Alpine, you have a problem

Brewing beer isn't easy. Selling it isn't easy. Drinking it is, and critiquing it is, too. I appreciate all of our local breweries- the great ones that will be around for awhile along with the guys who have already closed. Sometimes it was bad business, sometimes it was bad beer. But it has been a learning experience every time.

I'm fairly new to the BA boards, and I'm amazed at the defensive nature of some responses, as well as a lack of actual beer talk. I was sucked in there for a minute, but I would much rather talk about Alpine's brewing process, and how they get all of those great hops into their APA's and IPA's.

I've been on the boards for about a week, but I've read and responded to way too many negative threads. I'm vowing to knock it off. I'm here to celebrate beer, and to learn as much as possible about it.

 

If you do head over to try Hess, the Grazias is a good example of a cream ale. Not easy to find in SD. Grazias Induresco (w/ coffee) is pretty good, too. I've heard that "The Blend" (a black IPA and a Cascadian Ale mixed together- I know, I know same thing) is pretty awesome.

 

Every Pizza Port has a cream ale. So there's another 4 right there.

Alpine uses a ton of hops, you want big hop flavor you adjust you water chemistry correctly, then have a good grain bill that offers little competition against the flavor of the hops (aka little to none crystal malt), then add a shit ton of hops late in the boil, plus in the whirlpool, plus use a hop back, plus use a ton of dry hops. Or something like that. I think it's their grist that really allows the hops to shine.

Google 'hop bursting' for a homebrewer's method to mimic the pros as well as the Hop Rocket.

 

Just had a completely flat bottle of Nelson. Bought from bine and vine yesterday. They're still out there. Shame

 

Got one from B&V Wednesday and it was fine.

 

Hahahahahahahaha Lost Abbey. Thank you for giving me a good laugh.

 

lucky...

 

Expo sucked, good Nelson is amazing, Bad Boy was bad ass, Duet is solid, Pure is a pass for me, never had any BA Alpine beers but I can pretty much guess they ain't as good as, let's say any vintage of Firestone's anniversary blends. Enjoy By, Simtra, Dugana ( yes I included that!) Double Jack (when fresh) are all right in there for me, some better than others but all top class. Is Alpine amazing? For the most part yes, but don't sleep on the West Coast goodies we have right in front of our noses!

 

Can I add fresh Mongo as the Encore? Hallelujah!

 

Hoppy Birthday crushes every pale in SD. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

 

Lost Abbey makes great draft beer. Just don't buy the bottles.

 

Every hoppy beer Alpine makes is better than Simtra imo. I've only had it once but I found it to be a mess.

 

I would rather drink water.

 

Lost Abbey's got ya covered -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jedwards/5339669111/

 

Bet it is infected...

 

How'd this become a "Lost Abbey, you have a problem" thread?

 

EDIT: Ah nevermind

 

Sweet...you can be the DD.

 

success.

 

JOke. FML autocorrect