If there’s a beer that’s going to jump up, grab a hold of you and not want to let go, it’s the Nelson from Alpine Beer Company. This 7.0%abv rye IPA from Alpine, CA, is one of those beers that’s almost delicious beyond belief. For a long time, it was a mysterious beer that was tucked away into the hills outside of San Diego like some type of mystical creature. With the brewery being so small, it was difficult to get your hands on this stuff, but thanks to a recent partnership with Green Flashing Brewing, Nelson, along with a string of other Alpine beers are more widely distributed in beautiful, 22 oz bottles. Whether it’s Nelson or one of the others, be sure to pick up a couple of bottles, wrap it in your favorite bottle bomber and go to town on these delectable brews.
Let’s go ahead and begin with the aroma on this one. Immediately upon cracking the top, there’s big New Zealand, Nelson Sauvin hop aromas that immediately fly out of the top of the bottle. With a good pour into the glass, you will immediately get smacked right in the face with some up front pineapple, grapefruit and tropical fruit smells from the hops. I love the Nelson hops, and the way they are featured in this brew is tough to match. Simply delicious. 
The pour is not what you would really expect in a traditional IPA. It’s got a bit of a cloudiness or a haze throughout. The color is a peach, and oh my goodness, those hops continue to attack the senses. By this time I’ve just about had it, so it’s time to dive into this beauty. 
The first though I have upon consumption is that the rye comes through beautifully to blend well with the New Zealand hops. It gives it a bit of a nutty flavor with strong notes of the tropical fruits, perhaps a bit of pine, an overall just a fantastically balanced brew. The flavor is big and bold, but far from being overpowered and bitter. Alpine Beer Company just has a way of churning out some fantastically delicious brews, and this is without question no exception to that rule. 
As Green Flash continues to expand their production and expand to new locations along the East Coast, the country and world will be seeing a lot more of Alpine and the Nelson. This mythical creature has spread its wings and is now taking fight throughout the county. As soon as you see this sucker on the shelves, grab at least a couple, allow it to get nice and cozy in your classiest bomber koozie and take this hazy New Zealander from San Diego for a whirl. Trust us, you will not regret this one!