C3 IPA
Free State Brewing Co.
- From:
- Free State Brewing Co.
- Kansas, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
- ABV:
- 7.8%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 21.43%
- Reviews:
- 5
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 03, 2016
- Added:
- Aug 22, 2005
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
This is an imperial IPA that features three very potent American hop varieties: Columbus, Chinook and Cascade . . . hence the name C3. Hops are added at just about every stage of the brewing process, from the mash all the way through to a very generous 'dry hop.' This beer needs a lot of strength to support all those hops, so note the high original gravity. (O.G. - 19.85P/1082. Hops - 95 IBUs)
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by nickd717 from California
4.14/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.14/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Growler generously shared by beersis81 at DLD. Thanks, Lindsay!
This pours a somewhat hazy orangish-amber color with a small off-white head. A little dark for the style.
Aroma is big awesome hops, very citrusy C-hops with a little pine. Orange and grapefruit dominate. Some malty notes poke through as well, mainly caramel.
Flavor is also hoppy and citrusy. Tangerine and orange rind along with a little grapefruit as well as earthiness. They say this is west coast style, but it definitely has more of a caramel malt aspect to it than most west coasters do. Some biscuity notes as well.
Palate-wrecking on the mouthfeel with medium-full body and a nice carbonation level.
This is a solid DIPA overall, and from Kansas nonetheless. Wish I could bring some of this back for some of the California IPA snobs I usually drink with.
May 05, 2010This pours a somewhat hazy orangish-amber color with a small off-white head. A little dark for the style.
Aroma is big awesome hops, very citrusy C-hops with a little pine. Orange and grapefruit dominate. Some malty notes poke through as well, mainly caramel.
Flavor is also hoppy and citrusy. Tangerine and orange rind along with a little grapefruit as well as earthiness. They say this is west coast style, but it definitely has more of a caramel malt aspect to it than most west coasters do. Some biscuity notes as well.
Palate-wrecking on the mouthfeel with medium-full body and a nice carbonation level.
This is a solid DIPA overall, and from Kansas nonetheless. Wish I could bring some of this back for some of the California IPA snobs I usually drink with.
Reviewed by COBeerBuff from Kansas
4.62/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.62/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Growler filled at the brewery on the same day, April 16th, 2010 and poured into a Free State pint glass...
"...because without beer, things do not seem to go as well..." -Diary of Brother Epp, Capuchin Monastery, Munjor, KS, 1902.
Appearance: Pours a delightful hazy yellowish amber color with a nice solid finger and a half of eggshell colored head. This beer is releasing a lot of carbonation, and it looks simply wonderful in the glass.
Smell: The floral bouquet on this beer is amazing. Simply put, this is one of the best smelling DIPAs that I've smelled lately, and it makes sense based on the hop additions in the recipe. Notes of pine, citrus, and pineapple greet the nose almost immediately, but the hops definitely aren't the only fish in the pond. There is a significant malty backbone that lingers at the rear, and lets you know that this beer isn't playing around.
Taste: The taste is somewhat shocking compared to the nose. This seemed like a nice rich DIPA, but upon first sip, you realize just how much the hops play a role in the overall exposition of this brew. The first flavors to hit are sharp citrus and rather heavy pine. This is followed closely by sweeter pineapple and some lemon notes. Only as this beer is making its way down do the rich and bready malts make their presence known.
Mouthfeel: This is a very sticky beer. The crisp initial bite works well with the overall feel of the beer, and makes for a very refreshing spring beer. It's not heavy enough to be cloyingly sweet, but at the same time, it has enough body to hit the spot on these cool spring nights.
Drinkability: I was super-pumped to get a growler of this beer this year, as I just missed it last year, and this beer certainly lived up to my expectations. The high O.G. definitely helps this beer pack a wallop, but the brew is put together well enough that it doesn't come across as being over the top. Overall, I'm glad I got the opportunity to try this beer, and I look forward to many more pints of this hearty brew.
Apr 17, 2010"...because without beer, things do not seem to go as well..." -Diary of Brother Epp, Capuchin Monastery, Munjor, KS, 1902.
Appearance: Pours a delightful hazy yellowish amber color with a nice solid finger and a half of eggshell colored head. This beer is releasing a lot of carbonation, and it looks simply wonderful in the glass.
Smell: The floral bouquet on this beer is amazing. Simply put, this is one of the best smelling DIPAs that I've smelled lately, and it makes sense based on the hop additions in the recipe. Notes of pine, citrus, and pineapple greet the nose almost immediately, but the hops definitely aren't the only fish in the pond. There is a significant malty backbone that lingers at the rear, and lets you know that this beer isn't playing around.
Taste: The taste is somewhat shocking compared to the nose. This seemed like a nice rich DIPA, but upon first sip, you realize just how much the hops play a role in the overall exposition of this brew. The first flavors to hit are sharp citrus and rather heavy pine. This is followed closely by sweeter pineapple and some lemon notes. Only as this beer is making its way down do the rich and bready malts make their presence known.
Mouthfeel: This is a very sticky beer. The crisp initial bite works well with the overall feel of the beer, and makes for a very refreshing spring beer. It's not heavy enough to be cloyingly sweet, but at the same time, it has enough body to hit the spot on these cool spring nights.
Drinkability: I was super-pumped to get a growler of this beer this year, as I just missed it last year, and this beer certainly lived up to my expectations. The high O.G. definitely helps this beer pack a wallop, but the brew is put together well enough that it doesn't come across as being over the top. Overall, I'm glad I got the opportunity to try this beer, and I look forward to many more pints of this hearty brew.
Reviewed by Mebuzzard from Colorado
4.5/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
The C3 comes from the names of the hops used: Columbus, Cascade and Chinook.
A good amber color, poured right to produce a good yet subtle head that held the aroma of hops, citrus, some sweet biscuit and rosemary.
Taste was big and hoppy! just like I like it. Bold nose that easily transfers to the palate. It's full of hops, but not as much as they appear to claim.
The nose is the taste; hops, citrus (grapefruit, lemon) and sweet biscuit. It thins as it finishes and bites on the way down. Leaving you wanting another.
Aug 29, 2006A good amber color, poured right to produce a good yet subtle head that held the aroma of hops, citrus, some sweet biscuit and rosemary.
Taste was big and hoppy! just like I like it. Bold nose that easily transfers to the palate. It's full of hops, but not as much as they appear to claim.
The nose is the taste; hops, citrus (grapefruit, lemon) and sweet biscuit. It thins as it finishes and bites on the way down. Leaving you wanting another.
Reviewed by bditty187 from Nebraska
4.55/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
4.55/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Columbus, Chinook and Cascade hops
95 IBUs. Oh yeah!
Hazy, apricot-peachy amber in hue with some coppery and bronze in the mix plus a golden highlight; oh my, this looks like misty sunshine in a glass when backlit. Off-white head, on a slightly harder then normal pour a perfect two and a half fingers worth of head formed. Head retention was awesome, the chucky bubbles didnt move for many moments, and then is slowly faded to a thick cap. About halfway through my glass a soapy cap developed as did some fairly widespread subsequent lacing. I really like how this beers looks!
The nose is very hoppy! I smell dank bud soaking in grapefruit juice and rinds. Lemon zest, orange juice, pine trees, and wildflowers. The massive potency allows all the little nuances to be heard. This is the kicker for me, so many IPAs (Double or not) dont have gradations of aromas. So many offer a blast of hops, while enjoyable it gets tiresome. The hop profile is very special and in that sense it reminds me of 3F Dreadnaught. There are minimal malty influences, just some caramel sweetness at the back. I do detect a hint or two of candy and alcohol. Anything an IPA can add besides hops works for me! Wow I really like the nose. It is very hoppy but not single-minded. Inviting to say the least.
The palate is wonderful. It is very hoppy, duh, but it is not insanely bitter. Dont get me wrong, it is bitter but the hops seem to provide more flavor and pizzazz then anger and rage. Rich hop profile, it is plenty articulate. I taste dank marijuana, orange peels, lemon zest, wildflowers, honey, grapefruit flesh, fruit sherbet, and some bubblegum-like candy. Any malt? Well, I found only a trace of caramel sweetness right before the finish. The alcohol is hidden until the swallow, hot at the back perfect timing really. This is one of the tastier and most well thought-out DIPA I have ever had. Free State has done it again. It is graceful but thunderous when it wants too but it is never heavy-handed or overly aggressive. It is far from timid but extremely approachable for the style. I really love it.
Medium/medium-full in body, low but natural carbonation even after a couple days in a growler; I didnt take notes on the samples I had at the brewery but I would say this beer lost nothing. I wish the mouthfeel was a tickle richer, fuller but as is it fits this beer well enough.
What a tasty beer this is there is no other way to put it. I am burping hops like mad. What a dangerously drinkable beer, I dont know the abv but I am thinking about 8%. I enjoyed two glasses at the brewpub, it went well with the chips and salsa and the cheese and fruit plate. My growler is damn good flying solo! This beer is great but it is not the best beer they even had on-tap on my last visit. Free State f*cking rocks! Highly Recommended!
Nov 09, 2005Hazy, apricot-peachy amber in hue with some coppery and bronze in the mix plus a golden highlight; oh my, this looks like misty sunshine in a glass when backlit. Off-white head, on a slightly harder then normal pour a perfect two and a half fingers worth of head formed. Head retention was awesome, the chucky bubbles didnt move for many moments, and then is slowly faded to a thick cap. About halfway through my glass a soapy cap developed as did some fairly widespread subsequent lacing. I really like how this beers looks!
The nose is very hoppy! I smell dank bud soaking in grapefruit juice and rinds. Lemon zest, orange juice, pine trees, and wildflowers. The massive potency allows all the little nuances to be heard. This is the kicker for me, so many IPAs (Double or not) dont have gradations of aromas. So many offer a blast of hops, while enjoyable it gets tiresome. The hop profile is very special and in that sense it reminds me of 3F Dreadnaught. There are minimal malty influences, just some caramel sweetness at the back. I do detect a hint or two of candy and alcohol. Anything an IPA can add besides hops works for me! Wow I really like the nose. It is very hoppy but not single-minded. Inviting to say the least.
The palate is wonderful. It is very hoppy, duh, but it is not insanely bitter. Dont get me wrong, it is bitter but the hops seem to provide more flavor and pizzazz then anger and rage. Rich hop profile, it is plenty articulate. I taste dank marijuana, orange peels, lemon zest, wildflowers, honey, grapefruit flesh, fruit sherbet, and some bubblegum-like candy. Any malt? Well, I found only a trace of caramel sweetness right before the finish. The alcohol is hidden until the swallow, hot at the back perfect timing really. This is one of the tastier and most well thought-out DIPA I have ever had. Free State has done it again. It is graceful but thunderous when it wants too but it is never heavy-handed or overly aggressive. It is far from timid but extremely approachable for the style. I really love it.
Medium/medium-full in body, low but natural carbonation even after a couple days in a growler; I didnt take notes on the samples I had at the brewery but I would say this beer lost nothing. I wish the mouthfeel was a tickle richer, fuller but as is it fits this beer well enough.
What a tasty beer this is there is no other way to put it. I am burping hops like mad. What a dangerously drinkable beer, I dont know the abv but I am thinking about 8%. I enjoyed two glasses at the brewpub, it went well with the chips and salsa and the cheese and fruit plate. My growler is damn good flying solo! This beer is great but it is not the best beer they even had on-tap on my last visit. Free State f*cking rocks! Highly Recommended!
Reviewed by tjthresh from Indiana
3.7/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Very nice. This beer features a BIG "C" hop aroma. Full of hop flavor with enough malt to hang. MED/FULL body. I was surpised to see this beer listed as a double/imperial IPA. To drink it, it seems just a touch stronger that Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale.
Aug 24, 2005
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