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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On-tap at Pizza Plant.Cloudy grapefruit with a foaming white head. Lots of lace. Grapefruit aroma. Initially there is a strong hop bite, nay burn, then the mouth gets more used to the acidity. The flavour is pretty good grapefuit. 77IBU and you feel that. Hours later, acidic is still in my mouth.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2009 20:21:49 | More by northyorksammy

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

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Fat Heads in Cleveland.

Pours a nice gold to light copper color with a nice white head and a good amount of lacing. Nice retention as well. The nose brought forward a large amount of hops ranging from citrus to floral to tropical. Altogether a really nice package from a mixed back of hops. I can't recall them at the moment, but there was a sign on the wall that seemed to indicate the hops used in this one. The flavor hit the spot as well with a nice hop character coming through as the dominant character and a good, brisk finish. A bit of alcohol in the finish, though not too much. Terribly drinkable. I wish this were available locally and weren't quite as high in ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 14:46:55 | More by Thorpe429

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

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

With a proud exert on the label that reminds us that this beer took silver and bronze medals in the Great American Beer Festival '10 and '11 respectfully, this high praise comes with high expectations. And this west coast IPA doesn't disappoint!

While its appearance does nothing to deter from the classic look of IPA, its medium amber color reminds me of honey. But capped with an eggshell white sheet, the beer laces and retains wonderfully right down to the last sip.

But the IPA begins to separate from the pack with a bright and drippy citrus aroma. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, pineapple, tangerine, and herbal (cannabis-like) character mixes with grassy notes. Mild starchy malts carry with it a caramel and butter note that makes the fruit notes seem ripe and plump rather than trying to compete for balance.

The flavors are starkly consistent with aroma. Both the hop flavor and malt sweetness hit the front of the mouth with balanced intensity, Honey dipped slices of grapefruit and oranges are first and foremost in taste. Complementary notes of tropical fruit juice rounds the beer in nearly coctail-like precision. The waves of varying flavors wash over the middle palate and fold in malty starch flavors and the grassy and herbal notes that were described in the beer's aroma. But the beer suddenly falls off in order to provide a resiny bitterness and malty dryness that lingers on the back of the throat like pine needles and fresh-cut grasses. Mild salts and metals blend into the hop bitterness and gives a glimpse into the water profiles.

Medium bodied, but the beer seems lighter because of its quick-strike dryness. The enamel clinching sweetness, hop, and alcohol textures pretend to deliver a seductive citric acidity, but the beer is focused on a dry finish and a memory of fruit. The malt textures fall off just as the bitterness comes to a crescendo, a light leafy astringency, and the alcohol dryness closes the beer with confidence.

Fat Head's Head Hunter is a fantastic IPA that doesn't simply deliver "proper" IPA flavor or become complacent on making an "error free" beer. It pushes further into the smooth bitterness, ultimate dryness, and intangible fruity hop flavors and aromas that begin to separate it from the rest.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 03:34:22 | More by BEERchitect

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Fat Head's Had Hunter India Pale Ale, 7.5% ABV, 87 IBU. Brewed and bottled by Fat Head's Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

Clear, golden-amber color, almost tangerine, with an enormous, thick and sturdy, creamy white head. Looking great.

Aroma: leaps on on first pour and slips into the nose. All our favorites are inside, we get the citrus and the pine, there's the bitter grapefruit, some pineapple, maybe a whiff of mango. Pleases the olfactory organ in all the best and most appropriate ways. Smelling great.

Taste: Bam! A fierce assault on the palate, delivering massive bitterness, a hefty spank on the tongue. A powerhouse blow, staying long and laying in hard. Full-bodied, immense presence on the palate, long finish.

I can go through every superlative in the thesaurus, and just keep going. This one really has it all, and it ends on a moderately mellow mood, with that high bitterness and incredible flavor level never really tapering off. There's a strain of astringent, aspirin-y character that hangs in at the back. But some of us love that and this is for us, clearly.

Unrestrained, unabashed, unhinged. But damned delicious. Incredible IPA, deserving of all kinds of praise.

"Uncivilized & Aggressive. No other ingredient stirs the passion of a master brewer like the hop. Inspired by this legendary flower we challenged ourselves to create a world class IPA. Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped uncivilized, West Coast-style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hop! Love the lupulin. Dig the dank. Respect the resin. Do not age, Hoppy beers are best consumed fresh."

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 07:15:49 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

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

Big thanks to the Thorpes for picking this growler up, I really appreciate it.

Beer is orange and mostly clear with a nice white head, thick, contiguous, lacing is a plus and carbonation is moderate, looks awesome.

Hops that win out are citrus / fruit in variety, nice volume on the aroma, very inviting.

Wow, super drinkable, a very nice AIPA for sure, medium bodied, chewy hops, lots of esters in the midpalate, great hop flavor, great hop bitterness to finish, not too dry on the back palate, overall a wonderful beer.

Serving type: growler

03-21-2011 23:40:34 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

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

Growler thanks to TurdFurgison. Leaked a touch in transit, and was hissing when I threw it into the freezer for a quick cooldown. Served in my Stone pint glass.

A - Pours with a surprising large three fingers of soapy white foam that settles to a thick chunky cap and leaves sheets of lace. Transparent pale golden color.

S - Wow, this is one hoppy brew. Huge grapefruit, orange rind, pine, and some dank, with a sugar cookie and light toffee malt backbone. Reminds me a lot of O'Brien's IPA. Huge surprise for a Midwest IPA.

T - Taste is a little less intense, but filled with grapefruit and citrus zest. Not much malt character at all. Big bitter finish that lingers well into the aftertaste. No obvious alcohol.

M - Carbonation is a little low, but more present than the flat Hopfather growler I shipped myself a month ago with just the lightest tingle on the top of the lip. Body is medium-light and might be a touch undersized for 7%. Lightly dry finish, with some residual oily resins.

D - Goes down pretty fast, with the only thing getting in the way being the bruising bitterness. It's a shame no one is free to help me with this one. Where's d0b when you need him?

Serving type: growler

10-02-2010 02:20:20 | More by MasterSki

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a slightly hazy copper color, there was a white foamy head on top. The lacing was sticky and hung on the glass nicely. The smell of the beer was loaded with hops. Very nice aromas ranging from floral to fruity. The taste of the beer is piney, and has a nice balanced malt sweetness to it in there. The mouthfeel is smooth with a subtle carbonation to it. Overall I believe that it's pretty damn good, I'd still put a few others before it but still worth having.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 01:45:38 | More by Knapp85

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

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Pours a brilliant copper glowing slightly orange and red when held toward the light with a bright white head building up big and large. I love this beer, Fathead's has done it again and released when of my all time favorite IPAs. Aroma has big floral, citrus, and fruit filled hop bursts going on...this beer is great. I'm not sure which hops they use, but it has the most tropical fruit smells I've ever tasted straight up mango/pineapple. The most sought after West Coast style IPA brewed outside of Cleveland. This brand new case I picked says brewed in small batches to ensure quality I believe it. This an 87 IBU hop monster that gives out hop flavor with malt sweetness all day, it's balanced yet aggressive and uncivilized according to the label. Hop candy all day, a beer that flows with each sip anybody into hops needs to try this beer, I get layers of grapefruit and bright hop flavors that are literally rocking my world. Mouthfeel is resinous but not heavy, light to medium bodied ample flowing carbonation excellent drinkable IPA for those of us in the know. I know this beer is amazing I've been drinking it on draft at Fathead's since it came out.

Update: bottled on 5/14/13 @ 10:34 am drank on 5/18/13@ 4:23 pm I love fresh IPA and I love the Head Hunter!!!

Hops are screaming in this sample, beautiful cohesive force of big hops and malts I can't believe this is available this fresh in my area bought at Valley Wine Cellar in Steubenville, Ohio. It made it down here from the production brewery in 3 days I bought it on 5/17/13...that's effective distribution. Good job to the Premium beverage folks I can't believe it. Pairing an Erik Espinosa Habano from the La Zona Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua beautiful Habano wrapper spicy Nica tobacco, fills the nares with black pepper, the palate with leather and spice beautiful cigar to pair with a badass West coast style IPA. If you never had the pleasure of drinking this on tap please find it fresh in bottles amazing experience, every hophead around this area should have I'm about to pick up the rest of the bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 11:19:32 | More by WVbeergeek

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

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a bowtie glass)
A- There is a hint of haze to the bright orange body with a thick beige cream that last a good bit as a thin film.

S- There is a full woody green hops with a mint quality to it as it opens up

T- The herbal hops have a slight spicy pungency with some green bitterness that lingers a moment after each sip. There is a pale and lightly toasted malt hint in the first few sips but it gets covered by the hop pungency as it grows.

M- The medium-light mouthfeel has a tight fizzy bite in the finish.

O- The big fizz boost the hop bitterness which covers a lot of the other flavors but it does have some nice hop flavors and some malt hints. It is just the bitterness is out of balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 03:14:46 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks goes out to Hojaminbag for this brew.

Poured into a DFH glass a very nice dark golden hazy orange color, very nice carbonation, very nice three-finger thick/creamy off-white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is nice and hoppy, with some malt notes, very nice citrus and pine notes. The taste is especially nice, hoppy, sweet, with a nice malt blend thrown in, lots of citrus/pine notes. Medium Body, with a slight dry/bitter finish. This is an AWESOME IPA, definitely one of the best I've had to date, Highly Recommended! Thanks Ben! Much appreciated!

Serving type: growler

12-29-2011 01:25:27 | More by Wasatch

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Rudzud for sharing.

Slight hazy pale orange color, very little fizzy head.

Nose lots of typical fruit, grapefruit, musty resinous passion fruit, hint of booze and light sweetness malt. Citrus and tangerine.

Taste light musty resin and tropical fruit, passion fruit, grapefruit, bit of pineapple, light tangerine and citrus. Light malty sweetness and juicy flavor. Finish is fairly bitter with light tropical fruit and resinous tropical fruit.

Mouth is med bodied and decent carb.

Overall quite nice. Great hop additions with just enough malt balance and sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 12:43:18 | More by jlindros

mdfb79

New York

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

From 03/05/11 notes. Growled shared by Thorpe429; thanks Mike.

a - Pours a murky orange color with one inch of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, oranges, fruity malts, and some light pine hops. Oranges jump out the most and it's pretty nice.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, oranges, bitter pine hops, and fruity malts. Some slight bitterness up front.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation.

d - A pretty nice IPA. Lots of oranges in the smell and taste. Would have again.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2011 16:19:25 | More by mdfb79

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

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.72/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I wouldn't argue with you if you said this was the greatest single IPA in the world. Looks innocent enough, a slightly golden haze of a beer. Beautiful aroma up the nose, amazing simcoe and amarillo feel.

More of that in the taste, Plinyesque, so much dry hopping flavor, without a super heavy handed amount of bitterness. Totally resonates throughout the entire sample (tried at Bistro IPA festival, where it won gold). Extremely drinkable, would be difficult to stop drinking this if there weren't 61 other kegs of IPA that day.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2010 17:48:55 | More by Beerandraiderfan

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to JM03 for sending this one my way as an extra in a recent trade! Served from bottle into a Duck-Rabbit nonic. Poured yellow-orange with a minimal white head. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, pine, pine hop, fruit, fruit hop, tropical fruit, and subtle apple juice. The flavor was of sweet malt, pine, pine hop, fruit, fruit hop, tropical fruit, bitter hop, and subtle pine resin. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. I really liked what is going on in this one. There was tons of pine notes going on, but it had a nice touch of fruit to help balance it out and leave your palate feeling refreshed for a moment. After that moment the hops come flooding in to carry what is left of your palate away. A really well done brew that should be enjoyed by anyone who calls themselves a hop-head.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 11:07:14 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Growler shared by Thorpe429. Thanks Mike!

The beer appears transparent and orange in color with a finger of white head that leaves some decent lacing on the glass.

The aroma has a pleasant citrus scent, along with some floral and tropical fruit notes.

Very tasty stuff. Really easy to drink, Fresh hop presence throughout, with various flavors melding together nicely. The beer finishes with a tangy bitterness and lingers on the palate. Alcohol presence is muted, but this beer will sneak up on you if you're not careful. I would happily drink this again.

Serving type: growler

03-12-2011 18:37:36 | More by Huhzubendah

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance: An orange/gold in color with a bone white head that leaves substantial lacing down the glass. The head hunter looks as good as it smells.

Smell: Awesome hop nose, like a tropical Christmas tree with citrus, mango and pine notes.

Taste: Fresh, fruity and zesty hops and a solid malt body, but make no mistake, this ones all about the hops. Pine, resin, dank and citrus. Lovely. Every time I get this beer I am impressed.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation making it nice and crisp with a bit of a bite.

Drinkability: I really enjoyed this beer. Had it side by side with Ballast Point's Sculpin and held its own.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 13:40:05 | More by Stinkypuss

largadeer

Kentucky

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

Draft at The Bistro IPA festival. Golden amber, bright and clear, with a solid white cap that slowly settles to a collar. Very floral aroma, centennial hops are prominent but there's also a citrusy, herbal character, a little weed and cut grass. Little perceptible malt in the aroma, but it has a touch of bready sweetness on the palate beneath the huge hop flavors. Floral with orange and grapefruit, bitter herbs, a little toasted biscuit. Nice bitter grapefruit finish that lingers for a long time. Pretty damn good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2010 18:46:23 | More by largadeer

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clean, pale orange-ish color with a white head. In the aroma, big citrus, grapefruity hops. In the taste, big hops, citrus and grapefruity, yet very well balanced with a nice malt. A smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a grapefruity hop aftertaste. Fantastic, big hops, but not too big.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2010 13:03:44 | More by OWSLEY069

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

I had this on tap at Fat Heads in Cleveland, apparently brewed on premises. The menu description: "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".

The beer is clear and gold colored with about 2 fingers of foam that lace into sheets on the glass. The smell is ridiculously on target, I've had Pliny the Elder each night for the last 3 nights and this is not really distinguishable by aroma. A lot of grapefruit and a little pine, this is near perfection. The taste is about the same, exactly what I crave from an IPA. Very assertive hops punches with grapefruit and alpha acids, nice counterbalance from malts but not enough to sweeten the hops to neutrality. Just very well done, this is a delicious IPA. The body's about right for the style, just north of water, very very drinkable.

This is an outstanding IPA when you factor in the low ABV (6.2%), just very good. I hope to see this bottled and distributed.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2009 16:17:10 | More by TurdFurgison

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.35/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle courtesy of mgbickel pours a hazed gold color with a large, sticky cap of off-white head. Awesome lacing.

You can smell this bitch just pouring it into the glass from a foot away! Citric hops galore with maybe a kiss or two of pine and tropical fruit. No malt is getting past this lupulin bomb.

Good balance of bittering and flavoring hops with a light, biscuity malt backdrop. Pretty west-coasty, and I could imagine it would be even better straight from the bright tank. It really does have a smoothness to it that is rare for a bitter IPA, it flows flawlessly from floral/citric hop flavor to a crackery malt then finishes nicely bitter. When the beer is gone before the review is finished...thats when you know it is good!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 23:50:38 | More by twiggamortis420