Gumballhead - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

vacax

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fresh bottle shipped to me thanks to Justin. Gumballhead pours a fairly bright gold with a slight haze and a nice thick white head, though not as big as most wheat beers, it still looks real nice with lots of retention and lace. The aroma is fresh and hoppy with pine with a bit of a lemony twang and some vague caramel hops. The wheat does not come through much in the nose, but it would be hard pressed to overpower the hop aroma. The aroma is very good, though it is a dead ringer for an XPA moreso than an APWA.

The flavor pops amarillo, piney and citrusy hop notes with a background of caramel malt. The finish has floral notes, lingering bitterness (a bit out of place for a wheat, again) and somewhat dry cookielike malt finish too. This is one of those beers that in a BJCP competition would totally flunk out of the style guidelines, but I can't really hold that against it because this is a delicious beer. The mouthfeel has a bit of that milkshake thickness from the wheat with a prickly carbonation that isn't quite spritzy. The wheat adds good body for this sessionable brew. Drinkability is very high, flavorful, very hoppy, not palatewrecking, though intense for something in this category. I'll go ahead and call it a good thing though.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2010 03:15:15 | More by vacax

dsterbed

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%

06-19-2013 02:25:42 | More by dsterbed

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%

06-18-2013 23:48:46 | More by taylor714914

sudsy2drunk

Indiana

4/5  rDev -5.7%

06-18-2013 18:42:27 | More by sudsy2drunk

TargaFlorio

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

06-17-2013 16:22:15 | More by TargaFlorio

bomberboysk

Indiana

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Serving: 12oz Bottle into pint glass.

A: Very transparent and medium to light gold in color. Medium lacing.

S: First thing that hits you are the hops, followed by a heavy citrus element reminiscent of orange zest and then some mild herbal undertones. Overall it's a spicy, yet very smooth smell.

T: The sweet, grassy taste of the beer is well balanced with the bitterness from the hops. Citrus is again present here as well, with the wheat element of the beer being somewhat overpowered by the hops. Clean, dry finish with some lingering citrus and bitterness.

M: Medium-light, Carbonation is spot on for my tastes, which may make it slightly flat for others as I prefer less carbonation. Overall it works well with the flavors of the beer.

O: Overall another great beer from 3 Floyds, and so far my favorite APWA...definitely a great beer to sit down with on a spring day or summer night. Reviewing this beer on it's own, however it seemed to pair quite well with a chicken Caesar salad last night.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 01:29:39 | More by bomberboysk

pmorey

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

06-16-2013 01:01:38 | More by pmorey

mnphish

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

06-15-2013 04:27:15 | More by mnphish

johnsibbitt

Indiana

5/5  rDev +17.9%

06-15-2013 01:57:28 | More by johnsibbitt

AirborneBeer

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

06-15-2013 01:15:46 | More by AirborneBeer

Beeranator

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.7%

06-15-2013 01:12:53 | More by Beeranator

KS1297

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

06-15-2013 01:04:04 | More by KS1297

psmith161

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%

06-14-2013 17:24:35 | More by psmith161

mre0683

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

06-14-2013 03:32:45 | More by mre0683

RollTide7

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

06-13-2013 22:43:21 | More by RollTide7

Davepoolesque

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -5.7%

06-13-2013 14:04:44 | More by Davepoolesque

Lionhawk

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

06-13-2013 02:56:32 | More by Lionhawk

griffiam03

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

06-12-2013 21:23:04 | More by griffiam03

gusdabrew

Ohio

4.6/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Served into a Sam Smith pint glass. A dear friend turned me onto this one.

A- never seen such a clear wheat ale. Its color displays its crispness.

S - like fresh grapefruit rind, very clean and inviting.

T - just like the smell, very fresh and drinkable. Maybe too drinkable. Could get a guy in trouble.

M- medium to light. Clean and refreshing.

O - gotta go get some to stock up for summer. Its our first 90 degree day in SW Ohio and Gumballhead is the perfect remedy.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 18:29:43 | More by gusdabrew

BeerGreg

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%

06-12-2013 18:14:18 | More by BeerGreg

beerinNV

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

06-12-2013 14:48:17 | More by beerinNV

Hendry

Vermont

4.54/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

The cartoon cat sporting a black eye and a ciggie in his lips is quite amusing.
Golden wheat translucent pour with a soft 1 finger cotton head,fine carbonation,lacing is great.

The nose is pretty subtle and slight here: does not jump out at you but gives off more aroma than a "standard" issue wheat beer. Slight malt sweetness detected amongst some light hop aroma of grapefruit/pine.

Taste is unlike any wheat beer, yet is crispy like a good wheat beer.Surpasses the blandness of many wheat beers, but breaks the rules with the aggressive hop profile, I would classify this as IPW (heck,if Jack's Abby makes an IPL, why not an IPW). Dry and inviting, there is a drying bitterness in the finish that is enjoyable, however the malt bill does not go unnoticed, lingering slightly, but is not overdone.

Mouthfeel is light to medium,great carbonation,and that crisp, dry finish with a lingering bitterness makes Gumballhead a winner. The mouthfeel and drinkability aspect of this FFF creation gets the highest marks: very refreshing and easy drinking.

Overall, Three Floyds makes some of the better six pack beers available. Don't expect anything like a typical wheat beer when trying Gumballhead: it blurs the lines of wheat beer and American IPA, yet the end result is a interesting blend that is overall satisfying and recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 04:19:25 | More by Hendry

MrBuckHigh

Ohio

4/5  rDev -5.7%

06-12-2013 03:53:21 | More by MrBuckHigh

brewdog444

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%

06-12-2013 02:38:08 | More by brewdog444

biggied

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%

06-10-2013 23:03:15 | More by biggied