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

UncleBart91

Indiana

4.79/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

On tap at Friday's in Terre Haute IN. Never had tried it, and took the recommendation of the bartender. Turn out to be, in my opinion, an ideal IPA

Appearance: Deep golden with a perfect foam

Smell: Slight citrus, almost piney earth smell

Taste: Great citrus taste with the perfect amount of bitterness, ideal for your typical hop head

Mouthfeel: Piney, crisp, and sharp

Overall: GREAT IPA, TRYING TO FIND IN 6 PACK!!!! Definitely recommend to my fellow IPA drinkers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2013 18:47:46 | More by UncleBart91

basickness

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

best ipa ive ever had - better then the elder, zombiedust, etc... i love it. ive had it on tap and in bottle. i live in pittsburgh, where we have a fatheads, but i say definitely worth the pain to get it. it is 100% over the top and aggressive. not for fair weather ipa fans.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 14:02:13 | More by basickness

MNishCT77

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Fat Head's Pittsburgh location, served in a typical British-style pint glass, drank 4/9/13 over one hour.

A: 4.5 - amber-brown coloration, good clarity for style (impressed that it's unfiltered!), white one finger head lingers for a while eventually dissipating into glass lacing, moderate alcohol legs

S: 4.5 - lives up to advertisement...lots of grapefruit, pineapple, pine cone, etc....really great smelling mix of West and East Coast qualities in the aroma

T: 4 - as excited I was after the fantastic smell, there is a huge slap of bitterness on the anterior tongue that I personally find unpleasant, especially because it lingers (this is also my major complaint with Bell's Hopslam); very dry with minor bready/biscuity malt flavors subtly admixed with alcohol notes

M: 4.5 - full-bodied, creamy, mild-to-moderate carbonation --> excellent for style

O: 4.5 - I was really looking forward to drinking this beer after hearing and reading all the hype surrounding it, and, albeit I enjoyed it, it didn't live up to expectations; however, I think that this is really personal taste more than anything; as I drink more IPAs and imperial IPAs, I realize that my favorite aspect is probably the big hop aroma and flavors with minimal bitterness; this is definitely a bitter IPA really tasting those 87 IBUs, and there was a more tropical DIPA on tap (IBUsive) that I preferred (see that review too if you'd like); suffice it to say, if you like Bell's Hopslam, you'll like this one too and don't let my bitterness hold you back

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2013 02:59:32 | More by MNishCT77

brewskis

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a classic sunset orange color with a finger length white head that goes down slowly and leaves a thick lacing. Pretty good carbonation comign off the glass. Smells like an ipa should. Lots of resinous pine, grapefruit, pineapple, mango, maybe some papaya. Tiny bit of a bready malt presence. Pretty dry. Taste starts with the resinous pine, grapefruit, and orange. Then there is a decent malt presence that brings some carmel and breadiness to balance it a little. Very resinous, dry finish with more pine, grapefruit, some pineapple, papaya, along with some sweetness to cut the hops. Almost like a bubblegum flavor. The hops get more abrasive as it goes down. Pretty hefty body for a single ipa. Creamy and surprisingly clean mouthfeel for such a hoppy beer due to the lively carbonation. Extremely well done ipa that lives up to the hype in my opinion..

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 02:19:49 | More by brewskis

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

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a very very good ipa. clear and quite pale in color, a little darker than golden, call it bronze, with an inch or so of white suds. the nose is very fruity hops, citra maybe, pineapple and lemon attack the nostrils. flavor is more grapefruit than lemon, with equal parts tropical fruit. the hops taste just picked to me, full of resins and oils that i just love in an ipa. alcohol is strong, and can be tasted a bit in the finish, my only real critique of an otherwise near flawless brew. nice lighter medium body keeps it sessionable, and the carbonation is very bright, aiding in a clean crisp finish that gets more and more bitter as the beer warms up. perfect with a chilli chese burger stacked hugh with frito chips. god i want another. one of the more fruity and citrusy india pales in recent memory. this should make its way out to colorado, id be a regular on it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 23:46:37 | More by StonedTrippin

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Slightly hazy, lighter orange color. Good looking white head stays around for a few minutes, and leaves some nice lace.

Juicy hop aroma bursting out of the glass. Pineapple, mango and other tropical fruits. Maybe a bit of pine and herbal notes as well. Malt is really an afterthought here.

Clean, cracker like malt up front, not a great deal of sweetness. Hops flavor an bitterness comes in quick and hard. Again, tropical fruit dominates. I love the juicy flavors here. A bit herbal as well. Bitterness lingers, but is not harsh.

Medium body, with ample carbonation. Not much heat from alcohol. This is a very solid IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 22:35:40 | More by Bierguy5

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Well, might as well take advantage of the chance to try this on-tap. I think the nose on this might actually be more interesting than the bottled version. Very salty flavor profile though. A bit too much in that it masks a lot of the other citric and piney characteristics that are trying to show. Still a very nice IPA. Loud and brash, but still bringing enough to keep it respectable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 22:10:50 | More by RblWthACoz

Murphey

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Absolutely the best single IPA ever. Perfect balance. Love the hoppy taste and the aroma to make one's knees buckle. Have had it at Fat Heads here in Pittsburgh as well as the one in Cleveland, and it was better in Pittsburgh for some reason. Absolutely love this beer!

It started showing up in the local beer distributor. I (of course) picked up a case. It is good, but it definitely didn't stand out as much as it does on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-16-2012 02:54:56 | More by Murphey

mdaschaf

Washington

4.33/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Fat Heads. Review from notes.

A: The beer is clear copper with a small white head on top, about an inch in height with decent retention and thin lacing down the sides.

S: Lots of pine mixed with citrus fruit on the aroma, some grapefruit and orange zest with a faint caramel. malt undertone.

T: Very piney on the flavor profile, but it isn't really coupled with the amount of bitterness I was expecting, certainly helping with the drinkability. Some tropical fruit is mixed in, mostly grapefruit and orange.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Slightly bitter finish, but rather light for a big IPA like this.

O: Very good, deserving of praise for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 00:38:06 | More by mdaschaf

WesM63

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at deagans in Lakewood, Ohio. Poured into a pint glass.

A: golden amber with a nice 1.5finger off white head. Moderate amounts of retention tons of lacing.

S: Sticky pine, tons of bubblegum, grapefruit and pineapple.

T: Spot on the nose. Loads of sweet bubblegum, grapefruit and some pine. Moderate bitterness lingers.

M: Medium carbonation and body.

O: Phenominal west coast IPA! Wish I could get it here on the western side of the state.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 23:44:54 | More by WesM63

BeerManBert

4.55/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Really enjoyed this IPA at the GABF. After all the IPA and Imperial IPAs I tried this one clearly stood out from the crowd. Amazing nose and huge flavor . I went back several times for this one and it's big brother the Hop JuJu Imperial IPA

In my top 5 IPAs of all time.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2012 01:01:44 | More by BeerManBert

fiver29

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sample at the brewery. Pour is golden color with off white head. Aroma is strong pine with some citrus mixed in. Has a medium mouthfeel. Flavor is strong pine and citrus hops upfront. Leads to a nice caramel touch with more pine hops to the finish. A real hop blast. My favorite on their list. This one is for hopheads only.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2012 15:56:46 | More by fiver29

clept

Louisiana

5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Relocated to Pittsburgh about 3 years ago from South Louisiana and landed in the legendary Southside of all places. Having the Fatheads pub within a mile of my house is a HUGE perk.

I've spent significant time in Socal and Norcal, and have tried the best that Colorado has to offer, few beers come close to the dank goodness that is Headhunter IPA. Their awards and reputation speaks for itself...
SILVER AWARD • WORLD BEER CUP® • AMERICAN-STYLE IPA 2012
SILVER MEDAL • AMERICAN-STYLE IPA • GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL® 2010
BRONZE MEDAL • AMERICAN-STYLE IPA • GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL® 2011
TOP 25 BEERS IN THE WORLD • DRAFT MAGAZINE 2009
GRAND CHAMPION • NATIONAL IPA CHALLENGE 2012, 2010
GOLD MEDAL • WEST COAST IPA FEST 2012, 2009
GOLD MEDAL • DENVER INTERNATIONAL BEER FEST 2011
GOLD MEDAL • AMERICAN IPA • CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL BEER FEST 2012

With a list of recognition's like that, if you're a hophead, that loves dank pine & citrus no-holds-barred IPA's than you owe it to yourself to seek this out. I've had Pliny, Nugget Nectar, Sculpin, Flower Power and MANY others and I can guarantee that Headhunter can hold its own with ANY of the big hyped IPA's. Get some if you can!

edit: I've had this on draft and in bottle. Like any beer, batches can vary from time to time, hop batches vary from year to year, etc. However, for the most part, this beer is consistently solid. 5/5

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2012 03:11:46 | More by clept

liftop

Ohio

4.98/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow simply an amazing IPA. Had on draft at Melt in Independence. Strong smell of grapefruit, citrus, and pine. Taste is very strong citrus with some pine notes. If you like Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, you will love this beer. It's a much better version of this style of brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 01:19:34 | More by liftop

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.09/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first beer from Fat Head's.

Pours out a nice orange with almost a slightly greenish tint and a decent amount of white head.

The aroma is full of citrus and fruity hops along with a dank hop aroma.

Taste is dominated by hops that taste almost fresh squeezed and it has a very in your face approach. The fruit is very juicy and there is a subtle malt background.

Very refreshing and easy to drink. A great summer IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2012 02:05:47 | More by JohnnyMc

Jesse13713

Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Golden yellow which avoids a pee-like appearance. Average head and lacing to the pint glass. Clear like a mysterious golden elixir.

Smell - Very complex and interesting hops. Citrusy, bitter, and piny on the nose. Very nice smelling.

Taste - I don't think I've ever tasted a combination of hops like this before. Sweet floral buds that proved a nectary taste. An easy malt back to this beer. A bit piney and pleasantly bitter.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - Easy-going down the throat. A nice bitterness due to a complex combination of hops. Fresh. Gets a bit more bitter towards the end. Very unique and worthy of a try.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2012 19:48:18 | More by Jesse13713

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap, into a Guulden Draak tulip

A. About on inch of lacing hangs around for a few minutes, minimal lacing. Light orange/yellow coloring. Extremely hazy -- can't see through this one.

S. Zesty citrus hops, mostly grapefruit with a bit of pine.

T. Follows nose, with more intensity. Through the grapefruit rind into this and it's almost like a fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Pine is there as well. I like this. It gets better as it warms.

M. Light to medium carbonation, hoppy after taste which emphasizes the pine.

O. I really like this beer. It gets better and better at is warms, and at 7.5% ABV (as advertised in this here bar), it's a good way to start the day. I'll have this again when I see it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 16:03:52 | More by rodlavers

gradergator

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on-tap and served in a small tasting glass. the beer is a slightly hazed, orange coloring and inch high head with great retention, too. Aromas are citrus-hop blend that smells amazing. orange, and grapefruit blending with the pine, fresh cut grass, and resin to entice you right into the glass. Flavors are rich and resiny. A very Hop forward punch with a grapefruit that keeps you coming back for more. There is a subtle caramel backbone that supports all the other profiles, which is exactly what it should be doing. The finish is clean, smooth, and very satisfying. Another great Midwest IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 22:39:03 | More by gradergator

brentk56

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives with a modest head seated atop the clear amber liquid; splotchy lace is left behind

Smell: Grapefruit and nothing but

Taste: Grapefruit, with a hint of biscuity malt underneath; citrusy finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A really nice grapefruity IPA; though it has a hint of residual sweetness, it never comes close to becoming cloying

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2012 01:45:28 | More by brentk56

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

djwilson

Ohio

5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a light orange/gold with a frantic white head, leaving a nice lace on the glass.

Aroma is citrus, grapefruit, and light pine up front. Slight hint of caramel and malt.

Hops hits you right in the first sip and lingers for several minutes on the tounge. Finishes nice and bitter like a grapefruit.

Overall the best example of a west coast IPA! Right up there with the big guys, firestone walker, pizza port, coronado, and stone!!

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 21:22:24 | More by djwilson

MrDanno96

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a nice orange color with a thin ring of white head and some sticky lacing.

S: Resiny hops dominate, of course. Smells like the floor of an evergreen forest with hints of tropical fruit. Earthy and slightly sweet.

T/M: Any hop head will love this. Thick mouthfeel with some malty caramel sweetness up front. Then the hops kick in, coating your mouth with pine and that oh so enjoyable hop bitterness. A slight fruit sweetness lingers throughout, balancing the hops. What more could you bask for?

O: An IPA to be recokoned with. The west coast better watch out as Head Hunter can stand up with the best of them. Every true hop head should give this a try. Easily competes with PtE as my favorite hoppy beer and at 7.5% you could call this a DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 01:11:34 | More by MrDanno96

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Blonde-to-orange body. An inch of head only, but that just means more beer. Bone-colored topper with good lacing.

Citrus (grapefruit juice, tangerine), tropical fruits (spicy mango, guava), and a lovely cracker-y base malt.

Citric rush of volatile hop oils! Grapefruit, tangerine, papaya, and green grass. Some lemongrass, too. Pale malts come off dry and freshly-baked, like white bread. Great bitterness, prolonged after the swallow. Fresh hop cone greenness. A 'wowser'!

Very drinkable, medium-to-light body with a powerful, crisp effervescence. Great overall feel.

An incredible brew! Highly recommended! A big fruity IPA with some balance, remarkable aroma, and excellent thirst-quenching bitterness.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2012 20:28:18 | More by thecheapies

ckollias

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this on tap at Fat’s head.

A: Pours a golden hue with a white 2-finger head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace leaving a nice trail the down glass.

S: Nice super hoppy aroma is dominant all the way through.

T: Crisp hoppy flavor that is very bitter and tart. Hints of citrus and pine in the background.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Wow – super hoppy beer! Great sipping beer @ 7.4% abv.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2011 23:35:22 | More by ckollias