Three Floyds Gumballhead

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

Hands down the best wheat beer out there. This has some body and a kick to it, and remains very balanced. Complex graininess that has a cool feel to it that wheat beers have - but this makes all the others seem watered down.

My favorite wheat ale, to date, blows the blue moon right outten yer arse. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it has wide appeal... It’s been a miss whenever I’ve tried to introduce it to non beer people. Ebel’s makes a better outreach beer IMO. That’s fine, I take Gumball to the BBQ now and there’s more for me! I gave this beer a 5 for appearance, it looks beautiful too.

Extremely Hoppy. Pours a light yellow with a thick head that does not diminish quickly. Smells of Citrus and Hopps. Great flavor, if you like a hoppy beer then you will love this one.

The gang at 3F have shown how best to deal with the American Wheat style, and that’s to turn it into an IPA! LOL. Seriously, they’ve shown you can make a wheat beer with character. Pale gold, lightly fizzy head. Lively aroma of resiny floral hops. Mild citrus component to the hops, a bread dough character lays in the background. Surprisingly full malt backbone for a wheat beer, roundly sweet, the bright floral hops also contribute to an impression of sweetness. A little pepper to the hops as they linger all over the palate. Smooth, very easy drinking. Medium bitter finish, clean. Lots of hops. I like amarillo!

Pours a hazy light amber with a thick white head. Hops, citrus, and fruit on the nose. Nice full mouthfeel. Light fruits, lemon and orange, hops, and light spice on the tongue. Dry bitter finish. An American wheat? Tasted like a Pale Ale. A really GOOD pale ale. Hats off to Three Floyd’s!!!!

2004 edition, Bottled. Bought a bomber bottle at the brewery, and it must have just come off the line. It pours with a big smell of fresh, green hops that just dazzles the nose. Foamy head more pilsner than wheat style. I think the smell helped overwhelm the grapefruit taste of the amarillo hops, because I couldn't find it easily. Maybe once it's sat for awhile, it will be closer to the way it tasted last year, but man, it's still great!
On tap, at the brewery, 2003. While my experience points are still low around here, I'll stick my neck out and say this is quite unlike any other beer out there. American Wheats are a little bland, unless they've been brewed with the spicy flavor of German wheats, but the Floyds never cared for following style. This has a big zesty wheat taste that I somehow guessed was North Dakota winter wheat, and Nick said I was right, but I don't know how I knew. Like with most 3F beers, there's a big smack in the face of hops, this one is all Amarillo, giving a different more orangey taste. Pleasing orange color, too. Gotta get out and find this stuff while it's around!

I usually don’t care for wheatbeers, but I sampled this one at the Three Floyds brewery. The essence of wheat is very mild, which is why I was so pleasantly surprised. It was slightly clouded in teh glass with a thin white head. Hops were not overpowering.

Determined to find a way to drink wheat beer this summer - found that I enjoyed Widmer’s American Wheat, and got a case of Gumballhead when it became available temporarily. Looks like a Floyds and smells like a Floyds, they know their hops! Big, lemony amarillo hops aroma. Not quite copper, more bronze in appearance. Light to medium bodied. Pleasantly hopped but not at all bitter. Very refreshing, no need to add fruit. A great beer for summer.