Horrible heady topper experience

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by jncastillo87, Jun 6, 2016.

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  1. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    My neighbor is from Vermont and his parent go back every year for visits. Last year we had them bring us fresh heady back and it was awesome as a lot of people know. Same deal this year .. they went about a month ago and came back with a case of Heady. The beer ( like last year ) was kept cold from the time purchased to our doors. The beer is terrible .... when you open the can there is absolute ZERO nose and the flavor is just bitter water. I have no idea how this beer could have made it out of the brewery but something was missed. To me ( since I brew a lot ) the beer received its bittering additions but never got the late kettle hops or the dry hops. I have been trying to reach Kimmich thru twitter as I want to send him a can. I have 6 more still and someone at the Alchemist needs to try it. In case anyone is wondering we tried one from each of the 6 4 packs to make sure it wasnt just one bad 4 pack. They were all poured down the drain.
     
  2. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you sure you are not getting a sinus issue? Same thing happened to me one night at Russian River drinking Pliny the Elder. I thought the beer had changed, my wife said no it has plenty of aroma. The next morning when I blew my nose it was technicolor. You sense of smell can be blocked, just leaving the 5 basic tastes, and bitter is one of those.
     
  3. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    No sir.. 3 of us smelled and tasted. To compare I also had a citra pale ale on tap which blew to topper aroma away.
     
  4. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    I just want someone at the brewery to try one of these cans .. no way it could have passed quality control. I dont dump many beers down the drain besides my own botched homebrew at times.
     
  5. ShanePB

    ShanePB Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    He doesn't seem to be very active on Twitter, perhaps try a Facebook message or [email protected]
     
    JrGtr likes this.
  6. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Write the brewery. They should have tasting panel records on the beer. Edit - save some to send to them.
     
  7. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    Will do .. I have 6 left and neighbor has 11
     
  8. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    Just did .. thanks.
     
  9. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    I will post any updates
     
    Hop-Droppen-Roll likes this.
  10. ScaryEd

    ScaryEd Grand Pooh-Bah (3,793) Feb 19, 2012 New Hampshire
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sorry to hear that. The Alchemist is definitely held to a pretty high standard, so hopefully you get this settled quickly.
     
  11. elucas730

    elucas730 Initiate (0) Feb 5, 2010 New York

    How sure are you that it was kept cold the whole time?
     
  12. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    Do you know where this case was purchased? Is it possible that it's old?
     
    emount91 likes this.
  13. malfunxion

    malfunxion Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2012 New York

    which stores are notorious for selling old cans , I've definitely gotten some off cans before , but everyone just attributed it to my palate changing and not being as blown away anymore, but if there are indeed stores that always sell old product it would be nice to put their info out for the public as to avoid. thanks.
     
  14. TriggerFingers

    TriggerFingers Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 California

    Interesting. The only time I have ever encountered what you describe in an IPA is when they are old. How old? My guess would be 8 months and on depending on storage conditions. Is there a date on the can?
     
    #14 TriggerFingers, Jun 6, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2016
  15. emount91

    emount91 Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2015 Connecticut

    maybe the stores mishandled the beer? doubt they did (every store knows the deal with HT and FB), and doubt that a little mishandling would cause this big of an issue, but it is a possibilty.
     
  16. emount91

    emount91 Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2015 Connecticut

    and the problem is that HT has to be REALLLLLLY old to have this happen.

    OP @jncastillo87: I'm referencing the video of Kimmich popping and drinking an 8 month old Heady and it still being big and aromatic. i really doubt the store you purchased from was holding onto cans for longer than 8 months. were there dust on the tops of the cans?

    @TriggerFingers: no dates on their cans either, at least not on the 2 I got from a friend a few months ago.
     
  17. TriggerFingers

    TriggerFingers Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 California

    I once had a bottle of Port Wipeout that was a year old. It didn't even taste like an IPA. I wonder if they got it from a store or at the brewery?
     
  18. Invinciblejets

    Invinciblejets Pooh-Bah (1,710) Sep 29, 2014 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Weird I had a heady last night and it was fucking awesome.
     
  19. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    These issues should really be between the consumer and retailer/brewer.
     
    BeerTwigs, DougC123, nachos and 4 others like this.
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