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

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

magictacosinus

California

4.29/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was the first beer by FFF I got to try on my recent trip to Chicago. It didn't disappoint! Poured into a tulip glass at the Map Room, located on the lower west side of town. Review is from my notes.

The color is a strong orange-amber color, topped with a large 3 finger of head that eventually dies down to a small ring, yet never seems to let go. Carbonation is very light, in spite of the large head. There's a ton of lacing on the glass, which is always appealing. The color emits a syrupy, slightly viscous texture. It may be the tulip here, but this doesn't look quite like any pale ale I've seen to date.

The aroma is filled with toasted graininess, oranges, plums (?!), and loads of dried citrus loaded underneath the beer. The graininess and lightly sweetened malt character definitely seems to be the focus here, but I've heard here and there that FFF is known for their wild hopped concoctions regardless of the style. Indeed, the hops here have a slight dried character atop the malts, but rather than remaining as a stereotypical "citrus" profile, they seem to meld with the malt backbone to provide juicy fruits from plums (still bewildered there), apricots, maybe a light dash of melon. Pretty awesome stuff in that respect.

The flavor consists of an initial malt creaminess and thickness, only to end in a citrus dry finish with all of the aforementioned fruits. This becomes ever more present as it warms up, but there is, from the very beginning, a syrupy, sticky texture that enhances the fruit profile. It's jammy at the finish, maybe a little floral, but it's definitely an orange-based, lightly caramelized malt combo that works in a very balanced manner. The beer is also very well carbonated, which further promotes balance and gives this its juicy texture.

What perhaps may be the most "normal" of easy to find FFF offerings, it's still quite different from pale ales that I'm used to. This isn't your cascade-focused pale ale here! The maltiness is very hearty, and combined with the very pleasant range of hops, it's far more juicy and zesty as a result. I really enjoyed this – its balanced nature could make this *the* go-to pale ale in my fridge year-round if I could only get this out West. Glad I got to try it at least!

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2013 04:18:46 | More by magictacosinus

Fux

France

4.53/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden copper with a small foamy white head
S: Smell is hoppy, fruity, with oranges, mangos. There is also a solid malty base, mainly biscuit, toasted bread aromas.
T: Taste is also very hoppy, with floral flavors. Also sweet and loads of exotic fruits.
M: Sharp attack on the palate. Very good carbonation very well balanced by the sweetness. Finishes dry, very refreshing.
O: A very nice pale ale. Refreshing, also tasty and well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2013 21:51:20 | More by Fux

smakawhat

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap into a sampler 4 oz. taster at Pizza Paradiso Dupont. Way overdue for reviewing this one.

A good basic amber copper, with light light tan to off white color and leaving a solid collar. Good lacing on this drink while finishing, and fairly crystal clear very nice.

Aroma jumps out. Wonderful juicy orange with a nice sweetness. No hop bitterness noticeable, with a little white grass. It's very pleasant and inviting.

Palate is rich and full on first sip. Wonderful mix of mild wood hop and orange and tangerine citrus. Light hints of grapefruit with a spritzy hop feel and character. Palate is juicy matching the hinted bouquet.

Juicy. Full. Stupid easy to drink, and full of flavor. A great touch of juice and spicy finish quality. This is either way better on tap, or I had an old bottle cause this is nothing like I remember it.

Old review - bottle (4)(4)(3.5)(4)(3) ---

Poured into a pint glass resembling a really nice golden/brown color body that is clear. Cream off/white head with fairly tight bubbles and some minor visible carbonation. Real good head retention.

Standard bouquet but a good one. Simple citrus grapefruit with a sweetness and hop aroma. Very nice.

Upon drinking first comes a very hoppy front more in the standard of an American IPA, with a good finish. I keep forgetting this is suppose to be a pale ale but it sure doesn't feel like one. This is quite an okay drink but nothing here I would desperately want to have for an APA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2013 23:34:24 | More by smakawhat

Rogorama

Indiana

4.69/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub. Kind of a three floyds forgotten gem here. The flagship beer that we don't have too often, we forget how good it actually is. The hops are balanced absolutely perfect with a slight citrus aftertaste. the 6.66% ABV is also a nice touch from the boys (and girl) over at three floyds. Just a great beer!

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 20:03:05 | More by Rogorama

elNopalero

Texas

4.31/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This pours a golden amber. There’s’ an orange marmalade aroma and a bready toasted biscuit note which contrasts with the hop aroma. I find a similar orange marmalade flavor that’s dryly bitter with pine and orange peel on it. Nicely carbonated with a bitterness that lasts.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 10:03:23 | More by elNopalero

SerialHiker

Illinois

4.79/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This thing is awesome, a total must have...a perfectly balanced pale ale, yummy caramel malts, delicious citrus hops...fluffs up so nicely on the palate...can't believe I'm here at the brew pub...one ff the tap is all i need, this would go so well with a round of disc golf...having a bit of a beergasm...

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2013 20:41:44 | More by SerialHiker

GameFreac

Georgia

4.61/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Wino's in Bowling Green, KY. Poured into a snifter.

Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden orange color with 2 fingers of a white head.

Smell: Smells of sweet hops, malt, pine, and grapefruit.

Taste - Taste mirrors the nose. Everything is so balanced.

Mouthfeel: Perfect for the style.

Overall: The best pale ale I've ever had. So good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 20:48:31 | More by GameFreac

barczar

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy caramel copper color with a dense quarter inch tan head that quickly dissipates.

Aroma is heavily pine and citrus pith, with caramel malt sweetness and floral hop notes.

Bready, toasted malt forms the backbone of the beer, with underlying grapefruit pith and spruce flavors adding intrigue. Mint surfaces at the finish, with grassy and herbal tones. Bitterness is slightly dominant.

Body is moderate, with slightly high carbonation and a somewhat dry, crisp finish.

Overall, a fairly complex pale ale. Balanced to the extremes. But it's a little too bitter for my tastes. Just not my style.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2012 21:56:50 | More by barczar

The_1084

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a deep copper, almost amber color. Had about a 1.5 finger head that had nice retention and left a good amount of lacing. Lots of activity visible in this beer.

S - Presents the aroma of citrus hops with hints of pineapple, grapefruit, and apple.

T - A strong taste of citrus fruits with grapefruit leading the way from start to finish.

M - A crisp beer with a clean finish and moderate carbonation; could easily drink several of these in one sitting.

O - One of the better pale ale's I have drank and would gladly drink more of these in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 23:17:37 | More by The_1084

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is quite the hoppy pale ale. Alpha King is a pretty appropriate name, as it has the properties to be the top APA out there. There is enough malt to balance the beer out, and a touch of citrus, but it's clearly all about the hops which absolutely dominate the palate. So, it can be a little pungent and I recall not wanting to take big sips, but at the same time I could easily have a couple of these in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2012 23:59:06 | More by TheRealBigC

socon67

New York

4.55/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

First Three Floyds, on tap at the Map Room in Chicago.

A - Amber pour. Decent foam retention and lacing is impressive as it webs the glass.

S - Scents of fresh tropical fruit and oily hops. For an APA the scent of fresh hops is more typical of a DIPA.

T - Crisp flavor that brings out more of the sweet fruit flavor than the bitterness of the hoppy bite. Makes this so well balanced that I felt this is what makes this a top shelf beer.

M - Easily sessionable, and with such a crisp feel and smooth balance, you would want to drink plenty of these. Can't imagine better.

O - Easily the best american pale I've had. Three Floyds gets plenty of hype but a beer like this makes the attention justified. Loved this one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 16:22:47 | More by socon67

spark3148857

New York

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Three Floyds:

AP: Amber with mahogany tones, creamy off white head.

AR: Pungent hops, some citrus with a heavy dose of earthy and piney aromas.

TS: Slight citrus hops but most bitterness comes from earthy and piney flavors, dry.

MF: Great smooth mouthfeel that coats the mouth.

OV: A well crafted APA verging on IPA that brings lots of great hop bitterness to the table.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2012 03:01:51 | More by spark3148857

MortarPestle

Indiana

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark amber with an off-white head that provided excellent lacing down to the bottom of the glass.
Aroma: A big nose of citrus and florals, the malt fights it way through.
Taste: The flavors of grapefruit and juniper are everywhere, nice malt sweetness to balance the hops, with a big hoppy finish.
Drinkability: Nice balance of flavors and paired nicely with a traditional Hoosier tenderloin.
Notes: Served on tap in a pint glass. Dark atmosphere made it a little difficult to judge appearance.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2012 01:52:58 | More by MortarPestle

kylehay2004

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes over Thanksgiving 2011. Ordered this as my fish and chips arrived at the brewery.

A: two finger off white head on a copper and crimson body with nice lacing

S: grass, citrus and floral which comes across as very fresh with some caramel malts in the background.

T: Follows the nose well with grassy and pine hop bitterness with citrus (mostly pineapple) hops flavors on a bready and caramel malt body.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation. Fairly standard for the style.

Overall: Its fairly clear that FFF has this genre locked up however this is may actually be an IPA or one in disguise.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2012 00:34:06 | More by kylehay2004

soju6

Missouri

4.23/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Served a rich copper color with a good head and lots of lacing.

S: Aroma of citrus with some caramel and fresh grain.

T: Taste of citrus and caramel with some fresh grain. A nice bitterness and a clean finish.

F: medium body, smooth and somewhat creamy. Very nice balance

O: Excellent beer, a very solid pale ale. Definitely good for more than one. Well worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 03:34:14 | More by soju6

AnnArborJoe

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From notes. Numerous samples: tap and cask at FFF, bottle, growler.

A - Clear amber, sticky head lots of lacing.

S - light on the malty, complex hop aroma (mostly citrus, some pine).

T - bold hops, slight hint of sweet from the malt. Complex flavor from the hops with a perfect amount of contribution from the malt.

M - medium bodied, good carbonation, clean and crisp.

O - excellent. Perfect APA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2012 15:47:51 | More by AnnArborJoe

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Nova Wine Bar in Hudson, Wisconsin.

Clear medium amber with really dense 1-finger yellowish tan head. Good retention, great lacing. A bit of visible bubbling.

Smell is excellent. Crisp grassy hops with some solid grapefruit and pine character. Has a really nice snap to it that is quite refreshing. Light bready malt fills in the gaps. This is the kind of beer that I sniff and can't help but say "Mmmm".

Taste is much more bitter than anything else. A bit disappointing given the smell. Malt support is there, slightly bready but mostly providing a base. I don't get much from the hops other than the bitter kick. Hopped up, more like an IPA than an APA in my opinion. Finishes bitter and crisp, fading slowly. The smoothness of the finish is what saves it for me. I want more variety in the flavor.

Medium-light body, carbonation is average. Body works just fine with the beer.

I find this to be a good, hoppy pale ale. I wish the taste had more than the heavy dose of hop bitterness. But I could smell it all day, and I definitely don't mind drinking it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2012 03:51:09 | More by zeledonia

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the 3F brewpub. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

A- Pours a clear amber color with a finger of super sticky tan head. Excellent lacing.

S- Lots of citrus and some pine as well as a slightly grainy, sweet amber malt.

T- Big hop profile, citrus and pine as well as a clean, freshly-cut-grass bitterness that fights against a sweet amber/caramel malt that has a bit of a grainy feel to it. Flavors are very well integrated.

M- Medium-bodied, good carbonation, has a smooth feel with a crisp, clean finish.

O- A pretty damn good pale ale. I'll have to pick up a sixer of this next time it hits my local shop.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 05:11:29 | More by WillCarrera

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap from Clevelands own Bier Markt- served in a pint glass. Had a one finger head and great retention and lacing. Poured a dark copper color with its foam being a sort of bone-white. Smell makes it immediately apparent that this is a fiendishly hoppy beer- I smell the citrusy notes that I've come to associate with cascade hops. That taste measures up to the smell- hops from beginning to end and rounded out with a nice medium light body. The mouthfeel is wonderful as well- a little oily from the hops and medium carbonation make it very drinkable. I would get this all the time if it was available to me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 01:53:59 | More by Hopdaemon39

Treebs

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on draft at the Yardhouse in Glenview. Served in a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear amber color with some lighter straw notes around the edges. A one finger bubbly white head forms on the pour and subsides to thin film. Leaves some sticky lace behind.

S: Slighty malty with nice high hop presence. The main note is grapefruit and with a subtle floral component mixed in.

T: The taste follows the nose, but with the hops more amplified. The oaty malt provides a nice backbone for the citrus hop flavors with a slight flowery sweetness.

M: Light to medium bodied with a sticky mouthfeel to it. Nice bubbly carbonation though and the finish is slightly bitter.

O:This is definitely more hopped up than I remember from years past. It drinks more like an IPA than a pale ale, but is still a delicious and hoppy brew.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2011 15:45:11 | More by Treebs

MarkBlackout

Indiana

4.93/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love Alpha King. It was one of the first craft beers I really got into when living in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, around 2003. There was a liquor store down the street that had 3-4 craft beers and this was one of them. (Another was a spoiled sixer of Abita Turbodog I bought once. It was AWFUL. Pure soy sauce!). I loved Alpha King from the start, and still do. I drank it when I was at the brewery way back then, before the brewpub existed and it was just a well-lit factory atmosphere. Some old-timers were drinking their Light Lager offering and eating some potato chips they had brought. It ruled. Citrus, caramel malt, a bit sticky, excellent. I had it on tap at MacNiven's during lunch (a liquid lunch in my case).. to celebrate the end of my first semester at grad school. I also had Bell's Sparkling Ale, which I was less impressed by but still enjoyed. Indianapolis is a good beer city. We have lots of good options.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 01:10:53 | More by MarkBlackout

Koufax21

New Mexico

3.93/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at 3 Floyd's Brewpub. Pours a dark amber color with 1" of an off white colored head. Smells of big grapefruit and pine. Tastes of big citrus and fruit flavors. Big grapefruit here. This has got to be a borderline IPA. I've had many IPA's that couldn't hold up to this one. Great beer. I wish I could get it where I'm at.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 20:58:34 | More by Koufax21

notchucknorris

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Pizza Port Carlsbad

A: Beautiful reddish amber color with a nice one finger tan foamy head.

S: Big citrus hop notes with some hints of tropical fruit underneath. Definitely some mango there.

T: Great juicy citrus hops upfront tempered by some slightly bready malts and finished off with a nice peppery hop resin bite. A bomb pale ale. I would love to get more of this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2011 23:15:57 | More by notchucknorris

osusullins

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is my go-to beer. I can't express how much I love this one. Whether you want to call this an APA or an IPA it suits either label. Just pure hoppy brilliance.

The beer pours a beautiful deep orange with a nice white head.

The nose is almost all hops. Lots of pine with some subtle grapefruit. As a hop-head, the smell just makes me want to dive right in, and I usually do just that.

The taste does not disappoint the nose. Hops is what you smell, and that is exactly what you taste. Tons of pine and citrus bitterness. Some malt shows up on the back end, but the palate is pretty hop fried by that point. lol.

This is the flag ship beer of my favorite brewery. I love this beer. Top 10 favorite of mine definitly. Thanks, FFF.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 04:03:14 | More by osusullins