Alpine Beer Mandarin Nectar
Before buying this herbed/spiced beer from Alpine Brewing, I wasn’t aware of what I had purchased — I’m sure I assumed it was an IPA based on the previous brews that I have enjoyed. And now that I’ve experienced Mandarin Nectar, I still don’t know what to make of it, but I know I wasn’t a fan of the brew.
This 6.5% ABV beer is brewed with orange blossom honey, orange zest and coriander in the fashion of a witbier. Unfortunately, Mandarin Nectar is not a witbier. It had about no spices present on the nose or tongue and the honey/zest combination dominated the flavor in conjunction with a high level of sweetness. The brew also had next to zero carbonation (despite the large head the pour produced), giving the brew a slick mouthfeel as it slides over the tongue.
Mandarin Nectar is not at all what I was expecting. It’s got an interesting flavor, but I’m just not a fan it — I’ll just stick with their Duet or Nelson.