5: Heady Toppper
BEER #5
HEADY TOPPER, THE ALCHEMIST, 8%
The first time I had this beer it was actually on tap at Blind Tiger in March 2012.
I was meeting a friend who works up the street from the Tiger, because we needed to have our fantasy baseball planning session. The Tiger was an easy spot to pick, because I could at least enjoy that part of the meeting. I’d visited some museums all day to fuck around before the meeting, and I lost track of time more or less. Normally I am extremely prepared to go drinking at beer bars--double checks of the tap list, twitter viewings for updated tappings, price points, beat-the-crowd transportation plannings--but I had been so caught up looking at ten versions of the American flag (that Georgia O'Keeffe shit gets me everytime) that I hadn’t done my normal rituals.
Because I was sleeping on my preparations, I had no idea that the Tiger did VSK (mostly) on mondays; that is, a Very Special Keg. Needless to say, though I’ll say it anyway, had I known, I would've had my ass in there a lot earlier. I was ten or so minutes late to meet my buddy for 6pm, so when I entered the building, he was already there, set up basically on top of the door.
So upon entering I noticed two things: 1) it was SO PACKED. It was around the end of most traditional Happy Hour times, but everyone was still in there, crammed, drownin' a glass or five and 2) everyone, I mean EVERYONE, was swirling, smelling, quaffing, what looked like a flame held within a lantern. My friend, as well, was holding one, and before salutations, he just stuck it in my face, "Drink!"
Before I did just that, I could not get over the color, which really looked like a fire: brightly layered orange, yellow, and amber-ish hues in a staggering spectrum. I just stared at it for at least two minutes.
I did the obligatory swirl and sniff and drank. It altered and startled me. He said, "Heady Topper!"
NO WAY. HOW DID THEY GET THIS ON TAP?!?!?!?!?
I’m telling this story, because, since that day, I've had a healthy amount of this beer, yet each of those subsequent experiences were from out of the can--instructions on the can implore the serving of Heady to stay within the tallboy. I have not viewed the appearance of this beer ever since. I’ve refused to see it, and due to that amazing experience and the brewers' directions, unless it's tapped, I won’t ever. Maybe. Canning beer is a thing now, which is funny, because I was always taught to pour something proper into a glass regardless (Momdukes), and that beer from a can will “taste like tin” if you don’t. While I believe heartily in the former, the newest progressions in canning dispel the latter’s claim.
Cans nowadays are lined with BPA-free poly-lining, eliminating any metallic flavors that may have been imparted by the can and its travels. As far as storage is concerned, cans can potentially protect beer from light and oxygen better than bottles, as they are more airtight and oxygen-free and concealed from excessive lighting exposure, which could potentially destroy the beer via UV radiations (fluorescent light exposure in storage). Cans are also way more recyclable. Just a few reasons why it’s pretty sweet to can beer these days.
ON TO THE ACTUAL HEADY TOPPER STUFF.
It smells like MANGO. It’s insanely tropical--where is my island? Mangoes gone mad; the over-ripened flesh of lemons and oranges; the earthy rinds of oranges and lemons; grass and more grass; and the hop madness of chinook, simcoe, and centennial hops, darlings of the east coast. Potent.
It taste like juice. It's so unbelievably refreshing. Even a bit tart and refreshingly resinous, which isn't always a revitalizing flavor. I'd have this after a run. Not too bitter, earthy, piney, biting, aggressive, yet it is all of those things at the same time. One of the most pleasant IPAs I've had, despite being one of the most hoppy. Heady is hugely citrusy: lemon, grapefruit galore, orange. The mango, passionfruit, and other tropical flavors in the profile rock my shit, too. For being so hoppy, it’s so smooth, so refreshing. Not at all a hop milkshake, which is the definitive separation between the east and west coasts’ double IPAs; the west’s are so thick, they're fatty. Heady is smooth as silk despite its profile. Amazing.
And, of course, who doesn’t like rockin a tall boy! Coolest tall boy I've ever seen.
Heady has now ascended to the top of the coveted list. I am ok with that. This is undeniably one of the best beers I have ever had. Top 7, no doubt.
It’s such a casual experience out of the can, too. You really can’t get too snooty or pretentious with a tall boy, which means that this bitch is dynamite at a BBQ, which is precisely the type of food with which I rocked this. The spiciest of spicy fare for this guy: bbq wings, buffalo wings, spicy fish tacos with mango salsa, curries, thai selections, vinegary pulled beef and pork, etc. I love to pound this--because once you’re through the first amazing sip, you just want to chug the stuff--with funky Danish and Dutch blue cheeses on toast with honey and coarse sea salt.
Heady’s only in Waterbury, Vermont and the surrounding area right now, but If you ever have a chance, LEAP TO IT. Trust me.
Pat Marino appreciates what happens around 3:08 here.