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Alpine Ale
Alpine Beer Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Alpine Beer Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Ale
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.63 | pDev: 11.29%
- Reviews:
- 140
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 16, 2020
- Added:
- Jun 21, 2003
- Wants:
- 25
- Gots:
- 48
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good


Notes:
Our namesake ale represents everything a good, well balanced pale ale should be: malty but not too sweet, refreshing but not too bitter, full-bodied but not too heavy, lively but not over carbonated. A clean, everyday beer that leaves your palate begging for more. 1.054 OG 32 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Zythophile from Washington
3.89/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle Date: purchased two months ago
Palate Contaminants: none
The color is a light-medium gold. Little head for the type, and it's relatively coarse.
I can pick out a couple different scents, but it all seems to roll up into on some sort of honey banana bread with chocolate chips. There's also a bit of marmalade. It could stand to be a little stronger, though.
The taste isn't even as strong as the smell. Still, the malt and bitterness are straight down the fairway. Sweetness is slight, bitterness is moderate; the whole thing seems classically elemental. (There's just nothing beyond barley, hops, yeast, and water.) It's still plenty good, and would probably make a good "gateway" brew if one is trying to introduce the broader world of the brewing arts to someone.
Feel is thin-moderate. Carbonation is coarse, but not prickly. Bitterness is the main thing that hangs around.
Jul 08, 2017Palate Contaminants: none
The color is a light-medium gold. Little head for the type, and it's relatively coarse.
I can pick out a couple different scents, but it all seems to roll up into on some sort of honey banana bread with chocolate chips. There's also a bit of marmalade. It could stand to be a little stronger, though.
The taste isn't even as strong as the smell. Still, the malt and bitterness are straight down the fairway. Sweetness is slight, bitterness is moderate; the whole thing seems classically elemental. (There's just nothing beyond barley, hops, yeast, and water.) It's still plenty good, and would probably make a good "gateway" brew if one is trying to introduce the broader world of the brewing arts to someone.
Feel is thin-moderate. Carbonation is coarse, but not prickly. Bitterness is the main thing that hangs around.
Rated by Covocali from California
3.29/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.29/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Light floral taste small bitter would not drink again
Jul 26, 2016Reviewed by PicoPapa from Connecticut
3.46/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at D&G Pizza and Pub. Pours a semi hazy burnt orange with an inch of frothy head. Minimal lacing. The aroma is malty with light citrus notes. Not much else. The taste is more malts with some tangerine and pine. Sweet lemon as well. Malty finish. Medium bodied with a light amount of carbonation. Overall, nothing special but decent enough.
Dec 10, 2015Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.42/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.42/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pale ale gonna pale ale, this one is yellow, around 1/2" head on it, white head, average retention, somewhat inconsistent lace to it.
You definitely don't get the big hop bite you do out of most Alpine's. Nice smell that borders equally on grainy. Could say the same for the taste. Expensive in bomber format. A good beer for the outreach.
Nov 30, 2015You definitely don't get the big hop bite you do out of most Alpine's. Nice smell that borders equally on grainy. Could say the same for the taste. Expensive in bomber format. A good beer for the outreach.
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
4.17/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: classic APA, burnt orange, a bit cloudy, 2+ fingers of off-white head.
Smell: some malt, but also lists of citrusy hops, with orange aromas really coming through.
Taste: again, classic APA, but the orange citrus flavors kick thou up a couple of notches.
Feel: bright and tangy, bubbly on the palate.
Overall: if I had regular access to this, it would always be in my beer fridge. A great representation of the APA style.
Oct 26, 2015Smell: some malt, but also lists of citrusy hops, with orange aromas really coming through.
Taste: again, classic APA, but the orange citrus flavors kick thou up a couple of notches.
Feel: bright and tangy, bubbly on the palate.
Overall: if I had regular access to this, it would always be in my beer fridge. A great representation of the APA style.
Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky
3.43/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Way too resiny, grassy, and bitter for my liking, in both aroma and flavor. I found it fairly difficult to drink, for my palate. Holding out hope for the rest of their portfolio.
Oct 03, 2015Rated by Spreetaper from New York
3.95/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On tap at brewery.
Sep 29, 2015Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.79/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
On tap at BC's Pizza & Beer
A: Pours golden yellow with a creamy off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves plenty of lacing.
S: Pine and grapefruit dominate, a little lemon, touch of spice, and a little slightly toasty malt.
T: Resinous pine, some citrus, grapefruit and lemon, a little herbal peppery spice, and a touch of malt sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: Solid, but unspectacular.
Sep 26, 2015A: Pours golden yellow with a creamy off white head that settles to a firm layer and leaves plenty of lacing.
S: Pine and grapefruit dominate, a little lemon, touch of spice, and a little slightly toasty malt.
T: Resinous pine, some citrus, grapefruit and lemon, a little herbal peppery spice, and a touch of malt sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation.
O: Solid, but unspectacular.
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky
3.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Extra pale and with a sharp and citrusy balance, Alpine's flagship IPA is lighter on the palate than more classic versions and is friendly with food, drinkable enough to quench the thirst, yet characterful enough to garner praise from the most dedicated craft beer enthusiast in a stand-alone session.
Light of copper and amber, its honey hues capture a modest haze while casting forth a creamy short foam stance. While its scent is tightly woven of light biscuit and citrus, its taste is smooth and elegant with off-caramel, nutty, toasty malt flavor.
With the middle opening up, the sweeter side of balance is caught somewhere between honey and caramel but with a creamy nougat center with biscuit and apricot; giving the taste a marzen-like softness. As the hops rise to balance the sweetness, it brings its own citrusy character. Pink grapefruit, slightly under-ripened orange and a light herbal taste develops into a sprucy and lightly resinous bittering.
Remaining even-keel in balance, the beer's medium-light body is playfully starchy, creamy and supple in sweetness. Though trending dry and refreshing, the hops offer a slight shadow over the malts with its acute and moderate bitterness in finish. Trailing with soft pine resins and citrus peel, the aftertaste shows a confident hop tilt.
Sep 25, 2015Light of copper and amber, its honey hues capture a modest haze while casting forth a creamy short foam stance. While its scent is tightly woven of light biscuit and citrus, its taste is smooth and elegant with off-caramel, nutty, toasty malt flavor.
With the middle opening up, the sweeter side of balance is caught somewhere between honey and caramel but with a creamy nougat center with biscuit and apricot; giving the taste a marzen-like softness. As the hops rise to balance the sweetness, it brings its own citrusy character. Pink grapefruit, slightly under-ripened orange and a light herbal taste develops into a sprucy and lightly resinous bittering.
Remaining even-keel in balance, the beer's medium-light body is playfully starchy, creamy and supple in sweetness. Though trending dry and refreshing, the hops offer a slight shadow over the malts with its acute and moderate bitterness in finish. Trailing with soft pine resins and citrus peel, the aftertaste shows a confident hop tilt.
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
3.59/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Copper colored with excellent clarity. There's a fingernail of off white around the rim and covering not quite half of the top. Aroma is pale dough and perhaps a hint of orange peel. I taste an orange peel note along with a garlic bread note at the front of the palate. The finish is rather abrupt and clean. The mouth is smooth and crisp. That orange peel note produces a light burn. I'm thinking that is a citrus hop thing, but this could use slight retooling.
Sep 25, 2015Reviewed by raiderandbeerfan from Nevada
3.25/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Looks like a pale ale, average yellow, 1/2" head on the top, all white, the lace was inconsistent, but the retention was reliable.
Aroma lacked hops, especially compared with their other beers. Smells grainy just as much as hops.
Taste, doesn't offer much. Its liquid. Its mild. Its easy to drink. An english pale almost, but without that fetid swamp water burton yeast. Doesn't make sense to have this beer in bombers at such a price. Pass.
Sep 24, 2015Aroma lacked hops, especially compared with their other beers. Smells grainy just as much as hops.
Taste, doesn't offer much. Its liquid. Its mild. Its easy to drink. An english pale almost, but without that fetid swamp water burton yeast. Doesn't make sense to have this beer in bombers at such a price. Pass.
Alpine Ale from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
487 ratings
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