Dreadnaught IPA - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

jampics2

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dreadnaught is one of the first beers that really made me appreciate how big can also be balanced. This is truly a beer every hop head should try once in their life, and I'm happy to have sampled it many times in the past. It's on my list of beers I'll always enjoy whenever our paths cross.

That being said, it's not the prettiest beer. Dreadnaught is a murky, orange color and is way cloudy. The head and lace are better than the color and clarity, but, then again, you didn't expect a bruiser like this to be pretty and neither did I.

The smell is hands-down the best part of the beer. Huge citrus and tropical notes jump out, spreading orange, pineapple, mango and grapefruit notes with a touch of pine thrown in. It's expressive and some sweet malt even makes itself known. The alcohol is fairly well masked, but emerges from time to time. As it warms, the tropical notes shine.

When I dig deep and objectively rate the taste, setting aside all the sentimental memories of sipping this back when 3 Floyds was in Ohio and bringing back cases from trips to the Brewery, this just isn't up there with the best DIPA's in the world. That's not to say it doesn't come close. The tropical and citrus notes from the nose carry over to the taste. The bitterness is huge without being too oily or ruinous. The thing that kills this beer's chances of a top ranking from me is the way the malt invades the tasting experience. I wish it had just a touch less caramel and sweetness, but maybe that helps hold the bitterness in check. Either way, this is good, very good, but not world-class and the bits of alcohol seal its fate.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a creamy feel from the carbonation. It's also very drinkable and overall a great beer. It's hard to take an honest look in the mirror sometimes, but finally writing my thoughts on Dreadnaught has been somewhat therapeutic. I'll always love this beer, flaws and all. Perhaps that's a part of it's charm.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 21:53:50 | More by jampics2

Rihup

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -21.3%

05-26-2013 03:05:47 | More by Rihup

Gargamel92886

California

5/5  rDev +12.4%

05-25-2013 19:10:14 | More by Gargamel92886

Josiah2729

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-25-2013 08:20:12 | More by Josiah2729

RayUF07

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -15.7%

05-25-2013 05:50:24 | More by RayUF07

Larrygto

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%

05-24-2013 21:05:12 | More by Larrygto

oso

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-24-2013 19:47:12 | More by oso

wezzul

Michigan

4/5  rDev -10.1%

05-24-2013 16:33:49 | More by wezzul

Beer_Drinker

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.1%

05-24-2013 16:32:07 | More by Beer_Drinker

WKole81

Illinois

5/5  rDev +12.4%

05-24-2013 02:53:06 | More by WKole81

Jeremy_H

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.1%

05-24-2013 01:51:28 | More by Jeremy_H

bigbeerfan

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%

05-24-2013 01:18:13 | More by bigbeerfan

msinger1002

Ohio

5/5  rDev +12.4%

05-23-2013 23:31:03 | More by msinger1002

AaronBricking

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +12.4%

05-23-2013 05:01:56 | More by AaronBricking

nasastrums

New York

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%

05-23-2013 01:46:28 | More by nasastrums

tgeorgf

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +1.1%

05-23-2013 01:14:37 | More by tgeorgf

davesway10

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 18:15:38 | More by davesway10

Soloveitchik

New York

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-22-2013 12:29:11 | More by Soloveitchik

JamesShoemaker

New York

4.18/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle purchased from the brewery yesterday. No bottling date, but no doubt they keep things fresh. This is my third DIPA from FFF (Permanent Funeral and Arctic, the other two); so far Zombie takes it.

A - good looking beer, dark oranges, ochers and ambers. A little sediment in the bottle, but it doesn't get kicked up on the forced pour. Slightly over an inch of foam recedes slowly, carbonation evident from the bubbles rising from bottom to top.

S - there's something off here. I keep searching for the hop/malt heavy notes, but I get this weird, wheaty, lager aroma right up front. Some sweetness on the back of the nose. It's definitely not unpleasant, but it's not what I expected.

T - the weak nose is even stranger after the taste, which is really strong. The hop profile is either extremely well-blended or completely unilateral, I can't tell. It hits first as honey and sweet stickiness, later fading pretty quickly into bitterness. The bitterness lingers with the malt, which isn't as caramel-heavy as the bottle suggests. Good, I like beers that take me on a journey.

M - the bitterness lingers a little too much. The alcohol, though high, doesn't play a role, but that's understandable given the IBUs. A little sticky.

O - this is my favorite DIPA from FFF so far, and it's available all year, so I'll be sure to pick up a bottle when I make it down to Munster.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 02:26:18 | More by JamesShoemaker

h0ppster

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -10.1%

05-21-2013 23:53:03 | More by h0ppster

pmoore311

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 22:07:16 | More by pmoore311

aleman39

California

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 21:20:46 | More by aleman39

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 19:02:38 | More by Beerandboards

TheBattousai

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.1%

05-21-2013 01:49:06 | More by TheBattousai

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 01:41:54 | More by mikeincharleston