Nelson
Alpine Beer Company

NelsonNelson
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Alpine Beer Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #6
ABV:
7%
Score:
98
Ranked #356
Avg:
4.43 | pDev: 8.35%
Reviews:
906
Ratings:
4,374
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 02:20 AM
Added:
Aug 11, 2006
Wants:
  1,391
Gots:
  693
A Golden Rye IPA - An outstanding hop from New Zealand, Nelson Sauvin, is generously used throughout the brewing and dry-hopping of this unique beer. European rye is added for a smooth, malty addition to flavor. 1.065 OG 7% AB
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by HereforBeer:
Photo of HereforBeer
Reviewed by HereforBeer from Washington

3.5/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I had this on draft in Chicago shortly after they entered the market. I thought it was OK, but very unbalanced. I was pretty dissapointed after seeing a really high BA score. I hope I just had a bad batch.
Jun 08, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.75 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Sunday at 02:20 AM
 
Rated: 4.1 by QuintusHorace from California

Feb 19, 2024
Photo of UWDAWG
Reviewed by UWDAWG from Washington

4.46/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a 12 ounce can dated 10-31-23 into a tulip glass at 52 degrees.

Look- Pale straw, very hazy, opaque, no visible particulate, white creamy head, slightly above average head retention and lacing.

Smell- Passionfruit, white grape, clementine, pith, medium strength of scent.

Taste- Clementine, pith, passionfruit, white grape, between medium and high strength of flavor.

Feel- Full body, average carbonation, moderately bitter, highly creamy, mildly dry finish, very low astringency.

Overall- Had not seen this beer in the area in quite some time. This one had great appearance. The bouquet was very pleasant and would have been next level if it had been slightly stronger. Flavors and feel were both really good. This beer was very pleasurable to drink and when you factor in the great price for a six pack it is hard to beat.
Jan 15, 2024
Photo of vgg925
Reviewed by vgg925 from California

4.85/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Such a tasty beer. A 6-pack for $9.99 is a steal IMO. Love the characteristic Nelson love bite on the tongue. Piney but not full-on resinous. Great, long flavor, with a nice tickle in the roof of the mouth that lasts for a bit longer than expected. First-class IPA, would be one of the first I hit upon opening the community ice chest.
Jan 06, 2024
Photo of AZgman
Reviewed by AZgman from Arizona

4.47/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
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!
Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.7 by Justinbshelton from Alabama

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by Cswipe7 from Georgia

Nov 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by not2quick from Missouri

Oct 15, 2023
Photo of Foxbush
Reviewed by Foxbush from Virginia

4.09/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
!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.
Oct 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by rajreddy from Tennessee

Oct 02, 2023
Photo of Mcgarro
Rated by Mcgarro from Japan

4.61/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Must try.
Sep 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois

Sep 10, 2023
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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.
Aug 27, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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
Jul 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by SudsSurfer from California

Jul 18, 2023
Photo of VashonGuy
Reviewed by VashonGuy from Washington

3.79/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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.
Jul 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by BTexpress from Georgia

Jun 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by buzzedup from Pennsylvania

May 28, 2023
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
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.
Apr 23, 2023
Nelson from Alpine Beer Company
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 4374 ratings