High Speed Steel
3 Floyds Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

pretty basic stuff here, i always expect fairly exotic and aggressive beer from these guys, but this is just a drinker. there might be some corn or something in this fizzy yellow brew, its a touch sweet, very light, a little thin, and just sort of cheap tasting, although not poorly made. part of its simplicity is that the lager yeast has little if anything to contribute in terms of aroma or flavor, its neutral or darn near it, not as robust as some european strains, just not much there. the grain has a honey sweetness to it up front, a light biscuit thing, but also a sort of syrupy moment, this is where i think maybe some corn, it doesnt warm up great, and its a bit one dimensional. there is a decent late hopping to this which i suppose keeps it well in the craft realm, dried flowers, dried citrus peel, green tea, just a little bitterness but this is still kind of malty overall, strange for how pale it is, but i wish it were a little drier and more snappy overall, its not quite as refreshing as i think it could be, and for me, this just is not at all their best work. some copper on the finish, a powdered sugar thing, even a little oxidation. ive got a million simple lagers lined up in preferential order in front of this one, but still always cool to drink some 3 floyds beer!

Clear gold, thin white head, better retention than expected, spotty lace
Thin malt and corn aroma, slight herbal/spicy hops
Much more hop flavor and bitterness than I was expecting! A bit of sweet corn and malt
Light bodied and appropriately carbonated
If it wasn't so pricy, I'd pick this up more often

 

 

Raisin' hell and takin' names, 3 Floyds is at their lager headed ways yet again. Brewed in by by-God American way, an adjunct laden pilsner-esque taste shows that yellow-and-fizzy doesn't have to tasty all that typical of yellow-and-fizzy.

Although pouring both yellow and fizzy, the bright chrome, bubbly and champagne-like, High Speed Steel races toward the senses with a grainy-sweet scent of bread, cereal, light agave and floral honeysuckle. Much of the grain-centric scent translates to the palate with a husken sweet taste of cereal, raw grain and simple syrup.

With the grains rapidly drying on the middle palate, the sweetness hands over the taste to the grainier and more husk-like flavors of malt while a rise of hops pull from the floral scent and apply a grassy, peppery and hay-like impression in balance. Even keel in its balance, the beer closes with a fairly pleasant grainy-sweet, hop spiced proportion.

Light, crisp and largely refreshing, the beer's overall void of flavors are by design. With a dry and drinkable finish, the beer obviously prefers drinkability over that of anything flavorful. But then again, this is also the intent of sparkling water.

poured from a 12oz bottle into a forager pint glass. pours a clear straw gold with a fluffy but thin two fingers of foam. strong floral hops on the nose and taste with an odd bitterness to the finish. medium-full mouthfeel with just enough zippy carbonation. kind of stronger and hoppier for a lager but it’s decent. far from my favorite floyd’s’ lager though.