I like the style that 3 Floyd's brings to the table, but I wish they would be a little less eccentric. Telling me that this is an undead pale ale doesn't actually tell me very much. I saw that some places that sell this beer classified as an American pale ale, but the only thing I have go on is the can, and it only says pale ale. I would like to think that this is an IPA, what with the 6.5% ABV, but IPA is not listed anywhere on this label; the can does say that it is intensely hopped, and that is indicative of an IPA. I just can't go with anything they say on the can at this point. You're being too cute, guys.
The beer looks more like a double IPA than an IPA. It sure as heck doesn't look like a pale ale. It might squeak by for an APA. It is hazy, and the off-white head leaves lacing as it goes down and completely covers the top of the beer once it comes to rest. You don't have to get very close to it to know what the beer smells like, and the malt is a little musty, but fruits linger underneath. They may not know what to call this, and I may not know what the call this, but I know it smells pretty good.
First sip puts me more mind of an APA than it does in IPA. While the fruits are bringing a lot of flavor and heft, the overall impression is somewhat muted. The malt taste like a mixture of caramel and crackers, but it does have a bit of the musk that I picked up in the aroma. The fruits aren't exactly gushing, but they are here in skin and meat form. Honestly, I think I would prefer something that had a little more of the juice and a little less of the rind.
Tip-in is nominal carbonation over smooth cracker malt and a mix of grapefruit, starfruit, and pears. The middle is very rough with bitterness suddenly daggering the tongue as fruit rinds and pits roll across it and the malt disappears entirely. The finish doesn't improve matters, and for some reason there is kind of a boozy aftertaste that I can only assume comes from the 6.5% ABV.
Bottom Line: This should stay in the dust.
1.5/5