Heady Topper - The Alchemist

Neorebel

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I scored 3 four packs of this beer thanks to my parents who had vacationed briefly in VT. Trying this out of a glass first, then out of the can for kicks and giggles... because it says so. Something about releasing the hop aromas.

The appearance is a very cloudy gold color... almost yellowish. A few flecks of very fine sediment are visible. The beer is topped with a puffy white head that is very thick at first, but later settles down to the size of about a finger. It looks just right hanging there as it clings lightly to the glass.

The vast aroma give me the chills as I take it in. My first impression is that of an exotic, fresh fruit stand. Of course pineapple, grapefruit lemon/citrus, but also strawberry and mango - all very sweet. Something about the spice reminds me of potpourri and clean linen. There is an underlying piney resin notes are detectable beneath. When I lean in to the can rather than the glass, the resiny cannabis subtleties are much more 'outspoken.'

Now for a taste! Wow - this isn't going to be easy. Very complex to say the least. From the glass - a very quick 'juicyfruit' start coats the mouth and disappears at which point a dose of strong pine flavor, almost like gin for a second pops in. Finally, a very resinous character presents itself and takes over my palate for the bulk of the experience. There seems to be a doughy malt aspect intermingled with this resinous taste as well. The finish is a giant snap of bitterness.

It's interesting that this is kind of a medium bodied beer, does not seem 'boozy' or instantly 'warming' as it goes down, but I would say that after you take a little break from sipping you 'feel the alcohol' in your gut - a good thing if you ask me.

Overall - Definitely an acquired taste but I like it quite a bit. This is the most interesting and complex DIPA I have ever had. It's not so easy to talk about or assess simply.

Now - I am going to try a second one straight out of the can instead of from the glass. *Drum roll* I like it better from the can! Never would have guessed. With this beer - picture drinking a milkshake out of a big straw vs drinking right from the glass. The can is the straw - you get more of a concentrated blast of taste vs from the glass. Perhaps it is because there is no aroma preview, so to speak. The various aspects of the flavor previously described seem more together, hitting me at once instead of in stages this way. The sweetness seems to stick around longer and the resinous aspect seems less earthy and more spicy, more organic. Delicious orange rind dominates. Changing this to a perfect score. I'm glad I have a decent amount of this - will be sharing with close friends. Get some if you can.

Serving type: can

02-16-2012 02:50:47 | More by Neorebel

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-20-2013 02:20:27 | More by NightINgale

adkrogue

New York

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-20-2013 01:05:19 | More by adkrogue

MattPfeifer

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-20-2013 00:05:58 | More by MattPfeifer

Shmuffalo

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-19-2013 23:41:38 | More by Shmuffalo

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

5/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ok, so I never give out 5s, but I had such an amazing experience with this beer I felt I had to. I have been craving this beer ever since I heard about and through the generosity of fellow BAs, I am able to enjoy it multiple times.

Yes, I gave it a 5 for appearance, because I don't see anything wrong with the hazy, sediment filled brew. I would rather that than have them filter it and alter it to make it more 'aesthetically appealing'. The aroma is pungent hops, juicy grapefruit and light toasty malts that all work together in total harmony and synchronization. Flavor is smooth and glides gracefully along the palates. It's so mouth filling and soft on the palate, giving it dangerous drinkability.

I can honestly say this was a perfect beer for me. Everything worked together and nothing was over or underpowered. Simply amazing.

Serving type: can

06-19-2013 23:01:15 | More by ironchefmiyagi13

Jackals

California

4.63/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

I have to say that I was impressed by this beer. I only managed to have a couple of sips since i was sharing the one can we found we a couple of friends but i found this beer to be very,. very enjoyable.
The can has some pretty cool artwork
The smell was nice and hoppy, with a fantastic aroma of tropical fruits and grasses
The flavor was what sealed the deal for me, really crisp, clean, with a slow rolling bitterness that led to a lightly sweet finish the hangs with you for a while.
All in all it is a great beer, too bad they dont distribute more of it, because i would buy a case

Serving type: can

06-19-2013 21:43:41 | More by Jackals

tnewmark

Kansas

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-19-2013 13:45:14 | More by tnewmark

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-18-2013 23:01:24 | More by taylor714914

bclemens

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-18-2013 17:16:29 | More by bclemens

mdg80

Maine

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-18-2013 16:34:18 | More by mdg80

JOSHMAN

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-18-2013 14:41:32 | More by JOSHMAN

TychoNDC

New York

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-18-2013 01:36:25 | More by TychoNDC

vbiliyar

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -15.4%

06-17-2013 14:13:08 | More by vbiliyar

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.64/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Golden honey brown colored body with a bubbly, rocky and creamy looking head. A nice retention ring is left behind, along with sticky lace on the walls. Unfiltered floaties are unmistakable in the body, as mentioned there might be should you pour this out. Really, they're just ugly and kill the looks of the beer. I can't help but think this is part of the reason they recommend drinking from the can (other than the hop aroma retention).

S: Piney and earthy hop notes rocket from the glass. Hop resin and oils, orange and lemon bitter peels are next. Towards the end is a crisp bready element and caramel & pale malts. Touches of bitterness dance around the entire nose.

T: Bitter hop resin and oils wrestle the palate with a gentle nature. Pine and earthy hop notes again come through. Mid-palate are sweet orange and pink grapefruit oils, a generic citrus and rich sweet caramel malts. Finishes sticky and bitter.

M: Bubbly and creamy, perhaps a bit thin for a medium-bodied beer, though. Sticky bitter pine and sap on the palate in the linger.

This is easily in the top five Imperial IPAs I've ever had to date. It's extremely balanced, flavorful and never lets up on the delicious hop abuse.

Serving type: can

06-17-2013 12:10:05 | More by ShanePB

spw109

New York

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-17-2013 07:24:59 | More by spw109

Hophunter18

Delaware

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-17-2013 03:53:04 | More by Hophunter18

colsandurz

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-17-2013 00:50:22 | More by colsandurz

kjfinnerty

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-16-2013 22:59:33 | More by kjfinnerty

Barley76

Maine

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-16-2013 22:07:06 | More by Barley76

Rocklobsterbrew

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-16-2013 18:18:06 | More by Rocklobsterbrew

barflybastard

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +5.7%

06-16-2013 15:53:11 | More by barflybastard

swinyeju

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -15.4%

06-16-2013 15:07:29 | More by swinyeju

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

473ml can served in a tulip (to take a look in the appearance) and also drunk from the can as suggested by the brewer.

A: Pours a hazy yellow to orange to beige color forming a small think bubbled creamy head. Low retention and only few lingering lacings left in the glass

S: Hops bomb, of course. Refreshing and delicious. Strongly tropical fruity profile with strong notes of green mango (I've grown up in Brazil and we've had some mango trees in our backyard. So, believe me, green mango smells pretty much like this). A bit lemony. Malts and some sweetness

T: Excellent taste. Again, of course, giving emphasis to the hops. But the malts profile is also very good. Pale malts, mainly, something between Maris Otter and Perl, Slightly sweet upfront but with an overall, dry and crispy malt profile. Intensive hops bitterness, however, very well harmonized. Notes of citrus lemony hops. Green mango, tropical fruits. Light notes of brown sugar

M: Medium body and carbonation. Strong citrus hoppy aftertaste

O: Very drinkable. Excellent experience. I was expecting an excellent IIPA and that's exactly what I've got

Serving type: can

06-16-2013 10:37:53 | More by eduardolinhalis

messemcb

Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +0.4%

06-16-2013 09:19:11 | More by messemcb