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

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

nlmartin

Ohio

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

The beer was served in a snifter.

A- The body of the beer was a coppery orange coloration. The head was a thick biege coloration. The head simply could not stand up to the mustache test but few do.

S- The flavor is a hop heads delight. A great combination of grapefruit, citrus pith and zest, pineapple and mango, nice juicy sweetness that peaks into dankness. Very nicely executed!

T- A nearly perfect reproduction of the aroma. Bitter hops provide grapefruit and citrus notes, plenty of citrus zest, a very brief juicy pineapple sweetness that is swallowed into pine resinous bitterness.

M- The body of the beer is medium with moderate carbonation. The hops are very resinous and stick to my mouth.

O- This beer was a joy to drink from begining to end. At $10. a four pack this beer will be my go to hop fix for some time to go. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 08:32:17 | More by nlmartin

prototypic

Ohio

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

Head Hunter pours a really attractive gold color. It’s mostly clear. Backlighting gives it a slight orange tint. It’s capped with an off-white head that rises to about a finger in height. It holds steady for quite a while before falling to a surface covering. Lacing was rather sticky and thick. Looks good!

The nose is very impressive! Strong citric hop notes roll right out of the glass. They smell like grapefruit, light, orange, and pineapple. Smells delicious! There are some light malty notes in the background. Smells like a mix of caramel and toasted malts. They’re very much a secondary factor though. Hops are very much front and center in this one. It smells a little sweet and sugary. Alcohol is there, but doesn’t come through too strong. Excellent!

The flavor is very impressive, but is a step below the nose. The malt base is a mix of toasted and caramel varieties. The caramel, while sweet, isn’t too much of a factor. The toasted malts seem a tad strong for my taste though. Small gripe. The hops are definitely strong and full of citrus deliciousness. Grapefruit, orange, and pineapple flavors are all noted. It’s definitely bitter, but doesn’t completely wreck the palate. Alcohol is blended well and isn’t all that noticeable. Finishes with a really nice mix of citrus flavors and light bitterness.

The body is on the lighter side of medium. Carbonation is light and soft. It’s smooth and feels nice for the style. It goes down easy, that’s for sure. I could easily handle two or three bottles in a sitting. Good stuff.

Head Hunter is a really impressive release from Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon. It’s not perfect, but it is an excellent American IPA. Personally, I’d prefer just a little less toasted malt flavor. It’s a small complaint, but less would be more there. Very good stuff in any event. Definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 02:04:41 | More by prototypic

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

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

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

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for giving me a bottle of this

Consumed 10/18/12

Appearance: Golden dark orange - clear - starts with a nice, white head, fades faster than average, but leaves a nice wall of spotty lacing

Smell: Aggressively hoppy in a lovely way - ripe oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits - flesh and some bitter pith - oily citrus rinds - tropical fruits, mostly pineapple - floral - dank, with some resiny pine - pale and caramel malts in the background, mostly washed out by the hops

Taste: Oily, pithy, citrus assault - emphasis on grapefruit, with a lot of flesh and pith - orange and grapefruit rinds - some tropical flavors add some sweetness - oily, resinous pine rounds things out - very bitter - some pale and caramel malts provide a backbone but not much else - just a little touch of alcohol

Mouthfeel: Medium body, adequate carbonation, smooth with a lingering bitter oiliness

Overall: Tongue Hunter?

This blurs the line between IPA and DIPA with a remarkable amount of aggressiveness. Personally, I think it's a bit too oily and pithy. It's great, but not something I would want all the time... It could be a bit more drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 05:33:23 | More by angrybabboon

Etan

Illinois

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

Fresh 12oz bottle from the brewery, picked up generously by MarkIntihar. Into a Revolution pint glass.

A: Pours a clear light orange-brass with a nice white head. Lots of sticky lacing.

S: Huge amounts of grapefruit, orange peel, vanilla, pineapple, and green leaf in the nose. Dank.

T: The taste is much drier, with lots of grassy bitterness, somewhat herbal with lots of fresh grain in the finish, leaving a resinous aftertaste.

M: Light-bodied with some creaminess to it.

O: I wish there was as much fruit in the taste as the nose but this is still great stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:41:31 | More by Etan

trxxpaxxs

New York

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

Reviewed this blind, thanks to abraxel...

A: Pours a great translucent crisp gols with one finger of pure white head, The foam takes a bit to settle and there is a ton of lacing left on the glass as it drinks.

S: The nose is big pine, a good helping of citrus, and there is some underlying malty sweetness.

T: Sweet to start, but the hops kick in huge right after. I get a lot of pine with some over the top bitters. This beer moves more towards the citrus end of the spectrum as it reaches the middle. The finish is back to some malty sweetness, but the bitters linger on the palate for some time. Very nice.

M: Medium bodied beer. It's sweet to start, bitter in the middle and then the hops tend to linger for quite a bit. All in all, this is a very drinkable beer.

O: Very nice beer. The flavors are bright and refreshing. I'd drink this beer again. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 18:09:06 | More by trxxpaxxs

flexabull

California

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

Bottle courtesy of maximum12, thanks again.

Pours a light and bright gold color, clear, with a pretty nice white head.

Aromas are quite nice. Strong notes of tropical fruits, mostly mangos, also some citrus, oranges, and grapefruit. There is also resin and sugar as well.

Taste is fruity, lightly sweet and bitter up front. Notes of grapefruit, oranges, cream, and hard candies. Finish is very dry, crisp and bitter.

Mouthfeel is good. Crisp, with snappy carbonation, gets a touch thin on the finish.

Overall, a very nice example of the style. As noted, this is dry and bitter. I just wish it had a touch more body and malt flavors. Still, a very solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 02:54:48 | More by flexabull

yankeepride

New Jersey

4.11/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich, coppery color with a thick foam. The nose is not very strong, so you're not really sure what you're in for. However, the flavors in this one are so good, I almost put the whole bottle down before I had time to type up the review. It has just a touch of malt to it, but the piney notes assure you that the hops are in control. The overall mix of bitter flavors are excellent, and while they are aggressive, they're not too, well, "too." It lingers in your mouth long after the liquid is gone, but not in a way that makes you need to clean it out. It's a great beer that I wish I had unlimited access to in my area.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 23:32:04 | More by yankeepride

nrbw23

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a clear amber-orangeish color an off white head. Head recedes into a thin film on top of the brew and leaves some layered lacing here in there.

S- Quite a bit of citrus hops here with a nice piney hop smell as well. Sweet caramel malt backbone here too.

T- Hops smack you in the face right away. A great amount of tropical fruit with a nice amount of pine in here too. Some sweet caramel malts try to balance things out but the hops dominant.

M- Medium in body and carbonation is right on.

D- I like this one quite a bit. A great hop bit but nothing thats undrinkable by any means.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2010 23:34:21 | More by nrbw23

Hophead101

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

blind beer #1 from sitarist in round 4 of Blind Beer BIF

an aggressive pour into my chalice glass produced a gorgeous, super clear light orange colored beer. golden highlights made the color of this beer truly appealing. it also produced a great frothy off white head which seemed to last forever. once it did dissipate, it left a nice collar of froth.

bringing the glass to my nose provided an instant burst of hops, hops and more hops. almost resiny hop oil smell. mostly pine in scent, but some citrus is hidden in the background as well.

taste is really nice - really nice. blast of hops (kind of assumed that would be the case). hoppy bitterness was abundant. there was some lingering citrus but mostly pine in the hops. there is some nice malty earthiness hanging in the background as well, giving it a nice balance, but this beer is all about hops.

nice mouthfeel - a bit light in body at first sip, but quickly transitioned into a nice medium body. this beer is very drinkable as well.

I am psyched to have tried this beer - didn't realize they had this in bottles. GREAT first beer to start round 4.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 03:19:14 | More by Hophead101

zac16125

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
No born on date

A: An absolutely crystal clear golden amber.  A very aggressive pour yields just over 2 fingers of bright but slightly off white colored head, which takes a long time to dissipate down.  Leaves tons of thick, cobweb lacing.  

S: Lots of citrus hops with just tons of pineapple, along with some mango and tangerine.  A noticeable sweet malt backbone.  Subtle hints of juniper/pine.  Really quite wonderful.  

T: Lots of piney bitterness in the taste.  Pineapple and tangerine come out, but  bitterness by far is the dominating characteristic, mostly piney but also citrus zest bitterness.   Tasty, but very little going on apart from the bitter characters.

M/D: Heavily carbonated, too  much for my liking.  Medium bodied.  Drinkability is good.  

O: There are a lot of great IPAs out there, and although this one is very good, for me it falls short of the top tier.  The aroma is excellent, but the taste is rather run of the mill (in terms of good IPAs that is) with a rather simple, albeit strong, piney bitterness without a whole lot else going on.  Don't get me wrong, I would never turn down this beer if it were offered to me, however, I wouldn't seek it out as there are a number of IPAs distributed to the Southeast that I think are superior to this one.  

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 20:55:11 | More by zac16125

jvillefan

California

4.14/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

A: The body is a deep golden yellow with a one finger off white head.

S: Very potent. There is a dominate pine aroma with subtle citrus and caramel.

T: Good not great. It is an unbalanced hop bomb. Heavy citrus, pine and hop bitterness. There is almost nothing tasted from the malt background.

M: Nice heavy body with sharp carbonation.

O: This is an good IPA. Not worth actively seeking out, but if you can get it thrown in as extras then go for it.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 01:32:52 | More by jvillefan

brew3crew

Ohio

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

A-almost a pale yellow orange with white lacing
S-piney and citrus hops straight away. Not much else in the nose.
T-tastes a lot like it smells. nice mix of pine and citrus hops
M-medium body with a nice hops aftertaste
D-nicely drinkable. Very smooth and nixe

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 02:57:48 | More by brew3crew

ThePorterSorter

New York

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

The beer pours a clear amber with a thin white head. The nose is pure citrus hops that evolves into a balanced sweet citrus. The taste is incredibly citrusy and bitter with a crisp hop cone finish. Although this beer is immensely hoppy it's very drinkable and tasty. I can't wait to see it on tap in buffalo.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 02:33:16 | More by ThePorterSorter

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

russwbeck

Virginia

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

A: Head Hunter pours out of the bottle pretty clear and golden brown in color. Its head is about a finger in density, white in color, and sticks to the sides of my glass really nicely. Bubbles explode out of the bottom of the beer and collect beneath the head beautifully.

S: Citrus explodes out of the beer, like a freshly squeezed grapefruit or clementine with hints of pine. Definitely on the fruitier side as far as IPAs go. I picked this up in Pittsburgh about two weeks ago, so I'm pretty sure it's fresh.

T: The taste is really solid. The grapefruit and other citrus flavors are back, but the piny hops pay a much larger role. The increased hop tastes bring the beer closer to balanced than the smell is.

MF: Really light body with an average amount of carbonation. The balance and well thought out flavors make this one of the most drinkable IPAs I've had. The 4pack sure did go away quickly.

O: I had heard such great things about this beer and I was really excited to find the bottle in Pittsburgh. I didn't even really know they bottled it. Buy it if you see it, because I might just drink all of it.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 01:03:20 | More by russwbeck

Treebs

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle served in a Half Acre snifter. Thanks to pmoney for the bottle.

A: Clear light amber color with a white head forming on the pour. Recedes quickly to a thin ring. Splotchy lace.

S: Light bready malts. Orange citrus with some grapefruit rind.

T: Same white bread malts with a light citrus backing. Sweet tangerine, grapefruit and and orange rind.

M: Light bodied with a medium carbonation level. Sweet and fruity finish.

O: Highly drinkable and very flavorful. Would definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 15:48:05 | More by Treebs

donManguno

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed blind. Sent to me by Sitarist, and I wasn't even his target! Thanks Sitarist!

A: Clear coppery yellow, a vigorous pour into my Sam Adams perfect pint glass produces a one finger head that subsides rather quickly leaving a single ring where it crested. Very little lacing as the glass empties.

S: When I opened this bottle I was blasted by a very fresh hop smell, and it brought a wide smile to my face. Fresh citrusy hops, grapefruit and orange with some pine in the background. Sweet malt body, surprisingly strong for such a pale beer. This is an IPA for sure, could it be a double?

T: Piney hops on a sweet malt base. Some citrus here, but pine dominates in the hop flavor profile. Long lasting residual bitterness keeps drawing me in for another sip. and another. This one is flirting with the the IPA/DIPA line.

M: Medium bodied, and the carbonation is just enough to excite the palate without being distracting.

D: This is wonderful, just my kind of IPA. A huge hop blast with enough malt to back it up! I could toss back quite a few of these without thinking twice.

The reveal: Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA! Damn, at 7.5% this beer could be trouble! I don't think this was a want, but it should have been!

Bottled: Feb. 24, 2011
Reviewed: March 3, 2011

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 23:51:10 | More by donManguno

HosP

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a bottle thanks to thebouch. 12 oz. bottle poured into HBG pint glass.

A- Pours slightly hazy orange color. Thin head with little lacing on glass.

S- Lots of fruits in the nose of this. Piney, citrusy aroma in the middle. Can't detect really any malts, just fruity, hoppy goodness.

T- Juicy fruit flavor up front. Grapefruit flavor, maybe some mango. Caramel malts come through more in the flavor than the nose. Piney, resin taste follows behind everything leaving some bitterness at the end.

M- Medium body, moderate carbonation.

D- Wasn't expecting that much flavor coming out of this IPA. Great balance of flavors all the way through. One of the better regular IPA's I've had. Thanks for this treat!

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 08:01:50 | More by HosP

cmadd

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

The smell is by far the most impressive aspect of this beer: grapefruit, lemon, guava, fruit loops, pine. The first sip is monstrously pine forward with a oily resin. Playful carbonation in an amber body with nice carbonation. Very well done, albeit slightly unbalanced. This is the definition of hops.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 08:00:04 | More by cmadd

davey101

Connecticut

4.19/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle into a tulip glass. No date present anywhere. Huge thanks to Atomicskis5 for the bottle!!

A - Pours a hazy amber body with some very small floating particles of what I can only presume is hoppy goodness. Two fingers of dense off white foam forms settling down to a patchy cap. Excellent lacing.

S - Very flowery and grassy with loads of resinous pine and just a dash of citrus. Bit of a caramel malt backbone to bring it all together. Rather sweet.

T - Tons of pine and flowery hops which get cut by a wave of bitterness. A bit of malts are present on the finish. Very little fruit or citrus present, maybe just a bit of grapefruit "pith". There it is...I finally used the word pith in a review...but otherwise a pine bomb.

M - Medium bodied and quite creamy. The level of bitterness is damn high on this beer.

O - A refreshing pace from the fruitier IPA's I tend to gravitate towards. Just a delicious pine forward beer with some light flowery notes and a HUGE bitterness Damn good stuff, OH is no chump in the hop department.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 22:33:46 | More by davey101

mistakebythelake

Ohio

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

Picked up a couple four packs while up visiting the old stomping grounds on the westside of Cleveland.

Pours a beautiful golden orange into my Bell's tulip. A lot of nice lacing and head on this beauty. A true pine smell to his West Coast style IPA. I also get a light citrus smell after the pine has dissipated. A crisp and mildly bitter hop bomb with a great finish. Not too malty and and not too sweet. A highly drinkable IPA and now I know why it has been receiving the numerous awards and recognitions.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 02:46:58 | More by mistakebythelake

CaptCleveland

Ohio

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

Pint draft at North Olmsted brewery.

Thick white head atop yellow-orange elixir, belgian lace throughout.

Fruity, floral scent at first wiff, then over powered by dank, resinous, piney hops.

Smooth, buttery, bitter hops from front to back. Subtle malt backbone gives it up to a lingering bitter end. Overall nicely balanced.

Easy to down a few and an nice representation of the West Coast style IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2011 03:20:10 | More by CaptCleveland

fastsrt

New York

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

16 ounce draft

A: light gold, slightly hazy, stiff white head,

S: lots of hops, floral, citrus,

T: nice I like the way the hops work together, awsome ipa from a great small brewery,

M: lots of carbonation, dry.

D: I like this one its only a half hour from where I grew up so I like the fact that I feel as if it can stand up to some of the best Ipa's i have had

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 23:50:16 | More by fastsrt