“In early 2011 we built the Alchemist Cannery, a 15 barrel brewery and canning line, for the production of our flagship IPA Heady Topper. The first cans of Heady Topper rolled off the line just two days after Tropical Storm Irene demolished The Alchemist Pub and Brewery. Today, we move all of our beer weekly in a concerted effort to provide the freshest, hoppiest packaged IPA on the market.”
Glassware: IPA glass.
Appearance: Hazy AF! Orange/mustard yellow colour with a steady finger of off white foam perched on top. Good head retention and fine lacing on the glass.
Aroma: We hate to sound like a broken record but it’s another full on breakfast juice bomb. Packed full of orange, mango, pineapple, guava and apple. Nicely underpinned by some piney, herbal and grapefruit notes. Delicate hints of aniseed and grass too. Hardly any malt to speak of. Doesn’t matter though, the amount of hop character is just mind blowing.
Flavour: Although it hits its typical juice bomb note there is a decent amount of herbal/botanical character to it. Wet grass and vines come through along with a sappy pine sweetness. Loads of citrus, tropical fruit and just the slightest hint of earthy forest floor. Clean bitter finish with a piney and citric aftertaste.
Mouth feel: Resinous and sappy. Suggestions of creamy-ness there too. 120 IBU – hefty but well contained. 8% ABV also well hidden.
Overall: As far as NE IPA’s go this is by far the best we’ve had. Yes, there is the cult following and the utter rarity of it but the high quality and complexity is what hands it its judgement. If only they would distribute outside the Vermont region! World class.