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

mz3frs

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to RockerD for the bottle!

A: Pours a clear deep orange-red, 1 finger head with some lacing 4.5

N: Alight hop aroma, 'fresh' and floral 4

T: Follows nose up front, medium bitterness, orange rind, a bit spicy with a bit of caramel malt background 4

M: Medium, not too dry not too sweet. Very drinkable! 4.5

O: Drinkable with a good hop flavor and malt backbone. Sad I can't get it around here. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 03:27:53 | More by mz3frs

beaker30

Indiana

4.73/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Color is a beautiful copper color...

Smell is so citrus, so awesomely hoppy. I love IPAs and this reminded me of some of my favorites. I am a huge fan of Pride & Joy Mild Ale, so I expected some more hops out of this. I was not disappointed. Bitter, citrus and a just a hint of something sweet.

I could guzzle this right down, but the ABV is keeping me from doing that. This is going to be one of my new favorites.

Yummmy.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 02:51:55 | More by beaker30

JakeMorgan13

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

the appearance is a dark copper color. the smell is fruity with hops. the usual fff hoppy smell. it has a fruity taste at first then followed by a hoppy bitterness. the bitterness then dissipates and you want more. slight carmel. overall it is one of my favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 23:13:47 | More by JakeMorgan13

GBallHead

Indiana

4.26/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours a nice copper/golden color that is a little hazy. Two inches of fluffy head that leaves a nice ring of lace as it recedes.

S- Very hoppy and citrus, but not overly so. Notes of pine and orange

T- Very interesting combination of favors. Hops, caramel, malt in an amazing blend. I'm very satisfied, one of my favorite beers from floyds.

M - It feels light to drink and smooth. Crisp finish

O- Impressed by this beer, especially for the price. It is nicely balanced, easy to drink and will make you happy. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 01:02:38 | More by GBallHead

NastyCanasta

Ohio

4.72/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very nice clean looking dark amber color with a thick cream colored head that left a nice lacing aorund the rim of my pint glass.

Very pleasent smell. The head did not disappear rewarding my nose with both a pleasant citrus and "green" smell (reminds my of pine trees).

Very hoppy taste not real over-powering. I did not taste the alcohol at all
Very well balanced..

My mouth came alive when I drank this. Very fresh feeling. Highly recommended.

Great with beer can chicken.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2005 02:21:56 | More by NastyCanasta

neelyjr1

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A nice dark amber, pours with a very nice light rusty head.

S: Hoppy, citrusy, very little to no malt smell.

T: Sweet at first, although not a malt sweetness. The hops seem to come in towards the middle of the taste and really come through at the end, leaving a bitterness in the back and top of the mouth. You can taste notes of grapefruit, other citrus flavors.

M: Very nice mouthfeel, not too heavy that you can't get rid of it but not light enough to make you forget you ever drank any.

D: Excellent, I could drink these all night.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2006 00:19:22 | More by neelyjr1

unholy2

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

once again three floyds doesnt not let me down this pale ale was hoppier then i thought it was going to be it poured a nice amber color with nice lacing around the glass.This truely is one of the best pale ale i have had.I would recommend getting a hold of this best to have a good session to. It saddens me that I only had one

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2008 21:35:07 | More by unholy2

tw0st3p

Indiana

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

Poured into a pint glass at about 45 deg.

A: Beer poured a copper-amber color with about half a finger of head that seemed to subside about halfway through the glass. Lacing went all the way down the glass.

S: Lots of citrusy, floral aroma in this one. Catch some fruit aroma in the end. Dont catch a lot of the malt.

T: The taste on this one is awesome. Starts off a bit hoppy/flowery, but not too overpowering and ends with a nice biscuity malt.

M: This one has a bit of chewiness to it although certainly not thick by any means. Great mouthfeel.

D: If your not careful this one could get you into trouble quickly.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 01:28:01 | More by tw0st3p

kbrinson

Indiana

4.83/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my first BA review...

Appearance is a burnt Amber with a one 1-2 finger head with decent lacing.
Smells of citrus notes as advertised, but by no means overpowering.
Taste - has the bite of other hopped pale ales, however a much smoother finish.
Mouthfeel - Coats well. Very smooth.

I've been on BA for over a year now and have had several Alpha Kings. In an effort to temper my bias i've tried several other APA's to compare. Honestly, they don't measure up. It's a great beer from a great brewery. I truly am fortunate living in Indiana. If you can buy it, do so, if not, buddy up with someone and trade for it.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 20:25:23 | More by kbrinson

krembl

California

4.15/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice copper with two fingers of off-white head that seem to last forever. The smell is mostly sweet, caramel malts, with just a bit of floral hop aroma.
The flavor is of sweet malt at the front of the palate, very smoothly fading into a floral, medicinal bitterness that lingers in the back of the mouth.
The mouthfeel is fairly light, with a medium carbonation that suits the style well. This is a very nice pale ale. I've always been happy when people send it as an extra.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 00:10:07 | More by krembl

juliusseizure

New York

3.93/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to cfrances33 for this!

A - dark orange almost ruby with half inch of head. Head recedes over time to 2 mm

S - surprisingly not as pleasant as expected. Slightly medicinal.

T - hoppy bitterness from first sip to aftertaste

M - perfect for style, bubbly in mouth, weirdly inviting, can't explain it

O - a hoppy interpretation of a pale ale which is fine by me, but ZD is better

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:12:18 | More by juliusseizure

TheBeerBaron14

Missouri

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

WOW!
I found this beer while in Illinois (PLEASE BRING YOUR BEER TO MISSOURI!!!). This might be the finest drinking pale ale I have consumed that was not called an APA or IPA.

A-a nice copper hazey color to it.

S-Like walking through a forest of Hops, very citrusy and piney.

T-It has an nice hop characteristic on the front of the tonuge, but finishes with a smooth malty flaor.

M-Nice and light, yet full.(huh?)

D-The 6% aspect says "I should only have 2-3" the taste says "I should have 6-7"

Good Job Three Floyds!!!! Now please bring it to MIssouri so I can help out the environment by not driving to Illinois to purchase this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2007 23:50:21 | More by TheBeerBaron14

Hockeyabe

Illinois

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

Drank from a bottle poured into a Samuel Adams special Boston Lager Glass.

A: Pours a deep copper, vaguely cloudy. A nice creamy head with a slight reddish tint, about one finger length. Nice lacing as well.

S: Pine and hops aroma. There is a twist of citrus in here as well.

T: It starts smooth, then a wave of citrus hops washes the tongue.

M: Its finish is soothing and mildly bitter, making you anticipate the next sip. Smooth and balanced. This is where I think this qualifies as an APA and not an IPA.

D: At 6% ABV, the Alpha King is not asking for trouble, and I will hold council with him again soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 18:32:54 | More by Hockeyabe

Brewganja

Illinois

4.89/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Hands down one of my favorite beers. It has a strong citrus smell followed by a fresh hoppy scent. It rolls down the palette, intoxicating and bursting with flavor. I have had the opportunity to have a glass from a cask at Three Floyd's brew pub and the flavors are more present than on the tap or in the bottle. Dont expect to like any "lite" beer after this gem.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 04:19:20 | More by Brewganja

michdmb

Illinois

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

A great IPA. All of Three Floyd's beers have a certain sweet/malty characteristic that is not quantifiable. This beer is no exception. I am a fan of IPAs, and this one keeps calling me back.

Hoppiness is sufficient, and sweetness is a definite plus for this beer. Both are balanced to perfection. I have had Alpha King on tap and in bottle, and both are consistently good.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2009 08:12:27 | More by michdmb

Smr7626

4.33/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

I was really excited to try this brew. I am a Hoosier by birth and College but now living "abroad" in Kentucky. I've heard the talk about this cult-like brewery from the "Region". I just missed out on some Zombie Dust but was fortunate to get some Alpha King across the river from Louisville.
So, here goes:

Deep copper color...Not pale in color at all. And while labeled a "pale ale" it is clearly an IPA by all current American comparisons. Foamy at opening it poured clean, and I was left a nice head with consistent lacing throughout the time I drank this brew. By the way I poured it into a Guinness imperial pint sized glass. Very inticing.

The smell was full of hop essence. I did not detect anything overly grapefruit or pine. Very nice, but a nose full of hops. Not as aromatic as others but nice.

This is a damm good brew. Quite hoppy and more so than most. It is definitely hop forward and if you are looking for perfect balance this isn't it. But it's a full bodied hoppy beer...so while hoppy it has malt characteristics as well.

It has a world class mouthfeel. It just stays with you. It makes you praise the beer gods that there are brewers out there this talented. Your entire mouth has a say in the matter and it likes!

All in all....hop forward, not overly sensational from an olfactory perspective... Biting hops taste with a malty finish and great mouthfeel. I was debating with how it compares to others I like. On par with Sculpin, but different. Not as "sessionable" as Dogfish 60 or Lagunitas, but an excellent IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 00:38:37 | More by Smr7626

dhollar2

Indiana

5/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've had this in bottles and on tap at Three Floyds in Munster, IN. Pours a dark amber with an off-white head. Smells of piny, citrus hops and caramel malt. Taste is of high-alpha citrus hops with assertive bitterness and is beautifully balanced by rich caramel malts. It's really more of an IPA than an APA, but I like to give 3Floyds the benefit of the doubt. I love this beer. It's been my go-to for years and is a must-try for anyone.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2011 17:45:52 | More by dhollar2

IowaBiertrinker

Iowa

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

A: Orangey-brown to Burnt-orange. Pours with a lasting 1 finger tan colored head.

S: Hops dominate with some subtle malt.

T: Hops dominate again but are not overpowering. Some mellow maltiness comes through with a medium, clean finish.

M: Medium Mouthfeel - catching some Carbonation yet.

O: Drank this chilled around 50 degrees. Nice drink for a warm day. Paired it with a cheesy brat and it was a good combination. Not real complex, but a nice, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 18:51:12 | More by IowaBiertrinker

ChiBeerKM

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle poured into an imperial pint glass

this beer pours a deep amber/ruby color with an inch of fluffy white head that clings to the side of the glass as you drink. very nice looking brew.

the aroma is full of citrus hops plus a small pine aroma as well. ripe grapefruit and orange zest come to mind. there is a slight caramel smell from the malt, which comes out more as the beer warms and opens up.

taste is amazing with hops leading the way with just enough caramel malt to balance the citrusy bitterness. mouthfeel is medium and silky smooth w/ perfect dryness to leave you wanting another sip.

overall this APA is top notch. exactly what i like from the style and exactly what i expect from three floyds. pick some up if you can!

cheers

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 20:01:30 | More by ChiBeerKM

shoelesstom

Illinois

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

This is a terrific beer that breaths nicely. It is a close as it gets to being a perfect beer for a pre-pasta meal. While I believe Three Floyds really can't do wrong, this one is head an shoulders above even dark lord 2011. It is my favorite way to start a perfect weekend.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:21:14 | More by shoelesstom

TheChief24

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

The pour is excellent with a nice, think head (be sure to pour carefully and leave sediment in the bottle).

Aroma is fantastic with heavy citrus and flowery notes.

Taste is bold, again with several citrus tones, but not overpowering. Hops are present but not overly biting at the finish.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:27:42 | More by TheChief24

Ryphraph

California

4.4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have tried this beer twice. The first was not as good of an experience as the bottles may have had a hard trip to the West Coast.

The score is based on the second and better experience.

I was lucky enough to get some in the Chicago area and it was much different and better to say the least. The beer from Chicago was considerably fresher and the citrus and a honey back flavor were much stronger.

I am glad I gave it a second chance.

Ryph

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2006 04:47:01 | More by Ryphraph

brewpaab

California

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Having read about 3 Floyds and not finding it where I live, I was very happy to have finally tried this. Alpha King Pale Ale is the first of this brewery's beers I am trying.

Great copper color, and capped with a nice 1 finger head that quickly subsided.

Wonderful floral aroma, inviting me to take a drink.

Full flavor, great mouthfeel. The malty sweetness is there for just a second before the hops lets you know what this beer is all about -but in a balanced way.

This beer is really good...I wish I had another...

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2007 05:44:13 | More by brewpaab

lunar276

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very good beer. Picked up one of these at the new Whole Foods in Kildeer. Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint. A very appealing dark golden color bordering on a red. A nice thin head carrying through. A different oily texture in the mouth. Smooth and bold hop flavor to start and finishes smooth. Very solid beer. I will definitely buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:13:39 | More by lunar276