Muntz
McIlhenney Brewing

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American IPA
Glass: Pure Project 14-oz. snifter elemental (air) glass
Price: $20 for a 4-pack (I think)
From: Mcilhenney Brewing Company in Alpine, Calif.
Purchased: n/a; Received Nov. 23, 2022
Consumed: Nov. 24, 2022
Misc.: No canned on date; Split (1/4) with Sonny (1/4) and Kevin (2/4)

Got this one and another Mcilhenney from Kevin on his recent trip up the hill. I’d had this three times but this would be the first review. Gave all three ones a 4.25 on Untappd, writing “Half pour. Excellent” on June 3, 2021 for a half pour, “Still #NelsonAdjace but beats the *. Excellent.” on Sept. 9, 2021 for a taster, and “Never forget. *” on June 5, 2022 for a half pour. Their website called this beer a “New Zealand Hopped Rye IPA w/ Nectaron and Nelson Sauvin.”

Poured a medium gold hazy color with three fingers of rocky white head. Could see plenty of bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass at different speeds. Perfect layered foamy lacing. Almost perfect retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled Nelson, Nectaron, dank pine, peach, nectarine, tangerine, pineapple, grapefruit rind, spicy rye, green grape, kiwi, lemon and dry grass. Even better out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted almost as good as the nose. In order got Nelson, Nectaron, peach, nectarine, tangerine, pineapple, dank pine, spicy rye, green grape, kiwi, lemongrass and corn. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average-to-lively carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Pretty much what I thought. It’s not as good as the original Alpine Nelson by any means, but it’s still outstanding overall. (Overall - 4.25)

4.21 | 94 | A-

 

Poured from a 16oz can purchased directly from brewery; born on 3/20/25. Pours hazy yellow-orange with minimal head & low lacing. Subtle tastes of tropical fruit with traces of rye at the end. Not too bitter not too sweet... like me. Great!

 

 

 

Pours shiny opaque golden yellow with a soapy white head
Aromas of rye, green grapes and malt
Taste has a rye backbone with some green grape notes along with a faint tart taste
Incredibly easy drinking, medium bodied and a smooth dry finish
Very nice beer, clean and crisp tasting nice subtle flavors

 

 

On tap at Bar 1502 in OB, San Diego

Cloudy, yellow tan appearance, effervescent with a huge sticky head.

Citrusy, tropical nose. Pineapple rind, vegetal.

Flavors are tropical, and reminiscent of the old Alpine Nelson, before it was sold to Green Flash. Malted rye lends some earthy, bready aspects. Closes with a medium finish, notes of pineapple and kiwi linger.

Pretty much fills the void of the old Nelson, which was one of my all time fav brews.

This is superb. Very distinguished from your typical IPA.

 

16oz canned 1-11-24, opened 2-3-24.
2 finger soft white head with great retention and lacing aplenty.
Golden body with good clarity (from a 14oz decanted pour).
Stonefruit and white grape, zesty and spicy aroma.
Delicious - some tropical flavors show up in the flavor that aren't present in the nose.
Bright entry and lively mouthfeel. Flavorful, with a light bitterness in a mostly dry finish.
Outstanding.

Delicious take/ update on the OG Nelson brew. Gorgeous pour with plumy white head on a light brass body. The Rye malt really drives the taste then enhance it with Nelson, but also update with one of the new kids, Nectaron. Tasty featuring a big ballsy rye/ hops “in your face” kinda attitude.
Really enjoyed.

16oz. can into a Fuzzy pint glass.

Pours hazy with a 1 finger coarse white head. Excellent lace and head retention. Nose a dank tropical fruit, citrus peel, papaya, kiwi, and lime. Very aromatic and pungent. Beer opens kiwi, pineapple, and pear. I get hints of citrus, grass, and fresh lime towards the middle. Bone dry at the end with just a touch of bittering hops at the finish. Super clean with incredible balance. Body is light with ample carbonation. Prickly and quenching on the palate and goes down bone dry with a lingering, sticky aftertaste.

The last time an IPA blew me away like this was probably my first sip of Julius just about a decade ago. This one is unreal good.

Packaged on 2/13/23 - enjoyed on 3/11/2023 - poured from a pint can into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Turbid jasmine liquid with a finger of off-white soft peaks. Soapy lacing; excellent retention.

Gooseberry, white wine, and passion-fruit in the nose. Faintly spicy as well.

Grapefruit, pink peppercorn, pineapple, grapes, and more on the palate entry. Lightly grainy, complex, and satisfying. Medium-dry finish with pleasing minerality and white tea notes. Faintly floral. Excellent balance. Moderate but persistent bitterness.

Medium-bodied, creamy yet crisp.

Lots of comparisons to O.G. Alpine Nelson, but this has evolved, taking advantage of contemporary ingredients and practices.

Quite hazy amber in the glass. Perhaps due to the flaked rye used rather than malted rye. There is just a modest spicy rye taste but overall it is quite clean. The hops are also interesting and quite fruity. Not sure I would call it pineapple, as the hop dealers like to say, but it is something less common than the straight citrus flavors. Someone said lemongrass, which seems right, just a touch. Really quite tasty, but the bitterness comes on strong in the aftertaste. Lush and sudsy on the tongue with a moderate acidity. From the 16 oz can purchased at Bine & Vine. No date.

 

Undated can, but McIlhenney's Instagram says canned 1/4/23. Purchased at the brewery 1/12/23.

L: Pours a hazy gold with a thin white head and lots of upwardly moving bubbles. Thin but lovely irregular lacing.

S: Prominent aromas of white grape and spice.

T: The white grape Nelson and rye spice are front and center and remain throughout. Some tropical and citrus undertones in the middle. Finishes dry and slightly bitter.

F: Medium mouthfeel. Average carbonation.

O: As advertised. The Nectaron hops meld well with the Nelson to add tropical and citrus flavors, and the rye spiciness is always present but never overwhelming.