Alchemist Drop in Colorado

As of yesterday, Parry's pizza HR had cans of Focal Banger and Heady. I tried a Heady for the first time. I enjoyed it, but I would be just as happy with other IPAs.

On a side note they also have Lunch on tap. I didn't get a chance to try it though.

 

I don't really know the context of of the timing, but it looks like Dorothy and Arthur were in Denver from March of 2015 through June of 2016. I know I've seen random HF tap takeovers (and for GABF/WBC), but that's the only large quantity drop I can recall.

Crooked Stave's distro wing has brought us some straight-up magic over the years, so I doubt you'll never hear anything bad about them from me. With everyone going lager crazy right now, it would be pretty cool if they'd snag one of the more obscure German, Austrian, or Czech breweries.

 

I would just love to see them or someone bring Heater Allen in.

 

I wouldn't mind that, either. That reminds me...does anybody in CO or even other markets use those tall/thin 1/2L bottles like they do in Oregon? I don't know if I've seen those anywhere else.

 

Glad some of you are liking the heady, for me I will second @Domingo focal and die in a massive fire and to add,,,, heady can burn as well.

For me, it's always a treat to have CO IPAs and other brews when I visit Denver. You guys got it dialed in right for my tastes.

 

What's amusing is that for years 90% of our IPA's were basically like GD's Titan. There's a whole BA thread of people lamenting that. Odell turned that on its head and places like Comrade and Cannonball Creek (and later Odd 13 and Weldwerks) made CO an IPA-focused state again. Pretty crazy. It's actually kinda tough to even find the older style of CO IPA now. Avery and Great Divide have slowly reformulated theirs so even they're kinda modern'ish.

 

Avery and weldwerks are must have brews when I visit along with a manditory stop to dry dock.

 

The Dock's Hop Abomination is one of those IPA's that has evolved a lot. I used to think it was pretty "meh" a few years ago, but it's fantastic now. Kind of odd they kept that name since it's a different/better beer than it used to be.

 

If breakwater was in pounders it would surpass daisy cutter and become my go to APA.

 

guess ill have to look up breakwater next year and abomination

 

I'm pretty sure I'm the only guy who likes breakwater. It's pretty malty with a citrus flavor that reminds me of toast and marmalade.

 

Breakwater is as old school as they come. They had that beer on tap when they first opened. I always got a fresh cut grass flavor from it.
Pretty sure you aren't the only fan, though. That's one of those beers people ask them to bring back all the time.

 

I'm very good with some malt taste. Some ipa/pa brews today just taste like hop water which I don't care for. Personally, I feel we have a lot of the in Vt now.

 

They still brew it on occasion. I grab crowlers when I can.

 

According to Mr. B's and Grapevine's Instagrams we got another Alchemist drop about 2-3 weeks ago. I'm assuming it's all long gone, but if anyone has any leads, let a brother know. Can't believe no one on here posted about it. I guess people are getting smart.

 

Imho, you have better beers brewed in Colorado. Based on my revisit of Heady Topper.

 

IDK I had some this summer and it was as good as I remembered it. A perfect beer IMO. No shade on Colorado IPAs though. There are definitely some world-class ones out there.

 

We have a shitload of (good) IPA's in Colorado, but none of them really taste like Heady. Can't say I've had a beer that tastes like Heady anywhere, really. That toasty note on the back end is unique and I like the hop blend it uses. A lot of the newer hops taste too soft and boring for me, so I like that old school backbone in there, too. I hope we keep getting drops of it. I didn't get to buy any this time, but I would have if I saw any.

 

I learned via Davidson Facebook. I didn't bother going there since they sold out so fast last time. It sold out faster at my local hole in the wall on this drop but they also forgot to put a case out so I nabbed a 4x. People got hip quick this time. If you're in A town or south metro I have a can I would part with from the last drop. Lemme know.

 

Just discovered and read this thread. As someone who lives across the river from Waterbury and drank Alchemist beer from the day the old brewpub opened (also got to be assistant brewer at the pub a couple times; different story), I have a few comments to add.

Heady is definitely not a NEIPA or a WC IPA. It's its own category, with a lot of things done different from pretty much any other IPA. One of them is the use of Pearl malt from Scotland, hence the malt backbone. The yeast is fairly unique too. It can be almost Chico clean or full of clove and fruit depending on how it is treated.

Lawson's Sip of Sunshine and Double Sunshine, as well as my favorite, Chinookered, are straight up WC IPA's. Chico yeast, American 2 row, crystal clear when fresh.

I like Focal. Mosaic is not my favorite hop but it works here.