Three Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Munster, Indiana USA

On tap at the Three Floyds pub. Dark chocolate oak colored pour; red around the glassy edge. Fresh cold press, mint leaves, and warm cinnamon dough in the aroma; pleasantly earthy, damply green and softly spiced. Bold vegetal coffee notes and cola bitterness in the flavor highlight alot of dry conifer woodsiness. Holly, spruce, dry hops. Pure, amiable cinnamon sweetness, very bready and rich with the crunch of mexican sugars, imbued briefly with cranberry tartness and needly bitterness. Black licorice licks strongly but not astringently in a very sweet middle palate; sugars are well bridled, hops carefully managed. Medium to full bodied, smooth and fairly sticky in the mouth. Very earthy before smacking with root beer candies and dark toffee in a long finish. Well made, and achieving with ease the delicate balance between its dark sweetness and Christmas hop-spice interplay.

Pours black with a hint of ruby edges. Big lasting tan head. Smell is damn near perfect, and unmatched by pretty much any porter I’ve had. Very big roasty malt, slight coffee, some mild sweetness and mild noticeable hops in there as well. Very aromatic and fantastic nose. Nice roasty character. balanced mild sweetness and slightly drying and bittering hops. The hops are just bordering on too much for a porter, but never really get there. Moderate to mildly rich mouthfeel. Hoppy for the style but it works. Soft carbonation and a nice overall uniqueness makes this a must try.

i dont even like porters. this was freaking great. i really wish i could get 3floyds in virginia.... and the xmas beer year round

22 oz bomber straight from the brewery. I had this on tap a couple time last year and enjoyed the hoppy balance with the malts. I found this years to not be nearly as good as last years. Pours dark brown/black with a beige head. Chocolate malts, roasted, balanced. Light body. Similar flavors but lacking something special that 3F usually comes through with. Solid porter, but nothing outstanding. Where’s the hops of Christmas past?

22oz, Very dark brown, could not see through it. very light head. nutty and chocolaty taste, sweet but hoppy too. Smooth finish, dry aftertaste. Liked it alot! Another good Three Floyds beer. these guys know how to make good beer!

22oz Growler. Dark dark brown. Not going to judge the head, pint glass just came out of the dishwasher (girlfriend wont listen!) Smooth, rich chocolaty barley with the most hop presence out of any porter i’ve had. This, however, works. Slightly alcoholic at the end with a soft, nutty, dry finish.

I made this beer "The Official Beer of My Birthday Month" for more reasons that just because it’s only available during said month. I love the Floyds and I love porters. What’s not to like? I’m new to the world of reviewing beer, so bear with me here. I’ve had it both on tap and in 22oz bottles. The two are noticeably, if only slightly different. The bottle has a bit more of a strong flavor. Lots of chocolate, a little hoppy (as one would imagine anything with "ALPHA" in the name would provide). I’m going to have to stock up.

22 oz bottle. Deep dark brown with a big tan head. Lots of piney and floral hop aromas with a hint of alcohol notes at the end. A lot of chocolate flavors. A hint of floral hops at the finish. The mouthfeel is a bit thin for what I was hoping, but very good non-the-less.