It feels like it's been a while since I had any beer from 3 Floyds. I like their strange as all heck labels, their "It's not normal" slogan, and the whole vibe they've got going on. That said, I've been disappointed with a few of their beers, and a lot of them (most of, them, really - by a long way) have just been average. That's not to happen this time, is it? It's time for a second of the Floyds' beers to break out and display something fantastic. Will it be with a Double Pale Ale? What exactly is a Double Pale Ale? I've had Double IPAs, but I've never had a Double Pale Ale. I don't even know what it's supposed to stand for. A Double IPA is an Imperial IPA, so does that mean this has an extra P in front of Pale Ale? And what does that P stand for?
The beer looks like it's a Double IPA. It's got a golden, brassy center that turns lighter gold at the free ends. The head looks like it will be leaving some treasured lacing, and it boils down to a quarter inch thick layer of bubbles that rests quietly on top of the beer. It looks very nice. The aroma is that of a Double IPA or an IPA with the amount of hops that are in it. Citrus floats on top of everything, and it's either a biscuit or bread malt underneath. I am, indeed, looking forward to drinking this beer.First sip is pretty spectacular. The citrus is forward, but the bitterness never comes. Instead, the beer is somehow smooth like lactose sugars have been added. It is a sensation I did not expect from the aroma, and it is pretty damn good. There are some sensations of prickling coming from a combination of carbonation and hops, but it is so muted that it doesn't upset the smoothness as this beer is going down. Genuinely, I wonder if this has had either lactose sugar or nitrogen added to the process to smooth it out this much.
Tip-in is mild carbonation tingle with fruit rinds and a bread malt sweet enough that it's almost a cookie with a little glaze on it., The middle sends carbonation to the roof of the mouth, but it sizzles quietly while it's there as the sweet and fruity beverage flows with the smoothness that it should not be capable of down the gullet. The finish is where the bitterness has been hiding, but there isn't much of it, so nothing upsets the cart full of citrus fruits as they cling to sweetness for the trail off.
Bottom Line: This may be one of the best beers I've ever had.
5.0/5