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

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

ike4tay45

Ohio

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

A: Clear golden color, nice white 2 finger head. Slowley disapating with some nice lacing.

S: Aroma is nice with lots of pine and plenty citrus hops, and some malts.

T: Taste is bold, citrus, and hoppy.

M: Feel is crisp clean, light and smooth.

Overall: Excellent. Can hang with any west coast IPA. Glad I could finally score some bottles!

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2011 00:25:14 | More by ike4tay45

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Had this on 2011-09-10 at the brewery in Cleveland.

A - Clear straw-amber with a 1.5-finger white head into a Fat Head's pint glass. Moderate lacing.

S - Pineapple, mango, pine, pale malt, hop floral and hop oils. Smells great but not quite as aromatic as on-cask.

T - Pineapple, orange, pine, and grapefruit zest. There's a touch of light caramel and some orange flesh sweetness. It dries quickly with a bright citrus bitter finish that is wonderful.

M - Light-medium body and medium-high carbonation. Crisp. Prickly and somewhat resinous.

D - What a great brew. I enjoyed having this along side the same batch on cask. Slight nod to on-cask but this is absolutely first-rate nontheless.

Notes: This particular batch of Head Hunter is being entered by the brewer, Matt, into the 2011 Great American Beer Festival this month. Our impressively well-versed bartendress told us the pub was out of Head Hunter for 10 days because Matt wanted this batch to be as perfect as possible for submission to GABF.

Additional Note: This batch took the bronze at the 2011 GABF.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 21:27:54 | More by Tucquan

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.85/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Served on tap into a nonic glass at the brewpub

A- Poured a honey color orange yellow with one finger frothy head that left some good lace

S- Grapefruit and pine assault. This is super aromatic and has a really deep pungent funk.

T- Big pungent funk, grapefruit, tropical fruit, pine, and woodiness. Perfect balance of sweet and bitter. Great sweet citrus flavor up front and very assertive bitterness on the finish.

M- Very dry beer with good carbonation that goes down smooth, very dry on the finish

O- Is this the best IPA I have ever had? I think it may be. This is an amazing IPA, so aromatic and flavorful. This beer brings the sweetness, bitterness, and funk; what a perfect combo. This is as West Coast as it gets and it is from Cleveland. I have got to make it up to Fat Heads more.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 02:46:34 | More by Hoptometrist

merc7186

New York

4.3/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer on tap as part of a flight at Fat Heads Cleveland.

The beer has a decent golden straw color to it, good head on the glass and great lacing. The smell comes off with a strong oily resin, piney, and a hint of grapefruit on the back end. The taste just blows you away with a hop punch to the mouth, it delivers a piney, grapefruit flavor that just delivers a great hop flavor but not over the top. The mouthfeel is great with a nice piney flavor that doesn't dry you out but leaves you wanting more. Overall, a MUST drink for hop heads.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 01:37:43 | More by merc7186

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap, Harrisburg Brewer's Fest. Feels like I didn't move from in front of Fat Head's.

A: The IPA is a lighter color. golden and translucent. A white head accompanies the ale where ever it goes.

S: The nose is resiny, oiled up with plenty of rich grapefruit and pine. Intense is probably the best word to use in this situation. Few IPAs muster up this type of powerful smell.

T: Hoppy and boozy, the ale provides on heck of a punch. Hops lead off (and never step aside), providing an oily citrus flavor. Pine follows, a thicker heaviness. Both types of hops can't hide the boozy strength of the IPA. Pale malts don't add much either. The resiny finish lingers long after each sip is gone. Wickedly good.

M: Possibly the highlight of the day for me. It's bite doesn't quit, leaving citrusy goodness in the back of my mouth.

O: Worth the long lines. After 4 glasses I went home a happy camper.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2011 19:06:21 | More by akorsak

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I have a hard time believing I just now tried this. On tap at the original Fathead's.

Poured into a nonick pint: Transparent, light gold with a finger of soft head. A few streams of fast nucleation. Tapestry lacing that doesn't last too long.

Smell: Wow! Bright grapefruit & a smell of pure freshness, like walking through the woods after a light rain. It's not the complexity of the notes in the aroma or whatever, but the overall vivacity & "nosefeel" that makes this so awesome.

Bitter & citric in the taste, piny, woody. It's like an "erect" taste sensation that's really stimulating. Again, this is hard to describe in terms of flavor components vs. an overall feeling or sensation - fresh, assertive, stiff, delicious. Bitter almost to the point of satiation, but inviting.

Mouthfeel grabs me with bitterness & won't let go, hits me & makes me come back for more. Doesn't destroy the palate, just rakes it over the coals a bit.

In summation: frickin' awesome. My new favorite IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 01:14:15 | More by OneDropSoup

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

ABV was listed as 7.2%

A - A nice clear copper color with a half of of head. Looks pleasant.

S - Wow what a hoppy bastard. Notes of pine and citrus hops with very little malt background. Hope it's good.

T - Taste is of bitter pine then citrus pine followed by very little hop balance. After a while I can detect a slight bit of malt but I swear this is Ruination.

M - Light to medium. drinks rather well.

Overall for the price ($5.50 a pint GTFO!) and the bitterness I will look elsewhere for a smooth IPA

And when the hell will Pittsburgh get the 4 bottles for 9.95? Man it's been like a 2 month wait!

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 04:13:29 | More by DrDemento456

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

Shmota

Indiana

4.43/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I wanted to try this beer for a long time and with in 4 weeks I was lucky enough to sample it at the brewery and then run into the assistant brewer at Dark Lord Day and received a bottle from him.

Nothing exceptional as far as the head is concerned. Nice Golden Orange color.

Fabulous smell. Lots of Citrus and Pine notes

Excellent IPA flavor that holds up the the expectation that the smell leaves. Loads of hop kick. an Excellent flavored APA. It has just enough malt flavor to keep the hops from being too bold.

Mouthfeel is good a little resinous

Overall I highly recommend this beer for any hop lover

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2011 16:21:25 | More by Shmota

EricHeff

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have been introducing my wife to good beers for a while now, but she has been really reluctant to start trying a lot of IPAs.
I took her to Fatheads a few weeks ago and made her try my Head Hunter. Needless to say, she got her own glass and a 4 pack for the road just for herself. Since then she has been all over IPAs and our fridge has never looked yummier.
This beer pours an orange color with little head and has some amazing piny/citrus smells. It is super easy to drink, has a crisp feel, and some amazing citrus flavor.
This is by far my favorite IPA and if you get the chance I highly encourage you to try it. Im even prouder that its brewed right here in NE Ohio.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2011 14:30:16 | More by EricHeff