The Alchemist First Brews Heady Topper

In 2003, John and Jen Kimmich opened The Alchemist as a brewpub in Waterbury, Vermont, and John Kimmich first brewed Heady Topper during the brewery's early period. The beer became known as an unfiltered American Double IPA with an 8.0% ABV and a highly aromatic hop character. Heady Topper became one of the most influential beers in the development of hazy and New England-style IPA. Although The Alchemist identifies the beer as an American Double IPA, later beer writers and drinkers associated its unfiltered appearance, intense hop aroma, and soft, saturated flavor profile with the emergence of the New England IPA movement. The beer's reputation grew dramatically after The Alchemist opened a production brewery in Waterbury in 2011 and began packaging Heady Topper in 16-ounce cans. Its limited distribution, strong word-of-mouth reputation, and high ratings helped make it one of the defining American craft beers of the early twenty-first century.