Alchemist beers: drink from the can?

Everything tastes better in Maui.

 

Can't argue with you there.

 

Ugh, this thread is depressing. It made me realize I screwed up when drinking Bissell Brothers, Treehouse, and Nightshift by pouring the contents of the cans into a glass. At least I haven't tried Trillium cans yet, there's still a chance for me to drink those properly.

But seriously @bubseymour is correct, there's a litany of "New England-style" turbid IPAs now, and the Alchemist's beers are the only one's with this unique instruction. Personally, I've had Heady a number of times. I think I've had it directly from the can entirely, I've also poured into a glass, I think I've done half and half...I can't remember, I've tried it a number of ways. All I know is, it's delicious.

With all hoppy, turbid beers though I take a sip first directly from the can, and then pour it into a glass. One thing I have noticed (not with Heady, but I also didn't try this) is that if you swirl and pour the last bit from many of these beers, there's a spicy chili note (as in pepper spicy, not Noble hop spicy) that's off-putting. Maybe this wouldn't be the case with an older IPA, many of these were consumed quite fresh (less than two weeks).

Unfortunately, there's no way to truly test which way you prefer blindly. Because the second you pick up the drinking vessel, you'll clearly know which is the can and which is the glass. I suppose you could have a (good) friend pour it into your mouth?

 

Pour it into a shaker pint glass. Piss everyone off.

 

Heady Topper is suppose to be the everyday mans beer! Along with the rest of the alchemist's beers. Drink it from the can while doing everyday man things... Flipping burgers, mowing law, cutting wood, Ect.. Just don't be a DB and remember to put that can in the recyclable bin!

 

I tend to drink a lot of beers now a days straight out of cans. I can't really do bottles though.

For HT, I simply drank one out of the can, the other poured, and the last two of a four pack were half and half.I took 4 sips out of the can and poured the rest. All enjoyable. The sediment or what have you did seem to concentrate and change the flavor slightly on the last sip out of a straight can drink. One could, in theory, swish the bottom of the can before even taking one sip. I know many hefeweizens have instructions about swirling the last 1/3 of a can pour in the can before pouring.

I'm really not seeing a huge flavor loss when drinking many beers out of cans these days. Am I becoming less stubborn? My motto has sort of changed. Less thinking, More drinking. Less of a dissection and evaluation and more of a pure authentic drinking session.

When I had some of these higher rated beers for the first time, first impressions are huge. Get a nice sniff, and go for it. I'm sad when I go to breweries and see more gawking than pure enthusiasm for the product they are consuming. But I guess thats for another thread.

 

99% out of the can on therse big canned Dipas.

 

Serious question: Can someone explain to me why the folks at The Alchemist would encourage one to drink their beers straight from the can?

 

Just do it how you want. Try both ways to see for yourself. Your own opinion on a matter such as that is very subject and no two people will perceive it 100% the same. Keep in mind you are asking a community of people who some smoke, vary in age by decades and overall may not judge something as you would, or let hype influence them which all of those things can have an influence on their experiences with a said beer. Its best to see for yourself

Just do you.

 

THe Big Island is the best island.

 

Straight from the can.Would someone like to send me some?

 

I agree.

 

Ditto. I've never tried it or seen it near me.

 

"If the Alchemist can told you to jump off a bridge would you do it?" - my mom, probably

 

I've never had it. However, if I ever get a chance at it, I guaran-damn-tee you that I will drink it out of a glass. And not one of those can glasses, either. A proper glass, maybe even a TeKu. And I will take a picture of it and post it on WBAYDN, no matter how pulpy and unappetizing it looks to the unwashed masses. And I will drink every last drop of it, including the resinous residue at the bottom of the can.

And I will enjoy it immensely.

 

Great question, considering for more than half of its life Heady was not canned, bottled, or even filled into growlers. It was by the glass only. I think in 2011 JK was concerned the ugliness of the beer might be off putting to folks who pour it at home from a can, so he made up some BS about how drinking it from the can is the best way. I have done it both ways and the difference in being able to get full inhales of that heavenly aroma when you drink from a glass makes it seem silly to do it any other way.

 

I've done both and will continue to do so. When I use a glass, it's usually my Heady Topper stemless wine glass. Of course, the "drink from the can" on the label makes me wonder why they sell Heady Topper glasses...

 

I've done both, but I still prefer pouring it in a glass, a constricted glass though like a tulip. I like looking at it too, so the glass gives me that pleasure along with the taste.

 

First time tried half out of the can, last half in a glass. Preferred the glass. Always pour in a glass now.

 

If I ever have a chance to drink any of their beers I will let you know.

Enjoy