Closest beer to Heady Topper

If I had to throw something out there, Id go Ruination and Double Trouble. Not as good HT, but it should do for the time being.

 

i actually thought heady topper taste like a bigger version of fresh sn celebration ale. must be similar hops or something. and its way easier to get. anwway the way seasonals are coming out, we'll be drinking celebration labor day

 

I couldn't disagree more on this suggestion. I was blown away by Heady, while Abrasive, to me at least, smelled and tasted like cat pee.

 

Maybe Kern Citra, maybe.

 

I've had more heady topper than most and Abrasive is the closest thing I've tasted to it.
I'll seek out more abrasive as it has been 9 months or so since I've had it. I know some people's palates are more sensitive to certain hops, so it could be something along those lines or maybe just batch variation.

 

There are many great IIPAs and IPAs out there. Unfortunately, many of them aren't canned or bottled. Such is life.

 

I agree with this. Still very different, but the closest I have had.

 

double sunshine

 

Funny, I came here to say the same. I've had everything mentioned in this thread except for the HF brews and I can easily say that La Cumbre is the closest in my book. They share that extreme grapefruit/mango hoppiness action.

 

Amen!

 

HF and Lawson's make amazing IPA's, they just don't have a similar flavor profile (other than citrus) to HT in my opinion.

 

Interesting you say Abner, I picked up a few 4-packs of Heady and a growler of Abner this weekend. I absolutely loved Abner, actually more than Heady, but I thought they were very different. Abner drinks much heavier, and its somewhat sweeter. Heady tastes cleaner, and is a slightly more dry.

I'm really a n00b though so take my input with a grain of salt.

 

Abner was definitely a little fruitier and less piney for me. I didn't really think either was heavier, but if I had to say I think Heady was a touch lighter. I drank a growler of Abner followed by a couple cans of Heady when I was in VT a couple months ago, so I did have them back to back. That's why our palates are different I guess. They're definitely not identical, but they're the closest things to each other that I've had. Nothing is even close from what I've had so far.

 

Hoptimum is probably the closest beer I've had and its not terribly close, hoptimum is a little too sweet on the balance scale.

Pliny probably could be if it wasn't too grapefruit/sour fruit-y, I would've LOVED Pliny if it has some sweet malt backbone that I find Heady to have.

I'd be broke and an alcoholic if I lived in Vermont, I could drink Heady all day and I think I would. I almost try not to trade for it so much for that reason.

 

I know Meadowlark IPA isn't a double, but it has some similarities.

 

All the hop-snobs just turned their nose up at you for recommending such a semi-widely-distributed IPA, but I got your back. HH717 FTW!

 

weird time that we're in that sculpin is the "semi-widely-distributed IPA". not that the distribution area isn't wide, but finding sculpin--much less fresh sculpin--has rarely been a given in most places.

p.s. i'm as big a hop snob as they come without being totally absurd, and i'll recommend hoptimum day in and day out.

 

I guess I can only speak to my experience, but I can usually get Sculpin that tastes pretty fresh to me now that Ballast Point is in MD, and didn't have a problem getting it before that, from a friend in NJ.

 

Going to want to wait awhile to seek out any abrasive its only a December to March seasonal from Surly so anything you'd get now wouldn't be fair to stack up against Heady.

 

How about Dale's Deviant. It has a great hop profile, though is a bit maltier, and comes in a similar tallboy

This may be my vote because it has been a recent favorite of mine. Going to try the Gubna tonight.