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: 3,847 | Reviews: 501
4.6/5 rDev +0.7%
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
4.5/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Can bought for me at today's Patriots game in Gillette Stadium for eleven dollars. My second brew from these guys. Absolutely outstanding, looking forward to trying again.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Can bought for me at today's Patriots game in Gillette Stadium for eleven dollars. My second brew from these guys. Absolutely outstanding, looking forward to trying again.
173 characters
3.77/5 rDev -17.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Yeah, definitely not as impressed with this one as I was with Heady, although I really didn't like Heady too much either. Prefer Lawson's and Hill Farm' over the Alchemist. Alright, here goes:
A: Beautiful. While the beer's body isn't exactly appealing (it's merely a very cloudy yellow), its head is massive and fluffy. It also lasts for a very, very long time and leaves a lot of lacing. Great.
S: Pretty good, but somewhat one-dimensional. While it's very floral, the predominant scents I'm detecting are lemon and grass. Pretty good for what it is, though.
T: Too bitter. I taste lemon and not much else besides onion. Not very appealing, IMHO.
F: Perfect. Very soft.
O: Simply not my cup of tea. I prefer Lawson's and Hill Farm's NEIPAs over this one.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75
Yeah, definitely not as impressed with this one as I was with Heady, although I really didn't like Heady too much either. Prefer Lawson's and Hill Farm' over the Alchemist. Alright, here goes:
A: Beautiful. While the beer's body isn't exactly appealing (it's merely a very cloudy yellow), its head is massive and fluffy. It also lasts for a very, very long time and leaves a lot of lacing. Great.
S: Pretty good, but somewhat one-dimensional. While it's very floral, the predominant scents I'm detecting are lemon and grass. Pretty good for what it is, though.
T: Too bitter. I taste lemon and not much else besides onion. Not very appealing, IMHO.
F: Perfect. Very soft.
O: Simply not my cup of tea. I prefer Lawson's and Hill Farm's NEIPAs over this one.
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4.46/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Really really nice beer... the marks are matched and surpassed in many cases here... had this on a long night of drinking many good/great beers but this was a stand out to me... very....intense.. I would gladly jump at the chance to have this beer again.... I'd like to start with this and sip slowly throughout the evening.... even with the amount of beer I had prior to this, it made a damn good impression on me... highly recommended!
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Really really nice beer... the marks are matched and surpassed in many cases here... had this on a long night of drinking many good/great beers but this was a stand out to me... very....intense.. I would gladly jump at the chance to have this beer again.... I'd like to start with this and sip slowly throughout the evening.... even with the amount of beer I had prior to this, it made a damn good impression on me... highly recommended!
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4.15/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had from can, approx 4 mos old, likely why it didn’t set off any alarms of greatness for me
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had from can, approx 4 mos old, likely why it didn’t set off any alarms of greatness for me
93 characters
4.19/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.38/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A very well balanced hazy IPA. I enjoyed it more than Heady which I tried alongside it. Funky, citrus rind and stonefruit hops with a muted profile (meaning, lots of flavors and aromatics but no major bitterness) thanks to the soft, billowy backing which I assume includes oats or whatever.
Really, really good but the memory has faded a bit so my review is...this.
367 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A very well balanced hazy IPA. I enjoyed it more than Heady which I tried alongside it. Funky, citrus rind and stonefruit hops with a muted profile (meaning, lots of flavors and aromatics but no major bitterness) thanks to the soft, billowy backing which I assume includes oats or whatever.
Really, really good but the memory has faded a bit so my review is...this.
367 characters
4.6/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.67/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
5/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Heady Topper gets all the love from Alchemist, but Focal Banger is the better beer in my opinion.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Heady Topper gets all the love from Alchemist, but Focal Banger is the better beer in my opinion.
97 characters
4.75/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.39/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.62/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
First time trying this beer. For me on the West Coast, this is a big deal. No observable canning date, but I am fairly confident that it is fairly fresh.
L: Pours a golden straw yellow/honey color. Very unfiltered in appearance, and definitely would be considered murky back in it's time. About a finger of a frothy white cap was achieved from a non-aggressive pour. Moderate amounts of sudsy lacing clings to the glass' edge as I partake.
S: Full of ripe citrus aromas. Orange, grapefruit and lemon are in abundance. I also get a slight melony vibe coming off on the nose as well. Malt presence is also prevalent on the nose, lending a bready/warm complexity to the smell.
T: Follows the nose very closely, with greater emphasis on the malt. Malt backbone is prevalent throughout the entire flavor train. There is also an abundance of citrus, particularly grapefruit and lemon. Hops are also an integral part of this beer, giving an earthy/grassy flavor. Pine is present on the finish and resides in the aftertaste. As far as taste goes, this is superb. It is essentially the perfect fusion of WC & NE styled IPAs.
F: Pretty damn great. Medium in weight but seemingly fuller in terms of body. The carbonation is spot-on for my liking. Just the right amount to give that fizzle on the tongue, but not overly done making the beer thin. It is soft, smooth, and relatively creamy.
O: This is fantastic. Focal Banger encompasses the feel, texture and fruitiness that we love in NEIPAs but bring the malty/hoppy/citrus flavor that we love in WCIPAs. In my opinion, this beer is more enjoyable (for me at least) than Heady Topper. This is great, and I would definitely drink again. I am very glad to try as a humble Californian, and 100% recommend. Cheers!
1,755 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
First time trying this beer. For me on the West Coast, this is a big deal. No observable canning date, but I am fairly confident that it is fairly fresh.
L: Pours a golden straw yellow/honey color. Very unfiltered in appearance, and definitely would be considered murky back in it's time. About a finger of a frothy white cap was achieved from a non-aggressive pour. Moderate amounts of sudsy lacing clings to the glass' edge as I partake.
S: Full of ripe citrus aromas. Orange, grapefruit and lemon are in abundance. I also get a slight melony vibe coming off on the nose as well. Malt presence is also prevalent on the nose, lending a bready/warm complexity to the smell.
T: Follows the nose very closely, with greater emphasis on the malt. Malt backbone is prevalent throughout the entire flavor train. There is also an abundance of citrus, particularly grapefruit and lemon. Hops are also an integral part of this beer, giving an earthy/grassy flavor. Pine is present on the finish and resides in the aftertaste. As far as taste goes, this is superb. It is essentially the perfect fusion of WC & NE styled IPAs.
F: Pretty damn great. Medium in weight but seemingly fuller in terms of body. The carbonation is spot-on for my liking. Just the right amount to give that fizzle on the tongue, but not overly done making the beer thin. It is soft, smooth, and relatively creamy.
O: This is fantastic. Focal Banger encompasses the feel, texture and fruitiness that we love in NEIPAs but bring the malty/hoppy/citrus flavor that we love in WCIPAs. In my opinion, this beer is more enjoyable (for me at least) than Heady Topper. This is great, and I would definitely drink again. I am very glad to try as a humble Californian, and 100% recommend. Cheers!
1,755 characters
4.75/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
3.84/5 rDev -16%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Focal Banger from The Alchemist Brewery and Visitors Center
Beer rating:
4.57 out of
5 with
3,847 ratings
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