Green Flash Distributing Alpine Bottles

You sir nailed it from every angle. I couldn't have worded it better myself.

 

This is what I was trying to say. Thank you!

 

I've been complimentary of the progress I've tasted w the GF Nelson in prior posts. This on the other hand is a complete shit show. Purchased in Boston last couple of days. Bitter mess. Cloying bitter flavor -- like nothing subtle or sneaky about it. Nothing like the prototype. Has me running back to my fridge for a NE style IPA....

 

Yep. Drank half the bottle and drained the rest. Pretty bad.

 

To me, that's apples and oranges. PH was not significantly better than other 4 and 6-packs I can find here for a fraction of the price.

 

Is it better than most bombers you can buy for under $6? Why does the format matter more than the cost per ounce?

 

I already picked up a Duet in Rochester earlier this month. Delicious. I live in the Syracuse area but travel for work to Rochester, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Ithaca and Elmira.

 

I've heard the exact opposite, that Alpine beers brewed by Green Flash and in Green Flash bottles taste worse than the Alpine-brewed bottles.

 

I understand that most of you in this thread have had the real thing, maybe more than once and know what finesse goes into them. I'm currently drinking Duet out of a green flash bomber and I have to say, certainly not my top choice for its flavor, but the nose, body, and perfect carbonation are really what is doing it for me. Personally, glad to have it, maybe they're working out the kinks and hopefully it will improve.

My only similar scenario is how Pesudo Sue is bein bottled. I've had some of the original batch release in bombers. I've been chasing that ever since, some batches have been close but never really spot on, and the four packs are very lacking in comparison. Certainly not a bad beer by any means, just not what I fell in love with.

 

Oh yeah... nothing beats the authentic Alpine stuff. I was just talking about GF Alpine bottles tasting better than GF Alpine on draft, based on some of the comments from people who have tasted both.

I actually had my first GF Alpine bottle of Hoppy Birthday the other night, and it was good, great nose, but it's too smooth, a bit light. It's described as a Session IPA and it tastes like one. I used to love the nice hoppy bitterness of the original Hoppy Birthday, which has been subdued.

 

Finally got the chance to have a bottle of Happy Birthday... friggin delicious...

Duet is one of my all time favorite beers ever... curious to see how a GF bottle of it is like in comparison to past experiences and notes...

 

Ethan, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Duet. I have had Duet on draft several times over the past few months and I was disappointed that these particular beers lacked hop aroma.

Cheers!

 

I have had bottles many years ago (far pre Green Flash aquisition) had it on tap at Toronado.. it's one of my all time favorite American IPAs...


Alpine Brewing - Duet IPA (kick the keg) by imbibehour, on Flickr

Alpine Beer Company - Duet IPA by imbibehour, on Flickr

The irony is, the very first time I had one that experience while still fantastic has never been duplicated.

I would like to think that I could still tell a discernible difference between or not from the latest GF bottled versions.

Until then I wont know.

 

Er, maybe. That's not really the point, though, vis-a-vis Alpine-brewed Alpine and GF-brewed Alpine. The freshest GF-brewed Alpine just doesn't compare to fresh Alpine-brewed Alpine. I'm almost ashamed at myself for continuing to beat this dead horse, but those of us who've had the Real Thing are crying in our beers. Maybe this will be the last time I post on this topic. But probably not.

 

I just had a Duet last night and thought it was really solid. I would (will?) drink again.

 

I had Alpine Duet once (bottled and produced at the Alpine brewery prior to the Green Flash connection) and I really enjoyed drinking that beer. The Alpine Duet draft beers I have has over the past few months are not awful but there are not the same as that bottled Alpine Duet that I had. The biggest difference is the lack of hop aroma. I am dumbfounded why after 1-2 years of Green Flash brewing this beer it is still a lacking beer.

Cheers!

 

Well I cant give you my contrasting opinion until I get a bottle of Duet in my hands. The only thing I can say is that I had a bottle of Hoppy Birthday that was fantastic.. for the first time too.

 

I have had Hoppy Birthday 3-4 times on draft over the past few months. My experience with that beer from a hop aroma perspective was about 50-50; half the time it had a nice hop aroma presence the other half there was little to no hop aroma.

For contemporary American style IPAs, hop aroma is an important quality in that beer style. When it is MIA the beer is just a shadow of what it could/should be IMO.

Cheers!

P.S. Every one of the draft Duet beers lacked hop aroma.

Edit. Last evening I was at a local beer bar and they had Duet on tap. I requested a taste (sample) and that beer had no aroma. I decided to not order that beer but ordered a Smuttynose IPA instead. That Smuttynose IPA had a nice hop aroma and was a flavorful IPA to drink.

 

when I get my hands on a Duet bottle.. you'll be the first to know my thoughts for sure

 

Remember to close you eyes and take a big sniff!!

Cheers!

@utopiajane