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Alpha Klaus Christmas (Xmas) Porter
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- From:
- 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- American Porter
Ranked #30 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,694 - Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 9.98%
- Reviews:
- 845
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 21, 2024
- Added:
- Dec 06, 2002
- Wants:
- 279
- Gots:
- 449
Alpha King’s festive cousin. A big American Christmas Porter brewed with English chocolate malt, Mexican sugar and of course, tons of strange American hops. Cheers!
38 IBU
38 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mitchster:
Reviewed by Mitchster from Michigan
4.44/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.44/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
All I have to say is that this better be one amazing brew, cause it cost me $8.19 for a 220z bomber about 2 miles down the road from the brewery.
This pours out to a dense very dark brown, forming a dark cocoa head with average retention and lacing. Carbonation is a little stronger than most 3F's (I find the mild carbonation of their brews appealing). Oh yum, the aroma is intense and wonderful...there is a ton of chocolate, toast, and deeply roasted grains, but it's wonderfully balanced by amazing resinous skunkweed hops. I'm thinking Chinook. The nose is awesome. The mouthfeel is slick, oily and mineral with a dense body, but has a touch too much carbonation for my preferences. Powdery and almost flittery. The taste makes me think Bear Republic Stout mixed 60:40 with Stone IPA...kinda like a tweaked Barney Flats. The huge amount of chocolate malt and black patent adds a sharp astringency to the finish. Bitterness is medium-strong and very woodsy. The aftertaste seems to linger forever with burnt grains, charcoal, and pine sap. The finish is very dry and as it warms, a touch of isopropyl alcohol enters the picture.
This isn't your Dad's porter, but it's quite the tasty little brew. It's hard to justify the price as other similarly stylized brews would go for $5.99/bomber or so. I found it more enjoyable after it warmed up and the carbonation mellowed. One of a kind, but I'd be hard pressed to buy it again considering the cost.
Dec 28, 2005This pours out to a dense very dark brown, forming a dark cocoa head with average retention and lacing. Carbonation is a little stronger than most 3F's (I find the mild carbonation of their brews appealing). Oh yum, the aroma is intense and wonderful...there is a ton of chocolate, toast, and deeply roasted grains, but it's wonderfully balanced by amazing resinous skunkweed hops. I'm thinking Chinook. The nose is awesome. The mouthfeel is slick, oily and mineral with a dense body, but has a touch too much carbonation for my preferences. Powdery and almost flittery. The taste makes me think Bear Republic Stout mixed 60:40 with Stone IPA...kinda like a tweaked Barney Flats. The huge amount of chocolate malt and black patent adds a sharp astringency to the finish. Bitterness is medium-strong and very woodsy. The aftertaste seems to linger forever with burnt grains, charcoal, and pine sap. The finish is very dry and as it warms, a touch of isopropyl alcohol enters the picture.
This isn't your Dad's porter, but it's quite the tasty little brew. It's hard to justify the price as other similarly stylized brews would go for $5.99/bomber or so. I found it more enjoyable after it warmed up and the carbonation mellowed. One of a kind, but I'd be hard pressed to buy it again considering the cost.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Really innovative and good beer. They added tons of hops to a porter base, and the chocolate malt and sugar rounds things out. Drinks somewhere between a black IPA and a dessert porter.
Feb 21, 2024Rated by Truegent2004 from Minnesota
3.26/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.26/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I had it on tap at Milwaukee Burger Company. Long story short....it's basically a dark IPA, and I hate IPA's.
Jan 28, 2024Reviewed by MHL81 from Illinois
4.12/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a pint shaker. Didn't notice the strange hops. Sweet on the lips. Overall a decent porter, but not much Christmas connection other than the Klaus name and the Krampus-like label figure.
Jan 21, 2024Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
4.03/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a dark brown color with a small head of tan foam. The head fades rather fast leaving a light level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is strong of a rich chocolate smell mixed with big smells of molasses and brown sugar. A nice roasted malt and a rather sizable char smell are there as well. Notes of some earthy smalls and a bit of wood and nut round it all out, creating a rather dark and roasty smell overall.
Taste – The taste starts out with a with a nice roasty and toasted malt flavor mixed with some brown sugar and chocolate. The sweet is lighter then anticipated from the nose, but is still moderate in intensity. Right up front, there is also a sizable coffee and nut taste, with the former getting a bit stronger as the taste advances. Flavors of a herbal and pine hop develop along the way, and with some cola flavors and a touch of smoke, one is left with a moderately hoppy and dark roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the thicker and more dense side with a lower carbonation level. For the rich dark tastes and the moderate hop and sweet the feel is nice, keeping it slightly slower in drinkability and accentuating the rich flavors nicely.
Overall – A rather nice robust porter. Certainly one I will go back to in the future.
Jan 19, 2024Appearance – The beer pours a dark brown color with a small head of tan foam. The head fades rather fast leaving a light level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is strong of a rich chocolate smell mixed with big smells of molasses and brown sugar. A nice roasted malt and a rather sizable char smell are there as well. Notes of some earthy smalls and a bit of wood and nut round it all out, creating a rather dark and roasty smell overall.
Taste – The taste starts out with a with a nice roasty and toasted malt flavor mixed with some brown sugar and chocolate. The sweet is lighter then anticipated from the nose, but is still moderate in intensity. Right up front, there is also a sizable coffee and nut taste, with the former getting a bit stronger as the taste advances. Flavors of a herbal and pine hop develop along the way, and with some cola flavors and a touch of smoke, one is left with a moderately hoppy and dark roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the thicker and more dense side with a lower carbonation level. For the rich dark tastes and the moderate hop and sweet the feel is nice, keeping it slightly slower in drinkability and accentuating the rich flavors nicely.
Overall – A rather nice robust porter. Certainly one I will go back to in the future.
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia
4.43/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.43/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L - deep brown, nearly black with a creamy tan head that dissipates somewhat quickly, leaving behind a thin cal and a good amount of lack g
S - Roasted dark malts, chocolate, slight hops. This is a great smelling beer
T - follows the nose: roasted and toasted dark malt up front and throughout intermixed well with bakers chocolate, slight burnt sugar and caramel
F - medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and soft
O - a really solid porter
Jan 08, 2024S - Roasted dark malts, chocolate, slight hops. This is a great smelling beer
T - follows the nose: roasted and toasted dark malt up front and throughout intermixed well with bakers chocolate, slight burnt sugar and caramel
F - medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth and soft
O - a really solid porter
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.87/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From the bottle, it pours a very dark brown color with a nice light brown head that slowly reduces. Lacing. The nose gets roasted malts and dark fruit. The mouth follows with a modest burnt taste coming through at the end. Medium bodied overall as well.
Jan 06, 2024Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts
4.27/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Small pour at First Draft in Chicago. Didn’t know this beer existed until seeing it in stores around Chicago today and happened to see it on this draft list. Really seems to be a Black IPA based on the hop presence. But rich and roasty with plenty of Porter character to toe the line.
Dec 23, 2023Reviewed by Valdez_Mescalito from Michigan
4.3/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
October-December 2023 Seasonal Release - 6 pack
12 oz. bottle dated 09-28-23 - 7.3% ABV / 67 IBU
Brewed and bottled in Munster, IN
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fluffy tan-colored head that clings to the glass. Pitch black appearance.
Smell - Getting aromas of sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, roasted malt, dark fruit, caramel, white grapes.
Taste - The taste follows the nose, but it's more muted. There's a small amount of bitterness in the aftertaste.
Feel - Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and finishes dry.
Overall - The sweetness and bitterness are balanced well, and it's easy to drink despite the higher ABV.
Dec 22, 202312 oz. bottle dated 09-28-23 - 7.3% ABV / 67 IBU
Brewed and bottled in Munster, IN
Poured into a Bell's branded nonic pint glass
Look - Pours a dense and fluffy tan-colored head that clings to the glass. Pitch black appearance.
Smell - Getting aromas of sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, roasted malt, dark fruit, caramel, white grapes.
Taste - The taste follows the nose, but it's more muted. There's a small amount of bitterness in the aftertaste.
Feel - Medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel and finishes dry.
Overall - The sweetness and bitterness are balanced well, and it's easy to drink despite the higher ABV.
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota
4.02/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Black, good head.
Smell: Dark roast, almost burnt smell.
Taste: Heavy roasted malt, high percentage dark chocolate throughout, bitter hoppy finish.
Overall: Really hoppy and really roasty porter, low sweetness. Reminds me of some years of Surly Darkness, when they amp up the hops, but not quite as heavy as that one. Good price (2023), only $12 for a 6 pack.
Dec 09, 2023Smell: Dark roast, almost burnt smell.
Taste: Heavy roasted malt, high percentage dark chocolate throughout, bitter hoppy finish.
Overall: Really hoppy and really roasty porter, low sweetness. Reminds me of some years of Surly Darkness, when they amp up the hops, but not quite as heavy as that one. Good price (2023), only $12 for a 6 pack.
Reviewed by wmeckley44 from Tennessee
4.39/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.39/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Weird combination of a lot of roasted malt with a good amount of carbonation and a lighter body, plus a very hoppy back end. To me, it's more of a chilled out, drinkable black ipa with all the hop character. The roasted malt flavor is less bitter coffee and more less sweetened chocolate which is fun. Definitely not in the same category as barrel aged and dessert porters, this one is lighter and refreshing while still having an interesting flavor and evolution.
Dec 06, 2023Reviewed by GStone899 from Minnesota
4.07/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
You can call it a Christmas porter if you want. Not much anything Christmas about it but that doesn't make it any less delicious. Smell is what gets you first with the Mexican sugar and strange American hops. Taste is good and bold without being overly sweet. Nice chocolate malts with dark chocolate undertones. Pretty balanced for a porter with chocolate. I like the invention by 3 Floyd's here - it's a different porter, not the best porter you've ever had but it's different in a good way. And not so different as to make it bad. They tried something to a type of beer that would be super easy to make the same type of boring porter but they didn't and it's a nice style and taste. Try it.
Dec 03, 2023
Alpha Klaus Christmas (Xmas) Porter from 3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
2482 ratings
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