Heady Topper

King Sue was fire when I had it a few months ago.

 

I especially agree with regards to the beer in your avatar... The last Second Fiddle cans I got were oxidized to the point of near spoilage and the last draft pour a few weeks ago was actually horrible. I feel bad for people eagerly anticipating it and then tasting anything like what I've been having lately.

 

That's a shame; I've heard a lot of rumblings about Second Fiddle getting into MA on the regular soon, and I was (and mostly remain) as excited about that as I was about Sip. I haven't had Second Fiddle in probably a year and a half, but I remember it fondly.

 

Had both KS and DDHPS in multiples over the past 8 weeks. Incredible beers that somehow manage to be both tropically juicy and assertively bitter.

 

Being into the scene for a long time, back when you could pull up to the cannery and put as many cases as you could afford in your trunk with no line to speak of, there is still no beer that tastes or smells like a Heady Topper. As far as what's better, or overrated, all comes down to a matter of opinion. Heady Topper is the sole reason craft beer has exploded the way it has. No beer has had the impact that Heady has on an industry since Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

Had a 2nd Fiddle on draft at Highland Kitchen in Somerville last Thursday night. The beer was tasty but for me it isn't on the podium w/the other NE Ale icons.

 

I was at Fiddlehead this weekend and didn't love Second Fiddle as much as I remembered.

However the IPA was fabulous and totally crushable. Wish they had it in cans when I was there

 

That's a shame. I believe they ramped up production and distribute it now (I've seen it at gas stations around town). Perhaps they need to dial it back in. 'Stable' and 'Overstable' have both been great. FWIW the best IPA in VT right NOW is either Upper Pass 'Cloud Drop' or River Roost 'Glipse'. Better than Heady. Better than SIP.

 

Heady and Pliney overrated? Interesting opinion. I think they are perfectly designed beers for what they are and cannot call another beer better.

As for as my personal opinion. I prefer heady to all other DIPA's. The complexity still separates from most other hop bomb dipas that taste too one dimensional...

 

This. heady comes at you with waves of flavors. I love the fruity new age IPAs , but this is better

 

I think they can both be perfect for what they are aiming for and still contend there are literally dozens of DIPAs I'd prefer at this point over both.

 

Ahh, the best VT IPA is certainly a debatable topic. I'm actually having a Cloud Drop right now. Upper Pass is doing a great job with the cans. With regards to Fiddlehead, I'm loving the new Rarified Air and just had an excellent Tejas Marron today. Second Fiddle has never been my favorite but it did use to be amazing on draft. I have never cared for Sip but will always love some Heady. I tend to forget how hyped it is because it's just a regular thing that I find and drink pretty much whenever.

I think that 'best' can be broken up into different categories depending on retail availability and price point. Some of my favorites are growler or crowler only (River Roost, Foam, HF, Pro Pig's brewery) and on the other end of the scale, I've been loving the recent Daily Dose cans from Otter Creek. For the price, they're really impressive. It's those 4 pack DIPAs that are often so disappointing that I'll take a Heady pack any day since I know exactly what I'm getting.

Edit: I forgot about the 14th Star B72 cans. Those are really great juicy haze bombs. It's awesome on draft as well.

 

never heard of it

 

They do not can the regular IPA at least not yet...

 

It's one of those things I ask about every time I go in and they say that there is no intention to put the regular IPA in cans anytime soon, as their output goes directly into kegs for distro. They want to keep it as a viable accessible draft option instead.

 

But not focal banger and crusher. Those in VT tend to get a distorted view of beer, imho.

 

I could say the same thing about those in Mass

 

I am from CT and not obliged to vote for Mass or VT beers and think Alchemist beers (as well as Hill Farmstead) are superior to those in Mass.

 

Heady, Focal & Sip are still the kings to me. was that way 4-5 years ago when I first had them, and numerous trips to Monson, Fort Point, Greensboro, Portland, Freeport, etc - while thoroughly enjoyable - have not dethroned them.

They're definitely less unique, and the gap is far narrower than ever, but those beers are still kicking everyone's ass.

 

Just to bring this sucker full circle, Heady Topper is amazing beer. Been drinking it for years and love the fact I can walk down the road, sit down at the bar and have a can whenever I want for $5. Love the fact that I can still bring a few four packs to an out of state get-together and light up the room. However, I wouldn't overpay for it, just like I wouldn't overpay for MA HazeBombs, Limited BA Stouts, or Wild Ales. I wouldn't stand in line for it, or try to trade it like it was Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card.

Beer is beer. Bad beer is bad beer. Good beer is good beer. When more value is assigned than that, the hype machine starts rolling. To me it sounds like OP isn't over-hyping it because he's not jumping through any ridiculous hoops to get his hands on it. Enjoy man, mazel tov!