Duet
Alpine Beer Company

Dan2213 from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Looks beautiful. Golden orange with about one finger of head and solid lacing as it goes down. Smell is pine along with citrus. Also has an earthy vibe to it. Taste pretty much follows the nose. Earthy pine dominates. Medium body and carbonation on the feel. This is an outstanding representation of what I would classify as a West Coast IPA

Apr 25, 2021

DavetotheB from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From a 12oz can dated 3/5/21 into a weizen glass.

Pours a translucent light amber color with about a finger and a half of white head. Average retention, decent lacing.

Smell isn't overpowering but definitely picking up nice tones of grape, berry, apple and light citrus. Pine and earth linger in the background.

Picking up some grape in the taste but also a decent amount of pine and resiny bitterness.

Slightly thin mouthfeel but sticky. Medium carbonation. Bitter resiny aftertaste.

Overall a really nice WCIPA. Excited to find this freshish (~1 mo) in these parts.

Apr 17, 2021

RobertB412 from Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. can (01/06.21) poured into a pint glass with a slightly hazy golden color, quickly receding off white head and minimal lacing. Smells of pine, citrus, grass and some malt. Taste is similar to aroma with grapefruit, pine, earthy hops and malt to balance the bitterness. Medium body with good carbonation and a touch of alcohol. Overall, a good balanced citrus/piney IPA.

Mar 19, 2021

feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

10/31/15:
Beautiful. Gorgeous. Clear, bright golden, lovely chalk white head.

Perfect. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, ...pine and citrus aplenty. Yeah, man.

Taste: yum. All kinds of hop delights. All the best. Mmmm. Lush, luscious, full-on fruity and fantastic. Loads of citrus and touches of tropical. It's so good. It's ....it's wonderful. It's exactly right. Everything is right right now. It's all good.

They know what they're doing out in Alpine, California.

Damn it, this is a good beer and I can drink it. You should, too.

Hey, there's some stuff on the label. Let's read it: "A West Coast IPA that features Amarillo and Simcoe hops "in harmony," giving a bright, floral aroma. Duet is nicely bitter with the perfect amount of malt concealed behind the hoppy goodness. Immensely drinkable, amazingly nimble on it's feet."

Feb 04, 2021

brewerburgundy from California

4.15/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

13oz pour at Roma’s.

Nice middle yellow with a small white head and generous lacing.

Melon, general citrus, pineapple, and yes I do get the cedar.

Juicy, full of flavor. Citrus and fruit up front with piney bitterness.

Full, slick body with moderate carbonation.

Lives up to Alpine’s reputation.

Oct 17, 2020

Steve555 from Wales

4.09/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Body is clear amber, smallish foam head. Very little lacing. Citrus smells, malts, quite a fruity hop aroma coming through. Taste is quite piney and fruity hop, quite malty and filling. Creamy texture, quite dank, some warming alcohol.

It's not the freshest by the time it gets to this country but it's still a very nice drink.

Aug 07, 2020

milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lightly hazed amber appearance with an average size, off white head and nice lacing. Notes of pine and tropical fruit pervade the aroma. Body and mouthfeel help set this one apart from the hordes of ipa’s as the usual metaphors for the taste pile up. Lush, lively carbonation paves the way to a lasting finish.

Jun 05, 2020

Beers-es from Virginia

4.46/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

From a 6-week-old can, pours a clear, deep gold. Nice white fluffy head. Smell and taste are dank and resinous, with some grapefruit, pine and savory herbs. Just tons of bright yet deep flavor, with a pleasingly bitter finish. This beer is on point.

Apr 26, 2020

Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(12 oz can, PKGD: 10/01/19; purchased cold single at The Foodery... poured into a fat tulip)

L: clear, yellow-amber liquid, bright until last oz poured in; white foam exploded away quick... thin silvered collar somehow clings; no lace

S: grapefruit rind, pine, orange pith, mild hint of lemon; maybe a mellow note of crystal malt in the back... fairly familiar, standard American hop/IPA aromas; moderate expression and intensity

T: zip of Simcoe and booze spice upon first sip, lingering through the finish, along with a (winter)green grassy, woody evergreen hop; sedate caramel-kissed, crackery, grainy malt backbone; most definitely moreish... grapefruit and mango eventually hangs around... reminds me of countless other fruit-angled IPAs

F: resinous foamy texture to each sip, frayed and feathered light-medium body, moderate spicy heat builds in back of palate by the second sip... resinous, but light, cut with the spice and alcohol; maybe some spicy battered fish (tacos) would compliment

O: glad this came back to the area, never tried it before, and I was marginally tempted to buy a dusty 2017 6 pk I saw at the beer cemetery package store up the road... probably a weathered can here, but its contents gave a good enough idea of how it is fresh... maybe not an everyday swill, but would certainly try this again, hopefully more fresh, or on draft (1648)

Mar 09, 2020

mudbug from Oregon

4.21/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From the freshness dated can by way of a kind friend that was passing through San Diego into a Tulip glass results in a fairly clear gold body topped by a thin head that sticks around.
Aroma is earthy hops and an astringent tinge of musk (smells better than it sounds)
Taste is surprisingly mello with a nice bitter aftertaste, malt is nonexistent, almost no sweetness at all, very clean tasting.
Slightly dry and refreshing .
Easy to drink quickly, a very nice IPA.

Feb 19, 2020

mpavilion from California

3.22/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Look: beautiful, golden glow, leaving nice lacings on side of pint glass.

Smell: nothing particularly happening here.

Taste: bright and astringent, with little or no malt beneath the hop bitterness. Somewhat lacking in dimension.

Feel: light and refreshing, extremely drinkable.

Overall: I would sooner reach for a more complex variety (such as this brewery’s own Windows Up), though this is a nice summertime IPA. Expensive, though!

Jun 18, 2019

Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

4.28/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Oh the piney citrus is my vice. This was quite good. I only wish I could try more from alpine here in WA, and find it more consistently. Not incredible, but it would be my ole standby.

Apr 27, 2019

the_awesometeer from California

3.9/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

The beer is a clear golden color with a nice foamy head. The aroma is very crisp. Aromas of the outdoors and a slightly sweet aroma that I can't place. The beer is a little light. It is similar to the nose with the hop flavors but just light. The taste doesn't linger long on the tongue but it is a very easy drink. Feels like a nice summer day beer.

Apr 19, 2019

Thankin_Hank from Texas

4.27/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A slightly hazy orange citrus look. No head. A light but glorious hop aroma. Taste is also somewhat light but very good. It's different in it's own right. A very nice American IPA. An easy drinking almost session able brew. Overall this is definitely one I'd buy again. A prime example of simple hopped American IPA. No date on the 12 ounce bottle just a code #.

Mar 11, 2019

GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

"Best by 7/4/16"; drank 2/12/16 @ the Yarchives.

See-through pale orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE bright white head; strong, frothy lace.

Blood orange, funky dandelion & skunky ganja notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Blood orange & funky dandelion flavors up front; dry pineapple & faint banana notes on the finish.

A funky farmhouse vibe here; bold but not for me.

Mar 09, 2019

patre_tim from Thailand

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden, and cloudy in a crisp sort of way. Moderately carbonated, with two fingers of off-white head.

Smells of light pineapples, tropical fruits, and Caramel malts. Very light on the nose.

Grapefruit pith, light pineapple notes, pears, and tropical fruits.

Medium to light body, with little carbonation.

I got this in Chico California a week ago. Drinking in Redding California today, August 26, 2018. Reminds me of Pliny in someways.

Aug 27, 2018

timon from California

4.49/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The feel and look of this one are outstanding. Juicy, watery, round mouthfeel and transitions from cloudy gold to glassy copper in the mug. It's darker and glassier than most beers in the mug after it settles. On second tasting, I must say this is unique for an IPA with very well done orange and lemon with some malt and copper in the background AND some flavor I can't put my finger on in the middle of my tongue. Smell is of orange and copper and wheat. If you told a person to smell with their eyes closed, I bet few would think it's any beer--it's unique, as is the flavor. It actually tastes like a very well done red ale (Karl Strauss Red Trolley) mixed with a nice IPA, a very unique flavor.

A+ stuff from Alpine. BTW, Alpine is a nice hilly community in San Diego for those that don't know. I have some wonderful clients out there. I'm impressed that that small community that has so few stores and looks like the Wild West with one old school Western street can produce this!

Edit: OK, have to raise the smell and taste and overall from 4.25 to 4.5. I don't know what they did, but this beer is fire now. Tastes and smells like a pineapple creamsicle.

Aug 20, 2018

AleManDan from California

3.33/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Loved it when I first had it but the last few times I just felt it was boring. Surely a classic but not keeping my interest.

Well-balanced but it’s just a citrus and pine old school west coast IPA. Very good but once again, not my favorite.

Jul 17, 2018

dafla67 from Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

pours with a yellow/golden color; the smell is very citrusy, hops and pine. Taste is wonderful balance of the hops, citrus (grapefruit; tropical fruit); some malts and a bit of hops bitterness at the end. The feel is crisp and clean. Awesome beer.

Jul 06, 2018

CAMRAhardliner from Canada (ON)

4.43/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazed copper color with a compact, frothy cap. Simcoe fruitiness mingles with cookie dough malts in the nose. Citrusy, peach, melon hops abound in the taste. A solid, clean pale malt ballast keeps things in check. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a light carbonation. Tons of floral, fruity hops in the everlasting finish.

This is a fantastic, benchmark, super hoppy IPA. Complex, very high bitterness, but easy to drink. A must try.

Jun 28, 2018

Bruno74200 from France

4.23/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Clean citrusy and piney amber ipa. This west coast ale has a certain bitterness. It's crisp and drinkable but the mouthfeel could be improved. Some herbal notes. I was hoping for something a bit more complex

Jun 02, 2018

JohnnyQ from California

4.37/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This is currently one of my favorite California IPAs. From the first pour, the smell wafts up and darn near makes me salivate thinking about the first sip. For an IPA this is crisp and clean, really nicely hopped, with hints of citrus and pine. The malt which I tend to dislike, is nicely covered by complex flavor. The lacing on the glass, and the finish which lingers perfectly without change makes this a great beer. I have done several blind tastings flights of California IPAs, and it is almost shocking how the Duet makes the following IPAs taste flat and boring (or how I imagine dishwater would taste). At 7% it is right at my sweet spot.

May 18, 2018

dacrza1 from New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

DATE: May 6, 2018... OCCASION: a good weekend comes to a close... GLASSWARE: Maudite snifter... pours a golden body, clear as crystal with reasonable effervescence, and a soapy white head half a finger wide... a promising, clean-looking ale... I like the idea of paring two hops, and in this case, the simcoe's fruity pine and the amarillo's flowery citrus wed in a 50/50 bliss... the first sip is vibrant, lively, and abuzz at the teeth, while its weight anchors the experience as a nice nightcap should... surprisingly, as aromatic as the scent was, the finish is medium-bodied and suggestive of malty strength... if possible, dry, while also leaving a bitter finish better than its 45 IBUs would suggest... orange, lemon, pineapple, lavender, light spiciness, and an effective bitterness that encourages the next sip... a bit of toasted bread balances the profile, and at 7% ABV, strong but pleasant draw... seems like each Alpine offering is as good or better as the last... this one came courtesy of a break pack mix twelve, and lucky me... I would recommend this one and seek it out again, despite the proliferation of iPAs in this golden age of beer...

May 07, 2018

stevoj from Idaho

4.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Albertsons. Wow. I can see why this rates so highly. Bitter citrus, but not too bitter. Nice orange copper body, minimal head. Silky slippery body, piney citrus nose and flavor. Classic west coast IPA.

Apr 01, 2018

Beejay from Virginia

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A slightly hazy yellow color, with a light white head.

S: Orange zest, tropical fruit, and grapefruit in the aroma, perhaps with a touch of honey.

T: Citrus up front, with tropical fruits, and a touch of resin in the back. Light honey in the finish with perhaps the telltale signature of simcoe, or one of it's variants.

M: Medium light, crisp, and fairly high carbonation.

O: Overall a prettty tasty brew, and while it is excellent, I don't think it quite deserves the high score it currently has.

Mar 27, 2018