I will occasionally run into the conundrum of having to decide whether I should include the name that the brewery gave the beer in the title of the article, or if I should be true to my own eccentricities. In this case, the name of the beer is Three Floyds' Cheer Team Ale. The problem is that this is actually a double IPA, and that is not sufficiently reflected in the simple term ale. Yes, a DIPA is a type of ale, but that's not really the point. I have a certain level of differentiation that I like to establish between beer styles (and it doesn't include hazy). Since this is mostly just for my reference, I'm going to do it my way.
First sip is shockingly straightforward and crisp. I say shockingly, as Three Floyds prides themselves on not doing things that are normal. I'm not saying that this is patently normal, but this is not a drawing outside of the lines kind of craziness that I would expect from any brewery that has this kind of art on their can. I really expected to hit of bitterness, but that never seems to materialize. Instead, the malt holds back the bitterness without imparting a significant sweetness, so the fruits are left to enjoy themselves alone.
Tip-in is nectarine, grapefruit, orange, lemon, and papaya with carbonation sizzling around the fringes. The middle is let down by a harsh carbonation that buzzes around the roof of the mouth while the fruits turn to fruit rind in the middle of the mouth with a slight bitter haze in tow. The finish turns dry with flowers and pine carting along a mild bitterness.
Bottom Line: Better sipped.
2.25/5
