THE Iconic IPA in the Northeast

I don’t know how anyone could argue anything other than heady topper

 

The first(?) and still strong Harpoon IPA?

 

Dogfish Head 90 Minute

 

Heady Topper gets my nod.

 

Heady Topper.

 

I can take down way more Lunch than Heady, but my vote goes for Heady. It was basically the catalyst for one of the most beloved beer categories in the past decade.

 

Can’t argue with Heady Topper.

I think Julius deserves a mention, as well as Susan.

 

Victory HopDevil

 

Focal

 

Because when I think "Iconic", I think of beers that have been around for longer and more widely distributed. I guess age will play a factor in people's answers.

Besides DFH, I would also say beers like Ithaca Flower Power and Victory Hop Devil

 

Of course, anything Alchemist is iconic but it is not widely available. MBC beers are, but for whatever reason, they are priced at 2x anything else, so I don't drink them and I've never seen anyone buying them at a regular store. Besides the ones mentioned, I'd go for Smuttynose Finestkind. Wish they kept the label design.

 

Heady.

 

Heady was essentially first NEIPA and is more or less only available in VT and people who are mildly interested in beer on the complete opposite side of the country are aware of it. I don't see how it could be anything else. Wouldn't shock me if it's Julius a decade from now, though.

 

Harpoon for IPA

Heady for DIPA

How is this even a debate?

 

While not widely distributed, it’s well known all across the country. And it was well known before social media starting running rampant. It was one of, if not the, longest standing number one beer on Beeradvocate.

It’s also one of the original beers people chased after, is arguably the biggest reason craft beer started turning towards the 4 pack 16 oz format, and is also arguably the reason New England IPAs exist…which is easily the most popular most duplicated style in craft beer.

Also, to those not saying it’s been around awhile, it was first brewed in 2004. Admittedly it didn’t gain steam until it was canned after the flood, but it was a thing at the brew pub well before it started to become popular.


Harpoon IPA is an interesting choice too, but it’s Heady.

 

Here's me writing an actual response though.

The culture around Heady created the culture around Tree House, Trillium, Other Half, Tired Hands, Maine Beer Co (for Dinner), Bissell, Monkish, etc etc etc. Heady is iconic because it's a really really really good fucking beer and it also was hugely influential to hop culture. At one point, every local brewery was chasing Heady. They were trying to brew a beer like Heady. Desperate for a local source of hops, we all supported these breweries, often waiting in lines like we would for Heady. At least we didn't have to go all the way to Vermont, right? Heady made the 16 oz cool. Heady is that beer.

 

I remember referring to Finest Kind as hop juice once upon a time…that makes me laugh now considering where we’re at. I did love that label.

 

There’s a segment of BA’s and also the current craft beer drinker that don’t know the Alchemist was a pub back in the 2000’s serving heady and also that Todd Mott brewed for many years before Tributary and also created harpoon IPA. So I can see why some may feel these aren’t the best choice.

No heady no other breweries to follow.

No Todd Mott, no Harpoon IPA.

Others that do come to mind.

Finest Kind
Wachusett IPA
Berkshire Lost Sailor IPA
Dogfish head 60…though it was gimmicky to me and not just a straight forward ipa

However, Harpoon ipa was literally in almost all bars and for some time the only ipa you could find on tap at bars around Boston during the early to mid 2000’s. It literally earned its iconic status.

 

It seems crazy to think about but it hasn’t been very long since the ONLY “craft” beer on tap at places like family restaurants, golf courses, and even some bars was either White or Harpoon IPA.

For that reason, I lean Harpoon IPA.