Alchemist, The
Heady Topper American Double India Pale Ale
American Double/Imperial IPA
Vermont
8.0%
16oz
4-Pack, $12.49
Finger plus of clean white foam, settles into an even surface, looks dense but it sizzles off quickly before your eyes, minimal lacing, a random splotch here or there. Deep yellow and hazy liquid, however, much more translucent than opaque, you can see enough bubbles to suspect there's even more there you can't see. while there is an initial whiff of dank marijuana to the nose leading up to the super-juicy tangerine, pink grapefruit citrus, mango, peach, apricot and melon fruit scents, solid underpinning of cocoa and vanilla bean malts, croissant flakes, well balanced and not bitingly hoppy, lasts well without coming off as brawny for brawn's sake. Medium-bodied, dry mouth entry with a momentary tacky sensation. Quickly switches gears to pine sap, mint and all of that grapefruit and orange citrus. Odd in that it is indeed very hoppy but in such a way that all the rough edges have been burred off. More of a burnt character to the mocha, cocoa here, malts less sweet. The papaya, mango, pineapple to apricot fruit offers equal parts sour and sweet. Carbonation tends towards the fluffier side of things. Shows balance and poise for its scale, a reputation well earned.
5 out of 5