Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Munster, Indiana USA

Ah, is there any better aroma than that of a “Truly Magnificent Beer”? In my humble opinion, “NO”! Dreadnaught is a beer I’ve looked forward to sampling, since I read the first review.

Also one other thing I’ve noticed, on this site and others, either you love it or you dislike it intensely.

The color an unclouded copper, the head Bunyanesque in stature, spumescent in texture, the color a lovesome light tan. “Ah that smell”, the freshness of a Pine forest after a spring rain combined with the heady aroma of fresh picked hop flowers, the delightful sweet malt underpinnings, citrus crisp and fresh, a treat for the olfactory senses, hell a treat for the eyes also. Start is sweet to the point of distraction, the malt thick and chewy, the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish pleasantly acidic, the hops ferine in their bite, bittersweet, purposeful and a very dry aftertaste, with the hops sticking to your taste buds for days, and one fine quaffing beer, my vote, I love it!

As a point of interest this is certainly not a beer for the weak of palate, or those not into hops or high ABV, so my advise, leave it alone as the rest of us “Hop Heads”, will certainly appreciate it.

If there are any flaws in this beer, it's the strong aroma and the alcohol taste. There's a nasty pinge in the aroma, probably from the hops, but more tart than bitter. The taste, on the other hand, is outstanding. One of the best beers brewed on this earth.

One huge beautiful bouquet of citrus and evergreen. Followed with an equal assault on the palate. Bitter yet sweet. one great brew.

22oz bottle. Strong nose of citrus, pine, some berry. Thick white head with very nice lacing. Sharp American hop taste from the begining to the lingering finish yet is balanced by some malts, somewhat sweet at times. A full bodied huge beer with the alcohol well hidden.

The nose on this beer reminds of pineapple and orange zest sprinkled with pine bark. The head and lace are lasting and very visually appealing. The palate is full and silky with a wonderful intense flavor of hops. The beer is very tropical in flavor, tastes a lot like exotic fruit juices blended with Pacific Northwest hops. I find the beer to perilously drinkable for its gravity and high hopping rates. The finish maybe my favorite part of the beer, the finish lasts for a good fifteen minutes leaving me with a malty sweet citrus hop bonanza. Overall, I really like this beer because its not just straight forward hop bitterness. This has some finesse for a big beer.

Update: I am so damned happy this got distributed in fair Maryland. I love balanced beers--slightly hoppy Dortmunder, a dry Pils, an aromatic, fruity Weizen--this one is not balanced, but is absolutely wonderful. Not terribly bitter, it must be noted. Tends a bit toward barleywine as it warms. Old: I couldn't stop laughing when we opened and poured this hop monster: it was so far over the top. The flavor was astonishing. The alpha and omega of Super-IPA. Sticky, citric, lightly herbal and sweet. My favorite sippin' IPA. Many thanks, LiebeBier.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry - courtesy of him. Big thanks to Harry for sharing this one - although I don’t know if having it at the end of a tasting where we were already half in the bag was a great idea, as I paid for it in the morning. Ah well, it was worth it. Orange-amber colour with a small white head. Aroma is hoppy as hell, but holds some really interesting tropical fruit notes (pineapple, mango) and lots of citrus and tea. Mouthfeel is soft and smooth, just luscious. Flavour - oh my lord, this is just so good - citrus, spruce, tea, wood, mild caramel and malt - I can’t believe that flavours can be so big and so well balanced, and can hide the alcohol so damn well. This is a stunning beer. Thanks again, Harry!

7/28/04. Poured out of 22 oz. bottle, bought at Sam’s Wine & Spirits in Chicago, IL 5/21/04. Pours a bright orange amber with fluffy, shimmering, crystalline off-white head (slightly orange-pink in hue) that lingers moderately with interesting patterns of lacing. Nice substantial appearance wtith some heft and a stately glow. Love the hops on this beast. Wonderful aroma, floral and hoppy as hell. Taste is a medley of citrus fruits, mostly orange and grapefruit, but with a unique stone fruit flavor linking the two. Also some resin and sweetly succulent malts. Very nice balance. Slick, full body with a stinging dirty bitter hop bite in the finish, piney with overripe orange and grapefruit pith, and somewhat dry. Extremely smooth mouthfeel and transition from the initial taste to the finish. Wonderfully drinkable. Very sticky on the lips, adding to the suggestions of resin. I have to say, it reminds me a whole lot of the other Three Floyds beers (and that ain’t a bad thing), just ramped up to 11. I’ll take it.