Alchemist Heretic

Brewed by The Alchemist
Style: American Strong Ale
Waterbury, Vermont USA

Serve in Snifter, Trappist glass

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(draft) Hazy amber body with off-white head. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, cherry, orange, light grapefruit. Taste is moderately sweet, cherry, caramel, orange, light grapefruit. Medium-full body, some resin.

on tap-pours an off white head and hazy gold color. Aroma is sweet medium malt-caramel, pine/resin. Taste is pine/resin/grapefruit rind/acidic hops bite, secondary medium malt, alcohol. More I2PA/ASA but good.

Deep amber pour. The nose is very hoppy with lots of grapefruit, citrus and pine. Heavy malt sweetness that underlies and resiny piny character. Although sweet, the malts aren’t really caramelly at all. Warming brings up some lighter lemony citrus character that is fairly unusual. It’s fairly hoppy and chewy and the malts are light enough that I’d call this more IIPA than barleywine, although regardless what you call it, it’s still damn tasty.

UPDATED: OCT 16, 2011 My Bottom Line:
Leafy, grapefruity, and resinous hops proliferate within this strong ale’s soft mouthfeel, producing a raw and ever-so-flavorful glass of Americana.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A film of foam floats atop the murky dark beige.
-The hoppy nose on this one is yet another amazing dry-hopping gem from The Alchemist; citrusy, earthy, leafy, etc.
-Alcohol is well concealed by the hoppy festivities.
-This is dangerously drinkable for a 10% brew. Natural carbonation and subdued dextrins make this profoundly treacherous.
-Light toasted malt accents add to the subtle caramel support.

On tap at the brewpub and from a bomber (Hell & High Water series).

Dark brown pour, tan head. Nice strong hops kick ass with a light back note of roasted malt. Flavor is smooth but still has an incredibly strong hop presence. Great brew by a great brewery!

In short: A sharp and grapefruity blonde IIPA (called American Strong Ale here). Surprisingly drinkable despite the abv
How: Tap at brewpub
The look: Cloudy dark blonde body topped by a persistent small off-white head
In long: The uber hoppy nose is very tangy with plenty of oranges and grapefruits. Neutral honeyed white-bread-ish malt backbone is enough to hide the alcohol and leaves all the dance floor for the hops to celebrate. Sharp grapefruity bitterness with a long finish. I don’t know why this is not classified as a IIPA. Yep, I’m a heretic myself, no religion for me, no thanks. I will join a religion when I find one that justifies my behaviors.

Hazy dark golden color with a small, white head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of floral hops, pine, citrus, toast, and grass. Taste of pine, resiny hops, citrus, grass, and a grapefruit finish with some light alcohol too.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée avec MartinT et Fred82. Merci. Arôme: Odeur d’agrumes avec une pointe de céréales. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée foncée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût d’agrumes avec une pointe de pins et de céréales. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Rating #3987)

On tap at the brewpub on November 4, 2010. Pours a really nice copper color with a two-finger light tan head and just bunches and bunches of lacing. The nose brings some strong citrus hops with a bit of pine as well. A slight malt component. The feel and flavor are dominated by the bruising bitterness of this one. There are some citrus and pine notes plus a bit of malt that doesn’t bring much flavor. A bit body and not too dry. This was a good brew, but the flavor didn’t quite live up to the nose. Serving type: on-tap Reviewed on: 11-14-2010

Bottle. Pours dark brown with off white head. Nose/taste of caramel and sweet malt, resin, pine, citrus, hops and grapefruit. Dank grassy and piney hops dominate throughout. Dry bitter finish. Medium body.