Last July, The Alchemist in Waterbury, Vt. announced plans to double the production of its most popular beer, the double-IPA Heady Topper. Since then, Heady Topper has risen to the No. 1 beer in the world on Beer Advocate.

"We believe we will have enough Heady Topper to send to the Boston area on a regular basis," Alchemist co-owner Jen Kimmich wrote last July. "We will only know how much this will be once we see how much Heady Topper Vermonters can possibly consume we might be in for a big surprise."

It turns out the surprise has become reality. Kimmich wrote back Monday in response to a question about production and whether or not we'd be seeing Heady Topper regularly in Boston.

"We are at full capacity," said Kimmich. "We have quadrupled production since we opened 1 1/2 years ago and, sadly, continue to run out. Unfortunately, our plans of having enough Heady to spread to Boston are not working out the way we planned.

But, you never know.

"The day might come when we are able to send occasional pallets to Boston. If you told us 2 years ago that we would be selling 150 barrels a week out of our retail room I would have called you crazy."

For now, at least, you'll have to get your beer up in Waterbury. I've been accused of contributing to the hype for Heady Topper, and that's partially true. But the beer is delicious. Waterbury is a worthwhile trip from Boston if you have the time, with the Prohibition Pig and Blackback Pub being must-stops.