Heady Topper gone bad?

palate?

 

Looking to maybe resurrect this forum. Anyone have issues with HT recently? Some friends went up to VT and scored some last Thursday/Friday and they're saying it tasted oxidized and "peanut-buttery". It was fresh off the truck.

I've got a different friend grabbing a case this week and bringing it back soon, so I'm afraid of running into this. Either way, I'll report back, but I was just wondering if there are any other reports of a bad batch out there.

 

Just had a can the other night that was 2 months old or so, not quite a sharp as a fresh can but still very good, no grassy tastes.

 

I haven't had any 'bad' cans, but I have been noticing more variation over the last few months. There was a batch in March that I thought was fantastic. One of the best I have had. I had a more recent batch from the end of April that I didn't like nearly as much.

 

Got a few cans a couple weeks ago, tasted just fine.

Pro tip: don't drink like 6 huge DIPA hop bombs in one sitting and expect to get a completely accurate representation of each beer.

 

Don't think that was the case here. These guys both said 3-4 cans were off and it sounded like they had them across a couple nights. They both know their shit and have had HT multiple times. Hopefully it was an isolated thing.

 

I'm still drinking through cans I purchased the 1st week of April and it still tastes good. Kind of amazing. This is the 2nd time I have a case that lasts me longer than I intended (2-3 months) and I'm yet again amazed how good it still tastes. It changes a bit obviously, but it's amazing how it morphs and tastes almost fruity to me with a little time on it.

 

I think now the pre-requisite response to all this bantering is my most annoying line I see on BA. "I'll gladly take yours for testing".
Seriously, people anywhere outside of the NE area would bend over any which way to try this, and here we are talking about grassiness and minute changes in taste. Enjoy the riches we have..or, as I said, send it to me

 

Drank plenty last week, tasted great.

 

I agree it has changed -- not for the better. Aroma not as crazy as it was and agree w folks characterization of a slight oxidized flavor . Still very crushable - but something has changed. Not as bad as the recent swings of quality at HF w/Edward and Susan - but noticable over the past 6 months and ~6 or so cases. Of course - it could also be related to my Trillium fried palate -- there is no juicier APAs/IPAs/DIPA's than the line up at Fort Point -- drinking that stuff every night has moved my likes to tropical/citrus extreme.

 

^yup

friends and I got some last weekend. I too thought I'd noticed a change but I chocked it up to my drinking Tree House for the past year. Previous Heady cans made my head spin when I opened them. That aroma was simply amazing! Somehow, now it's just not as stunning. I didnt necessarily pick up oxidation, just less "over the topper-ness" It still tasted great, but somehow it's just not as mindblowing as it was 4 years ago when I first had it

 

Fuckin Julius. It's all his fault

 

Heady was the first IIPA that made my head spin when I drank it. But, that was also many years ago, before the market had been flooded with so many new and amazing breweries. I do not think that HT has changed at all, but I now enjoy drinking Trillium and Tree House more... and find their flavors to be more mind blowing. IMO, its the same beer it has always been, but I have moved on to beers I find even better.

 

Shhhhhhhhhhhh! I like standing in lines, don't ruin that man.

 

Heady has most certainly changed. Been drinking it for 4 yrs now and up until 6mos or so, every can pop and sniff, and every sip, I said "God damn!...". No more

Had a can side by side w focal banger on Monday. Focal's got it. Heady ain't...

I buy it by the case every month or so. Keeping the faith, but wtf?

I want my heady back!

Bully

 

While I'm sure there are variations in the batches, this is probably the most likely scenario. The first time I had Heady Topper I had not tried Trillium, Treehouse, Dinner, etc. At the time Heady was the juiciest IPA I'd ever had and it blew my mind. Now, I see the flavor as much more of a combo of juicy hops/spicy maltiness versus a a straight-up citrus explosion like, say, Double Dry Hopped Melcher Street. The next time I had Heady after trying those type of beers I felt disappointed. But now that I know what to expect from Heady's flavor profile I think it's still amazing. It's apples and oranges. I actually don't get the Focal Banger hype, seems like Alchemist's attempt at those juice bombs but it doesn't compare to the aforementioned breweries. I would take Heady over it any day.

 

Oh good! So I should soon be able to pick some up at Price Chopper!

 

Sounds like me and Double Sunshine.

 

I had a can yesterday that was purchased last Fri in VT and it was just as good as I remember it being about 2 years ago, when I first tried it.

 

Had to find this post...as I was a bit stunned by something.

Last weekend I opened up a can of Heady that I got 2 years agao...yes two. Kept it cold since purchase but for shits and giggles we held on to some. It tasted fantastic...clear as piss but tasted lovely. Still had the grapefruit tropical flavors and everything hops I love about Heady Topper.

Now about 3 weeks prior my co worked invited me in to put together his new porch table. He graciously offered me a can of silver goodness. We both cracked them, sniffed, and sipped. These were a very recent purchase and fresh and kept cold. TO ME...and I am no expert, I thought my can tasted WAY off, not disgusting off putting but far enough off I thought it was strange and just not what I had expected. I hadn't had a heady in quite some time so I would have savored that first taste. But it was off putting to me and I kept my mouth shut. A few minutes later my co worked looked at me and asked hey does this not taste right to you? I was shocked and said shit man I feel the same exact way. Which would discount my view of it being influenced by his taste. We then swapped cans. Same exact taste and flavor. As if almost lacking the tropical fruit and juicyness you expect from Heady and that amazing hop aroma. Not malty per-se but a bit astringent and bitter. Like it had sat for weeks and weeks....and weeks. Which it had not and was bought by a reputable source from a store that sells out weekly. Which....considering my 2 year old can tasted light years better says something.

The good news. I believe have 2 if not 3 more 2 year old cans to compare. So I get to do this all over again with another fresh heady next time we have one available, which should be soon.

I don't want to fuel the fire here but I was shocked that something I've held onto for so long could still taste so good and that something I had that was fresh just did not taste as good. Both times I was not Palate wrecked at all.

I'm more confused then shocked. If posting a pic on here wasn't so difficult I'd post my pic of the clear Heady.