Beer Sampling - New Belgium/Alpine Beer Co. 'Super IPA'

Last Friday, I enjoyed a New Belgium 'Lips of Faith' series collaboration with Alpine Beer Co. beer. It's called a 'Super IPA' and at 9% and 99IBUs, it would appear, at least mathematically, pretty super.

I poured this guy out in to my 'snifter-pint' glass (see image below) and took my notes. There are some nice, golden hues here, a soft head with some great lacing overall. It smells dry-hopped to me, and of course it is. According to the bottle, it's a "triple dry hopped Imperial IPA bursting with Columbus, Amarillo, Centennial and Simcoe hops."

From the New Belgium site:


The Alpine Beer Co. and New Belgium have come together for the love of IPAs. This collaboration is hop-wonderful with Amarillo, Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial hops, bringing the bitter all the way to the front. A nice balance Is present with Pale, C-80 and Carapils malts, but the tropical and citrus tones of the American hops dominate. This Super IPA pours a sheened copper and carries a bright, white head. Consider yourself a hero for getting an  Alpine beer outside of San Diego.

Just the facts Ma'am...
Birthdate - August, 2012
ABV - 9.0%
IBU - 99
Calories - 265
Hops - Columbus, Simcoe, Amarillo, Centennial
Malts - Pale, C-80, Melanoidin, Acidulated, Carapils
Body - Medium-Light
Aroma - Hop domination: dark dank pine, fresh cut grass, citrus, herbal, slight hints of fresh sweet bready malt character in the background.
Mouthfeel - Almost coating from the crazy amount of essential hop oils, warm in the palate and belly from that 9+%ABV, firm and enduring bitterness.
Flavor - Bitter and Boozy Baby! The malt sweetness tries so hard just to brush against the hop bitterness without countering its cause in this SUPER IPA!
Visual - Golden sunflower with a slight hop sheen, low foam and even lacing.

I enjoyed the taste of this beer...slightly licorice-y, hop flavor with the right amount of malt. It's definitely got that traditional citrus/piney flavor of bigger IPAs. It's pretty hop-forward, but ultimately well-balanced. I don't notice the high ABV too exceptionally, usually a good thing. This is a solid collaboration beer, although when all is said and done, not overly remarkable. Good work in general and at $6.99, certainly worth the experimentation.