Three Floyds Fantabulous Resplendence (XI Anniversary Ale)

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Munster, Indiana USA

Bottle, i wasn’t crazy about the X, and this kinda followed the same path. A copper golden body with an off white head. Big dusty spicy jasmine notes, stale dust y hop character, some floral pine and spice notes. Loads of caramel and malt y warming. Decent.

A murky dark orange color with almost no head. Aroma of caramel sweetness. Full bodied and lots of sweet flavor. Hop profile is somewhat muted and is not a profile I particularly care for. Reminds me of that rubbing alcohol sort of experience. Getting hints of sticky resiny pine but on overdrive. Malt profile is nice with all the caramel and toasty grains.

Bottle 22fl.oz.
Light light unclear medium amber orange color with a small to average, frothy, good lacing, mostly diminishing, white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, moderate hoppy, flowers - jasmin, spicy. Flavor is moderate sweet and light moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090922]

Pours a hazy orange-copper into the glass, with an initial soda-esque head that diminishes to a tiny cap, leaving sparse lace. The nose is of candy orange slices, balanced by earthen hops. The flavors are of candied oranges, some grapefruit-citrus, and a touch of pine toward the finish. There is a light (ever-so) bready contingency throughout the pull, but not highlighted by any one aspect of the brew. The bitter back-palate is a tad underdone (especially for 3 Floyds), but the integration is nice in the mouth. It’s not necessarily complex, but has a smooth mouthfeel that makes for an easy quaff. Again, not the most intricate or best-represented IPA out there, but it definitely makes for a nice rating, and a brew that I’d have on more than just "special occasions". Decent, but nothing to write home about.

Clear, effervescent pale copper pour, large yellowish head. Gobs of lace. Aroma is caramel, and a bit of stale dust. Actually smells hot with alcohol. Flavor dry and cellary on the front, tinged with hops bitterness. Turning towards a biscuity-stale caramel, floral highlights here. Bitter-resinous finish. Medium body, soft on the palate, slightly metallic. I didn’t care for it.

aged about a year. i didnt quite care for this fresh so i decided to age one and compare. rating is for aged. pours a rich brown/amber with medium white head. aroma is hops and citrus, nutty malt, spice, and jasmine. drinks incredibly smooth with a slight bitter hop on the front and the sweet caramel nutty malt coming right into play. jasmine and spice intermingles with a fair malt finish. wish i saved another bottle.

Bottle via trade thanks to dug on BA. Pours a fantabulously resplendent hazy copper color with a medium white head and good lacing. Nice citrus and floral hop aroma, along with light fruits and sweet malt. Flavor is not nearly as hop-forward as other FFF IPAs - I feel like this may be a little bit past its prime - with jasmine noticeable as well as spices, somewhat muted citrus hops, and sweet pale and caramel malt. Body is medium-full with average carbonation and a smooth yet fairly lively palate. Good stuff, but FFF has done way better.