Three Floyds Gumballhead

Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Company
Style: Wheat Ale
Munster, Indiana USA

Bottle brought back from Chicago. Aroma of wheat, floral and citrus hops, some yeast. Flavor was very good for such a low alcohol content; good session possibilities. Very easy drinking; drank it probably too fast. Flavors of lemon, citrus/floral hops, some rye-like flavor, and wheat. No doubt a top version of the style.

I’ve been looking forward to trying this beer for awhile now. Here goes... Beer is beautiful golden yellow, almost orange and amazingly clear. Nice carbonation supporting a lasting crown. Wonderful floral and piney hop aroma that I wasn’t expecting for a wheet beer. Perfect body and super smooth. Great hop flavor that doesn’t puch out as I thought it might. The hoppiness is perfectly balanced with the maltiness. Finish is smooth and slowly fades away. Amazing beer, although by sight, smell, and taste, I wouldn’t have known it was a wheat beer. Regardless, another excellent Three Floyds brew. Those guys have me hooked, now if only I had a money tree... 22 oz bottle, $6.99 or $7.99 (I’ve forgotten) from River’s Bend.

Poured into a tall weizen-style Oberon glass, with great anticipation. Color’s a hazy, ripe peach, head is thick, creamy cushion of meringue. Aroma, plainly put, gorgeous! Sweet and lovely hoppiness, tingling and enticing the nose and welcoming the tongue to embrace...beautiful! I got my beak awfully wet drinking it in, and didn’t want the sniffing to stop! Amarillos, they say, eh? Love my Amarillos! Lush wheat texture greet the lips and washes over the palate, comforting and terrifically tasty. Hops continue to dance on the palate, and fruity flavors dominate. Taste gets a touch sticky and very palpable in the mouth, bringing an end to my questions about the curious appelation, sweet and gummy indeed! (Still wonder about the crude cartoon of the smoking cat on the label, but it’s never normal at the House of Floyds, is it?) Medium bodied, persistent citric finish, inestimable drinkability...hook me up to a keg and let’s see, eh? Great beer here, but then, I’ve never been disappointed by the Floyds boys. I do believe this would be my summer brew of choice, were that an option open to me...maybe it is? Who will send a case or six my way?

Draft. Light copper, slight head. Fruity aroma of grapefruit, but faint. Grapefruit dominates the flavor, with the body barely keeping up. Interesting. More of an APA than a wheat in flavor profile. No real wheat character at all in fact.

Bottle. Hoppy citrusy orange aroma. I believe I smell Centennials. Similar aroma to Southern Tier Hop Sun. Wheat characteristics are not apparent in the nose. Perhaps this is due to age? Smells tasty, nonetheless. Mildly hazy honey color with a small whitish head. Juicy orange hoppy start, turning quickly dry and grainy. The wheat really comes through. Finishes with more grapefruity bitter hopping. This is about what I expected and believe it or not, it is quite comparable to Southern Tier’s Hop Sun. I like this offering a bit more.

09.16.04 Bomber thanks to marinaro500. Bright, orangey gold, lightly hazed, bits of stuff floating about look like lemon pulp or fiberglass. Smallish head for a wheat. Trademark FFF aromas of pinesol - some lemon. Beer is a glorious mouthful of lemon grass and pine. Not so wheaty for a wheat. Crisp and thin body. Refreshing and light. Very nice treat, thanks Joe!

bottle, golden color with white head, nose and flavor is oddly green/fermented but enjoyable, good body and finish but not a typical wheat

Bottle - first AW. Powerful citric hop aroma, light yeastiness. Lemony, sure, but not at all gumbally (only time you’ll ever hear that adjective). Pours a hazy, orange-accented golden with a creamy, lacing tan head. Very strong hoppy taste, citrus is there but overshadowed by a newfound bitterness. Wheat establishes itself, even comes across as assertive, but this still tastes much more like a pale ale than a wheat. Creamy feel, medium body. Strange to have such a hoppy nose on a wheat beer, and I’m not sure that I like hoppy bitterness paired with wheat ... but it’s interesting enough for me to buy another (clean and refreshing, after all).