Heady Topper

Tasting Notes

Heady Topper leads with an intense wave of tropical and citrus aromatics — mango, grapefruit, and pine resin are all present and assertive. On the palate, the hop character stays juicy rather than harsh, with a full, almost creamy body that keeps the bitterness from turning aggressive. The malt backbone is deliberately understated, there to support rather than compete. The finish is long and resinous, with a warmth that builds gradually rather than announcing itself upfront.

About the Brewery

The Alchemist is a small Vermont brewery founded by John and Jen Kimmich, operating out of Stowe and Waterbury. The brewery built its national reputation almost entirely on Heady Topper, which spent years on top of Beer Advocate and RateBeer rankings and became something of a pilgrimage object for American craft beer enthusiasts. They've since expanded their lineup with other hop-forward offerings, but the operation remains deliberately small-scale and Vermont-focused.

Food Pairings

The resinous, tropical hop profile here works well with spicy Thai curry, where the beer's fruitiness softens the heat without wiping it out. A rich cheeseburger with aged cheddar gives the bitterness something fatty to cut through. Grilled salmon benefits from the citrus-forward aromatics acting as a natural complement to the fish's oils. Strong washed-rind cheeses like Taleggio stand up to the intensity without being overwhelmed.

Style Guide

American Double or Imperial IPA takes the standard American IPA and pushes the hops and malt both significantly higher, landing in a range typically between 7.5% and 10% ABV. The style originated in American craft brewing in the late 1990s and early 2000s as brewers looked to maximize hop expression beyond what a session-strength beer could carry. What separates it from a standard IPA is the fuller body and the way that extra malt provides scaffolding for an otherwise punishing hop load — the bitterness is intense but usually balanced rather than one-dimensional.