Nelson
Alpine Beer Company

A really flavorful and drinkable beer. I love Nelson hops so I am biased I guess, but I would think most people would like this beer if they tried it. Pours slightly hazy with a frothy but low density, head. 7% ABV but it does not taste alcoholic. Some have complained that this is not the beer it used to be, but who cares? It is plenty good!

 

 

 

!2 oz can from Total Wine and More in Short Pump, VA. The ale poured a hazy light amber with a white fluffy head and ample lacing. The floral hop aroma greets you. This is an excellent IPA. The New Zealand hops added some floral bitterness with hints of white wine grapes. The IPA had average carbonation and finished with a pleasant bitterness in the upper mouth. The ale has a medium body.

 

Must try.

 

12oz can. Date stamp on bottom reads 'BIEB 8/23/23'.
Cloudy, straw colored body. One finger of white head, which quickly dissipates to an interrupted head and ring. Leaves behind some minor webs of lacing.
Aroma of berry and citrus orange, with some tropical and floral hops.
Taste is dry, with flavors of citrus, tropical, and floral. Rye at the end. Low bitterness and a balancing sweetness.
Medium mouth feel. Crispiness in the mouth. Good carbonation.
Tasty and totally quaffable.

So, what do we have here? A once legendary beer that has (allegedly) been bastardized beyond recognition. This was a long time want for me before I knew the whole story of it, and ultimately ended up forgetting about it. However, when I saw it on Tavour I figured it was at least worth a shot. Let's crack it open and see if it's really as bad as some say

Pours a hazy pale yellow with 3 fingers of soapy off white head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves minimal lacing

The nose is quite vibrant here, I'm not really understanding the complaints yet. I'm picking up on aromas of red grapefruit, gooseberry, grassy hops, rye bread, white pepper, orange zest, light papaya, and white grape

It's a bit less balanced in taste for sure, focusing more on the bitterness, but it's still damn good. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting gooseberry, earthy hops, lemon zest, rye bread, grass, overripe cantaloupe, and light weed. The swallow brings notes of rye bread, earthy hops, black pepper, lemon zest, papaya, pithy grapefruit, light papaya, and dank weed

A light medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a snappy beer. Finishes mostly dry with a firm bitterness to keep things refreshing

Maybe drinking this through the lens of not having had the original invalidates my opinion, but I don't really care. This isn't perfect, but a damn good IPA as is

 

I first rated Alpine's Nelson in 2015, and gave it a 4.41 average rating. It's been the third highest of all the IPAs I've rated over the years, not quite 200.

In those early years (2014-2015), I had Nelson on tap a few times. It was uncommon in Seattle, but always a treat.

Well, now I've had Nelson in cans, and I guess it's the "new Nelson". I've read about some of the behind the scenes stuff on who's made it. I don't know the whole story, but I do know that the beer I just had in a six pack is nothing too special. It's nowhere near what I remember of the once ethereal beer. So I deleted my old rating, as it no longer applies. This is a new rating/review, as of July 2023.

Nelson looks gorgeous, big fluffy white head, and golden color. The smell is piney. It's a little out of the ordinary for a 2023 beer, as it's not a citrus bomb (grapefruit), like Pliny, and it's also a long way from the fruity hazy taste profiles of NE IPAs. It's kind of old school, which I like. However, the rye character has pretty much gone missing, and the Nelson Sauvin hop profile isn't nearly as good as I remembered. Fortunately, it's still got a solid bitterness to it.

I guess I'm just pining for the OG.

 

 

Found this on Friday while returning from some hiking and stopped at Total Wine on the way back to the Old Line State. This is obviously a beer that needs no introduction and I wasn't sure if it was available on the east coast. Opaque, ultra yellow body like a latter day hazy IPA but the nose is more familiar citrus and grapefruit lending towards pine but still fruity.

The flavor is unique; very dry at the outset, it seems pretty subtle but continues to develop and deliver throughout the aftertaste. High carbonation also hides flavor in the early stages before revealing grapeskin, bread, bubble gum, melon, and finally, the promised rye. Really nice, luxurious mouthfeel is a highlight as well. I did not love the start, but this one grew on me.

2x12oz cans poured into a large dimpled stein while I smoke some salmon and relax on a cool Saturday evening
can says it’s best by today
L: hazy yellow-tangerine colored body; frothy eggshell head holds great retention
S: juicy citrus, pineapple, stone fruit, wheat perhaps, faint spicy rye
T: rye is more prominent in flavor adding some spiciness and robustness; juicy pineapple, tangerine, mango, and nectarine with bitter pine on the finish
F: fuller body, ample carbonation, bittersweet finish with pine and citrus zest lingering with the spicy rye; very dry finish
O: I love a rye IPA; I’ve never had one like this - world class beer here!

A classic that I understand has changed throughout the years. Sampled on tap. Hazy orange with notes of citrus, white grape, lemon, bubblegum, bread crust, and weed, on both the nose and taste. Low to medium bitterness with a medium mouthfeel and carb. A textbook, well-executed Nelson profile. White grape aftertaste. Very good. Each category is pushing 4.5 for me, so I give this a 4.5 overall.

Pours a very hazy orange-yellow with a one finger head. Aroma is oranges and, to a small extent, lemons. Taste is clean and very orangey. This is a clean, no frills IPA and that is also its' strength -- it does one thing and one thing well.

Pours orange hue with a thick head. Smells of citrus orange peel. Taste of citrus hits immediately with orange and light pineapple. Medium bodied and smooth. One of the best IPAs I’ve had. Worth it!