Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA - Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon

adamette

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -42%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at the brewery a few hours ago. Review from notes. Poured into a clean, clear glass. Notes from brewery: Uncivilized and aggressive this west coast styled IPA packs wicked hop flavors and aroma. Savage amounts of Simcoe, Columbus and Cascade hops define this brews signature pine and citrus notes. Try with our smoked wings in the Killer sauce and run the risk of a shrunken head!

A Basic Orange brown translucent body under a minimal light head.

S Cascade hops but not that strong. This is what I expected and it is true to the style.

T Hops, unbalanced hops. Grapefruit tartness from start to finish. Unimaginitive and unbalanced.

M Moderate feel. Would have been thin but the hops beef up the feel with their tangy tartness.

D Only fair. I cannot have more than one of these.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2009 01:51:19 | More by adamette

kscaldef

Oregon

2.95/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

No bottling date I can discern.

A: Rather orange in color. Raises a rather small head which quickly turns into a ring and some large, loose bubbles.

S: Piney and tropical hops, somewhat dank. Unfortunately, I'm also getting more than a whiff of diacetyl.

T: Very bitter, followed by mild orange-caramel, more bitterness, some cracker, finishing with bitter.

M: Well carbonated. Quite astringent.

O: I don't want to slam this beer; people looking for the mouth-scraping-est IPA out there will probably like this. But, personally, I find it lacking in flavor and aroma hops that would make it a more interesting beer. Also, the diacetyl suggests the brewery may be rushing the beer out prematurely.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 23:21:15 | More by kscaldef

Intimidtor

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Tried this from the tap at Fatheads in North Olmsted Ohio. Everything fit and I though I was going to enjoy this one. Until I actually tried it.

As described in the previous tasting: "Uncivilized and aggressive, this West Coast styled IPA packs wicked hops flavors and aroma. Savage amounts of Simcoe, Columbus, and Cascade hops define this brew's signature pine and citrus notes".

I love IPAs but this one wasnt for me. The overpowering pine flavor killed this beer. Smell, Taste and after taste. Drank it all to get my money worth and then moved on. Their Weizenbock is wonderful though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2009 02:06:26 | More by Intimidtor

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle purchased as a four pack at a grocery store during my recent visit to Columbus. No visible bottle dating.

Medium yellow orange with some soapy bubblage and oily lace. Looks fine.

Big piney bitterness and menthol on the nose. Some light sugared papaya lies underneath. Alcohol is evident. Gingerbread malts rise up upon warming. Each time I opened one of these I hoped that it would smell more lively, or more my speed, but alas it's just an average smelling IPA.

Surprisingly, there's just loads of booze taste here. Menthol coolness from the nose make a cameo here as well. Like someone exhaled their Newport directly into my glass. God those were gross and I smoked pretty much everything. Big bitter waves ride throughout and crash upon the shores of my tasting places, leaving a long tongue scraping finish. The tease of tropicality or light fruits from the nose plays as more a whisper than a shout. Harsh spicy rye-like notes provide a supple bed on which these sinful deeds are consummated.

Medium bodied, on the lower-to-moderate end of carbonation, and rather oily in body. She weighs a bit on the tongue.

Well, I had a bottle of this on the same day I had both Columbus Bodhi and Columbus IPA on tap. Granted, the Bodhi is classified as a double, but that is both arbitrary and meaningless as I believe these beers are the same abv. In my know nothing but know what I like opinion, this beers gets smoked by both Columbus versions. The abrasive bitterness and shocking booziness give no quarter. Not nearly as good as its reviews for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 23:56:37 | More by BarrytheBear

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On tap @ Fathead's (Pittsburgh, PA) on 7/18/09. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a crystal clear copper, which is topped with a finger of foamy off-white head. Rich and creamy looking retention, that leaves back lace that hangs in thick swathes down the sides of the glass. The aroma is pretty much West Coast smelling. Floral and a bit piney hop character, with some big-time spice and a thick tang of tropical fruits. Some even more sweeter notes of caramel and bread come out under the citrus, and I'm also pleased to not be picking up any warmth at all. I'm really digging the mix of flavors here, but I wish that they were popping just a bit more.

The taste starts with a big hop bite up front of very aggressive spicy bitterness, with a sticky resinous edge to it. That sweet mix of citrus and caramel from the nose is present, but it's not nearly balancing enough here in the taste, leaving this way too uneven and bitter up front. The hops are just lingering way too long in this, keeping this IPA from being completely enjoyable. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a mellow creaminess to the carbonation up front but then prickles up towards the back. This sharpness in the back is actually right where the most unpleasant aspects of the bitterness is lingering, but I'm not going to hold that against the feel. The one saving grace of the unbalanced nature of this, is that I'm not picking up any alcohol beef whatsoever. Pretty darn impressive for a 7% beer with raging hops in it.

Tis a shame, as I really liked this everywhere but the taste. I know that the board described this as "aggressive" and uncivilized" but it was just way too uneven towards the hops for my taste. If you don't mind out-of-control bitterness, then by all means go for it, as the aroma is quite nice and the body and drinkibility are right on for a higher ABV IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2009 16:51:32 | More by Kegatron

kaseydad

California

3.15/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Yellow, golden pour with a bright white head that clings to the glass. Minor grapefruit smell with malt in the background. I'm also getting an old sock type smell. Hmmm. Unusual bitter taste which doesn't improve much at all. Metallic tasting. Not too pleasant. Very thin mouthfeel. This wasn't the greatest beer but it was unusual for an IPA. If you're looking for a different experience in an IPA...this is your huckleberry.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2011 21:26:25 | More by kaseydad

TheDudeRules

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -27.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Generously hooked up on a trade from Stigs. Poured into my Darkness snifter.

I am going to point out the obvious of this review. It's short, and you will read why.

Pours a nice burnt honey color with about a fingers width of off white head. Smell.... Without a doubt it smells like bunk weed. You can't get around it. Taste is you guessed it... bunk weed with a bit of hop bite. Hop oil slightly coats the tongue in the backend.

I can't rave about this, or in fact call it bad. Very average ipa but it's weed flavored. You take it from there.

Serving type: growler

05-03-2011 06:47:34 | More by TheDudeRules

NorCalYeti

California

3.23/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

interesting copper-pink color, sulfur smell in the nose, clear color, little to no lace, short finish, metallic taste, stinky, short medium-length finish, little less than average overall finish. wouldn't seek out this beer, there are much better examples to choose from.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2011 05:17:03 | More by NorCalYeti

output01x

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -25%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Enjoyed on tap in a pint glass at Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon.

There is absolutely no head to be found on this beer when I receive it. A thin foam ring barely exists at the edges of the glass. The body is a clear copper amber with no sign of carbonation bubbles. No lacing can be found throughout consumption.

Citrus and pine hops flow off the beer. Notes of grapefruit and caramel malt is also noticable. Not the strongest nose, but definitely pleasent.

Citrus and strikes at the beginning of the sip only to be quickly overtaken by a strong pine flavor. Notes of grapefruit and lemon add decent complexity to the beer. A dry, earthy pine aftertaste finishes each sip.

Medium bodied with little noticable carbonation, this beer is consumable but lacks drinkability. While not exactly flat, more carbonation would definitely have helped this beer out.

Honestly, I don't understand all the hype behind this beer. The flavor is great and the aroma is pleasing, but this beer fails pretty hard in all other categories.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2011 01:36:09 | More by output01x

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've had this brew several times. This review is fresh on-tap at Buffalo Wild Wings last night.

A- Looks good-glowing translucent amber hue that is served with a big white foamy 1-2 finger that stays nicely at 1/2 finger and leaves lacing all the way down the glass. Beautiful IPA

S- Nose is big and bright. Some grapefruit and lots and lots of pine. Definately eyebrow raising. A hint of spicy hops is down there somewhere.

T- the flavor upfront is kind of bland with a hint of grapefruit, some earthy hops, and a background of faint grainy malt. The finish is HUGE and agressive with some pine and a huge amount of resiny bitterness that lingers on and on and on with a hint of spicy hop flavor in the background.

M- High fizzy, assualting carbonation and and medium weight slightly grainy body.

O- Overall this is a very bitter and assualting brew. Think Moylan's Hopsickle. It also doesnt have much hoppy flavor upfront to justify the bitter finish. The malt backbone is scant at best. An average beer overall-and this just isn't my kind of IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2013 22:02:27 | More by PittBeerGirl

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice golden color with a slight head. The aroma is of floral and earthy hops with hints of citrus fruits. The taste is of a slight caramel malt backbone with touches of citrus fruits. The main taste is of earthy hops and touches of floral hops. The mouthfeel is moderate carbonation. Overall its a nice beer, good flavor and nice aroma, not the best IPA you will ever have, but it is very solid.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 16:23:48 | More by goblue3509

rabsten

West Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Wow, not overly impressed with this. Orange body, pale white head, average lacing. Pine and citrus nose. Enh. Grapefruity taste but quite sour; a little TOO much grapefruit, it seems. Astringent 'feel. Okay drinkability.

Seems all west coast on the surface but underneath it's pedestrian at best. Get one of the other 41 beers on tap is my advice. And, as an unabashed Fat Heads fanboy, it hurts to say this. Honestly. Bottom line: get something else.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 01:02:05 | More by rabsten

gregshead

California

3.58/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasted on 3/27/11. Reviewed from notes Thanks to SDSurfer217 for this beer:

A: pours a golden color with a half finger of head, slightly cloudy

S: I smell citrus and grapefruit but not as strong as other IPAs on the nose.

T: A pretty good hop punch. Lots of grapefruit. Floral hops in front with a grassy finish almost sour finish. Aftertaste is not my favorite but rest is tasty.

M: Lots of carb, light feel but at the same time the hops coat the mouth nicely.

O: A good IPA w/ a funky aftertaste/finish. Would definitely enjoy again but with the explosion of IPAs would pick others first.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 22:20:18 | More by gregshead

Casedogg43

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle had via a trade with TheGordianKnot! Cheers!

A: pours a clear but gold color. Looks good.. Slight head w/nice lacing.

S: very inviting. Strong citrus nose. They smell like grapefruit & orange.Smells delicious! There are some light malty notes in the background.

T: Doesn't match the nose. Grapefruit & orange are there. Hops and big roasty malts take over early and stay til the end. Alcohol is very smooth, slight hint.

M: Pretty standard for a nice IPA.

O: Man this beer has hype. Rates great and is very solid. The roasted malts just dominate a bit too much for me. I'd prefer the citrus hops on the nose to follow through til at least the middle. For me, solid, too many other IPA's that I prefer.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:34:41 | More by Casedogg43

Urbancaver

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crisp yellowish orange. Sme nice solid head tht dissipates quickly. Nice lacing. Smells great. Lots of piney hops on the nose. Taste is a bit overly bitter. The mouthfeel is a bit lacking due to the bitterness but the drinkability is decent for how hoppy it is. Overall, worth trying but i wouldn't drink it regularly

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 02:48:26 | More by Urbancaver

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from Delock's Discount Liquors (Munster, IN). 8.99/ 4 pack. No bottling date. Served in a Burnt Hickory snifter.

Pours hazy deep amber with notable turbidity and about one finger of pale thick head that leave lacing aplenty.

Smells of citrus and piney hops with an obvious sweet bready malt note behind them.

Tastes of bold bitter dank hops. Citrus rind, wet grass, dank garlic/onion, grapefruit and a little bready malt back there too. Really nice blend. Very bitter but plenty of flavor goin on.

Slick, medium body with moderate carbonation. Long bitter citrus peel finish.

Good stuff here. I would definately get this pretty regularly if I could buy it in Georgia. Worth a try for sure if you like dank bitter IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 18:45:42 | More by ThickNStout

LarryK

New York

3.76/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Gifted to me by a friend following a trip to Pittsburgh; excited to try given high ranking + non-availability in New York. Fat Head’s markets this as a west coast-style IPA, and while some of the hallmark WCIPA flavors are present, this strikes me as more of a Midwestern, Two-Hearted-style drinker.

Appearance: Light orange

Smell: Slight citrus, but not overwhelmingly so. Citrus is offset by more earthy tones.

Taste: Fat Head’s brews Head Hunter with Columbus, Simcoe and Centennial, and as mentioned, the Centennial really rises to the forefront for me, evoking Two-Hearted. The Simcoe provides a nice counter-balance to the Centennial, but in concert with Columbus gives off a considerably more piney/grassy/earthy taste than the citrusy west coast-style Fat Head’s claims to have been going for.

Mouthfeel: Sharp, piney, resinous

Overall: A very good Midwestern IPA. I’d love to try this on tap one day.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 15:09:36 | More by LarryK

MONKandTUCK

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep Amber (kinda hardto gauge in dark lighting) lots of lacing, nice head on first pour.

A - Blast of pine, some citrus, a little dank and tropical in the background.

T - Malts hold up, but this is all sorts of hops all the way through. I suspect continuous additions. Simcoe and maybe Columbus show up en force. Lots of piney and citrus zest notes. West Coast just got bitch slapped by Blitzburgh.

M - Thinner than expected for the ABV, but IPA's are meant to finish dry. Something creamier would have helpd with the enjoyability.

O - As it drinks the hop harshness picks up. There was nothing here that I hadn't had before or was longing for. Sure, it's an IPA that checks all the marks, and I wouldn't pass up using this to introduce folks to IPA's. But where I was at when drinking this, I really felt spent when half way thru. I liked it, but it was almost too much IPA for being an IPA. Nah'mean!?

*I dislike Simcoe very much, try to avoid Chinook, and have a tenuos relationship with Columbus and Cascade. If you love any one of those hops... seek this beer out!

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2012 22:49:07 | More by MONKandTUCK

herman77

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark gold/orange with a medium sized off white head. Good retention and pretty decent lacing.

S: Pineapple, mango, grapefruit and a bit of pine up front. Some dank, resinous hops mixing with sweet carmel malts. Very nice.

T: Citrus and pine hops dominate. Bitter, but there is a dose of bready malt to keep it somewhat in check. It's missing all those sweet, tropical hops that I found in the nose. If only it lived up to the nose...

M: Medium to fuller body for an IPA. Average carbonation.

O: A great IPA. Awesome nose, good drinkability. If the taste lived up to the nose, this would be on Pliny and Heady level.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:08:44 | More by herman77

kzoobrew

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks again to brew3crew and urbancaver for the bottle.

No date information available. 7.5% 87 IBUs

Clear yellow orange body leans towards the lighter side of the style but that cannot be held against it.Three finger soft frothy head works its way back slowly. Very solid lacing coats the walls of the glass.

The aroma is pleasant though I find myself slightly disappointed. There is a nice blend of resinous pine and citrus aromas though the intensity is lacking.

The flavor is very much hop forward. Juicy grapefruit, citrus pith and pine coat the tongue. The sweet and bitter hop flavors are presented with a fair amount of balance. The pithy flavor does become a bit much though not overpowering. The malt profile is sturdy but subtle providing an excellent base to layer the hops upon. Slight caramel flavor provides some sweetness underneath, thankfully it is held in check.

Medium bodied IPA. Carobnation levels are spot on for an IPA. The finish is not quite as dry as I would prefer but still with in the acceptable range for the style.

Nice IPA, certainly glad to have had the opportunity to enjoy. While the aroma certainly put me off slightly the only other complaints I have are simply personal preference. Rather easy drinking, would no be opposed to having this available to me as an everyday option. Good IPA that falls just short of the next level.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2011 00:43:26 | More by kzoobrew

tarheels86

California

3.9/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

355mL mega fresh bottle thanks to Dan! Pours a clear, filtered, no bottle refermentation (good) amber/orange. Larger, large bubbled, semi rocky meringue foam. Excellent retention. Widely spaced, webby lacing. Nose is soft butterscotch, lemon detergent (volatile), thick orange gummies. Taste is super rich butterscotch, restrained orange and grapefruit peel, mild pine sap, maple, sweet orange syrup. Palate is very bitter, nutty, some walnut/Brazil nut, mild spruce tips. Very rich, quenching, fairly aggressive. 10/2/2012 7/4/8/5/15=3.9

355mL second mega fresh bottle from Dan. Let’s try this again. Pours with a better, rockier, sheen, buttermilk head. Big retention and better, complete lacing. Nose has no off flavors, more peaches and cream, pineapple, vanilla. Taste is very West Coast in profile reminding me of Sculpin and Alesmith IPA up front, but finishing much more aggressively bitter with mega spruce tip and pine sap. Delicious. Palate is a bit too sharply bitter moving to slight sawdust. The aroma is quite inviting. Very nice stuff. Easy to love. Glad I got some extra bottles. 10/3/2012 8/4/8/3/16=3.9

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 20:47:19 | More by tarheels86

denver10

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours orange with a little burntness to it and a nice thick, foamy white head. A nice juicy orange aroma on top of a sweet, bready malt base. Flavor starts off with the citrus out the game, the middle is more the bready malt, and it closes with the marriage of piney hops and malt with a decently bitter finish. A nice creamy mouthfeel. Overall, Ohio with another solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 01:44:45 | More by denver10

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to CruisaC for sending me this one. Orange-yellow color with the slightest haze, good thick foam of a head. Smells like resiny hops, a little . Flavor is super hoppy, very bitter finish, slight bit of malt holding it all together. Whew, this is very bitter. Overall a good IPA and it is what the label says but this can't touch the west coast. Maybe I need one straight off the bottling line.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 04:53:52 | More by ArrogantB

mikey711

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

growler thanks to miketd in a recent trade.

A: Straw gold color with a ton of carbonation that provides a really nice white head about an inch an a half thick on top. Great clarity and lacing with lots of rising carbonation

S: Heavy pine note with some citrus and a fair bit of earthiness, but none of that gubna smell.

T: Very piney with bits of grapfruit and apricot. Definitely very earthy with the hops and a mild caramel note in the background

M: Nothing really too harsh, but also nothing hugely creamy. No heat but a little more body would be nice

D: A very tasty IPA growler indeed that i am happy to have tried, not as citrusy as i expected but still quite good.

Serving type: growler

06-29-2010 20:31:19 | More by mikey711

womencantsail

California

3.93/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks for sharing this one, Bobby.

A: The beer pours a clear golden-orange color with a nice big white head and some moderate lacing.

S: Smells really quite nice. Plenty of pine that is very resinous along with a big grapefruit aroma and plenty of citrus in general. There's a touch of grassy hop smell and not really much malt at all.

T: Unfortunately, the flavor falls off a little bit. Certainly a lot of pine and grapefruit, as well as a solid bitterness. There's more malt presence on the palate and just a bit of a step backward in terms of the hop intensity.

M: The body is medium with a lively carbonation and a nice dry and slightly bitter finish.

D: I really want to give this beer a better score, but the flavor just let me down after what was a very nice nose.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2011 05:25:09 | More by womencantsail