Heady Topper - The Alchemist

beerfan99

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16oz can - Second distribution

A: Medium/dark amber in color and unfiltered. Carbonation was on the low side and produced a very small white head. Ok, I admit it, I did not follow directions and poured it into a glass. In my defense, the picture on the can is showing someone drinking out of a glass, not a can.

S: Perfect hoppy, fruity, floral, and sweet aromas. Hops smell like simcoe and amarillo to me, but I'm not sure. The smell by itself is intoxicating.

T: Taste is hoppy and sweet. For an American DIPA, this beer is very well balanced. I usually enjoy more hoppy bitterness with this style, but I cannot complain, this was very enjoyable. The flavors are very powerful and long lasting.

M: Thick, creamy, and smooth. I was not anticipating this beer to be so creamy and smooth. Perhaps a little more carbonation would enhance the mouthfeel.

O: My first beer from The Alchemist and hopefully the first of many. Heady Topper blends some of my favorite hops to produce an excellent and very drinkable American DIPA. Hard to believe that there is 8% in there somewhere. Since I tend to compare beers while I drink them, I immediately thought this beer was similar to Alpine Duet and Maine Beer Company Lunch in both smell and taste. I am looking forward to my next Heady Topper and planning an upcoming trip to VT.

Serving type: can

09-16-2011 04:40:51 | More by beerfan99

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16oz. can served in my ST tulip (just couldn't bring myself to drink it out of the can). Pours a semi-hazy burnt orange with a rocky, one inch, cream-colored head embedded with tiny craters. Head eventually settles into a soapy skim with a thin, bubbly band around the edges. Some swaths and spots of lacing are revealed during the tasting. Love the nose on this beer - grassy, sweet citrus, earthy rind and a slight peppery quality towards the back; incredibly well-balanced. Taste follows nose - earthy bitterness presents up-front and sweet citrus and a suggestion of apricot follows. Finish leaves a slight residual bitterness between quaffs. Mouthfeel is medium-light with a pleasant, even carbonation that is lively without being prickly. There's also a slightly oily texture. The more I drink this beer, the more I like it. Hopefully it will make it to Southern Vermont so I can get a bit more regular access. This beer is nothing short of fantastic - the balance is top notch, the alcohol is well-hidden and it is just so easy drinking. In my opinion, can tops bottle on this brew.

Serving type: can

09-16-2011 01:23:15 | More by Jwale73

camil1mj

Michigan

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

Fresh can. I did not follow the instructions on the can. I poured it at fridge temp into an imperial pint glass at.

A: Cloudy, brownish-orange. Minimal white head. You can tell this one us unfiltered.

S: Lots of fruity, floral hops. Wonderful!

T: Immediate punch of hops followed by wonderful fruit notes.

M: Perfect to the style. Medium body and carbonation. Refreshing.

O: Great DIPA. Lives up to the hype. Would love for this to be available at the local store.

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 23:43:48 | More by camil1mj

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4.97/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Heady Topper pours a turbid orange with a soft white, two finger head. An early pour is relatively hazy while the last dregs contain flocculants that reintroduce themselves into suspension.

The smell is glorious! A cornucopia of hops produce notes of pine resin, fresh basil, ruby red grapefruit sweetened with sugar, wet grass (the kind you smoke;) and candied orange zest.

The taste is in your face fresh, fresh hops. A remarkable combination of all the scents, with a fantastic paradoxical blend of slight candied sweetness and a long dry finish. This is one clean beer with no trace of alcohol whatsoever.

Mouthfeel is perfect. Low to moderate carbonation fits this beer to a T. A creamy lush softness again shows the chameleon-like aspects of this top-notch DIPA.

This beer is exceptional and very deserving of the accolades that have come it's way so far. If I could get this locally, it would be a once-a-week purchase and I think a lot of people would think the same way. In this day and age of johnny-come-latelys and ticker mentalities, that really says something!

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 22:57:51 | More by Rochefort10nh

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance -- Pours a gently hazed golden toast hue with amber highlights and a slim sudsy white head. Not much in the lacing department.

Smell -- Firm honey malt base, lots of floral aromatic hops, and pine forest. There is a definitive whiff of diacetyl - slightly strong, though not too off-putting.

Taste -- Big flavors. Primarily pine resin from the hops along with floral and lychee flavors, There is a none-too-subtle caramel malt sweetness underlying all of the hop flavors. Diacetyl is perceptible in the flavor, though not as intensely as in the nose; think Alpine Brewing. Incredibly long resinous finish with lingering flavors of caramel malt sweetness and flowers. I should also add that the alcohol is frighteningly well-hidden.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-bodied, slightly light carbonation. A definite oily feel is on the tongue. It's good, but not stunning.

Overall -- This was a beer I was very excited to try, and while it's very good, I'm not sure if it necessarily deserves the unwavering praise it receives. Good flavors overall, and if it were distributed around me I'd consider picking it up whenever I needed a lupulin fix, but the lingering oily/bitter finish made me keep going back to my glass to get the taste out of my mouth.

If I had a blind tasting with Heady Topper and the Alpine Brewing IPA lineup, I don't know that I'd be able to pick it out of the bunch. I'm not sure if this says more about Alchemist or Alpine...

Additional Notes - The first can I opened was so full of sediment that I couldn't finish it. It looked like somebody had dumped sand into my glass. Pour carefully.

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 22:43:52 | More by yeahnatenelson

seanwhite

Massachusetts

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

Regretfully the brewery got hit hard by Hurricane Irene and only the cannery remains, and thank hop god that it was not impacted.

The first thing I think of with the aroma is straight hops in the face. The aroma is very crisp and refreshing, I could sit and smell this for a while.

The flavor is very hoppy and juicy, like biting into a hybrid hop fruit of all the aromas in one. There is the right amount of bitterness and a nice sweetness that cuts through it.

The mouthfeel is smooth, a little more creamy and thicker then I was expecting, moderate carbonation. Though, as a whole everything works well together.

This is an incredible beer, the best DIPA/IPA I have had in a long time and possibly ever.

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 17:47:30 | More by seanwhite

harsley

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is what a Double IPA should be, and I'm glad to see someone on the East Coast finally making an IPA in a bottle or can to be proud of.

Opening the can releases a huge hop bouquet. The normal players are there with some pine and lots of citrus. I drank it from the can, so while I've had it in the glass, for the purpose of this description I can't tell you what it looked like. But it tasted like hop heaven. Following the aroma it's loaded with citrus and a little pine and some other fruits. It's bitter and dry like a Double IPA should be. It finished that way but is not harsh and leaves a pleasant after taste that lingers on for further enjoyment.

This rivals any DIPA I've ever tried...

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 17:02:45 | More by harsley

Azurescens

Washington

4.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

16oz can with no canned on or freshness date, but I know it is fresh because it is from the first canned batch that was canned not too long ago. I didn't listen to the "Drink from the can" instructions and poured into Hair of the Dog tulip. Reviewed on 9/14/11.

A: Pours a slightly hazy golden orange with fluffy whitish head that leaves some nice lacing around glass.

S: Tons of hops of all varieties, citrus, pine and some tropical fruit in there as well. Hints of sweet malt blend well with all the hops and there is very little detectable alcohol.

T: A bit of hop bitterness at first but far less than many DIPAs. Extremely smooth and resinous, tons of pine, floral, citrus and other fruity hops along with some honey and sweet malt as well. The hop flavors and malt mingle and balance each other out perfectly. Leaves an extremely pleasant lingering taste of hops with some sweetness from the malt. Delicious!

M: Very smooth and slightly creamy medium body with low-moderate carbonation, no sharpness whatsoever.

O: Possibly the most drinkable DIPA that I have ever had, much more balanced than most DIPAs that are tipping the IBU scale. Packed from start to finish with delicious hops. I would have never guessed that this is 8% ABV. Extremely glad that I finally got the chance to try this one!

Serving type: can

09-15-2011 00:06:10 | More by Azurescens

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

16oz can poured into tasting glass - thanks acviencko

-Pours a hazed burnt orange color with caramel tones, followed by a beige head with patches of lacing and a bit of lacing.

-Hoppy bite in the nose, bitter citrus, very pulpy and pithy. Orange and grapefruit with some caramel sweetness, with literally no alcohol.

-Very bitter with grapefruit and rind, with pine and sticky resin. Orange peel and pulp, followed by some apricot tones. Decent malt backbone with bready malts and caramel backbone. Fairly sweet but very balanced with the intense hop bitterness. Finishes dry and bitter with extremely little alcohol.

-Medium body, nice carbonation, sticky and wet on the tongue, lingering finish. Very drinkable, flavorful, and balanced. This is a DIPA for the ages.

Serving type: can

09-14-2011 04:38:05 | More by xnicknj

ike4tay45

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Was able to score 3 bottles in trade. This is a late review as I enjoyed the beer a while back.

A: Pours a hazy golden amber color with a 1.5 finger head disapating quickly leaving behind some really nice lacing.

S: Fresh squeezed citrus juices and sweet pineapple in the nose.

T: Grapefruit, pineapple, and a little bit of a sweet malt flavor, fruits became more pronounced as it warmed.

M: Medium carbonation. clean, crisp, smooth.

Overall: Cant wait to get my hands on a couple more cans.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 00:37:17 | More by ike4tay45

nas5755

Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks Chris.

A- Cloudy, hazy, chunks of yeast or hops. Pale golden orange color.

S- Pineapple, citrus, navel oranges, lots of pine and pine sap. Very Dank.

T- So awesome. Very clean, lots of citrus, tangerine and pineapple lead the way with a brisk move towards a very nice piney resin finish. Nice and dry. The hop profile is balanced in the sense that the progression from citrus/tropical fruits to piney bitterness is just amazing. The malt and sweetness levels are present in this beer yet they dont overshadow the hops, they just provide a nice background to let the hops play.

M- Good carbonation levels. Nice hop resin notes. Clean tasting.

O- This is one amazing dipa. As the label says this is not the most bitter or most insanely dry-hopped dipa. It is however one of the best that I have ever had. The hop profile as I mentioned above is perfectly balanced. The hops are present from start to finish and each hop element has depth. A very awesome beer.

Serving type: can

09-12-2011 00:06:27 | More by nas5755

skivtjerry

Vermont

4.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed on our deck as the sun sets behind Camel's Hump.

I poured a little into a wine glass to look at and smell, then drank the rest straight from the can as recommended. This review is a composite of impressions from both approaches.

A: Very cloudy, dark straw color. Head was a little thin and weak, but a viscous looking brew nonetheless.

S: Melons, mangos, lemons, grapefruit and cannabis. I don't want to crawl into the can like John, but I'd like to get more of my nose in there. Fantastic.

T: Sweet malt supports loads of wonderful hop flavor perfectly. All the flavors suggested by the aroma are there, sometimes blending and sometimes standing out as single notes for a second or 2. Like hop candy, as someone else mentioned. Alcohol is detectable but you have to look for it. Extremely smooth finish that lingers forever. I can still taste it 20 minutes after finishing the beer.

M: Very smooth, medium-light body. Bitterness is never harsh at any point. I feel this is where HT distinguishes itself from PtE; Pliny has a rather harsh hop bitterness by comparison... this is the only substantial difference. Both are super world class beers but, IMO, HT pulls ahead by a nose here. My only quibble is that carbonation seems slightly low.

O: It's unfair to cap this rating at 5. HT deserves a 6 (at least) for overall drinkability. Sublime and dangerous, as the alcohol is not really noticeable, and it comes in pint cans!

Serving type: can

09-10-2011 00:46:41 | More by skivtjerry

SawDog505

New Hampshire

4.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Left in the can this time, like the brewmaster suggested. Shared with a friend yesterday, poured a yellow orange with some fairly sticky white head, not it's strong suit. Smell is mango, pine, orange, & a little floral. The best smelling IPA ever, at this point. Taste is same, so perfect. My expectations were sky high and this beer delivered the goods. Mouthfeel wonderful & plenty carbonation. Best DIPA I have had, so easy to drink it is scary. Thanks to Bruce & Rick for leaving this on my porch, like a gift from God.

Serving type: can

09-09-2011 21:41:09 | More by SawDog505

dragonWhale

New York

4.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

And the good Lord shown upon the Alchemist, giving them the good foresight to build a new house before the great flood...Seriously a blessing for them to have this in place when they did. How often does this serendipity happen?
DRINK FROM THE CAN! screams across the top of the can, and so, when camping, do as when in Vermont. And I'll buy the argument, keep these aromatics trapped in so they just burst back into your nose when you burp. Deal. But in the interest of having my coworker experience the pleasure, I pour myself a glass, and he drinks the can.
Finally, after an untiring weekend of attempting to punish the aluminum for its contents, I sight the colour of the liquid inside. And it is glorious in the Innis and Gunn goblet. Murky orange, dark tangelo on top fading into a lemony haze at the bottom of the glass. Awesome with hop residue and suspended yeast. I can get down with this.
Oranges, felled spruce trees, grapefruit rind, lemon curd, and wisdom zest overpower the malt that is obviously there when you take a sip. Juicy as a unicorn fart. The malt becomes evident when drinking but the crisp bitterness soon takes your hand and leads you away, astray, allaying any of your fears. For this beer is merely 8% and comes in a way too drinkable pint sized serving. Alcohol concealed behind a double curtain of hops.
This is the camping beer for a new breed of man. And so..we shall drink this on the moon next year.

Serving type: can

09-07-2011 07:24:37 | More by dragonWhale

LOCAL

New Hampshire

4.97/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got this beer as a gift from a friend. Canned less than 48 hours before, this beer had it going on! Nose was ripe with pine and a peach like citrus notes. The taste was pretty much the same. HT didn't have the usual very bitter finish of most IPAs. It finished rather subdued and dry, which made it quite drinkable. The mouthfeel was smooth and creamy... lots of little bubbles. Truly a fantastic, world class, IPA. Looking forward to getting more of this gem.

Serving type: can

09-05-2011 16:55:42 | More by LOCAL

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.9/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

16oz tallboy, straight from the can, less than 24hrs old.

This is the second time I've been able to drink Heady at home, and it's even better this time. The can is awesome, I love the artwork, and it's shiny!

The nose is really fresh, piney and citrus, it's fruity and crisp, and it's at least as good as on tap, but I'd say it is better than it was in the bottle. However, the aroma is a bit hard to pick up through the can.

Taste is just like hop candy, it's sweet and creamy with a really nice earthy and bitter bite to it that isn't too bitter but it's very refreshing and delightful. The mouthfeel is booming, big full and chewy - just the right amount of carbonation to be refreshing but not sharp.

To me, this is the perfect beer - I love cans, especially tall boys, it's easy drinking, perhaps too easy because there is not even a hint that this is 8% for better or worse, and it's the best IPA I've ever had so now in a can, you just can't beat it!

Serving type: can

09-03-2011 13:54:41 | More by kingcrowing

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

4.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2nd can consumed the day of the release. First drank from can, second poured into a tulip glass:

A: Pours a dark orange (lighter orange in a pint glass), hazy, with a little over 2 fingers of tight white head with great retention and picture perfect lacing. The can is pretty awesome to boot (maybe the first can I enjoyed drinking from).

S: Holy hop heaven. Pretty intense citrus and tropical fruits: orange/tangerine, a little lemon, mango, maybe pineapple, just a big depth of fruit. It doesn't end there, a big helping of pine and floral notes are present as well as a touch of herbal dankness. Slight bit of sweetness. About as good as it gets.

T: As good as it gets. Few beers with unbelievable aromas have a taste that matches it. This is one of them. In fact, I think the taste is even better than the aroma. HUGE hop character with a ridiculous depth of tropical fruits, pine, and floral notes that only seems to get stronger and more complex as it lingers in the mouth. The "wave after wave of hops" comment is not an exaggeration. The body is perfect, just enough sugar sweetness to add depth and juiciness to the hops, but not enough to make it a sweet beer. A clean toasted malt base with absolutely NO alcohol noticeable and no imperfections in terms of esters/alcohol products. The bitterness builds to a solid bitter finish and again, the hops are almost as strong in the finish as the start.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, maybe the cleanest and easiest drinking DIPA next to Pliny. Drinks better than most 4% session beers. Unbelievably smooth. The only improvement I can see is a bit more sticky.

O: This is easily one of the 3 best DIPAs I've ever had up there with Hill Farmstead Abner and Double Galaxy. It's pretty much as perfect as it gets.

Serving type: can

09-03-2011 05:03:18 | More by Satchboogie

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Just got home from Waterbury and cant wait to try it. Went to The Alchemist about a month ago and wasn't on tap, so this is my first Topper. Yes my first few sips were from the can...

Poured from can into glass

A- Nice 1 finger head that quickly turns foamy and bubbly. Retention is good and the body has a good amount of carbonation jetting toward the head. The beer is a slightly hazy orange up to the light and murky orange away from it, looks very good. Nice lacing is left after the head resides. Starting off great.

S- Nice piney scent that dominates. definitely some bitter citrus is there as well as a hearty malt presence.

T- Big piney bitter bite that carries from front to back. A slight citrus sweetness pokes its head out somewhere in the middle to make it a nice combination of all things that make IPAs great. Strong bitterness lingers on the finish that is in between wet and dry. Top Notch.

M- Medium to lighter feel that has a similar carbonation feel. Nice and smooth DIPA

O- Fantastic DIPA! As if the trip through beautiful Vermont and New Hampshire wasn't enough, this beer is great. Good luck to the Alchemist Cannery, the future brewpub and the town of Waterbury that was hit incredibly hard by Irene. Great Job!

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 20:04:04 | More by Gushue3

SFLpunk

Vermont

4.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

My thoughts go out to the whole Alchemist crew! It is with this in mind that I raise one of the 72 cans that I just bought! Drank straight from the can!

I'm gonna give it a 5 for appearance since it's a sexy can. Nose is lovely and leafy hops all over the place. I get some sugary pale malt, maybe super-light caramel and more piney/earthy hops than you could shake a stick at.

Palate is lovely! Smooth upfront and then bracing bitterness comes flowing in. It's not aggressive in that it's not all at once. It builds up to being super bitter. Malt is very much in the background on this one. Leafy herbal hops all day.

Notes: Amazing. Simply amazing. So glad to have the option to drink this at home! And I'm really happy for them that they have this "backup" plan. I'll be sure to do (drink) my part!

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 17:20:39 | More by SFLpunk

TCassell1

Vermont

4.7/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank stright from the can as is suggested on the can.

Apearance- tall, silver and black. Nice and shiny. Great art work. Again, drank straight from the can.

Smell- Cant get much from the can but still a great aroma of hops and possible caramel

Taste- as always, excellent. Nice hoppy taste and bitterness. Piney with a little sweetness on the end notes.

Mouthfeel- great carbonation. Smooth and worth the drive.

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 17:04:32 | More by TCassell1

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared a 22oz bottle with a very generous friend.
Served in Delirium goblets.
Pours a hazy pale orange color with a fluffy, but fading white head. Lots of sticky and patchy lacing rims the glass.
A big whiff of pine and wild flowers blast out of the gate. A resinous hop aroma rises and pulls a dry malty smell, along with some perfumy citrus and a little mellow rum.
The tastes follow the aromas very closely. Very hoppy, yet held in check by a solid caramel malt with some honey sweetness.
So flavorful, yet so drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 20:59:20 | More by BeerResearcher

HopStoopid120

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Review from notes. Consumed on 12/12/10.

Pours a very surprisingly dull, murky, tan leathery, apricot/peach golden color. This is quite different than I remember it on tap. In the past it was the clarity of this beer that had me so impressed before I even brought it to my nose. Two fingers of bright white creamy head sit atop this monster. The lace starts to appear as the head dissipates, sparatic rocky all over my tulip. Thin streams of bubble trickle to the top, showing its moderate carbonation.

Hops, hops, hops. Tons of fruit, mainly grapefruit. This beer is DANK. Somehow it actually smells sticky. Hint of malt sweetness is buried in there. Maybe slightly herbal. I'm impressed.

Follows the nose. Great hop bitterness and crazy fruitiness. The bitterness lingers after every sip. There is a sweetness the starts to show as it warms, almost caramel like.

Medium to full bodied. A slight prickle on te tounge. Light carbonation, but just enough to keep you drinking.

This brew is amazing. I could drink it all day everyday. The only real draw back to this was the color, it just wasn't what I remembered from it on tap. Still amazing though. Glad I was able to drink and share several of these bottles last winter. Now I'm just waiting for those cans... Now that's a game changer. Damn.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 14:13:32 | More by HopStoopid120

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.78/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at the Alchemist in Waterbury, VT. $4 for a 12 oz. pour. Can't beat that.

A - Hazy orange body with a delicious white head. The beer sticks and leaves lacing all down the side of the glass. This looks delicious.

S - Waves of hops. Unbelievably delicious citrus and floral hops. It has the strongest citrus hop aroma I've ever smelled. It's wonderful.

T - Great hop flavor up front that just lasts and lasts. Somewhere in the distance is a slight sweetness to balance it out. There is hardly any bitterness, so it only takes the slightest bit of malt to keep this guy balanced.

M - Slick and easy to drink. A gulpable IPA. I put back 3 of these easily. The low bitterness with such a strong hop character is remarkable and allows this beer to be quaffed with ease.

O - The best IPA I have had and a great endnote for my east coast beer trek. Worth the drive and something I hope to get once it is canned!

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2011 17:28:12 | More by Alieniloquium

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Alchemist, 8/1/11. Several 12 oz. pours were enjoyed at a bargain of $4 each. This goes down so easy.

Once upon a time, somewhere in a BA post, I said Heady Topper was good but not as great as all the hype. Well, that was clearly me writing with a hangover or a head injury, because this is a fabulous beer.

Color is a subtle amber, with a nice firm head and solid lacing that sticks. Nose is hoppy and floral with mild bitterness. Good carbonation, easy on the mouth and doesn't burn out the tastebuds. Flavors are hoppy, floral, mildly bitter, and maybe some muted citrus notes. Not as bold as or captivating as Pliny but clearly a well-balanced, top-shelf IPA. I enjoyed a couple glasses with dinner while munching on a chevre salad and a nice cuban panini, ironically while chatting with a man who is trying to bring a craft brewery to Cuba. Cool.

John's plan to can this beautiful beer for wider distribution is by far the best move by a small brewery in recent memory. Well played sir. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2011 03:00:43 | More by ElGallo

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

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

A-As the bartender passes me my first glass I am amazed at the beautiful orange hue of the beer. The creamy head retains incredibly well and laces the whole glass. Just a perfect look.

S-Wow this is disturbingly hoppy. Wreaks of dry-hopping. Luscious, ripe, juicy tropical fruits. Literally smells like perfume. A wonderful fragrance. The hops waft into my nostrils. Very excited to sip.

T-Blew me away. Unbelievably long lasting taste of grapefruits, apricots, mango, oranges, clementines and pineapples. Just purely juicy and fresh. Excellent bitterness, it does not over exceed its bounds and make you forget about the hop bouquet. Resinous and dripping of hop oils. Packs a plethora of fresh cut grass and crushed pine needles too. Quite possibly the best tasting thing that has entered my mouth. A divine amalgamation of tropical fruit fit for the gods.

M-Perfect carbonation. Slick, resinous feel. Big bodied and excellent. Begs to be gulped, not sipped.

O/D-Pliny the Elder has met its match in my opinion. Just amazingly delicious and perfectly crafted. There is absolutely nothing about Heady Topper that is not excellent. Well worth the long drive to drink this all night. And the cherry on top...$4 for a twelve oz. pour of week old Heady Topper. Perfect.

----
7/21/12

Finally tried it from the can and the quality is still the best in the entire world. Heady is my perfect beer, regardless of its pouring median.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2011 20:54:05 | More by VelvetExtract