Alpine Brewing Thread

It's not a QC issue, it's a recipe and process issue. QC is one area where GF very clearly has Alpine beat.

 

In drinking kegs around OC lately, my rankings would have been very different. In the last week, I've had horrible Nelson, great Duet, and outstanding Hoppy Birthday. I've had all at the brewery many times, and have experienced variation there as well. The GF batches just seem to have a wider range of variation, but it may just be that we (or I) have more regular access to it.

 

Just an update, had a pint of Nelson which is on at La Sirena in Laguna Beach. It was pretty MEH. Not nearly as good as the Nelson at Alpine. No dank smell, no dank flavor. Just tasted like a decent, lighter IPA. REALLY disappointing. Nelson is my favorite beer in the world. And drinking a bastardized version is a complete let down. Like being a kid and wanting a ps4 for Christmas, and your cheap ass parents get you a ps2. (Not even a ps3)
ps-I've had some Duet recently, and that has been sub par as well. Only Hoppy Birthday resembled the original IMO.

 

I had a duet at Tony's Darts Away Wednesday, beyond underwhelming.

Loved the place though, staff was super nice, I'll be back when I'm in the area.

 

It's pretty remarkable how well the GF/Alpine thing works...at least with me. I continue to order the GF/Alpine beers again and again just hoping it'll be like the real thing. And it never is but I keep ordering it. I'll probably keep doing it too just on the off chance it actually tastes like Alpine. It's the only beer I order even though I didn't much care for it last time I had it.

 

Went to Alpine yesterday. No Nelson on tap or in bottles. Apparently they sent the recent Nelson kegs back to Green Flash. I guess they weren't up to standards? Earlier in the week they had put a * next to Nelson on their facebook post. I'm assuming they're warning people when it's not the real stuff.

Duet and PH at the pub tasted great. Picked up some bottles of each.

 

I had Nelson on tap at the pub on Wednesday and I had to ask the bartender what it was. It was NOT Nelson. They also had it for fills at the brewery, and I had to skip it. Thankfully, there were bottles.

 

This is really to bad. I know Alpine beers/bottles had some issues before, but this is not good. I really hope GF gets it together. Bigger and better beers are and coming. We just recently had a handful of great IPA's land in our stores. I still love my Alpine IPA's. . . .but. . . .
Bud can you fill us in? Any recent stops at the brewery?

 

I stopped by GF earlier this week and ordered a Nelson. Had to do a double take as I could have sworn they poured me the wrong beer. Friend ordered a Nelson and his tasted the same. Not even a slight resemblance to what I'm used to having in Alpine (its been a few months since I've been to Alpine). Not going to lie, this actually has me a little worried....

 

One of the main components missing in the GF Nelson, IMO, is that slight white wine taste. That was one of the most distinctive features of the beer. This new Nelson is just another bitter IPA. Nothing distinguishing about it at all.

 

HA HA... sad face.

 

Two weeks ago David, great bottles of the big 3 and fresh Nelson in growlers. Just had the Nelson growler yesterday and it was fantastic.

Cheers,

 

April showers bring back Citra showers....

 

Small update: Went to the brewery yesterday. Had FRESH Duet on tap, and GOD DAMN!!!! So that's what it tasted like!!! Also Bad Boy still on, and Coffee Sutra. All 3 of the big boy bottles for purchase. No Nelson on tap or for Growlers though.

 

Ya this batch of Bad Boy is awesome...was there a week ago and there was no Nelson/Duet on tap...surprised Nelson hasn't returned

 

The last batch of Nelson that GF made got pulled everywhere because GF filtered it. Pat was not happy from what I heard. This may have messed up the brewing schedule.

 

Ah - so *that's* what happened.

 

Did he make Green Flash go to bed?

 

Where are all the geniuses that were talking in this thread about how Green Flash was going to dictate terms to Pat and Alpine?

 

It's not a surprise that he's maintaining control of what gets served at the pub/Alpine brewery, that's very clearly his domain. He didn't get the batch pulled from distribution, so everyone else still suffers with a subpar batch. Green Flash will mollify him on things like this but if you think he's in the driver's seat over the longhaul, you're delusional.