Copper ALT.
Zipline Brewing Co


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- From:
- Zipline Brewing Co
- Nebraska, United States
- Style:
- Altbier
Ranked #51 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 84
Ranked #23,248 - Avg:
- 3.72 | pDev: 11.56%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 11, 2022
- Added:
- Aug 04, 2013
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 41
SCORE
84
Good
84
Good


Notes:
Zipline Brewing Co.’s Copper Alt. is an altbier, which is a unique German hybrid between an ale and a lager. This bronzed brew is designed to be extremely drinkable, with subtle nuances of chocolate and hazelnut. A late gift of Sterling hops in this brew leaves a little hoppiness for your palate to ponder before the next sip.
Hops: Magnum, Hallertau & Sterling
Malts: Pilsner, Carahell, Special B, Caramel, & Carafa
5.2% ABV
26 IBU
Gold medal for German-Style Altbier at the GABF 2015.
Hops: Magnum, Hallertau & Sterling
Malts: Pilsner, Carahell, Special B, Caramel, & Carafa
5.2% ABV
26 IBU
Gold medal for German-Style Altbier at the GABF 2015.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by omahawk:
3.77/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by omahawk from Nebraska
Very clear, medium brown / dark ruby color with minimal lacing appearance. I was surprised by the name "Alt", as this is pretty much a traditional brown ale with little hop presence. Perhaps Alt yeast was used, but this is not a traditional German Alt. Nice malt flavor with big caramel taste, bready smell, and slight lingering sweetness (just short of cloying). Well made, malt forward beer.
Aug 10, 2013
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by omahawk from Nebraska
Very clear, medium brown / dark ruby color with minimal lacing appearance. I was surprised by the name "Alt", as this is pretty much a traditional brown ale with little hop presence. Perhaps Alt yeast was used, but this is not a traditional German Alt. Nice malt flavor with big caramel taste, bready smell, and slight lingering sweetness (just short of cloying). Well made, malt forward beer.
Aug 10, 2013
More User Ratings:
3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from New Hampshire on May 11, 2022
3.57 by Myboymi from Kansas on May 01, 2022
3.71/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Pivopijak from Washington
draught
Medium dark auburn, with some chestnut, for the look. Subtle, spiced, medium dark toasted, caramel malt, with a whiff of medium toasted wood. Light, slight woody, caramel malt flavor.
Apr 08, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Pivopijak from Washington
draught
Medium dark auburn, with some chestnut, for the look. Subtle, spiced, medium dark toasted, caramel malt, with a whiff of medium toasted wood. Light, slight woody, caramel malt flavor.
Apr 08, 2022
3.6 by smithj4 from New York on Mar 31, 2022
3.79 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois on Nov 08, 2021
3.55/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by BubbleBobble from New York
Pours a slightly hazy copper with some moderate lacing. Nose is brown bread, light molasses, mild baking spice. Taste follows, but doesn't play overly sweet, with complex, baked bread flavors melding with earthy hops. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but round. Enjoyable.
Jun 28, 2021
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by BubbleBobble from New York
Pours a slightly hazy copper with some moderate lacing. Nose is brown bread, light molasses, mild baking spice. Taste follows, but doesn't play overly sweet, with complex, baked bread flavors melding with earthy hops. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, but round. Enjoyable.
Jun 28, 2021
4 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee on May 05, 2021
3.77/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Danieljm from Missouri
Dark brown but clear. Really nice colo
Aroma. Bread cracker malts slight hops in the back
Taste is clean. Nice bread cracker malts. Sweet upfront but nice dry finish
Not the best alt ever, but I’ll have another
Apr 17, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Danieljm from Missouri
Dark brown but clear. Really nice colo
Aroma. Bread cracker malts slight hops in the back
Taste is clean. Nice bread cracker malts. Sweet upfront but nice dry finish
Not the best alt ever, but I’ll have another
Apr 17, 2021
3.68/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota
Poured into a nonic.
Pours dark copper and translucent but not clear. A nice foamy tan head with outstanding lacing. Nice-looking brew.
Aromas of bready malt, modest coffee, and a touch of nuts. A bit of grassy hopping.
The flavor follows the nose. Some bready malt on the tip of the tongue, followed by toasty chocolate/nutty flavors in midstream, where the hops slowly arrive to balance things.
The brew has a solid medium feel but good carbonation too.
Zipline delivers consistently solid or better than that brews. This isn't their best effort, but it's still a solid well-balanced alt.
Feb 28, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota
Poured into a nonic.
Pours dark copper and translucent but not clear. A nice foamy tan head with outstanding lacing. Nice-looking brew.
Aromas of bready malt, modest coffee, and a touch of nuts. A bit of grassy hopping.
The flavor follows the nose. Some bready malt on the tip of the tongue, followed by toasty chocolate/nutty flavors in midstream, where the hops slowly arrive to balance things.
The brew has a solid medium feel but good carbonation too.
Zipline delivers consistently solid or better than that brews. This isn't their best effort, but it's still a solid well-balanced alt.
Feb 28, 2021
3.82/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by defunksta from North Dakota
Appearance: Pours a clear, but mostly darkened deep amber to copper brown color. A strong off-white head. SRM of 19. (4.25)
Aroma: Moderate aromas of earthy caramel with hints of cocoa. Lots of smooth, but earthy caramel. Not overly sweet on the aroma.
Flavor: Mild to moderate flavors of earthy caramel, but with some smoky hints of dark malt. Pensive smoke, peat, and some possible leather and licorice. A mild smoky bitterness on the finish. Finishes balanced and rather clean. Not a whole lot of hazelnut.
Feel: Lighter-bodied. Lower carbonation. This allows it to finish smooth, rather clean, and dry.
Compared to Alaskan Amber 2/9/21: Pours a darker brown color. More earthy caramel aromas. Less red fruit and licorice, and cherry. Less sweet and bitter hops.
Overall: A pretty decent altbier here. It is described on the site as have chocolate and hazelnut flavors. I get mostly earthy caramel flavors, like a brown ale, but with some light hints of cocoa. Not as bitter as the Alaskan Amber, but has a darker, more smokier profile which has a nice addition to the caramel backbone. Not a whole lot of hazelnut either. A pretty good altbier here. (Final Rating: 3.82)
Feb 10, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by defunksta from North Dakota
Appearance: Pours a clear, but mostly darkened deep amber to copper brown color. A strong off-white head. SRM of 19. (4.25)
Aroma: Moderate aromas of earthy caramel with hints of cocoa. Lots of smooth, but earthy caramel. Not overly sweet on the aroma.
Flavor: Mild to moderate flavors of earthy caramel, but with some smoky hints of dark malt. Pensive smoke, peat, and some possible leather and licorice. A mild smoky bitterness on the finish. Finishes balanced and rather clean. Not a whole lot of hazelnut.
Feel: Lighter-bodied. Lower carbonation. This allows it to finish smooth, rather clean, and dry.
Compared to Alaskan Amber 2/9/21: Pours a darker brown color. More earthy caramel aromas. Less red fruit and licorice, and cherry. Less sweet and bitter hops.
Overall: A pretty decent altbier here. It is described on the site as have chocolate and hazelnut flavors. I get mostly earthy caramel flavors, like a brown ale, but with some light hints of cocoa. Not as bitter as the Alaskan Amber, but has a darker, more smokier profile which has a nice addition to the caramel backbone. Not a whole lot of hazelnut either. A pretty good altbier here. (Final Rating: 3.82)
Feb 10, 2021
3.97 by Gavage from Nevada on Jul 14, 2020
3.54/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by DrMullet from Florida
Pours a hazy dark copper/amber with minimal head.
Smell is toasted caramel, sweet malt and a dash of dark chocolate.
Taste is grainy roasted malt with some chocolate and nut.
No real hop presence.
Mar 22, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by DrMullet from Florida
Pours a hazy dark copper/amber with minimal head.
Smell is toasted caramel, sweet malt and a dash of dark chocolate.
Taste is grainy roasted malt with some chocolate and nut.
No real hop presence.
Mar 22, 2020
3.81/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Scott17Taylor from Iowa
Pours copper with small head,
The aroma is toasted malt and fruity esters,
The flavor follows the aroma, lots of toasted malts, some caramel and nutty notes with some fruity esters. There is a pronounced herbal hop bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium, fairly full for a 5% beer.
Overall, it’s good. Not my favorite style but it’s a great example
Feb 26, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Scott17Taylor from Iowa
Pours copper with small head,
The aroma is toasted malt and fruity esters,
The flavor follows the aroma, lots of toasted malts, some caramel and nutty notes with some fruity esters. There is a pronounced herbal hop bitterness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is medium, fairly full for a 5% beer.
Overall, it’s good. Not my favorite style but it’s a great example
Feb 26, 2020
3.72 by craigbelly from Iowa on Jan 22, 2020
4.16/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by NebraskaBill
Look - nice brownish amber color with good amount of foam
Nose - nutty and caramel
Taste - malty, nutty, some hops and a bit sweet, but not as much as an marzen style. Very well balanced and unique.
Feel - on the lighter side, which is part of what makes this unique and in my opinion, very pleasant.
Overall, one of the most unique but easily drinkable beers around.
Dec 25, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by NebraskaBill
Look - nice brownish amber color with good amount of foam
Nose - nutty and caramel
Taste - malty, nutty, some hops and a bit sweet, but not as much as an marzen style. Very well balanced and unique.
Feel - on the lighter side, which is part of what makes this unique and in my opinion, very pleasant.
Overall, one of the most unique but easily drinkable beers around.
Dec 25, 2019
3.98/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by bbtkd from South Dakota
Zipline Copper Alt, 5.2% ABV. Pours dark brown with a one finger white head. Nose is rye bread and hazelnut. Taste is bread, hazelnut, roast malt, slight bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent.
Dec 08, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by bbtkd from South Dakota
Zipline Copper Alt, 5.2% ABV. Pours dark brown with a one finger white head. Nose is rye bread and hazelnut. Taste is bread, hazelnut, roast malt, slight bitterness. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent.
Dec 08, 2019
4.23 by CisPiece88 from Nebraska on Jul 17, 2019
2.29 by kimlhurst from Ohio on Jul 08, 2019
3.88 by EdmundBlackadder from Ohio on May 29, 2019
3.91/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by superspak from North Carolina
Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 7/8/2019. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/copper/amber color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and brown bread dough/crust; with lighter notes of toffee, raisin, plum, peach, pear, red apple, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and brown bread dough/crust; with lighter notes of toffee, raisin, plum, peach, pear, red apple, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, brown bread dough/crust, light toffee/dark fruit, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly crisp/sticky, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is a delicious altbier. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Great clean and nicely rich dark/bready malt showcase; with balancing earthy hops, and restrained yeast fruitiness. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example.
May 10, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by superspak from North Carolina
Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 7/8/2019. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/copper/amber color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and brown bread dough/crust; with lighter notes of toffee, raisin, plum, peach, pear, red apple, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, and brown bread dough/crust; with lighter notes of toffee, raisin, plum, peach, pear, red apple, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, brown bread dough/crust, light toffee/dark fruit, wood, pepper, herbal, floral, grass, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, fairly crisp/sticky, and lightly chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.2%. Overall this is a delicious altbier. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; very smooth and fairly crisp/refreshing to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Great clean and nicely rich dark/bready malt showcase; with balancing earthy hops, and restrained yeast fruitiness. Minimal residual sweetness with crisp dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and impressive spot on style example.
May 10, 2019
3.68 by godawgs from Louisiana on Apr 13, 2019
3.78 by tommyboy985 from Massachusetts on Mar 22, 2019
4.25 by crob3888 from California on Mar 20, 2019
3.54 by LXIXME from New Mexico on Jan 15, 2019
4 by ArnoldBlumenthal from Maryland on Nov 19, 2018
3.71/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by tone77 from Pennsylvania
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, a bit sweet. Taste is of bready malts, brown sugar, a touch of hops. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking and enjoyable beer.
Oct 24, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by tone77 from Pennsylvania
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a dark bronze color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, a bit sweet. Taste is of bready malts, brown sugar, a touch of hops. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking and enjoyable beer.
Oct 24, 2018
3.71 by GarbageMan10 from Texas on Aug 03, 2018
3.99 by SicemWT from Texas on Jul 29, 2018
3.83 by SamHill_92 from Nebraska on Jul 07, 2018
4.68 by DSlep16 from Nebraska on Jun 21, 2018
4.29 by Dorgaria from Iowa on Feb 21, 2018
4.06/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by superwho24 from Arkansas
Smell: corn, grains, and nuts
Taste: nutty and malty
Sort of a creamy texture
Oct 04, 2017
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by superwho24 from Arkansas
Smell: corn, grains, and nuts
Taste: nutty and malty
Sort of a creamy texture
Oct 04, 2017
3.73 by Mxsluis from Michigan on Sep 11, 2017
3.85 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida on Jul 19, 2017
3.94 by jaydoc from Kansas on Jul 15, 2017
3.58 by dms1767 from Nebraska on Jun 19, 2017
3.27/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
Poured into a stange, the appearance was a semi-deep brown color with some amber hues along the edges. Creamy colored finger’s worth of white foamy head. Dissipates slow. Slight messy lace. The aroma had some toast, nuts, sweet meat. Then roast and a touch of chocolate. The flavor blends the sweet to the roast fairly nice. Some earthiness and then a touch of spice. Crisp sweet to roasty aftertaste. Touch of sweet meat in the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt fine for what it projected. Overall, good as a beer. Altbier-wise, well, I want to say that "sweet meat" I was getting was supposed to emulate German lager yeastiness. Me, I’m not sure, but I would have this one again for me. Altbier lovers, you might like this, but I almost want to say that the brewery didn’t use a German alt yeast in this.
Jun 08, 2017
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
Poured into a stange, the appearance was a semi-deep brown color with some amber hues along the edges. Creamy colored finger’s worth of white foamy head. Dissipates slow. Slight messy lace. The aroma had some toast, nuts, sweet meat. Then roast and a touch of chocolate. The flavor blends the sweet to the roast fairly nice. Some earthiness and then a touch of spice. Crisp sweet to roasty aftertaste. Touch of sweet meat in the finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt fine for what it projected. Overall, good as a beer. Altbier-wise, well, I want to say that "sweet meat" I was getting was supposed to emulate German lager yeastiness. Me, I’m not sure, but I would have this one again for me. Altbier lovers, you might like this, but I almost want to say that the brewery didn’t use a German alt yeast in this.
Jun 08, 2017
3.92 by Julian_Hayden from Nebraska on Jun 02, 2017
3.84 by 22Blue from Kansas on May 01, 2017
Copper ALT. from Zipline Brewing Co
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
128 ratings