just not this tasty and all out hoppy. Lemon grass, fresh pine and grass, some citrus (dry), and just the right amount of crispy sugar malt rounds it out. What an awesome beer! The tastiest APA I've ever had, and this is from a die hard 3F fan (Alpha King, Zombie Dust both are amazing but this one may take the cake.)

M: Nice bitter back, and an overall very dry west coast hop beer thats great. Still semi sweet and smooth. Great medium feel, a little spicy.

O: Amazing, just an amazing beer. I absolutely love Alpine.
May 13, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.31 by kflorence from Texas

May 18, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by doctorgary from New York

Apr 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by minterro from California

Dec 19, 2021
 
Rated: 4.21 by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

Nov 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.62 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Aug 04, 2021
Photo of simonrgilbert57
Reviewed by simonrgilbert57 from California

4.27/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Overall a very good beer. Not much going on with the color but the head is decently frothy and laces nicely. Smell is also generally hoppy, much like the taste. Good dry hop taste in the front but it recedes a bit. Feel is good but feels a bit heavy for 5.3 ABV pale ale like this. Would recommend from one of California's best.
Feb 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by Yungcoolship from Wisconsin

Feb 05, 2021
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.04/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
11/23/15:
Lightly hazed, bright golden coloring, ivory head leaving lace, looking lovely.

Bold, citrusy aromatics. Lemon and lime, orange, and pine. floral. Incredibly fresh leafy, green hoppy nose. Beautiful.

In the mouth: a bracingly bitter entrance on the palate. Fresh hop attack, more citrusy goodness. Lean-bodied. Easy-drinking. Bitterness never quits, and alcohol doesn't stand in the way of having a few, if that's what you want to do.

Label side gobbledygook: Hoppy Birthday. "The Most Celebrated Beer in the World." Truth is, everyone has a birthday. And when you want to celebrate, this Session IPA is a gift to the senses. Made with 6 different hops, this brew is refreshing enough to enjoy again and again. Now, make a wish and blow out the candles. But, don't tell anyone or your wish won't come true."
Feb 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.44 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Jan 30, 2021
 
Rated: 4.74 by GinDC from Virginia

Nov 15, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by Shanex from France

Jun 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by TallGuyCM from California

Jun 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.49 by ryanf2192 from District of Columbia

Jun 08, 2020
 
Rated: 4.63 by Justinbshelton from Alabama

May 29, 2020
 
Rated: 3.49 by DCH from New York

Apr 03, 2020
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.79/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
October 5th, 2015 - We're a little less than a month away from my birthday which was hoppy with other brews, but this would have been a fine choice for a full day of celebration. Somehow both a rusty red color but with a shade of paleness, it is a good smelling beer, with a sessionable freshness, with a fresh, shaggy malt note. It is paired with a great flavor too, with that rusty metallic note I first detected back when Killian's Red was the rage, and a brilliantly fresh flavor. Metallic and grapefruit notes give some bitterness and character, and above all, enjoyable drinkability.
Nov 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.66 by Stevotex from Texas

Oct 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Aug 05, 2019
Photo of macrosmatic
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

3.71/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from (very) long-standing notes. Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into an unmarked shaker pint glass.

A: Hazy gold, with a one-finger white creamy head that fades fairly quickly. A good amount of visible carbonation.

S: Orange-forward citrus and resinous hops. Bready malt body adds a fair amount of sweetness in addition to the touch of caramelization.

T: Citrus - oranges and grapefruit. Resin and some dank hops, again with a good bit of sweet biscuit malts. A touch of caramel and oxidation. A moderate citrus bitterness in the hang.

M: Medium body, average carbonation sensation. The alcohol flavors seem to stick out a bit more than usual.

O: This was decent as it is, but I think it would have been better fresher. Despite being well within the "best by" date on the bottle (March 18, '16), it tastes like an old IPA. I'm not sure if the caramel and sweet flavors were intentional, or possible a bottling or handling issue causing some oxidation. But as it is, it lacks anything outstanding.
Jul 26, 2019
Hoppy Birthday from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 2888 ratings