Answers.Body: <p>I live in Vermont and I've had quite a few cans of Heady Topper and some from cask. I really love Heady Topper and I haven't yet had another DIPA that tastes similar. First, it's not that expensive. It's $3.75 for a 16 oz can. $14 for a 4-pack. You can get it at local bars, pubs, and restaurants for $5/can. Around $78 for a case (24 x 16oz cans). Compared to other DIPA of similar quality, it's not that expensive (sure if you compared it to macro lagers...)</p>
  
  <p>It's produced by a small family owned brewery that's went through 2 expansions which doubled their brewery in size each time over the last 2 years (cannery has only existed for 2 years, before that they brewed it at a brewpub until the brewpub was destroyed by Hurricane Irene). They are currently getting their paperwork finalized for construction of a second brewery which will expand their production even more than before.</p>
  
  <p>For locals, it's not that difficult to acquire. If you visit Vermont and plan ahead, then you're sure to leave with a case or two.</p>
  
  <p>I think it's worth trading for, but just remember that there's no beer that's life changing. Just a lot of really good tasting beer.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-18T13:38:41.773Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-07-18T13:38:41.773Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jim W
Answers.Body: <p>I was recently in Burlington and picked up a couple of cases.</p>
  
  <p>Yes, it's a good beer.
  No, it's not as good as the hype suggests.</p>
  
  <p>One of the previous posts hit the nail on the head.  Heady Topper has a good balance between the strength and the hoppiness.  It has what I call smooth strength.</p>
  
  <p>But is it worth driving up from Pennsylvania and following the delivery truck around - probably not</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-10-25T18:23:18.643Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-10-25T18:23:18.643Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AIM
Answers.Body: <p>I've had it and I would say it's not really worth going out of your way for it. It's been overhyped, in my opinion, and while it's a good beer I don't think it's really as mind-breakingly good as many others seem to think.</p>
  
  <p>I believe this discrepancy arises from the fact that Heady Topper is a relatively well balanced IPA. It has the hops bitterness to it that IPAs do, and the high alcohol content of a double, however it also has more of a malty body to it that most people are unused to when drinking IPAs. So lots of people are shocked when drinking it that it actually has some balance between the body and the aftertaste, so that's part of what leads to the high reviews (in my opinion).</p>
  
  <p>So if the opportunity comes up to try it, sure, go for it. But I wouldn't really go out of my way to chase after it - there are other well balanced IPAs out there that are more readily available.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-18T13:30:49.300Z
Answers.Text: I figured as much. I'll take your advice and just not bother with it unless the opportunity presents itself. It's probably a good idea anyway since it is pretty out of the way for me and it's not like Heady Topper is on the cheap side.
Answers.UserDisplayName: ABarb
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-07-17T21:13:15.003Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-07-17T21:13:15.003Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Duncan
Body: <p>I have heard a lot about Heady Topper, the Double IPA by The Alchemist brewery, and how it is a fantastic beer. Online reviews always rank it exceptionally high and everyone I have asked that has tried it has said it was good. However, I have also been told that it is fairly pricey; due to name, renown, and the exclusivity of it. Would it be worth trying to get or order some?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-07-17T05:57:14.613Z
Comments.Text: Where are you located? If it's hard to obtain where you are, Reddit's [beer trade](http://www.reddit.com/r/beertrade/search?q=alchemist+heady+topper&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) regularly has an FT (For Trade) posting for Heady Topper. If there's a unique beer you can provide from your own region, maybe you can close a deal on it.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Andrew Cheong
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-07-17T13:15:30.873Z
Comments.Text: I am from Virginia, so there is a fair amount of breweries that are relatively close to me. Off the top of my head, I am not sure if there would be anything unique enough.
  Thank you, though. I will try and see if there is anything I can manage from that site.
Comments.UserDisplayName: ABarb
Tags: <breweries><ipa>
Title: Is Heady Topper by The Alchemist worth it?
UserDisplayName: ABarb
ThreadText: # Is Heady Topper by The Alchemist worth it?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-16)
  
  I have heard a lot about Heady Topper, the Double IPA by The Alchemist brewery, and how it is a fantastic beer. Online reviews always rank it exceptionally high and everyone I have asked that has tried it has said it was good. However, I have also been told that it is fairly pricey; due to name, renown, and the exclusivity of it. Would it be worth trying to get or order some?
  
  **Tags:** breweries, ipa
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Where are you located? If it's hard to obtain where you are, Reddit's [beer trade](http://www.reddit.com/r/beertrade/search?q=alchemist+heady+topper&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) regularly has an FT (For Trade) posting for Heady Topper. If there's a unique beer you can provide from your own region, maybe you can close a deal on it.  
  > **username_0**: I am from Virginia, so there is a fair amount of breweries that are relatively close to me. Off the top of my head, I am not sure if there would be anything unique enough. Thank you, though. I will try and see if there is anything I can manage from that site.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-07-17. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  I've had it and I would say it's not really worth going out of your way for it. It's been overhyped, in my opinion, and while it's a good beer I don't think it's really as mind-breakingly good as many others seem to think.
  
  I believe this discrepancy arises from the fact that Heady Topper is a relatively well balanced IPA. It has the hops bitterness to it that IPAs do, and the high alcohol content of a double, however it also has more of a malty body to it that most people are unused to when drinking IPAs. So lots of people are shocked when drinking it that it actually has some balance between the body and the aftertaste, so that's part of what leads to the high reviews (in my opinion).
  
  So if the opportunity comes up to try it, sure, go for it. But I wouldn't really go out of my way to chase after it - there are other well balanced IPAs out there that are more readily available.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I figured as much. I'll take your advice and just not bother with it unless the opportunity presents itself. It's probably a good idea anyway since it is pretty out of the way for me and it's not like Heady Topper is on the cheap side.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-07-18. Score: 2
  
  I live in Vermont and I've had quite a few cans of Heady Topper and some from cask. I really love Heady Topper and I haven't yet had another DIPA that tastes similar. First, it's not that expensive. It's $3.75 for a 16 oz can. $14 for a 4-pack. You can get it at local bars, pubs, and restaurants for $5/can. Around $78 for a case (24 x 16oz cans). Compared to other DIPA of similar quality, it's not that expensive (sure if you compared it to macro lagers...)
  
  It's produced by a small family owned brewery that's went through 2 expansions which doubled their brewery in size each time over the last 2 years (cannery has only existed for 2 years, before that they brewed it at a brewpub until the brewpub was destroyed by Hurricane Irene). They are currently getting their paperwork finalized for construction of a second brewery which will expand their production even more than before.
  
  For locals, it's not that difficult to acquire. If you visit Vermont and plan ahead, then you're sure to leave with a case or two.
  
  I think it's worth trading for, but just remember that there's no beer that's life changing. Just a lot of really good tasting beer.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2015-10-25. Score: 1
  
  I was recently in Burlington and picked up a couple of cases.
  
  Yes, it's a good beer.
  No, it's not as good as the hype suggests.
  
  One of the previous posts hit the nail on the head. Heady Topper has a good balance between the strength and the hoppiness. It has what I call smooth strength.
  
  But is it worth driving up from Pennsylvania and following the delivery truck around - probably not
  
  
  ---
  
  