Wait, I think we did something wrong not drinking from the can. Further, he practically wrote the book on how to brew IPAs in New England. In the early days, it put Waterbury on the map as a craft beer destination and did it single-handedly. Either that or the Kimmichs and team couldn't physically sell the beer fast enough to customers. There's also Zero Gravity, Lost Nation, and a ton of other great brewers in VT.Īs for Heady, in the early days, the canning line couldn't produce fast enough. Hill is right there with The Alchemist at the top of the brewing game. That's where the foundation of this beer began to be laid in his mind. Speaking of Burlington, Kimmich first plied his trade at the Vermont Pub & Brewery downtown. The Burlington beer fest is/was immensely popular and we hope to return when they host it again in 2022. This was at the start of the craft beer explosion in the United States. We remember when these fellas were cutting their brewing teeth and pouring glass dixie cup tasting samples at the annual Vermont Brewers Festival. When your Heady Topper needs a hug, it's going to desire only warm, plush Yeti fur. Brewer Sean Lawson of Lawson's Finest Liquids is almost as well known for his Sip of Sunshine as Kimmich is for Heady. For instance, Heady Topper isn't the only world class beer being produced in the state. It's also hard to discuss the history of Heady Topper without talking about the history of Vermont breweries. Mondays and Thursdays were among the best days to get the freshest cans of the beer. This was over a decade ago at this point. Heady Topper was first brewed in their Waterbury brewpub (we believe). The quality of the beer matches the view History We'd like to imagine that it's the combination of that yeast, along with a proprietary blend of hops and just enough malt, as well as the dedicated labor (and sweat) involved in the brewing process that give Heady Topper its own unique flavor. With regard to the beer itself, Kimmich has stated that his brewing mentor, Greg Noonan, gave him permission to use special yeast. You'll remember the first time you had it, and how you cannot possibly understand your youthful preference for mass-produced pilsners from the Big Beverage folks (hint: targeted advertising). Not a high IBU, bitter DIPA, Heady Topper displays some notes of tropical fruit (and grapefruit?) and possesses quite the mouthfeel. It was, and by some, is, considered the best beer in the world. The Alchemist offers brewery tours at 5pm daily, so keep that in mind.īack to the beer. For fun, should you make it up to Stowe for a few pints of Heady Topper and Focal Bangers, COVID allowing, you should take a brewery tour. Clearly this was prior to The Alchemist opening up shop in Stowe. The Alchemist Pub and Brewery was where the first cans of Heady Topper were produced in 2003. Your best bet toward enjoying this 8% hazy IPA was to visit the Vermont pub and brewery in Waterbury. Some retailers around Vermont had it, but which, and when? For years, it was hard to find it around New England, almost impossible. This (now) year-round American Double IPA is the flagship of flagship beers. It appears in RateBeer's top 50 craft beers - though the Stowe brewery does not.įorget Massachusetts or New York, Alchemist beers are the type of beer that beer geeks will drive from Wyoming to acquire, and Heady Topper takes center stage. As for the unfiltered Heady Topper, what can you say that hasn't been said? It is Beer Advocate's #1 NEIPA.
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