Beer Review: Heady Topper

Reviewing the Heady Topper from The Alchemist.
Score (Can): 97
Score (Duvel tulip): 92

2011 can, courtesy as an extra from FrankenBrew (BeerAdvocate trade)! Been wanting to try this forever. It's rumored to taste/smell different from a can, so I'm doing this brew half-and-half. The half I drank out a glass was from a Duvel tulip.


Appearance (Can): Silver colored can with black artwork etched on the front. The can has a thrice repeated warning around the upper edge that reads, in all caps, "DRINK FROM THE CAN!" I don't like it when beer tells me what to do. Whatever, I'll do what I want!

Appearance (Duvel tulip): Pours a super hazy orange-amber color with a finger of super foamy cream-colored head that sticks around for a couple of minutes until it settles into a ring around the glass and thin clump in the middle. Above average lacing. 4/5


Smell (Can): Huge citrus and floral aromas. LOTS of intense, fresh tropical fruits -- oranges, grapefruits, pineapple and mangoes. Fresh grass clippings and dank resin. The nose is absolutely packed with bright, floral hops. Let's be honest -- it's like a sunshine of citrus-hops. This is hands down the best IPA, potentially the best beer, I have ever smelled in my life. I wish I could buy an air-freshener that smelled just like this! 5/5

Smell (Duvel tulip): A lot of the intensity of the citrus-hops aromas is lost when you pour this out of the can -- even into the infamously aromatic tulip glass! The aroma is a lot earthier, mellower and maltier. Reminds me a lot of Zombie Dust. Still getting zesty oranges and some lemons with big whiffs. You need to smell with much more effort to get the deliciousness once its poured. This one is absolutely better from the can -- no joke! 4/5


Taste (Can): A lot more mellow and subdued than the aroma would have you believe. Very earthy, dank hop bitterness. Orange pulp and lemon hit up front too, almost like a mellowed out Zombie Dust. Malty, bittersweet citrus builds on the mid-palate as the beer layers. Alas, it's not the front or midpalate that defines this beer -- it's the finish. The finish is zesty, bitter oranges and hops, and BOY does it linger! 5/5

Taste (Duvel tulip): Like the aroma, a lot of the intensity of the flavors are lost when you pour this from the can. The lingering orange-citrus bitterness largely disappears, and turns into a very average IPA-like finish. Since aroma makes up a main component of taste, this is not too surprising. A lot of the bright citrus flavors are lost and replaced by dank, earthy tones. When poured from the can, Heady Topper turns into an earthier Daisy Cutter with mid-palate flavor. 4.5/5


Mouthfeel (Can): Medium bodied, medium carbonation. It feels a little under-carbonated at first, preventing the citrusy bitterness from popping on the tongue, but the trade-off of a heavy lingering flavor on the tongue for the finish is absolutely worth it. Finish is a little oily, a little stick, and bittersweet. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (Duvel tulip): No difference.


Overall: This one should ABSOLUTELY be enjoyed from the can. From what I read, a lot of the volatiles that make this beer so special quickly escape from the glass, whereas the can maximizes their presence through lower exposure and retention. Who would have thought that drinking from the can could be so wonderful? Maybe those tailgaters have it right after all! If I could get consistent access to this beer, it would be my go to non-stout brew.

Recommendation: This is an absolutely must-seek out imperial IPA. Just make sure to drink it from the can. I wish I could pour it back in and undo the mistake I made, questioning the wisdom of the can.

Food Pairings: Kuma's Corner hamburgers. Spicy food would be pretty great with this too.

Cost: $12 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Expedition Stout

Reviewing the Expedition Stout from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Score: 91

Fresh 2011 bottle served in a snifter glass.

Appearance: Dark brown, opaque body -- light does not cut through the beer at all. Pours a finger and a half of mocha-colored head that sticks around a while. 4/5

Smell: Rich, malty milk chocolate, some roasted coffee tones and a faint booziness aroma. The milk chocolate aroma is absolutely divine. 4.5/5

Taste: Smooth roasted chocolate, brown sugar and lots of hops Some dark fruit too. Finishes with a light note of bitter coffee in addition to the above mentioned flavors. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied, viscous beer with minimal carbonation. The finish is savory. 4/5

Overall: A very affordable, solid Russian Imperial Stout that is widely available and easy to find when in season. The aroma of the beer is absolutely wonderful, though the flavor lacks some of the creamy milk chocolate characters that were present in the aroma and is a bit hop-heavy out of the gate. The flavor of the beer is nothing innovative, and very "average" and straight-forward for the style, but pretty delicious nonetheless. Another reliable beer from Bells that is quite drinkable.

Recommendation: A very good starter Russian Imperial Stout for casual beer drinkers. Beer geeks are implored to try this one as well.

Pairings: Steak.

Cost: $15.99 for a six pack.

Beer Review: 90 Minute IPA

Reviewing the 90 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
Score: 91

12 oz tap pour in a New Belgium globe glass.

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy, translucent dark amber color with a thin ring of foamy head around the edge of the glass. Below average lacing, but that's to be expected from a 9.0% ABV beer. 4/5

Smell: Huge citrus hops and honey. Roasted caramel malts and caramelized sugar. Mellow alcohol notes, and a touch of pine. Slightly floral. 4/5

Taste: Very balanced for an imperial IPA. Malty, bitter and smooth all at the same time. Sweet oranges hit first. The roasted caramel malts on the mid-palate. As the beer layers, honey sweetness gradually grow on the mid-palate too. Some spices and hints of leather at points. Detecting mango as well. Finishes with warming alcohol and a piney hops bitterness that really lingers. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, medium-high carbonation. Oily and smooth. Finish is sticky, warming and bitter. 4/5

Overall: One of the best imperial IPAs on the market. Very balanced and smooth with robust flavors. Superior to both the 60 and 120 minute IPA of Dogfish Head.

Recommendation: A great imperial IPA for beginners, though flavors are probably be a little too intense for casual beer drinkers trying their first craft brew. Hop heads and beer geeks should seek this one out!

Pairings: Spicy Thai food and hamburgers.

Cost: $2.99 for a 12 oz bottle or $5.25 for a 12 oz pour at the bar.

Beer Review: Unearthly

Reviewing the infamous Unearthly hop bomb from Southern Tier Brewing Company. Last week, I review the Oak Aged version of this beer.
Score: 83

2011 bomber bottle, slightly chilled, poured in a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a transparent-translucent amber-mahogany color with one and a half finger of cream-colored head that settles into a thin foamy ring around the glass and clump in the middle. Pretty good lacing. 4/5

Smell: Heavy notes of alcohol and dirt hit first. Swirling the beer releases notes of vanilla, toffee and raisin. Very pungent apples and orange citrus. Lots of sweet malts too. Even detecting hints of milk chocolate malts. My roommate concurs on the chocolate notes -- a very interesting twist on the aroma. 4/5

Taste: Very unbalanced, with a heavy emphasis on alcohol fire and earthy bitterness. Dirt and figs hit upfront. Increasing caramel-malty sweetness and sweet vanilla on the mid-palate as the beer layers. I am definitely detecting citrus in the beer, but the alcohol fire kills my tongue's ability to nuance. The finish is like bitter caramel vodka. The alcohol presence in the beer becomes an aggressively fiery palate killer as the beer approaches room. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a low amount of carbonation that makes the bitter alcohol finish sit heavy on the tongue and linger. The finish is bittersweet. 3.5/5

Overall: I am a big hop head, but this beer has too much unbalanced alcohol fire to wallow in the beer's aggressive hoppiness. The alcohol really overwhelms the palate and gets worse as the beer warms. I remember this one being much better than it was. Unearthly is a definite sipper.

Recommendation: Casual beer drinkers should steer clear. Beer geeks and hop heads might find this one interesting. I'd highly recommend drinking this one as a colder temperature than slightly chilled.

Pairings: Spicy Thai food. The alcohol and hops would really accentuate the spices.

Cost: $7.99 for a 22 oz (bomber) bottle.

Beer Review: Centennial IPA

Reviewing the Centennial IPA from Founders Brewing Company.
Score: 91

Review from 11/17/11 notes. Bottle was dated 10/04/11, and poured in a Sam Adams glass

Appearance: Pours a finger of foamy head that settles to a half finger layer of foamy frosting. Medium amber color, translucent. 4/5

Smell: Earthy hops aroma with lots of citrus accents that are more sweet (like a tangerine or orange) than tart (like a lemon). Quite floral. Overall smells like a fresh garden filled with fruit. 4.5/5

Taste: Starts dry with a slightly citrusy-earthy bitterness, that quickly turns malty on the mid-palate. Leaves a very citrus bitter finish. In other word, malty-sweetness is bookended by dry, citrusy bitterness. The further I get down the glass, the more I appreciate the balance of sweetness and bitterness in this beer. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation, and more full-bodied than most IPAs. Finish is pretty dry. 4/5

Overall: One of the better year-round single IPA's on the market. Founders makes great stuff.

Recommendation: Hop heads and beer geeks should greatly enjoy this one. Centennial IPA might be a little too hop-forward for casual beer drinkers looking to try their very first IPA.

Pairings: Really kicks the spices in Thai food up a notch. Spicy Mexican food would also work.

Cost: $10.99 for a six pack.

Beer Review: Big A IPA

Reviewing the Big A IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company,
Score: 90

2011 bottle served in Sam Adams glass.

Appearance: A very hazy yellow-orange with a cloud of sediment. I presume that this one is bottle conditioned. Looks like orange juice with pulp (albeit with a different color). Pours a 1/2 finger head that subsides into a thin foamy lace. 4/5

Smell: Has a very dank, earthy grass and resin aroma mixed with sweet oranges. 3.5/5

Taste: Very sweet-citrus and orange zest flavor with a pinpoint, crisp bitterness at the end. A little sweet on the mid-palate, but that sweetness goes pretty dry in the finish. Piney-bitterness comes out at the end and discreetly lingers in the finish. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body with medium carbonation. Semi-dry, bitter finish. 4/5

Overall: A very drinkable imperial IPA. The alcohol presence (9.6% ABV) definitely does not show. Not the best of it's style, but certainly one I would order again!

Recommendation: Beer geeks should thoroughly enjoy this one, while it may prove to be a little unbalanced in the bitterness department for casual beer drinkers. Hop heads should seek this one out.

Pairings: Hamburgers.

Cost: $10.99 for a four pack.

Beer Review: Satisfaction Jacksin

Reviewing the Satisfaction Jacksin from Ale Asylum. Yes, I spelled that right.
Score: 83

2011 bottle served in a snifter. Why a snifter? Well, the Old Fashioned apparently does not have tulip, Duvel, or Sam Adams glasses (see my Hop Whore review), and the pint glass does very little for the aroma. Rather than walk around with a hurricane glass like the bar tender insisted, I opted for a snifter so that I could at lest get some of the aromas concentrated at a single point and detect them better. Maybe that logic is flawed. Regardless, I really do not like the Old Fashioned. Clearly the picture for this beer was not one I took myself (most of my pics aren't -- unless I have a "rarer" beer).

Appearance: Pours one-half finger of creamy head (maybe this is low, as it was poured into an undersized snifter) that quickly dissipates into a thin ring around the glass. Translucent dark copper color. Below average lacing. 3/5

Smell: Very fruit. Tropical citrus hops. Lightly tart and very floral. A little apple/apple juice. Hints of booziness. 3.5/5

Taste: Heavy, earthy centennial hops hit right away. Much more earthy and less citrusy than expected. Gets a bit astringent as it layers. A little tangy. There is some brief caramel-malty sweetness on the mid-palate, but the earthy hops feels very heavy on the tongue, and that is overpowering the rest of the flavors. Beer finishes, and lingers, with earthy bitterness. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a low amount of carbonation that makes the earthy bitterness of the beer sit heavy, rather than pop, on the tongue. Under-carbonated for an IPA, in my opinion. Finishes bone-dry and bitter. 3.5/5.

Overall: A decent, but nothing special imperial IPA. I'd drink it again, but wouldn't seek it out.

Recommendation: Casual beer drinkers probably won't like the heavy bitterness of the beer, and beer geeks can safely avoid this one without missing much.

Pairings: Earthy, grass-fed hamburgers with olive-oil fries.

Cost: $3.25 for a 12 oz at the bar, $14.99 for a six pack.