Backhanded Panther
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

As a backhanded complement to the Hazy IPA, 3 Floyds isn't willing to let go of their bitter ways just because they brew a smoother, juicier, fruit-forward IPA. Upon the backs of Down Under hops, a tangy, tropical and winey taste steers this New England styled IPA in a different direction.

Making IPA bitter again, Backhanded Panther first pours with a matte, creamy gold turbidity before rising with a blend of tropical, vinous, herbal aromas in a potpourri of spicy, grassy floral fragrances. As the ale embarks upon the middle palate, its medium level of maltiness carries a soft pastry sweet, savory grain flavor with notions of light honey, caramel and agave.

The fruits begin to blossom on the middle palate as the malts begin to fade in West Coast fashion. Seemingly of the dried variety, a taste of passionfruit, lime, white grape, kiwi, pineapple and orange align in fruit filled dominance heading into the late palate. Trending acutely bitter, the character of white grapefruit develops only to be followed by an herbal bite of verbena, cedar, spruce, pepper and dried fruit peels.

Medium bodied but trending light compared to the average Hazy IPA, a drier taste ensures a high rate of refreshment, drinkability and ease on palate fatigue. However, the growing spice in finish leads to a mix of curacao liquor, a heated vodka spice and a peppery zing of white wine brandy with a long solvent-like bite.

 

Why isn’t this rated higher? It’s a juicy east coast IPA, delicious and quite good for the style. Looks fantastic, a hazy peach with excellent white head retention. Taste is juicy citrus with notes of grapefruit, apricot, orange and hop bitterness with a backbone of oats and spelt. Interesting new beer by one of the great breweries.

 

 

 

Golden yellow color, pretty hazy, fluffy white head, a heaping helping of spicy hop notes on the nose, those hop notes translate perfectly to the taste, there are spicy dank citrus flavors accompanying by a bracing bitterness that I really appreciate.

 

Wow this is a really good, yet different, IPA from a great brewery. Pours a slightly darker amber-golden color with some nice fluffy white head and rings of lingering lacing that lasted for quite some time. Smells of some nice fruity hops - grapefruit, lemon, passion fruit, pineapple, orange - as well as some weaker malt, floral hops, caramel and bread. Taste follows the nose, and there's a great balance between the sweeter malt backbone and stronger bitter hoppy bite at the end. Smooth, mild mouthfeel, good carbonation. Great slightly sticky feel. The higher ABV was well-hidden. An excellent offering from the always-reliable 3 Floyds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasted in a snifter from draft at Consume on January 8, 2018. A superfruity hazy IPA hopped entirely with Australian hops. Backhanded Panther is full-bodied and easy to drink thanks to hefty additions of spelt and oats.

Enjoyed on draft in a branded IPA pint glass. Grapefruit, vanilla wafers, nectarine on the nose, with a good and bitter zing as soon as it hits the palate. Very similar flavor profile to the nose. That immediate sip of pleasure and a dry short finish tag-team my mouth into going back for another sip again and again.

3 Floyds continually pushes out new IPA experiments, and this is one of the more successful efforts of the last year. Tasty stuff.