Caligulan Imperial Cream Ale
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

This one was carefully transported from Indiana to New Jersey by my brother as a Christmas surprise. Served from a growler at just below cellar temperature in a pint glass.

A - Pours quite viscously, like a watered down honey, and exhibits a translucency that is reminiscent of chill haze. The color is that of sweet golden honey with a touch of apricot. The small inital head dissapates quickly to a gossamer mat.

S - Very light caramel with hints of apricot and easily distinguishable flourishes of FFF's famous Amarillo hops. Sweet and floral, but on the whole understated.

T - Very sweet and flowery beginning, turning slightly malty in the middle where nuances of American Bourbon be plainly tasted. The finish evokes a fruity, cordial-like alcohol warmth with fringe notes of apricot, honey and pineapple. The aftertaste is nicely hoppy with a lingering sweetness.

M - Starts with a very light, tickling carbonation that gently puffs up to a super-creamy treat. Slick, viscous, and fantastic.

D - A very interesting entry for cream ales, however the overt sweetness is a detriment to its drinkability. A bit more dryness and crispness would definitely help level out this beer's flavor profile.

Gorge-us! Perfect golden orange brown with a lovely head.

Smells like a heavy load of citrus 3 Floyds hops. Very strong. Nothing of a cream ale, but the hops are wonderful.

The taste...wow. Big hops, like grapefruit and catnip and wonderful weeds. This moves into HEAVY cream. Not a hint of cream, like your usual cream ale. This is like a real cream soda (as in, cream mixed with soda, not the A&W crap). This ends on a wonderful node of lager malt, weeds, and more hops.

Fantastic! Unique and complex as can be.

Arrives at my table a nice light orange/copper color with a small bubbly head in a nonic pint glass. Aroma has a light fruity nuttiness along with an underlying dense creamy maltiness with a touch of grain. Some hops are lurking underneath but this one is really all about the malts.

First sip is a sweet, fruity, nutty maltiness with a big creamy aspect to it. Big, sweet pale malts all over the place. A touch of hoppy bitterness on the way down. This is a big, chewy creamy brew. A departure from the hoppy Three Floyd's offerings that I'm used to.

Mouthfeel is a tad syrupy, thick and viscous. Goes down fairly smooth but definetly makes its presence known. A tasty malt forward brew and a nicely drinkable imperial cream ale overall. It didn't blow me away but it's well worth a try. It's always nice to see something new on the Floyd's tap list!