The Alchemist Crusher Double IPA

Beer Name: Crusher
Brewery: The Alchemist (Stowe, VT)
ABV: 8.0%
How sold: 16 oz tallboy cans
Where bought: Craft Shack (San Diego, CA)  ****bought online
Price: $6.99(!) for 16 oz. tallboy can

Date Purchased: May 17, 2018
Date Received: May 30, 2018
Date Drank: June 4, 2018
When brewed? Year-round beer.
IBUs: 110 ( per Untappd)

What's on the Can: "The Crusher is an American Double IPA that I started making years ago at the old pub. Hop heads were constantly asking for more hops. So, in the words of Frank Zappa, 'Did you say you want some more? Well here's some more.' While I enjoy hops with the rest of them, I still try to maintain some semblance of balance and drinkability. This beer is oozing with hop flavor and aroma with a very dry finish. Enjoy responsibly, this one can sneak up on you."

Where distributed: The Alchemist usually distributes their beers only in Vermont, which is why I was surprised to see Southern California get cases of Crusher, Heady Topper, and Focal Banger back in May 2018. For the longest time, the Alchemist only distributed within Vermont, within a 20-mile radius of Waterbury. Click here for where and when to buy Alchemist beers!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured hazy orange-peach into a pint glass. Unfiltered, significant sediment suspended in the beer and at the bottom of the glass. White head, trace lacing. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Slight dank/resinous with hoppy pineapple and grapefruit. 4.5/5

Taste (40%): Follows the nose; starts more dank/resinous with complementing hoppy tropical flavors. More pineapple and grapefruit on the aftertaste. Full of flavor. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, good carbonation. Dry on the tongue. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): An excellent to outstanding IPA. Imagine my surprise when I saw a few of The Alchemist's beers available outside of Vermont, and you know I had to jump right on them. I did have Crusher at their Stowe brewery in August 2017 (read the blog post here), but it was awesome to have this in a can in the comfort of my own home. Crusher is at least as good as I remember, and probably better. Granted, it is a steep price to pay for one can. 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.475/5