Vermont has more craft breweries per capita than any other state in the nation. They have a total
of 32 breweries for a population of a little over 600,000. That gives VT one brewery per 18,750 people and there are several more breweries being planned. The number of microbreweries in the state has doubled in just the last five years alone. A lot of us “flatlanders” have been making the trek to a micro-brewery called the Alchemist in Waterbury VT. They have a been cranking out a few great products but there is one that has created a “bit of a buzz” in the beer world.
Heady Topper ..........is a double IPA that is brewed by The Alchemist in Waterbury Vermont. It is unfiltered and contains 8% alcohol by volume. It is sold as a 4 pack of cans and refrigerated. Well, what’s the big deal? .......In August of this year, the Beer Advocate has rated it as the number one beer in the world. " Wow " It has been described as a complex web of genius. The Heady Topper is distributed in cans that clearly state, “DRINK FROM THE CAN!” The Alchemist says this is a result of pouring causing many of the volatiles that create the delicious smell to be released.
I was very fortunate to have been given a can to try this week and this beer is as good as it gets. I had to split the can up in order to be able to experience the different flavors and complexities that the beer was all about. What that means is I drank half from the can and half from a glass.
As close to a perfect Double IPA as you can get. . The flavor was very complex for a hoppy beer. On the first sip there is the taste of floral and Citrus of all kinds. Then you will have the Pine flavour that will take over your taste buds and it will be followed by a dry bitterness on the finish that was perfect. It left my taste buds ready for another sip because of its perfect melody of taste.
After enjoying a few sips from the can, I poured the remainder into a glass to be able to again smell and taste the product before it went to the beer abyss. It poured a cloudy orange with a little white head. Because I started from the can with my first sip, I can understand the lack of a good head. I
would personally have preferred to enjoy the whole beer from a glass as I am not much for trying to figure anything out from a can. There is no denying that this beer is dry hopped to heaven and back.
Heady Topper is canned Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The beer sells out every Friday afternoon, so if you arrive at the brewery on the weekend, you can taste it but won’t be able to bring any home. The beer is sold within 20 miles of the brewery in limited production. How can you get it? You can go buy it by the 4-pack at the brewery in Waterbury Vt; It’s also in some of the bars in the Waterbury Vermont area.
It is time for me to get ready for a Road Trip and try a couple more. I rated it as a tie for the best beer I have tasted this year. It is right next to the Harpoon Hoppy Belgian Style Blonde… 100 Barrel Series. That one was only offered for a limited time last summer and was as good a brew as I ever tasted.
of 32 breweries for a population of a little over 600,000. That gives VT one brewery per 18,750 people and there are several more breweries being planned. The number of microbreweries in the state has doubled in just the last five years alone. A lot of us “flatlanders” have been making the trek to a micro-brewery called the Alchemist in Waterbury VT. They have a been cranking out a few great products but there is one that has created a “bit of a buzz” in the beer world.
Heady Topper ..........is a double IPA that is brewed by The Alchemist in Waterbury Vermont. It is unfiltered and contains 8% alcohol by volume. It is sold as a 4 pack of cans and refrigerated. Well, what’s the big deal? .......In August of this year, the Beer Advocate has rated it as the number one beer in the world. " Wow " It has been described as a complex web of genius. The Heady Topper is distributed in cans that clearly state, “DRINK FROM THE CAN!” The Alchemist says this is a result of pouring causing many of the volatiles that create the delicious smell to be released.
I was very fortunate to have been given a can to try this week and this beer is as good as it gets. I had to split the can up in order to be able to experience the different flavors and complexities that the beer was all about. What that means is I drank half from the can and half from a glass.
As close to a perfect Double IPA as you can get. . The flavor was very complex for a hoppy beer. On the first sip there is the taste of floral and Citrus of all kinds. Then you will have the Pine flavour that will take over your taste buds and it will be followed by a dry bitterness on the finish that was perfect. It left my taste buds ready for another sip because of its perfect melody of taste.
After enjoying a few sips from the can, I poured the remainder into a glass to be able to again smell and taste the product before it went to the beer abyss. It poured a cloudy orange with a little white head. Because I started from the can with my first sip, I can understand the lack of a good head. I
would personally have preferred to enjoy the whole beer from a glass as I am not much for trying to figure anything out from a can. There is no denying that this beer is dry hopped to heaven and back.
Heady Topper is canned Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The beer sells out every Friday afternoon, so if you arrive at the brewery on the weekend, you can taste it but won’t be able to bring any home. The beer is sold within 20 miles of the brewery in limited production. How can you get it? You can go buy it by the 4-pack at the brewery in Waterbury Vt; It’s also in some of the bars in the Waterbury Vermont area.
It is time for me to get ready for a Road Trip and try a couple more. I rated it as a tie for the best beer I have tasted this year. It is right next to the Harpoon Hoppy Belgian Style Blonde… 100 Barrel Series. That one was only offered for a limited time last summer and was as good a brew as I ever tasted.
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