Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

Bomber ahoy. Pours a hazy orange-amber with a soapy off-white head. Aroma can be described it as some sort of hop apocalypto built on the study foundation of malt sweetness. Peach, grapefruit, grass, pine...it’s all here and none of it is subtle. The taste is tongue-numbingly hoppy and cookie sweet with a lingering bitter finish. Mouthfeel is soft, and well-carbonated. Absolutely epic in every way.

bottle! i had been dying to try this for years, then i got a bottle and let it sit for a while. very silly of me. pours a brilliantly clear amber, with a medium head that doesn’t want to seem to go down much below the glass top. i could smell tons of citrusy hops as i poured it, so this should be good. strong nose of caramel/brown sugar malt and pineapple, grapefruit, pine, and peachy hops. i’m surprised at the strength of the malt here. it’s reminiscent of the better hopped-to-high-hell barleywines i’ve had. good stuff. lots of brilliant hop notes in the taste, dominated by the citrus and pine, with the brown sugar malt less burnt and more subdued and taking on a bit of a bready note. the hops are there in abundance, too, but they still seem to be a complement rather than the focus. plenty of bitterness in the finish, but it never even comes close to harsh - just a mild tingle, and perfectly balanced for the style (and my taste). medium-to-full of body, and a luscious, soft, smooth mouthfeel. i feel this is a style i’ve overdone, and these sorts of beers haven’t been as enjoyable; dogfish head 90 minute is a beer i drink regularly and consider boring (if exceptionally tasty). but this is different. it’s every bit as good as the summer yulesmith, and better than pliny the elder (though i only had pliny cold in a bar). i love how the malt dominates. it’s very much like a barelywine, but has enough hops to make you remember where it came from. this is the best beer i’ve had in a long time.

Bottle. Heavy malt and hop aromas of roasted, caramel, pine and orange, moderate broth for the yeast, with notes of date, wine, brown sugar and vanilla. Head is small, creamy, white with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is murky orange/red/tan. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes lightly sweet and acidic and moderately bittter. Palate is medium, oily and slick, and has a soft carbonation. It finishes lightly astringent and moderately alcoholic. Every aroma and flavor I like in a beer is in this DIPA. Add a thicker head to this and what you have here is a perfect beer. Now all I have to do is find a way to get this in Florida.

22 oz bottle poured into a tulip. Poured a hazy orange color with a three finger whitish head. Aroma of citrus and some sweetish malt. Flavor was well balanced with a mix of piney and citrus flavors. A faint bitterness that lingers briefly. I really liked this beer, but it isn’t as good as Hopslam. I guess the scarcity of the brew makes it better?

aroma of hops and citrus. very sweet scent. taste is very hoppy and has tones of fruit as well. smooth finish that lasts on the tongue and in the back of the throat. I would purchase this again.