Gumballhead - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

Knuckles

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was at the Harmon Brewing Co. in Tacoma last year for a Brewmaster's Dinner. It was the night they released their Harmon's Killer Brew (very bad pun in that for all you Twins fans), but the courses for the evening were paired with their beers starting at the lightest (their Blonde) and moving all the way up to their porter, finishing up with the very malty Killer Brew. The beer that accompanied the second course that evening was their Wollochet Point Wheat Ale, a beer that was so hoppy I was weirded out by the whole thing. It was delicious, mind you, and exceptionally well done, I simply didn't expect it. Gumballhead is also quite hoppy, but this time I'm prepared for it.

Appearance: Pours a deep gold with a pale white headhead that doesn't stick around long enough for me to get its phone number. Minimal lacing down the sides of the glass.

Smell: Truth be known, I think the aroma hops are actually stronger than the bittering hops themselves. That may contribute to some of the legend this beer has for wheaty hoppiness (or whatever). I don't know if they are using Amarillos for aroma as well as bittering, but they are very strong and oh so lemony smelling. And they completely obliterate any malt nose that might be present.

Taste: That wheat malt makes a very quick appearance in between the bittering and the finishing hops, leaving a very smooth, almost creamy malt trail down the back of the tongue. It's different, but I like it. Unfortunately, the finish just isn't as hoppy as the nose would lead you to believe it will be. In that, it's a little disappointing.

Mouthfeel: I couldn't tell you why, but it's not quite right to me. It feels just a bit thin, even though I know this beer is only rolling in at 4.8%. I think it's the hop levels that lead me to want a little more body out of the beer, and maybe a slightly higher ABV. Perhaps my expectations are completely whack.

Drinkability: I have to give this a 3.5 based solely on price. This is a very good, very refreshing beer. But I bought this at Beverage Warehouse in Cleveland Heights, OH for $6.99. That's just too damn much for a bomber of a light summer wheat ale. Next time I'm in Tacoma, I'm going to stop in at Harmon (because I just HATE doing that) and pick up a bomber of their wheat and see how it stands up to the Gumballhead. I'm going to make the wild-ass guess that it will hold up very, very nicely, at $3 less per bomber..

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2005 02:19:45 | More by Knuckles

MooseBoose

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-20-2013 02:35:55 | More by MooseBoose

MJSJr

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-20-2013 02:11:44 | More by MJSJr

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Review #100 for me comes on the highly anticipated after Gumballhead.

A- One of the most inticing looking wheat beers i have ever seen. Poured into a Spiegelau IPA glass. Pours a hazy light copper/dark straw with a massive amounts of carbonation bubbles. Thick white head of 2 fingers that gives a great effort to stick around. Lacing holds like a beast.

S- Citrus hops- Tons of lemon, along with orange, grapefruit, with a touch of peach. Sweet wheat malts. A bit of bubble gum...big league chew?

T- Hop forward and smooth. Fantastic balance, as I wrongly anticipated more hops based on what i have heard and other reviews I've read. Huge lemon zest and citrus flavors lead the way before the wheat malt mellows things out. Hardly any bitterness despite the hop pressence. Love the complexity.

M- Mid body. Smooth, as I mentioned. High carbonation leads to a crips bite. So refreshing as i mow the lawn. Dries the mouth as I continue to drink

O- Different from any wheat beer I have had. My first from FFF, and certainly not the last. Not the huge hop bomb that i have seen writting about it. I feel it is more balance than that. Probably my 2nd favorite beer of this style behind Lil Sumpin Sumpin

No bottled on date that i could find.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:26:03 | More by Bosoxfan20

TreeBeard

Ohio

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 20:43:01 | More by TreeBeard

nataku00

California

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 18:19:55 | More by nataku00

Kreko7

California

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 15:51:52 | More by Kreko7

ShawnMH

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 15:42:00 | More by ShawnMH

nick_asian

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 06:50:52 | More by nick_asian

brian4beer

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 04:42:43 | More by brian4beer

nasastrums

New York

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 04:09:07 | More by nasastrums

Glen0matiC

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-19-2013 00:27:17 | More by Glen0matiC

jakeox

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%

05-19-2013 00:04:34 | More by jakeox

BrySoChi

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 22:02:33 | More by BrySoChi

Yogidaddy

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 22:01:16 | More by Yogidaddy

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%

05-18-2013 20:58:43 | More by Photekut

Soloveitchik

New York

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-18-2013 20:13:20 | More by Soloveitchik

jono0101

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

05-18-2013 15:56:32 | More by jono0101

tswater

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 14:36:12 | More by tswater

chrisp450

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.7%

05-18-2013 03:56:00 | More by chrisp450

Netdogca

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 03:22:05 | More by Netdogca

JMurphy41

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 02:03:12 | More by JMurphy41

BradSillars

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 01:17:54 | More by BradSillars

AndyP612

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into tulip.

A- Slightly hazy glowing golden with a small white head.

S- The Amarillo hops are the first thing that hits the nose. Slight bready wheat towards present as well as orange. It's not as in your face as a white IPA so I think it is true to style.

T- Hops are on the forefront follows the nose in that it's not a punch to the palate but more subtle, dry, dank hop. The finish is just a slight touch of red wheat with a little yeast and bread. It's a very well balanced and a slight dry finish.

M- Light to medium mouthfeel with low carbonation makes this extremely drinkable almost dangerously so. Not too sweet or bitter with hops and the wheat really is a nice touch to round it out.

O- I think this ale along with everything I have tried from FFF truly lives up to its reputation. There's just a comfortable dankness to their ales and this one is no different. I will definitely be drinking this when the temperature is getting up there this summer. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 00:53:57 | More by AndyP612

Fargrow

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

05-18-2013 00:11:29 | More by Fargrow