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.

piney apple hop aroma. vibrant gold color with a monster head. nice fluffy head, feather pillow style. Juicy as all hell, very soft and round. Very fruity, hops aren't as huge as I would have thought, im more surprised with the massive malt body giving off tons of apples, oranges, peaches and pineapples with robustly pinney hops, no acidicy however. Damn Good!! We had a whole keg of this beast and it was like partying in 1992!

More like a barley wine than an IPA. Ultra sweet and malty, touch of alchohol flavor, and one of the most amazing hop profiles to be found among beers--pleasant level of bitterness, hints of lemony or grapefruit citrus, and a sublime floral bouquet not unlike a violet candy.

Poured a beautiful copper-orange color. Nice white fluffy head and I could smell the hops as I poured it into the glass. Sticky white head with some nice lacing. I almost can’t describe the flavor...it tastes like liquid hops. So hoppy it almost feels like it is drying my mouth out. Great flavor like a really bitter grape fruit. Hops linger. I didn’t think it could get any better than Alpha King!!!

Fruity hops and a very sweet malty taste make this almost like a Barley Wine, IMO. The alcohol is extremely well hidden in the complexity. Have a few pints, you’ll know what I mean.

Pours a clear amber reminiscentof clover honey. Very little head on my sample. Nose is a big,crisp citrus slap in the face. Wow! A little sweetness followed by a big hop bite that is pleasantly not overly bitter. Like a sweetened grapefruit almost.Lush and creamy mouthfeel along with the outstanding flavor makes this a truly remarkable and enjoyable brew.

Hopheads actually dream about this beer in their sleep. This beer must have numerous Cascade hop additions for that much citrus. Although hop character dominates this beer, the malt does a decent job of balancing the equation. Add it up and you have one fantastic beer.

Okay, how excited was I at having the opportunity to try this legendary beer? Man, what a damn good beer. I am so sucker punched by these beers that provide such good flavor within their category but also so much beyond it as well. This IPA is surely hopped adequately and bitter enough, but they take a back seat as the wonderful creamy/rummy/chewy flavor and mouthfeel present themselves. A bit fruity (I mean beyond the typical IPA citrus) and slightly nutty - like hazelnut or butternut. A big, complex IPA that really sets the bar a bit higher.