Heady Topper Comparison

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by MattTastrophee, Mar 30, 2014.

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  1. Furbs23

    Furbs23 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2014 New York

    As tough as it is or impossible to try and compare heady to anything, I would have to lean more towards a Gandhi Bot comparison. Only DIPA that I have drank to date that comes close to Heady in my opinion.
     
    #21 Furbs23, Mar 30, 2014
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  2. musicman7070

    musicman7070 Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2012 New Jersey

    I have had a ton of DIPA's and can tell you that absolutely NOTHING can be compared to it that is readily available. The only other beer that I've had that is similar to Heady is Abner from Hill Farmstead, but that is not readily available. I can't wait for the next time when I can get up to Vermont again and buy myself a case or two. Unbelievable stuff.
     
    #22 musicman7070, Mar 30, 2014
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  3. kerry4porters

    kerry4porters Maven (1,495) Dec 31, 2012 Arizona

    They ask for pliny
     
    #23 kerry4porters, Mar 30, 2014
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  4. MattTastrophee

    MattTastrophee Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2014 Vermont

    They're almost always psyched to buy something I recommend, most often Six Point or Dirt Wolf (occasionally Kind Ryed, too). I just tell them that they'll really enjoy these beers, and I wish them luck if they're trying to travel to Burlington or Montpelier. They often come back with positive feedback, which is good. I think it starts people off on the road to good beers.
     
    #24 MattTastrophee, Mar 30, 2014
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  5. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I second (third? fourth?) all the "There is no comparison!" shouts above, but I'd like to toss in my two-cents for something that may give people who've never had Heady - the audience OP is talking about - some semblance of an idea.

    Sucks.

    Wait, wait, hear me out! Heady has a far superior mouthfeel and aroma, and more complexity of flavor. However, on hop flavor profile alone, fresh Sucks reminds me of Heady, more so than Gandhi-Bot or PtE (both of which I think are superior beers to Sucks).

    And yes, Sucks falls off pretty fast, whereas Heady is an endurance runner. If you want to recommend beers based on quality alone, of course PtE, Double Sunshine, HF beers, etc. are going to be a much better option (and no more available than Heady, realistically, if they're up at your shop already). But if they want an inkling of what Heady tastes like? Just a sample, a tease, a preview? Something they might realistically have a hope of finding? I'd go with Sucks.
     
    #25 Roguer, Mar 30, 2014
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  6. jageraholic

    jageraholic Pooh-Bah (1,632) Sep 16, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I agree with him on the Jai Alai. Really loved the flavor profile and i'm trying to find a way to get my hands on it again.
     
    #26 jageraholic, Mar 30, 2014
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  7. MattTastrophee

    MattTastrophee Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2014 Vermont

    Thanks for all the feedback. I definitely wrote this because I was surprised by how close
    Believe it or not I haven't tried Sucks. Looks like my last Heady Topper may have a tasting companion...
     
    #27 MattTastrophee, Mar 30, 2014
  8. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    And you'd be right. Not even the top 50. :slight_smile:
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/style/116/
     
    #28 RblWthACoz, Mar 30, 2014
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  9. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I absolutely love fresh Jai Alai. For a single IPA, I think it has one of the best hop profiles I've ever encountered, along with Nelson (and maybe fresh Sculpin). Granted, that's my palate and my preferences.
     
    #29 Roguer, Mar 30, 2014
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  10. jefffalcone

    jefffalcone Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 Massachusetts

    I definitely agree that bot is in the same league as heady. When I tasted my first bot, the first thought I had, was that it's just as good as heady. To my palate, however, the flavor profile is quite different. If I ever found a place serving both, it would be a tough choice. It would be even tougher to get me to go home.
     
    #30 jefffalcone, Mar 30, 2014
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  11. jefffalcone

    jefffalcone Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 Massachusetts

    I would classify sculpin as possibly the second most overrated thing I've ever tried, so this explains something. I've never tried nelson, but I'm guessing that might not agree with me either.
     
    #31 jefffalcone, Mar 30, 2014
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  12. beerjerk666

    beerjerk666 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,155) Aug 22, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    #32 beerjerk666, Mar 30, 2014
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  13. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I thought that about Sculpin, too, as it seems to fall off with age very quickly (I know not everyone agrees with me, but I've had that experience a few times now). However, fresh, I was honestly shocked at how juicy and hoppy it was; I loved it.

    Might just be a personal palate/preference thing (a Triple-P???).

    Yeah, but that's Jai Alai - PEACH. Sounds like an abomination to me. :wink:
     
    #33 Roguer, Mar 30, 2014
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  14. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've been suggesting people brewy their own. BYO posted the recipe, and you can get conan from the yeast bay.
     
    #34 SFACRKnight, Mar 30, 2014
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  15. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    But that's not the beer we're talkin' about here. :slight_smile:
     
    #35 RblWthACoz, Mar 30, 2014
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  16. beerjerk666

    beerjerk666 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,155) Aug 22, 2010 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It isn't? :grinning:
    I know, just joking around. In my mind it shouldn't be on that list, when I think of a list of top IPAs I don't think ones with adjuncts added should be on there. Some of those are one-n-done beers too.
    That's just me though.
     
    #36 beerjerk666, Mar 30, 2014
  17. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    HT is kinda unique, I drink a lot of IPA's and if there was a HT substitute I wouldn't be so quick to drive 1300 miles round trip to buy some 2x a year. But there are different IPA's that are killer good too, Abrasive although seasonal, Hop JuJu is terrific, everything Toppling Goliath makes is ridiculously good.
     
    #37 nc41, Mar 30, 2014
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  18. Greywulfken

    Greywulfken Grand Pooh-Bah (5,815) Aug 25, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Chiming in...

    I've had Heady literally 4 times (read: 4 cans), and as far as my palate memory can recall, it was a unique taste. I've had over 600 craft ales, but there was nothing that was really comparable.

    Note: this isn't a rave, just an evaluation. I do not belong to the "Heady is the best beer in the world" camp. Awesome, yes; best? No.
     
    #38 Greywulfken, Mar 30, 2014
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  19. Casey3236

    Casey3236 Pooh-Bah (1,641) Sep 14, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Not sure when this thread went from HT comparison to "this is nothing like HT but it's a great IPA/DIPA", but I gotta give some love to Ithaca Flower Power. If I was going to anoint anything as Heady-lite it would be this.
     
    #39 Casey3236, Mar 30, 2014
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  20. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    The Hop Ju Ju Ben sent me was outrageously good stuff, literally awash with hops without being insanely bitter. This one in unique as well.
     
    #40 nc41, Mar 30, 2014
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