For the longest time I somehow managed to not drink any beers from one of the most famous New England-style IPA breweries—indeed, contender for inventing the hazy, NEIPA style—The Alchemist of Vermont. This even despite the fact that cans of both Focal Banger and Heady Topper starting showing up periodically here in Bend over the past year.

Fortunately I had the opportunity to pick up a can of each to finally (finally!) see what the fuss is all about. They were fairly fresh, and I drank them right way (within 10-12 days of packaging), though that was a bit over a month ago so I’m just now posting my review notes.

One thing to note, is the “Drink from the can!” tagline on the beers. I (mostly) understand where The Alchemist is coming from in saying that; but, no. You can’t expect me to get a hold of the proto-NEIPAs and not expect me to pour them into a glass!

Focal Banger

The classifications are a bit vague, but I think of Focal Banger as the Alchemist version of Russian River Brewing’s Blind Pig IPA as compared to Pliny the Elder—so Focal Banger is the “regular” IPA with 7% alcohol by volume, vs. Heady Topper as a double IPA at 8%. No, it’s not a perfect comparison but it was useful for starting with the “smaller” of the two beers.

There’s not much official description I see per se, but FB is brewed with Citra and Mosaic hops (according to Untappd).

Appearance: This is definitely a hazy; it’s pale gold and murky, with a white head that’s fine with a bit of slightly-whipped egg white look to it.

Smell: Tropical fruit/passion fruit initially, with some spicy light chive or scallion greens, then it goes a touch minerally with crushed hop stems and some green algae. There are hints of mustard greens and pineapple rind.

Taste: Spicy-green bitterness, riffing on mustard and radish greens, with some tobacco. Big flavors here are blending with the big bitterness. Soft, luscious malt that’s creamy, smooth, lightly bready yet rich—like a brioche. Big resiny hop notes with flavors of green papaya, bitter grapefruit pith, light green peppercorn. Big hop lupulin energy.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, creamy, smooth. Lingering long bitter finish.

Overall: It certainly emphasizes hops! It’s a nice, big, IPA experience.

Heady Topper

I found more of a description for HT on Untappd:

We love hops – that’s why our flagship Double IPA, Heady Topper, is packed full of them. Heady Topper was designed to showcase the complex flavors and aromas these flowers produce. The Alchemist has been brewing Heady Topper since 2003. This Double IPA is not intended to be the strongest or most bitter DIPA. It is brewed to give you wave after wave of hop flavor without any astringent bitterness. We brew Heady Topper with a proprietary blend of six hops – each imparting its own unique flavor and aroma. Take a big sip of Heady and see what hop flavors you can pick out. Orange? Tropical Fruit? Pink Grapefruit? Pine? Spice? There is just enough malt to give this beer some backbone, but not enough to take the hops away from the center stage.

Appearance: Golden color, light honey, with less haze than Focal Banger—it’s more translucent. White head that built up nicely but it didn’t last.

Smell: Almost entirely allium-savory to my nose (garlic greens etc.), with some fruit skins and forest floor for some earthiness. Touch of pine as it warms, spicy-resinous, with light citrus peel, lime leaves.

Taste: Soft and gently spicy, like mild peppercorn, with a gentle, creamy fruitiness like… persimmon? Big bitterness here but well hidden, lurking in the background, with young pine tree greens (needles). Orange cream? Touch of alcohol esters which plays into the fruitiness but it hides the alcohol well.

Mouthfeel: Soft, creamy, smooth; slightly lighter than medium-bodied.

Overall: Pretty nice, I will say, though for me (here comes the heresy) I’m not sure it lives up to the hype that’s been built up around it.

Of the two, I think Focal Banger was the preferable of the two, offering up (for me) more complexity in the hops and the malt. Both, however, are certainly worth trying if you have never had them before, so if the opportunity arises, it’s one to seize.