For today’s craft beer review I’m going to share with you another beer from the Three Floyds Brewery located in Munster, Indiana called the Blackheart.
This beer is an India Pale Ale brewed in the English style.
I haven’t had the opportunity to try very many Three Floyds brews, but every one that I have sampled has been great.
The description from the website, 3floyds.com, regarding the Blackheart is as follows.
This beer is Three Floyds’ U.K. IPA brewed with all English ingredients and aged on toasted oak. An artistic collaboration with our friends at Blackheart Tattoo in San Francisco. Check it! May release.
Into the glass it goes…..
The Blackheart has an ABV somewhere between 8-9% and comes in a 22 oz. bottle.
This brew poured a very hazy, nice, straight, orange color with a very nice white, smooth, creamy top. It had good size, ok retention and very good lacing. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but the orange color really stood out when held against the light. It looked pristine.
The nose of this beer was very appealing. At first, the aroma seemed a bit restrained, but as the beer warmed I started to find well endowed characteristics of orange peel, other tropical fruits, pine needles, flowers, light caramel, biscuits and sour dough bread. All well balanced and even with one another. I didn’t detect any of the “oak” that was mentioned in the description, but that’s ok. The tropical fruits and bready malts more than made up for any lack of a “woody” tone.
With the first sip I found a great burst of orange citrus and tropical fruit juices. A very noticeable, hoppy bite with a small tone of alcohol. Light caramel and light biscuit flavors complimented the fruit ever so nicely. Most IPA’s that I’ve had seem to become more malty as they warm, but not this one. The Blackheart only increased in poignant, zesty, juicy sweetness. Like sugared candied goodness. Very nice in my opinion. A touch of lip puckering sourness was noticed on the first couple of sips, but it mellowed extremely well after a few moments. For a flavor that was this “forward” in sweetness, it honestly didn’t seem that way. Robust and complex, yet balanced and proportioned.
The mouthfeel was medium, crisp, smooth and very refreshing. Very dry with great carbonation. I didn’t find that this beer was a thirst quenching beer because of the severe dryness, but I doubt most would drink this for the thirst quenching capabilities. More than enough flavor was left behind long after the swallow. It coated the tongue and throat very well.
I’ll tell ya. This beer does not drink like a high ABV beer!!! It’s super easy going down and, as a matter of fact, I was taking huge gulps when I should have been sipping. I’m, without a doubt, picking this up again. If you have not tried it, be sure to seek it out. This is an exceptionally juicy, hoppy experience. Three Floyds has not let me down yet and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite brewers. They make outstanding stuff!!!!
Thanks, once again, for reading and commenting everyone. Don’t hesitate to leave an opinion if you have one. I would love to hear from you.
Cheers!!!
Score: 4.25 out of 5
Grade: A-
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