Heady Topper - The Alchemist

MCain04

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gifted from BostonRyan, much appreciated. 16 oz can , 8 oz poured into a HF glass and the rest consumed from can as per instructions. 2 weeks fresh.

A: Dark yellow/orange/amber opaque color with 2 fingers of fluffy thick white head with great retention and lacing. They say that Alchemist recommends drinking from the can to avoid having to see the beer poured, but I think it looks very nice. Almost identical to Abner when poured into a glass.

S: Citrus, citrus, citrus. Lemon and lime dominate, with some orange, pine, and grassy notes. Nice nose.

T: Follows the nose perfectly and builds on that note. Citrus, bitterness, piney and grassy, just a great hop-forward taste. Just enough malt to balance without dominating the flavor. Perfectly balanced flavor with great bitterness and overall taste. Gold standard for IPAs.

M: As good as the taste is, the mouthfeel is even better. Medium body with moderate carbonation and dry finish, with a wonderfully smooth feel throughout. Just awesome.

O: Lives up to the hype. Get it if you can, trade for it, travel for it, don't pass it up. Better than Abner, and a touch better than Pliny. Just really great.

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 07:32:20 | More by MCain04

barnzy78

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16oz can, poured into a glass for the purposes of reviewing in comparison to other DIPAs, even though they say to drink it from the can.
Cloudy, cloudy tangerine body with a thin, white head that fades to a layer of foam atop the ale, leaving a little lace on its way down. Super fresh aroma, with orange rind, grapefruit, juicy fruit gum, mango. Taste is super fresh again here, with loads of mango, orange rind, mandarin, bitter grapefruit juice, grassy, a little nutty as it warms. Creamy and smooth medium-full body, lower carbonation, finishes bitter but not overly - more like grapefruit juice. Insanely balanced and drinkable. I'll need to get a hold of this again....for my wife. First ever IPA or DIPA she liked!

Serving type: can

05-24-2013 03:16:03 | More by barnzy78

GBallHead

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-24-2013 00:30:07 | More by GBallHead

Lurkerson

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-23-2013 19:57:13 | More by Lurkerson

Boston_Steve

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -10.1%

05-23-2013 19:15:47 | More by Boston_Steve

JayPatrolVT

Vermont

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-23-2013 12:03:29 | More by JayPatrolVT

jtdolla911

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-23-2013 02:25:17 | More by jtdolla911

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

05-23-2013 01:06:25 | More by mikeincharleston

velcrogrip

Florida

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-22-2013 18:24:18 | More by velcrogrip

melleblond

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-22-2013 17:17:51 | More by melleblond

adamhand

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-22-2013 16:21:01 | More by adamhand

NJBeer265

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-22-2013 15:45:47 | More by NJBeer265

kizyle

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

05-22-2013 13:15:23 | More by kizyle

jmcgahran1

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-22-2013 01:39:10 | More by jmcgahran1

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A: Hazy, golden yellow with a fluffy, white head. Gets lumpy with some head retention. Some good lace.

S: Massive, dry citrus. Pine sap, fresh hops, freshly cut grapefruit. Huge citrusy, American hops. Don't know what else to say other than...Breathtaking. Unbelievable. Brings a smile to your face. Begs you to take a sip.

T: H-O-P-S! Huge, dry, resiny, piney, citrusy, earthy hops. It's honestly just a heavy hop rush. But never too much. A beer like this isn't supposed to be this smooth and balanced. It's supposed to be too dry or too cloying. But it isn't!

M: Incredibly smooth and drinkable. Everything a beer and a DIPA should taste like. Just crazy.

O: The hype is absolutely real. I don't want to stop drinking this.

Serving type: can

05-22-2013 01:33:07 | More by Gatch

Lasering

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-22-2013 00:18:32 | More by Lasering

JordanPhraczek

Massachusetts

4.99/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Drank out of a can because it told me to, canned the day before. huge shoutout to bringing this to Boston after a depressing news release from alchemist.

A - would have gave it a 5 and actually had no standing to give a rating but just the mystique and the can itself deserves praise.

S - wow hop nectar and resin galore. I feel like music is playing in my head to the beat of this beer. Frank ocean to be precise.

T - not overly bitter just perfect piney hop taste. does it taste like I thought it would? even better somehow. the bottom of the can held the greatest depth of flavor but the beer is never bitter. Bravo.

M - frothy dry hop slime. almost feels oily its so hoppy but the carbonation adds a maturity to it.

O - thank god I finally tried this beer just enjoy it if you can. worth going to Vermont for.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 22:30:01 | More by JordanPhraczek

Carpentiere

New Hampshire

4.99/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow. I kept reading the hype but finally got some of this. What an incredible beer. The aroma from the can is full....but not overpowering. The taste....is refreshing. So refreshing. The aftertaste is a wonderful complement. The ranking of this beer is not hype. I am half way through the can and know I would drive a far distance to load up on this.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 21:53:47 | More by Carpentiere

aleman39

California

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-21-2013 21:15:41 | More by aleman39

dcloeren

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

05-21-2013 20:43:02 | More by dcloeren

Busker

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -15.4%

05-21-2013 17:54:55 | More by Busker

tdmccarthy

Illinois

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-21-2013 11:57:05 | More by tdmccarthy

TallGuyCM

California

5/5  rDev +5.7%

05-21-2013 02:41:34 | More by TallGuyCM

CraftEyeDoc

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

05-21-2013 02:33:59 | More by CraftEyeDoc

JOrtt

California

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

05-21-2013 00:59:30 | More by JOrtt