Heady Topper comparatives

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by mcBrewsAlot, Mar 5, 2013.

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  1. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    Not side by side, but throughout the weekend I had Heady Topper, Enjoy By, and Cafe Racer 15. This was the third time I've had HT, and while still very good it just didn't seem to be on the same shelf as the other two IIPAs. I'd take a Racer 15, Enjoy By, or fresh Pliny over HT any day.
     
  2. M-Fox24

    M-Fox24 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,617) Mar 17, 2013 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I figured more people would suggest Resin. Anyways, I'll throw in Founders Double Trouble. Nonetheless, there are a lot of great IPA's out there but as far as a Heady comparison that's tuff
     
    Hoptimus-Prime likes this.
  3. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,880) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader


    Is Resin that comparable? As someone who lives in Chicago and has Resin here aplenty (one of my favorite DIPAs), it'd be nice to know that I've got a decent stand-in.

    (and before anyone responds, I do understand that there isn't anything that tastes exactly the same)
     
  4. Massbmx

    Massbmx Pundit (884) Apr 5, 2011 Vermont

    Like others have mentioned nothing is really comparable to Heady (that I've tried at least), some of the answers in here I can see (Double Sunshine, some HF beers), but something like Resin is so far off I don't understand. Someone mentioned the hops in Heady just lasting forever on the taste buds and its true, one of my favorite parts of drinking a can is tasting it for the next hour whenever I burp.
     
  5. BeerGreg

    BeerGreg Initiate (0) May 17, 2013 Illinois

    Well, now I have to go out over lunch and pick up some Resin to try tonight. I've never had it. I have some HT in my fridge still, so maybe I can do a blind tasting.
     
  6. BleepBloopBlap

    BleepBloopBlap Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2011 Massachusetts

    Fresh Sculpin for me.
     
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  7. jdense

    jdense Pooh-Bah (1,782) Sep 5, 2007 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Tankslapper. I think I will go to Baker City and have one this afternoon at Barley Brown's.
     
  8. MugOfGoodness

    MugOfGoodness Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2006 New Hampshire

    I drink Heady Topper alot. Maybe too much. But its one of my all-time favorite beers.

    And asking a bunch of beer heads about comparable beers is like asking a really good fisherman - "hey man - where is your best fishing spot" - but here goes.

    Sebago's Hop Swap (it was a seasonal) drank alot like Heady Topper.

    Brew Kettle's White Rajah (year-round) drank alot like Heady Topper.

    I am sure there are others - I will keep trying them until I find them all.

    I have a neighbor who thinks Golden Road's Heal the Bay is very comparable.
     
  9. flayedandskinned

    flayedandskinned Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2011 California


    Don't agree at all. Its a tad maltier in back end, but Pliny's hop profile is a lot more punchy and snappy off of said malt profile.
     
  10. BearsOnAcid

    BearsOnAcid Pooh-Bah (2,215) Mar 17, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    HT's unique flavor is very dependant on the house yeast. I haven't found anything similar except for home brews that use it.
     
  11. cutsw

    cutsw Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 Florida
    Trader

    Bot has to be only a week or less old.
     
  12. joeebbs

    joeebbs Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 Pennsylvania

    Double Sunshine
     
  13. ChesterHop

    ChesterHop Initiate (0) Sep 14, 2010 Connecticut

    There are no Heady comparatives. It is truly in a league of its own. With that said, there are plenty of other great IIPA's that I've tried. Gandhi-Bot and Double Trouble are the first to come to mind...
     
    Jason likes this.
  14. TravisR

    TravisR Zealot (555) Dec 31, 2012 New Jersey

    I may be way off here, but the only beer I've had that I thought was remotely similar to Heady in nose, taste, and mouthfeel was Apocalypse Cow. Both are stellar.
     
  15. opwog

    opwog Initiate (0) Jun 16, 2008 Minnesota

  16. TheLostGringo

    TheLostGringo Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2011 Connecticut



    Cafe Racer 15 - California
    Enjoy by - California
    Pliny - California

    MRDave - California

    I smell a common thread :wink:
     
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  17. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,145) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I don't know if you have tried to brew with it, it is a problem child to use. I'm on batch 5 with it now and I think I may have it licked. Really makes you appreciate Mr. Kimmich at The Alchemist.
     
  18. JayORear

    JayORear Grand Pooh-Bah (3,034) Feb 22, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Actually, I'm pretty sure Heady's the only beer that I could reliably pick out in a blind tasting. So unique.
     
  19. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    My favorite IPA of all time is Jai Alai....of course it helps when you get it 4 days old.
     
  20. MrDave

    MrDave Initiate (0) Jan 23, 2013 California

    I know, it wreaks of homerism. Oh well, I like what I like. Cheers!
     
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