Heady Topper - The Alchemist

malty

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gifted to me from eyebrews, one outstanding beer lover and guy.

Poured out of the can, even though it says "drink from the can" on the top of the label. Pours a hazy antique gold with a tinge of rust. The bone white head quickly diminished into my pristinely clean stemmed chalice to a mere 1/16". Barely enough to completely blanket the surface. No visible uprising carbonation. Looks very rich and theres lots of fine suspended particles just begging to be quaffed. Fine unbroken rings of delicate lace all the way down. But first...

Probably the most erotically citrus infused hoppy splendor I've ever whiffed. Intoxicating layers of sweet, luscious dripping hopsation to ever grace my nostrils. Damn, I wish I didn't fill my glass so full as I'de like to bury my schnoz in it. (okay, I'll admit it, I just took a big gulp to make for headroom to further my smell test). A few swirls evoke a familiar tamarind-like scent I also detected in Pliny the Elder when I first tried it (fresh) a few years ago. And I like it as much right now as I did then. Mounds, heaps and booming crests of hop goodness for sure.

The taste is just as expressive as the smell. Tropical fruit epic hop collision. Bitter, sweet, lightly sugary, peach skin basking of the gods. You can't take away my Heady-Topper! Get away! Get away! Is there enough to bathe in it? Surely there must be. *WAIT* *WAIT* Sorry about that, I was transported into some crazy dream for a spell. I hope that made sense.

Mouthfeel is silky with the softest ultra fine carbonation I've felt in a Dbl. IPA. It sits so still, but it moves like a school of barracuda, swift and undetected. Magically drinkable. Slightly chalky and tenderly bitter finish.

Overall I am so very grateful for this unexpected can of Dbl. IPA royalty. I ws waiting for the 7th anniv. of New Beer Sunday to try it, and I'm glad it lived up to the hype. I feel like this ale gives me spinach-to-Popeye strength. I think I'm slipping back into a dream. I'll stop here before I do.

Serving type: can

02-05-2012 20:59:14 | More by malty

jmcgahran1

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev -4.7%

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

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +0.4%
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 -4.7%

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

JordanPhraczek

Massachusetts

4.99/5  rDev +5.7%
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 +5.7%
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 -4.7%

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

dcloeren

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +0.6%

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

Busker

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -15.3%

05-21-2013 17:54:55 | More by Busker

tdmccarthy

Illinois

5/5  rDev +5.9%

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

TallGuyCM

California

5/5  rDev +5.9%

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

CraftEyeDoc

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +0.6%

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

JOrtt

California

4.75/5  rDev +0.6%

05-21-2013 00:59:30 | More by JOrtt

liquorpig

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-21-2013 00:48:02 | More by liquorpig

Jslay013

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-20-2013 21:33:50 | More by Jslay013

jbeervt

Vermont

5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-20-2013 19:21:04 | More by jbeervt

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Review from notes accumulated while going through a case of HT over 4 weeks. First can was 4 days old, last can was right around a month. Mostly poured into tulips, but had a few straight from the can, too.

A: There's no two ways about it, guys -- the floaties in this beer are ugly. I don't care much about them, and I guess it gives the beer a rustic characteristic, but I've got to ding HT on the pure appearance score. Perfectly attractive beer otherwise. Nice golden amber with a big, puffy off-white head and lots of lacing.

S: The aroma of fresh HT is just wonderful. A complex and unique hop blend. Big pine, tropical fruit, citrus. A bit of caramel malt provides sweet balance. I'm almost having trouble describing it because it's basically perfect (to my own taste). A month in, the aroma is a bit less intense, but no less complicated or outstanding. I'd rank it a 5 after 4 days and a 5 after a month.

T/M: Incredibly juicy. More fruit-like and less pine compared to the nose. Tropical fruit is dominant -- pineapple, mango, what have you. Some of the more traditional citrus -- grapefruit mainly. Also getting a distinct apricot flavor, which somebody once told me was from the proprietary yeast but I'm not sure. Decent amount of caramel and biscuity malt to balance. Like the aroma, it gets a little less intense over a month but no less wonderful. Mouthfeel is slick. Carbonation's a little on the high side. Decently bitter but insanely drinkable. Not a hint of the ABV.

O: This is not going to be my highest rated beer, because of the appearance score, but I think it's my favorite. It's worth every bit of the hype. Make some good friends in Vermont, kids.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 19:08:07 | More by CharlatanSin

aakerman

New York

4.5/5  rDev -4.7%

05-20-2013 17:35:55 | More by aakerman

AL89BR

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +5.9%

05-20-2013 14:50:22 | More by AL89BR

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.66/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Drinking from a 16 ounce can, per the can's request. Thanks for this one Cheesemoose. No freshness date. I'm told that this is a "fresh" can. Still not sure why everyone isn't dating their beers. Popped the can, aroma is bursting out of the little hole, pine, grapefruit, packed full of hops, awesome aroma. Taste is resinous and flavorful. Mainly grapefruit but notes of grass and pine. Totally juiced with flavor. Even the burps taste good.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 03:58:53 | More by KickbacksSteve

miketd

Ohio

4/5  rDev -15.3%

05-20-2013 01:32:39 | More by miketd

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev -4.7%

05-20-2013 01:25:11 | More by Ctrauty

Omnium

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Can > 2xIPA Glass

A - Pours an off color amber, 2 finger white head, minor lacing. Lots of yeast floating around.
S - Very dank hop aromas, some pine & spruce, citrus peels, grapefruit, white grape juice.
T - Those dank hops are intense, lots of white grape flavor, pine, spruce and earthy tones, tart apple, and a little sweet malt.
M - Full and well carbonated, easily drinkable.
O - While I'm not on par with the appearance, everything else is solid about this beer, though its not my favorite, nor do I think its worth all the hype. Compared to Pliny, its a no-contest situation, its thoroughly better. This actually delivers, lots of good aroma and the taste is solid, love the big grape flavor in this. Its a shape Alchemy is being too hipster to expand and make other things, or even distribute more.

Serving type: can

05-19-2013 23:29:30 | More by Omnium

TreeBeard

Ohio

4/5  rDev -15.3%

05-19-2013 20:34:41 | More by TreeBeard

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +0.6%

05-19-2013 20:23:58 | More by KAP1356