Indeed, Alpine Spring is a refreshing light lager with a lemony zing and a creamy mouthfeel. There is no confusing this with a macrobrewed light lager, though; this has way more body. It’s not quite as interesting or unexpected as Noble Pils, but it’s a solid (if safe) addition to the Sam stable. It may not stand out among a crowded tap lineup in a craft beer bar, but no one’s going to order one and say, “Yuck, what the heck is this?’’
If I have one gripe, it’s this: Brewers are releasing their seasonal ales too early. This one was on the shelves in January. Really, Sam? A spring beer when winter is barely a month old? Alpine Spring would be a good beer to have in late spring, even summer. Alas, it’ll be gone by then.
Alpine Spring, which is 5.5 percent alcohol by volume, is available in six-packs for about $8 to $9 and in the new Brewer’s Choice 12-pack for around $14. That variety pack also contains two other new beers that are not quite as successful: Mighty Oak (5.7 percent ABV) is an amber ale dominated by caramel and biscuity malts, but it’s a few turns too sweet. Whitewater IPA (5.8 percent ABV), a hybrid of a white wheat ale and an India pale ale, is an unbalanced, astringently bitter beer that reeks of lemons, grapefruits, and flowers. I love bitter beers, but the two styles in this one don’t reconcile; there’s too much going on, and it all clashes.
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has also introduced a new spring seasonal.
Ruthless Rye IPA, a hoppy rye beer, replaces Glissade, a maibock. Word is that Glissade sold well its first year but didn’t do so hot last year. (I thought I saw a few too many 12-packs piled up in the stores heading into last summer.)
I doubt that Ruthless Rye IPA will have any such problems. This beer is a winner.
In a rye beer, malted rye subs for a portion of the malted barley, giving the beer a spicy kick. Add a big dose of hops, and you’ve got yourself a rye IPA.
