Unquestionably the most brilliantly hopped wheat beer I have ever consumed. At 5.5% you can easily enjoy a 6-pack throughout the day with no regrets. Body is on the light side and the mouthfeel is quite smooth making this a perfect summer drinker. Assertively hoppy enough to make a hop head smile, but balanced enough to make some not realize exactly what they are experiencing. While very different from classical European wheat beers and even quite different from most American Wheat beers this ale is a welcome change in my opinion and in fact exactly what I have been looking for for some time. If you enjoy the use of wheat and a nice dose of hops you are sure to enjoy this refreshing ale. Clean flavors of wheat are complimented by zesty orange, grapefruit, lemon and a nice soft bitterness creating one fantastic brew. Fantastic notes of grapefruit, bright lemon, and other citrus play with gentle earthiness and smooth bitterness in the aroma. Pours a pale apricot hue with just over a finger of white head that fades with in a minute or two. Gumball Head is a wonderfully hopped American Wheat Ale that is brewed with red wheat and Amarillo hops. So I figure I’ll start out with something simple, but fantastic. I stumbled upon this ale while at Three Floyds Brewing in Munster, Indiana for Dark Lord Day earlier this year and was ever so glad to have made it my first beer of the afternoon. While in Wisconsin for The Great Taste of the Midwest I couldn’t help but bring back a variety of brews that are unavailable in my fine state of Minnesota. Three Floyds Gumball Head August 23rd, 2010 beckel  If you are lucky enough to be near somewhere Three Floyds distributes I would certainly suggest giving this one a run for your money. With most beers I suggest consumption on the warm side, particularly unique brews but in this case I prefer Apocalypse Cow on the colder side of the equation as it seems to balance better when you get more assertive hop notes. It almost reminds me of a dreamsicle though not atrociously sweet and fantastically more bitter and complex. If you dig hops and particularly oranges you will be all over this brew. Modest alcohol is noticeable but you would be hard pressed to notice that it is a solid 11% ABV. Definitely an unique approach to a very popular style and an enjoyable brew. Consisting of soft creamy notes initially and then a tongue tingling bitter finish. The body of this beer is medium and the mouthfeel has a wonderful creamy component but is still amazingly smooth. Tastes strongly of smooth oranges, fantastically sweet milk sugar (lactose) and a lovely bitter finish. Smells of rich orange marmalade, soft floral notes, moderate bitterness and a gentle lactose sweetness that complements the malt quite nicely. Pours a completely opaque bright orange hue producing about two fingers of off white head that fades within a few minutes leaving a small amount of lacing around the glass. Both their IPA Alpha King and their Imperial IPA Dreadnaught are fantastic examples of the style and now we have Apocalypse Cow a Double IPA with lactose which is brilliantly atypical. Today I have another ale from Three Floyds that is sure to be impressive. Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow August 25th, 2010 beckel
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