Once again, a space themed beer let me to believe that this was going to have galaxy hops. The can only says that they are American hops. As far as I know, there is no specific strain of hops that is called American hops, so this can be any number of different kinds. The fact that they are specifying that the taste is going to have tropical fruits means that they probably aren't venturing too far outside the lines. So, I guess I'm trying to say that I don't know why they call this Lunar Throne. They are 3 Floyds, and they make strange choices. I guess we'll just have to deal with that.
The thick, hazy orange beer has a fairly minimal head for most IPAs, but it's not absurdly small. It leaves a dusting on top of the beer that does not completely cover it, but it will leave lacing. The aroma is, as it says on the can, tropical fruits. They do smell a bit musty, and have a bit of floral in there with them, but I don't know that that's going to detract from the enjoyment of the beverage. Indeed, the aroma is mouthwatering, and the presentation is very nice.
The tropical fruits have some flowers with them, and the effect isn't particularly great. The bread crust malt is doing an okay job of holding bitterness back, but the musty hops aren't sparkling with the juice, as the can would lead me to believe. Instead, the juices sort of muted with the sensation of the carbonation and flowers making it almost a dry instead of deliciously juicy. The sip has to be a mistake. A gulp must fix this.
Tip-in is moderate carbonation that builds with tart fruits lending their acidity. The middle moves the ever rising carbonation to the roof of the mouth and back of the throat as the juice joins flowers in the center for a relatively enjoyable mix. The finish should be a bitter bang, but instead the malt does a great job of holding off the bitterness and allows the fruits to come out more vibrantly for the trail off.
Bottom Line: Drink with gusto, and you will be rewarded.
3.5/5