REVIEW: 3 Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf

TL;DR summary : middle of the road for 3F, good for the style.

Beer style: Imperial IPA

ABV: 9%

What I paid: $16.99

How it came (packaging): 22 oz bottle

Brewery link: http://www.3floyds.com/beer/arctic-panzer-wolf/

About the Beer: 3 Floyds has a special place in my heart. It was one of the first craft beer brands I became acquainted with.  Most people know 3 Floyds from the annual pilgrimage known as Dark Lord Day, and its accompanying limited release beer of the same name, or the unobtainium that is Zombie Dust. Having spent several evenings in the brew pub (which is now always packed, and near impossible to get in to, from what I’m told), I may have a broader appreciation for the brewery’s offerings.

Admittedly, that means I’ve sampled Artic Panzer Wolf several times before now, and I knew very well what I was getting into before I sat down to write. For as much as I generally love 3Floyds, I have to say their website is almost comically bad. So should you click the link above, you’ll get some seizure inducing color and rhetoric about scorched earth and your palate. What you’re looking at is an Imperial IPA with High ABV and high IBU.

Color/appearance: slightly hazy orange gold, effervescent white, foamy, bubbly white head

Aroma: fruit, citrus, apricots, cotton candy? Spicy hint.

Mouth feel: light to medium bodied

Flavor: orange/grapefruit, big hoppy bite, finishes warm, bitter.

Notes: hops come out heavier with each sip, still, not overkill. The alcohol warms you right up. As you go through the glass there are sweet fruity notes among the bitter. Not my favorite from 3F, but solid. It’s weird, it’s almost like the sweet alternates with the bitter.

Summary:

Like I said, I knew what I was getting into with this beer before I started. What you get is a big hoppy IPA. It’s solid for the style. Hoppy but not so over the top that you walk around tasting hops for the next three days. I would prefer Maine Brewing Company’s Lunch or maybe one of the bigger Dogfish Head IPAs but I certainly wouldn’t turn this down. In my opinion, it’s not the best thing 3Floyds makes either. But it is better than some of their more well known offerings. At 9% ABV It’s good for a glass or two over an evening, or with dinner, but any more, and you end up leaving your car in the lot and having a buddy drive you home.

Rating: 3.5

1 – avoid

2 – if it’s the only choice, I guess

3 – a decent beer. Drinkable.

4 – good beer – hard to turn down

5 – great beer - One of my favorites, pour me another.

Style: 4