Apocalypse Cow - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

4.65/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow

Appearance: Three Floyds July specialty selection pours a golden yellow with a slight orange tint. A rocky, soapsuds white head perches itself majestically atop the brassy liquid, but its reign is short lived as it settles down from an imposing three fingers to a more modest (yet tightly bubbled) one. Carbonation is evident, but not overly active, and there are no alcohol legs to speak of. It’s a pretty beer, but nothing really special.

Aroma: The beer smells mainly piney and sweet. There are definite notes of citrus and pine resin, but the milk sugar (the ingredient that sets this one apart as “not normal”) is also present towards the back of the aroma, slightly hidden, but lurking. There are hints of pear and tangerine as far as specifics go, but pine is really the dominant smell. A very slight creaminess is also noticeable, though just barely.

Taste: Complexity is an understatement here. This beer is simply astonishingly deep. The hops hit quickly up front, but are quickly washed away by a formidable creaminess and sweetness (from the lactose and the malts) that would be approaching levels of overpowering and unpleasant sweetness if not for the resurgence of the bitter, piney hops. These flavors fight fervently for the battlefield that is the taster’s tongue, though they eventually settle on terms of a tie and go down together, which is really a win-win for those of us enjoying this delicious drink. I wish I could give this more than five points for this category.

Mouthfeel: …is another homerun for the superior “cow” related beer (sorry, New Glarus; this Wisconsin native still loves you). It is smooth but not watery, bubbly but easy to drink down, creamy but not a mouth-coater. This beer, like the taste (and like all great beers) is balanced perfectly, with a bit of dryness that is not unpleasant.

Overall: Whatever reservations and lack of “It” factor Apocalypse Cow may have had in the first two categories of review it made up for where it really counts. This is a beer that proves sometimes we critics can judge a beer by its cover, or a book by its aroma, or however that goes, and that judgment can be wrong when it comes to the real substance of the book or beer or what-have-you. Those abnormal Floyds from Munster have done it again with this gem of an ale. I’ve been anticipating acquiring this beer for some time, and as it jumped straight into my Top Five beers, it is safe to say it was worth the wait and worthy of the hype. Though the final score will not reflect the awesomeness that is drinking Apocalypse Cow, regulations and rubrics must be followed. 18/20

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 02:46:11 | More by THANAT0PSIS

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4.26/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22oz. bottle shared with a friend and poured into tulip glasses.

Nice orange hue with a decent and somewhat rocky head.

Smells of sweet citrus and mango, maybe some pine and pineapple.

Tastes literally like a creamy IPA. I was surprised by how much character the lactose actually contributed.

Mouthfeel was probably the most interesting part. The creaminess of the body of the beer helped to carry the bitterness much longer than I would have expected, but in a very pleasant way.

A beer truly unlike anything else I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

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4.25/5  rDev 0%

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4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
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Poured into a tulip glass. Likely not fresh.

A: Dull copper color. A finger of head that retreats to a frothy rim and film. A little cloudy. Very nice lacing.

S: POW. Very fragrant, right off the bat. A lot of pineapple, less citrus, a little hops.

T: The taste does not follow the smell. Bitter hops, pine, and booze. Floral at the end.

M: Full bodied. High carbonation. Not very smooth.

O: A very good IPA (double). The smell is the best aspect of this beer. The taste and feel fell a little short. For hop heads that enjoy a tropical fruit/citrus aroma, this is right up your alley. I will certainly try this ale again. It is a good substitute for zombie dust.

Serving type: bottle

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