Stay In School
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

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From:
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
 
Indiana, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
10%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 12.6%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 16, 2012
Added:
Dec 16, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MolotovCat:
Photo of MolotovCat
Reviewed by MolotovCat from Indiana

4.26/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Clouded amber and a strong smell of bourbon. This beer cannot be judged by smell alone. The description lists vanilla, coconut, mint, honey, and bourbon and I can say that is as accurate as it gets. You can easily taste all of these flavors. It lacks the distinct Three Floyd's taste, but like all 3F beers, this one will not let you down. Do not pass up the opportunity to try this brew.
Dec 18, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by birdsellam from Indiana

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by qwertyiop from Indiana

Jan 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by rfraga77 from Indiana

Jan 15, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by thewimperoo from Illinois

Nov 17, 2011
Photo of Hojaminbag
Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

3.18/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
The body is a glowing, deep orange-red hue with a thick, creamy cap of off-white foam. The head sticks around for a while, and leaves some nice lacing behind as well.
The aroma is quite good. There is noticeable vanilla and oak, a ton of coconut, a bit of bourbon and some generic spicy aromas that I cannot identify.

The coconut dominates the flavor of Stay in School. Next are hints of vanilla and oak and the generic spicy flavors. Some sweetness from the malt is in the background, and some alcohol warming that pairs with just a hint of bourbon. The first sip is very nice. The second is OK. After a while, however, the sweetness and heavy coconut flavor of this beer wear on me. I'm a big coconut fan, but Stay in School gets hard to drink after a while.

The body is full and creamy, just like it should be.

Stay in School is unique and interesting. For that reason I am glad I got to try it. I don't think I will ever try it again though, especially considering the fact that it comes with a hefty price tag. Drinkability is probably the weakest area also, because the beer becomes more cloying and almost overwhelming as I work my way through it.
Sep 11, 2010
Photo of spointon
Reviewed by spointon from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I had this on tap today at the FFF brewpub. Served in a 10oz stemmed tulip glass.

A= This ale poured a slightly cloudy deep orange color with 1/2" of white head. The head dropped to a thin cap and left nice spotty lace behind on my glass.

S= Lots of whiskey, both in the sense of alcohol but also in the smell of strong sweet malt. If I looked (smelled) deep enough I could also get oak, vanilla, and even a tobacco note.

T= All the components of the aroma were present as well as a bit of wheat twang and a hint of mint (?). Though this brought big boozy whiskey at every turn, it never seemed "hot" or too solventy to drink easily. Finished warm and rich with wood and tobacco the last things I thought of.

MF= Fairly heavy bodied with a light but fully adequate carbonation level.

D= The booze is always letting you know its there in this beer, but the drinkability somehow never suffers as a result. I liked it alot, probably better than I liked the base beer which is not the norm for me and barrel aged beers.
Feb 22, 2010
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.23/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served on-tap at Three Floyds, in their usual tulip/snifter glass.

A - A finger of creamy white foam that has excellent retention and tons of lacing. The head eventually settles to a thing cap. Hazed red-orange body with some bubbles visible. Pretty excellent look for a high-gravity barrel-aged beer.

S - Earthy bourbon whiskey, coconut, vanilla. After reading the menu description I get a touch of the mint, and it comes out more as the beer warms up along with a touch of solvent alcohol. I have no idea what the base beer was, and I don't think it really matters.

T - Coconut, vanilla, and honey sweetness balanced by a nice dry tannic finish. The minty touch helps offset the sweetness as well. No drop-off from the smell, and the lack of booziness in the taste makes things even better. Bitter oaky aftertaste.

M - Medium-thick, light carbonation spritz, and a touch of grittiness. Dry finish, with a touch of residual stickiness. Some residual warmth.

D - This actually went down fast as it was my first beer of the day. However it's a little too hot for me to go back to the well too often. Still, a successful barrel-aging experiment from the guys at Three Floyds. Those Woodford Reserve barrels are f@$#in' golden!
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of wedgie9
Reviewed by wedgie9 from Tennessee

3.61/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at Three Floyds. Pours orange with a thick white head. Very oaky nose with faint hints of citrus. Strong vanilla aroma as well. Very lively carbonation. There are some light flavors that are fighting to come through. Citrus and floral components are present but squashed right away by the very strong oak and vanilla flavors. Coconut comes through very lightly as well. I think that with some age this beer may come together nicely, but right now it is a little too rough and unrefined for me.
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of hansgruber
Reviewed by hansgruber from Indiana

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Had on tap at FFF on 12.29.09
Was told it's a secret blend of some of their beers aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels

A-  Very soapy looking sudsy head 1 finger thick. Solid lacing and the usual rings down the side of the glass. Clear and clean light amber color.

S- Coconut, vanilla, oak, and bourbon. Not boozy. Had a spicy sweetness to it, rum-like perhaps 

T- Coconut lots of it. Bourbon and oak on the finish.
It had the same spicy rummy taste as in the nose without being boozy like a spirit. The coconut was the most dominate flavor with everything else playing around it, not so much that it was out of balance.

M-  Perfect carbonation, nice and light. Not too thick or thin really just right.

D- Good. Not boozy, too many other flavors goin on. Was able to drink with ease. Really enjoyed it.  

One of the better barrel aged offerings I've had from FFF. I hope they continue the recent trend to have one on with consistency.
Jan 13, 2010
Photo of PrinceDarren
Reviewed by PrinceDarren from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
* Note to Sean9689 - I would almost describe the style as an old ale but barleywine seems to fit too.

Tried this at FFF on tap. At first, the taste resembles a creme soda. After a moment of warming up in the glass, the coconut aroma starts to become very powerful. Tastes like toasted coconut and vanilla. A touch of wood starts to come through and the whiskey taste is moderate-to-strong. If you share my love for bourbon, you will enjoy this immensely.

Comparison-wise, this is very similar to Goose Island's Imperial Brown Goose - although "Stay in School" is far superior. It is lighter, more flavorful and slightly easier to drink than the latter.

Still, this falls a little on the "hot" side which detracts a bit from its drinkability. Having said that, the complexity and strong flavors and aromas are unique and make this a hard beer to pass up.
Jan 05, 2010
Photo of BS68280
Reviewed by BS68280 from South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Had this beer on tap at my first visit up to FFF. Great food and enjoyed some damn good beers, this being one of them.

A: Pours a hazy amber/orange with about half an inch of a macadamia colored head. The head dissipates fairly quickly, but some lacing sticks around.

S: The first thing that hit me was the bourbon from the 1 year it spent in the Woodford Reserve. Vanilla and honey follow the bourbon, and as it warms the coconut makes an appearance.

T: This one threw me for a loop. Not at all the bourbon bomb that the smell would have you believe. The bourbon is again there at the front, but just when you notice it, the sweetness sneaks up on you and hits you hard. Honey and Vanilla bombard you quickly before the bourbon pokes its head back in for the finish. It tastes like Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. I don't know a better way to put it. The coconut can be tasted once it warms a bit but i actually kind of got a slight sunscreen taste from it.

M: A medium body with a medium level of carbonation. I honestly didn't take notes on this part because i was too busy trying to figure out how i got Honey Bunches of Oats in my beer.

D: Hides the alcohol very well, not sure that i would want many of them though.
Jan 05, 2010
Photo of beertooth
Reviewed by beertooth from Illinois

3.08/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
On tap at the brew pub. Served in a snifter/goblet.

This beer is a hazy apricot with a tiny white fizzy collar of white bubbles.

The nose is very odd. I'm picking up some scented soaps, alcohol, vanilla, cologne, more alcohol. Some sweet oaky notes along with some pipe tobacco. Very strange. I'm not sure if I'm a fan.

The taste follows the nose. Tons of sharp vanilla, oak, tobacco, booze. Sweet cologne. It's really not working for me.

Mouthfeel is medium with a low level of carbonation.

This beer was really hard to finish for me. I really like Three Floyds, but their barrel aged offerings are really hit and miss for me. I'm glad I tried it, but one was more than enough.
Dec 26, 2009
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
*Please note, I do not know the exact style, so I am listing as American Barleywine. I highly doubt it's a BW, so if anyone does find out what it is, then please edit.

On-tap @ FFF's and poured into snifter.

A - Pours a golden burnt orange with a cream-colored head. A nice thin cap of head remains after the head disipiates. There's a ton of lacing all down the sides of the glass as I take drink after drink.

S - Coconuts, coconuts, and coconuts. A nice sweetness that's not overpowering at all and fits in nicely with the profile. Nothing too "in your face", just coconuts, oak, and honey melded together.

T - Coconuts, honey, oak, bourbon. This does not taste like a 10% beer at all. It goes down sweet and roasty...very nice. Drink after drink, I liked it more and more.

M - Medium bodied, light carbonation, smooth with well hidden ABV.

D - Very easy to drink for the Barrel Aging. I would have had another but I had to drive. Fingers crossed they'll be another barrel of this in the future.
Dec 16, 2009
Stay In School from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 14 ratings