Full Review

The Alchemist

The Alchemist
Heady Topper American Double IPA

Category: Imperial New England (Hazy) IPA

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 8%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional

The Alchemist
Heady Topper American Double IPA

Category: Imperial New England (Hazy) IPA

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 8%
Hazy light gold color. Aromas and flavors of sharp cheddar on apple slices, umami, mango pineapple, and parchment with a satiny, bright, spritzy, dry medium body and a layered, medium-long finish revealing notes of grapefruit, orange, and pineapple, lemon sorbet, sautéed scallions and shitake mushroom, and pine. A high octane, citrus-forward beer for hops seeking IPA lovers.

Tasting Info

Beer Glass Style: Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: sharp cheddar on apple slices, umami, mango pineapple, and parchment
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of grapefruit, orange, and pineapple, lemon sorbet, sautéed scallions and shitake mushroom, and pine
Bitterness Bitterness: Extreme
Enjoy Enjoy: on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Tacos, Ribs, Stilton
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A high octane, citrus-forward beer for hops seeking IPA lovers.

The Producer

The Alchemist

The Producer
100 Cottage Club Road
Stowe, VT 05672
USA
1 802-253-6708

Imperial New England Hazy IPA

Imperial New England (Hazy) IPAs, or double IPAs, are deep gold to deep amber in color, cloudy in appearance, and range in alcohol from 7.5-10%. These beers are medium-to-full bodied and are distinguished by prominent juicy, fruity, and floral American hop aromas and flavors while lacking the traditional abrasive, lingering hop bitterness of Imperial IPAs. These intense hop characteristics should be balanced by a rich malt backbone. Depending on the varieties of hops used, and the terpene influence in dry hopping, a wide range of flavors including melon, pineapple, mangom and other tropical fruits, as well as tart citrus, pepper and earthy, pine-like flavors and aromas may be encountered. They differ from other IPA styles in their unfiltered haze that can be attributed to dry-hopping, the use of high-protein grains, certain yeasts, and other brewer choices. These ales represent a challenge to brewers in terms of balance and drinkability, but have exploded in popularity in recent years with many craft breweries producing a version of the style. Starting with the recognized creator of the style, noteworthy examples of this style include: The Alchemist Heady Topper, Treehouse King Julius, Trillium Congress Street, Hill Farmstead Double Citra, and Toppling Goliath King Sue.