Alpha King Pale Ale - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

tectactoe

Michigan

3.94/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy copper color with a small, off-white head that settles pretty quickly and doesn't leave too much lacing behind. Aroma is pretty strong and pungent right from the start; peppery, earthy, and raw, dirty hops come up and smack your nostrils hard. Heavy, heavy malt backdrop on this one, almost so much that it's hard to refer to it as just a "backdrop" - it's nearly as strong as the hops. Just front the nose, this one smells a little stronger than 6.66% ABV, I'm picking up some slightly warm alcohol notes behind everything else.

Alpha King hits the palate and seemingly evaporates in my mouth. Slick and medium bodied with a boat-load of carbonation that starts to fizzle away as soon as it touches my tongue. Pungent grapefruit rind is the first flavor to pop into my head - raw, bittersweet, and certainly unadulterated. Some spicy, herbal, and leafy hops dance around the thick malt underlaying, full of ever-so-slightly toasted caramel malts. White pepper crowds the aftertaste, finishing alongside a light bitterness. A sweet, bready flavor sits heavy on all edges of the mouth - noticeable even minutes after having taken a sip. As strong as the hop punch is, the malt is nearly as dominant in this beer.

A nice tasty concoction of malt and hops, heavy on both and not holding back from much. Doesn't taste much like an APA, rather I think this one is more deserving of a malty IPA title. Either way, it's pretty drinkable and goes down easily. Maybe a tad overrated in my opinion, but good nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 17:50:51 | More by tectactoe

Rope

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance-
A copper brown, with a finger white head that leaves excellent lacing.

Smell-
Light floral pine, followed by a buttery malt.

Taste-
Strangely, I found it to start with the malt, move to the bitter side of the hops, then to the floral, then to the buttery side of the malt.

Mouthfeel-
Not as crisp as I was hoping, there is a heavier presence than expected.

Overall-
A flavorful APA that does not end the night.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2013 16:07:41 | More by Rope

duceswild

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-21-2013 04:55:04 | More by duceswild

marine1975

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -7%

05-21-2013 02:11:52 | More by marine1975

strohme2

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-21-2013 01:36:56 | More by strohme2

ackeeper

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-21-2013 01:01:56 | More by ackeeper

AL89BR

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-20-2013 14:51:58 | More by AL89BR

OleDixie

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-20-2013 07:24:46 | More by OleDixie

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-20-2013 01:37:47 | More by Ctrauty

TreeBeard

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-19-2013 20:39:54 | More by TreeBeard

BeastLU

Virginia

4/5  rDev -7%

05-19-2013 19:38:30 | More by BeastLU

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -7%

05-19-2013 15:29:05 | More by ShawnMH

Dave_Treat

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-19-2013 04:13:58 | More by Dave_Treat

jakeox

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-19-2013 01:07:48 | More by jakeox

Yogidaddy

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-18-2013 21:45:49 | More by Yogidaddy

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-18-2013 20:58:03 | More by Photekut

jono0101

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-18-2013 16:06:14 | More by jono0101

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

05-18-2013 04:34:40 | More by TastyIsBeer

BradSillars

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-18-2013 01:13:50 | More by BradSillars

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-18-2013 01:13:22 | More by GinsuDave

rcdt76

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

05-17-2013 21:57:02 | More by rcdt76

darvinlikemarvin

Iowa

4/5  rDev -7%

05-17-2013 19:42:40 | More by darvinlikemarvin

thaghost

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

05-17-2013 17:40:47 | More by thaghost

twenty5

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7%

05-17-2013 16:07:39 | More by twenty5

eliz108

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-17-2013 14:49:59 | More by eliz108