Next Best Thing To Heady Topper or Pliny?

Discussion in 'New England' started by TechMarcom, Sep 30, 2013.

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  1. TechMarcom

    TechMarcom Initiate (0) Apr 8, 2011 Massachusetts

    For those of us in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that can’t get Pliny at all and can only get Heady Toper via driving to Vermont, are there any other Imperial IPAs that belong in the same category as these two hop stars? Any that can be more easily found around here - especially in the Lowell/Nashua/Manchester areas?
     
    #1 TechMarcom, Sep 30, 2013
  2. VelvetExtract

    VelvetExtract Pooh-Bah (2,900) Jan 10, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Gandhi Bot! Gotta go to CT for it though.
     
    #2 VelvetExtract, Sep 30, 2013
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  3. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,652) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't know how the hops in Gandhi Bot compare to the hops in Heady, but I have always loved Gandhi Bot and if for some reason Heady was erased from the earth it'd be my favorite DIPA.
     
    #3 Providence, Sep 30, 2013
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  4. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    To the OP: The simple answer is Yes, there are IPAs/DIPAs that belong in the same category. Problem is, to get them, you need to drive farther north in VT than Waterbury. Bottom Line: If I want Heady Topper or a Hill Farmstead beer, I drive up to Vermont and make a weekend out of it. So...if you want Heady Topper or Hill Farmstead, drive up to Vermont. It's closer to you than to me and you could probably do it in a daytrip.
     
    #4 otispdriftwood, Sep 30, 2013
  5. patm1986

    patm1986 Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2010 New Jersey

    If you're just interested in an overall answer, look North to VT again. IMO, Abner bests all. In fact, look to the North for all.
     
    #5 patm1986, Sep 30, 2013
  6. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    DRIPA by Kuhnhenn. I haven't had Heady Topper or Pliny, but I figure they'd be nothing like Hopslam... still, Hopslam. Always Hopslam.
     
    #6 SerialTicker, Sep 30, 2013
  7. SammyJaxxxx

    SammyJaxxxx Initiate (0) Feb 23, 2012 New Jersey

    Lunch
    Captain Lawrence Imperial IPA
     
    #7 SammyJaxxxx, Sep 30, 2013
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  8. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,616) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's not a DIPA and you probably can't get it in Mass., but I just had some Fat Heads Head Hunter and it was freaking fantastic! It's a pretty high ABV, so it's close to a DIPA, just not classified as one. Great, great beer.
     
    #8 Kadonny, Sep 30, 2013
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  9. Andrew041180

    Andrew041180 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    #9 Andrew041180, Sep 30, 2013
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  10. TechMarcom

    TechMarcom Initiate (0) Apr 8, 2011 Massachusetts

    Thanks -- really hoping for one I can just get locally rather than an hour or more drive. Something avaiable in Acton MA, Chelmsford MA , Nashua NH, or even Manchester NH (work) would be preferable.
     
    #10 TechMarcom, Sep 30, 2013
  11. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Enjoy By is plenty good and you can find it almost everywhere :slight_smile: Sammyjaxxx beat me to the captain lawrence DIPA. That one is plenty good also.
     
    #11 utopiajane, Sep 30, 2013
  12. jmogator

    jmogator Aspirant (258) Jun 20, 2011 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Have you tried Mass Rising by Jack's Abby? Technically a DIPL, but pretty damn tasty! It's my go-to ipa other than heady now.
     
    #12 jmogator, Sep 30, 2013
  13. Horbar

    Horbar Pooh-Bah (1,593) Feb 24, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah

    Tree House Julius holds it's own with any IPA/DIPA.
     
    #13 Horbar, Sep 30, 2013
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  14. dennho

    dennho Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2006 New York

    Be Hoppy.
     
    #14 dennho, Sep 30, 2013
    FrankLloydMike, Horbar, VelvetExtract and 1 other person like this.
  15. fistfight

    fistfight Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2006 Massachusetts

    Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising is coming in the near future and Mass Rising is already here. I bought a few bottles of Mass Rising in Chelmsford. And the new Enjoy By is coming out soon I think.
     
    #15 fistfight, Sep 30, 2013
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  16. LOCAL

    LOCAL Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2006 New Hampshire

    The cans of Wachusetts Larry are a pretty good offering for the area.
     
    #16 LOCAL, Sep 30, 2013
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  17. PEIhop

    PEIhop Maven (1,300) Dec 2, 2010 Massachusetts

    Trillium is making some great hoppy ales - fort point and tiny chicken were pretty killer
     
    #17 PEIhop, Sep 30, 2013
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  18. meadnbrew

    meadnbrew Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Rhode Island

    Fisherman's Dead Eye DIPA by Cape Ann is so underrated. Bottle this ASAP!
     
    #18 meadnbrew, Oct 1, 2013
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  19. Jwale73

    Jwale73 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Aug 15, 2007 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Was just thinking the same thing. Had it on-draft at Peppercorn's last weekend and was pretty impressed. They were selling cans - hoping that will become a permanent thing.
     
    #19 Jwale73, Oct 1, 2013
  20. ElGallo

    ElGallo Pooh-Bah (2,407) Sep 26, 2009 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah

    Lunch, Sculpin, Be Hoppy, and soon enough Lagunitas Sucks. Plenty of good IPA/DIPA options in central New England year round. :grinning:
     
    #20 ElGallo, Oct 1, 2013
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