hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Heady Topper

Tap to rate

The legendary beer that started the New England IPA craze. An unfiltered, unpasteurised double IPA brewed with a proprietary blend of six hops, delivering wave after wave of hop flavour — orange, tropical fruit, pink grapefruit, pine — without astringent bitterness. Best drunk straight from the can.

ABV
8.0%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden5
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppytropicalorange
hoppy
tropical
orange
piney
citrusy
juicy
Aroma
The nose leads with bright orange zest and grapefruit pith, followed by waves of tropical stone fruit — mango and passionfruit — layered beneath pine resin.
also:fruity
not found:floral,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Heady Topper

◎ Appearance

Pale golden-yellow with pronounced haze throughout, characteristic of the style. The unfiltered, unpasteurised nature creates a soft, diffuse appearance that catches light beautifully. Head retention is substantial, with fine carbonation and persistent Schaumkleiden clinging to the glass walls.

pale goldenhazy throughoutfine carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright orange zest and grapefruit pith, followed by waves of tropical stone fruit — mango and passionfruit — layered beneath pine resin. The six-hop blend creates a complex, evolving bouquet with no sharp alcohol presence; instead, a clean, herbaceous undercarriage supports the fruit-forward character.

citrus-forwardtropical fruitpine resinbright and clean

◐ Taste

Entry is juicy and full-bodied without heaviness, with orange and grapefruit flavours immediately engaging the palate. Mid-palate reveals tropical depth — mango and citrus flesh — while bitterness remains refined and integrated; the 80 IBU manifests as a dry, resinous quality rather than astringent bite. Finish dries progressively, with lingering hop character that feels refreshing rather than harsh.

juicy mouthfeelbalanced bitternesstropical and citrusdry finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste extends cleanly, with fading orange zest and a subtle pine note. Dryness persists without leaving any rough edges, inviting another sip.

clean drylingering citrusrefreshing
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
92
Taste
89
Appearance
85
Finish
82
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Heady Topper

More from The Alchemist

Alchemist Dark
Alchemist Dark
Dark Lager
5.5%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Beelzebub
Beelzebub
Imperial Stout
8.0%·Very bitter
Find matches →
Crusher
Crusher
Double IPA
8.0%·Very bitter
Find matches →
Donovan's Red
Donovan's Red
Irish Red
5.4%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Farmer's Daughter
Farmer's Daughter
Saison
7.0%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Focal Banger
Focal Banger
American IPA
7.0%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Harvest Lager
Harvest Lager
Amber Lager
5.7%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Just Say Gay
Just Say Gay
American IPA
4.5%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →

About Double IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Double IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Double IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, tropical, orange character as Heady Topper will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Double IPA beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →