Heady Topper: I Am Undecided


On our Thanksgiving pilgrimage to Bolton Valley, Vermont, there was much mention of the legendary Heady Topper Imperial I.P.A -- a locally brewed and canned beer -- and everyone seemed to have an opinion on it; most folks loved it, and were willing to rush over to the tiny Alchemist Cannery in order to grab a few cans before they sold out, but others were vehemently opposed to this beer that "tasted like a pine tree" and so I decided to try it for myself . . . we swung by the brewery, but they were sold out (of course) so I had to make do with a sample, and while I certainly didn't feel that it was "world class", I did like the first few gulps, but then it got a little sharp and hoppy for my taste . . . I prefer New Jersey's Hopfish IPA . . . which is ALWAYS available at Pino's in Highland Park, and so though it doesn't have the legendary allure of the beer that is impossible to buy (the demand for Heady Topper is so great that it costs $3 for one can and $72 for a case, there's no price break for bulk buying) I like the fact that I don't have to plan my day around an alcohol purchase . . . which seems like a pathetic pursuit for grown man with a wife and two children.

10 comments:

rob said...

the last portion of this sounds like a veiled insult to clarence

Dave said...

not at all, clarence has no problem drinking whatever is available.

zman said...

Getting and drinking beer shouldn't require fetishistic determination.

Clarence said...

Dave is right -- I even drink Coors Light these days (if that's all that's left in the cooler).

Is Heady Topper a nod to Topper Headon?

Dave said...

who the hell is topper headon?

Dave said...

clarence would know that.

Clarence said...

Topper Headon is considered by those in the know to be the greatest drummer in punk rock history. I'm prone to hyperbole where The Clash is concerned, but that's pretty much true. The story behind "Rock the Casbah" is like a Shakespearean tragedy . . . with needles instead of cardboard swords.

Dave said...

i love minutemen george hurley's drumming.

Paul said...

I don't think you can judge Heady Topper by the tasting at the brewery, as odd as that may sound. You need to drink it from the can, which is why it says "Drink from the can!" on the can. Twice. I'll leave the science behind this to others but just know that I've tried it both from a glass and the can; the can is just way better.
In my neck of the woods, about 25 mi. west of Boston, the stuff has become like its own currency. "I'll give you a Heady Topper if you help me build a new house." "Sure!"
And I found this site by Googling "Heady Topper Topper Headon" because I was wondering the same thing as Clarence. If there is a connection, it'd make Heady Topper even better in my view.

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