Focal Banger | The Alchemist Brewery and Visitors Center
Brewed by:
The Alchemist Brewery and Visitors Center
Vermont, United States
alchemistbeer.com
Style: New England IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
An American IPA, hopped judiciously with Citra and Mosaic.
Added by koopa on 07-06-2010
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 3,746 | Reviews: 485
4.53/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Topper is better, but still an awesome IPA. Great Amber color and citrus aroma and good bitterness. Would definitely drink again.
129 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Topper is better, but still an awesome IPA. Great Amber color and citrus aroma and good bitterness. Would definitely drink again.
129 characters
4.6/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.81/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
clean crisp hoppy goodness. A touch of malt sweetness to balance the perfect bitter and nice clean dry finish. IPA heaven
121 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
clean crisp hoppy goodness. A touch of malt sweetness to balance the perfect bitter and nice clean dry finish. IPA heaven
121 characters
4.69/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.64/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
3.85/5 rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.25/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.59/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.59/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Saw this reviewed in the BA magazine for the first time years back. Was lucky enough to get one from a friend at a wedding soon after. Seemingly smoother (as far as malt backbone) and fuller with hops compared to Heady. Floral yet smooth pine.
243 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Saw this reviewed in the BA magazine for the first time years back. Was lucky enough to get one from a friend at a wedding soon after. Seemingly smoother (as far as malt backbone) and fuller with hops compared to Heady. Floral yet smooth pine.
243 characters
4.6/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
A: Pours a hazy yellow color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a nice cap that leaves good lacing
S: Lots of citrus and tropical fruit that doesn't get too interrupted. Light malt in there, but the hops shine
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the citrus and tropical fruit with a light bitterness. Light bready malt shows up to balance things out, although the bitterness builds slowly. Finishes with lingering citrus and lingering light bitterness
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation
O: Super drinkable, super balanced, and super tasty. Definitely worth tracking down, as with any Alchemist IPA
617 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
A: Pours a hazy yellow color with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a nice cap that leaves good lacing
S: Lots of citrus and tropical fruit that doesn't get too interrupted. Light malt in there, but the hops shine
T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the citrus and tropical fruit with a light bitterness. Light bready malt shows up to balance things out, although the bitterness builds slowly. Finishes with lingering citrus and lingering light bitterness
M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation
O: Super drinkable, super balanced, and super tasty. Definitely worth tracking down, as with any Alchemist IPA
617 characters
4.81/5 rDev +5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.15/5 rDev -9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.62/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.29/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.52/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is a what an America IPA should taste like. Hits you in the face in the best way possible. Bit of an old school malt bill. I would take this over any of the juice bombs flooding the market these days. They went big and came up with something spectacular that still hasn't gotten old. I have been drinking this for years and it is just as mind blowing as the first time I had it--can't say that about many beers. If I had to choose a beer to represent America this would be it.
Flavor: Pure dankness
Aroma: Smells like weed and English malt
Appearance: Plenty hazy, perfect head retention
Feel: Appropriate for an intense IPA
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is a what an America IPA should taste like. Hits you in the face in the best way possible. Bit of an old school malt bill. I would take this over any of the juice bombs flooding the market these days. They went big and came up with something spectacular that still hasn't gotten old. I have been drinking this for years and it is just as mind blowing as the first time I had it--can't say that about many beers. If I had to choose a beer to represent America this would be it.
Flavor: Pure dankness
Aroma: Smells like weed and English malt
Appearance: Plenty hazy, perfect head retention
Feel: Appropriate for an intense IPA
630 characters
4.23/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can graciously, awesomely traded from brutalfarce. That guy's a hero. No can date. I poured a third of the can into a tall K Constantinople 16 oz shaker pint (due to my experience of Heady Topper being better from the can).
Very nice hazy juicy appearance with a creamy white head of 1 finger.
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Aroma...
From the glass : Crazy dank, natural, pleasant slight cooked broccoli aromas. It's just so natural and earthy and green. I have never smelled a beer like this. Incredible.
From the can : More of the same with a more concentrated hop aroma.
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Flavor...
From the glass : Much like the nose. I get wet grass, slight tree bark, pine, warm broccoli, dank bitterness, forest, with lingering herbal resins.
From the can : Nice sharp herbal flavors, lots of green vegetal hop, cooked broccoli, pine and dank.
Flavor is softer and more muted from the glass, though I get a heavy dose of broccoli from both vessels.
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Feel : Lots of nice carbonation, with a creamy feel and tons, I mean tons of lingering resins.
Overall, a bit of a broccoli bomb. However, this is another solid beer from Alchemist. Recommended if you aren't sensitive to veggies.
1,257 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 oz can graciously, awesomely traded from brutalfarce. That guy's a hero. No can date. I poured a third of the can into a tall K Constantinople 16 oz shaker pint (due to my experience of Heady Topper being better from the can).
Very nice hazy juicy appearance with a creamy white head of 1 finger.
________________________________
Aroma...
From the glass : Crazy dank, natural, pleasant slight cooked broccoli aromas. It's just so natural and earthy and green. I have never smelled a beer like this. Incredible.
From the can : More of the same with a more concentrated hop aroma.
__________________________
Flavor...
From the glass : Much like the nose. I get wet grass, slight tree bark, pine, warm broccoli, dank bitterness, forest, with lingering herbal resins.
From the can : Nice sharp herbal flavors, lots of green vegetal hop, cooked broccoli, pine and dank.
Flavor is softer and more muted from the glass, though I get a heavy dose of broccoli from both vessels.
______________________________________
Feel : Lots of nice carbonation, with a creamy feel and tons, I mean tons of lingering resins.
Overall, a bit of a broccoli bomb. However, this is another solid beer from Alchemist. Recommended if you aren't sensitive to veggies.
1,257 characters
4.5/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank it from the can with a small pour into a taster to assess appearance
A: Hazy dark yellow with a one-finger head
S: Dank, herbal, grassy, some pine and citrus rind
T: Matches the nose, fairly dry, some malt. Packed with flavor
M: Medium-bodied, dry, bitter
O: Delicious
274 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Drank it from the can with a small pour into a taster to assess appearance
A: Hazy dark yellow with a one-finger head
S: Dank, herbal, grassy, some pine and citrus rind
T: Matches the nose, fairly dry, some malt. Packed with flavor
M: Medium-bodied, dry, bitter
O: Delicious
274 characters
4.46/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Far more bitter than most NEIPAs. Works for me.
47 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Far more bitter than most NEIPAs. Works for me.
47 characters
4.6/5 rDev +0.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had a can at Prison City Brew Pub. Thought it held up well to the hype. Poured a big creamy head; somewhat meringue like on refill pour. Light yellow haze. Nose was citrusy but surprisingly biscuity as well. Bright and fresh aroma. Taste went same way. Love the Citra/Mosaic combo. A very tasty hop yeast combo that drove the citrus but not overtly juicy. Notable bitterness but a bit gentle for an IPA. The pale malt flavors really rounded out the taste with some biscuit. Feel was slightly full and soft creamy carbonation wise. Overall it was quite a beer coming out of the can, and actually had some characteristics of a hand drawn pale ale. My kind of session beer. I know I could sip on this for a long time.
Really enjoyed it. Wish it was more readily available.
771 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had a can at Prison City Brew Pub. Thought it held up well to the hype. Poured a big creamy head; somewhat meringue like on refill pour. Light yellow haze. Nose was citrusy but surprisingly biscuity as well. Bright and fresh aroma. Taste went same way. Love the Citra/Mosaic combo. A very tasty hop yeast combo that drove the citrus but not overtly juicy. Notable bitterness but a bit gentle for an IPA. The pale malt flavors really rounded out the taste with some biscuit. Feel was slightly full and soft creamy carbonation wise. Overall it was quite a beer coming out of the can, and actually had some characteristics of a hand drawn pale ale. My kind of session beer. I know I could sip on this for a long time.
Really enjoyed it. Wish it was more readily available.
771 characters
4.5/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Focal Banger from The Alchemist Brewery and Visitors Center
Beer rating:
4.58 out of
5 with
3,746 ratings
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