The Alchemist (July 2016)

The majority if not all of the heady is brewed at the old facility...

 

Thanks guys, did not know that. Still something seems to be off, unless my palate really has changed that much in a year.

 

All heady is brewed at the old facility in Waterbury and the stuff I tasted last week seemed normal to me. Focal Banger was my favorite out of the three but I wasn't exactly a fan of the Crusher though...

 

Completely agree -- especially the aroma -- but for me it happened a long time ago. If you search the NE threads you'll find a few in late 14/early 15 dealing w/this topic. I don't totally discount the evolving (or blown out in my case) palate theory -- but I just don't get that absurd hop aroma I used get when first popping a can. Can't blame my palate for that. Still a good beer and I'm looking forward to trying the others.

 

Other breweries that have followed suit(as Heady kinda set the bar and kicked this juicy hop thing off in NE) have also developed new IPA's and are going for a MUCH more explosive juicy and aromatic flavor as well as hazy appearance. You have to remember that heady was never the overly citrus orange juice bomb you get in, for example, Headroom, Julius, Haze, KJ etc. There are far more aggressive and intense IPA's out there now and with the difficulty in getting heady my guess is you have stuck to other things and when you re visit heady your bar and expectations are higher. Heady is a much more refined and balanced blend of hops, malt, sweet and juice. It's way more to the pineapple and grapefruit flavors we all love, but have been overshadowed by the ever more popular orange juice beers. Do yourself a favor. Skip on IPA's for a a week or two and then crack a heady. Whole other experience. I would compare it to revisiting Lunch when you haven't had it in a while.

 

Is there anything other than being a d!ck stopping people from getting their allocation, then coming back later in the day?

 

I have not noticed any difference since the new place opened either. Tastes as great as always. I kept a few cans from before opening just to check (even though all still brewed in WTRBury). Compared and same.

I do think that the Focal from new facility has been amazing too. May just be the happiness gained by cracking it fresh at my home!

 

Yes, I posted in another thread and found that many others agree that it started to fall off a while ago. I haven't had Heady in over a year, I take it since before the "change" occurred.

 

Quick question. I'm assuming no
But does focal or crusher see any distro? Or is is still just heady

 

Nope, and Focal deliveries to restaurants/bars has stopped

 

The "in stock" and "sold out" buttons are tough on us colorblind people .. I need my wife to translate!

 

Can anyone advise what the lines are like now on a typical weekday and on Saturday? I went up July 1, but turned around when the line was over 2 hours. I'm not eager to repeat that.

 

I can only speak for this past Friday (even with the Vermont Brewer's Festival crowds):

Showed up at 11:10, out by 12:15 with a full mixed case of Heady, Focal and Crusher. Crusher sold out about 40 people behind me. They will make an announcement to the line at the last person in the line that could potentially buy Crusher.

 

Is it less on weekdays? I may be able to sneak up there on a Tuesday in a couple weeks.

 

I've been twice for cans. Once on a Wednesday took 1 hr 10 mins. Arrived at 11:00. Other time on a Saturday, arrived at 10:10, out by 11:00.

I think if you get in the beginning of the line before they open, that is your best bet.

 

Has anyone noticed a decline in the lines at the retail locations? The Thursday Hunger Mountain Co-Op drop was always my go-to. I'm wondering if I can start showing up a little later in the day or I still need to be there for opening. I'll be en route to the new brewery regardless, but saving myself a few hours of sleep wouldn't hurt.

 

Most stores have changed their heady schedule. Hunger mountian does not sell cases anymore. Their delivery was reduced to 60 cases, now they release a small amount a few days a week, limits are 1 4 pack per person. That info was posted in this thread a few days ago, if you read back it will tell you specifics, or check out hunger mountains twitter/facebook.

 

If i get there tomorrow at 1230 will I still get crusher and focal?

 

The brewery has been opened such a short period of time and you never know what will happen on a given day, so nobody is going to be able to give you a definitive yes/no. I would say that's cutting it close. Watch the Alchemist website today to see when they post they are out of Crusher. That will give you as good an idea as any. Focal should be had at that time; it's the Crusher that's up in the air.

 

Their website says sold out of everything, that's not true right?