Living in Valparaiso, IN is a treat as a beer lover. We have quite the selection when it comes to local micro brews and craft beers available to us. One of the main attractions in the area is Three Floyds Brewing LLC, which is no doubt a favorite among local beer lovers. And why you will see a lot of reviews of their brews on our site.
About Three Floyds Brewing LLC
Three Floyds is located in Munster, IN where they have been brewing together as father and sons for 14 years. The Floyds boys create “unique” beers and have since they open shopped in a warehouse and started by using swiss cheese barrels to begin brewing. Today Floyds is the most known brewery in the area, outside of Goose Island in Chicago.
About Gumball Head
Gumball Head is an American Style Wheat beer with 5.5% ABV 28 IBUs (International Bittering Units). You can find it in many local liqour stores for about 9.99 a six pack.
My Review
From the pour this beer was good, it came out of the bottle with a nice golden/orange color that was just slightly clouded from the wheat. The pour ended with a good head, but not quite as good as the picture shows. I still need to work on my pouring I guess. I know some people like to smell their beers, a tradition mainly for wine tasters, but I don’t. My nose isn’t quite trained enough to pick up the nuances in beer yet. This beer had a great taste to it. The beer has a soft dryness and there was almost no bitterness as the hops were very mild. You can definitely taste a citrus flavor in the beer. So if you are a woman like the whole fruit in your beer thing you could put a slice of either orange or lemon in there to really bring it out.
I think most casual beer drinkers would really enjoy this beer as it would be a general change of pace from your domestic lights. It definitely brings the flavor, but doesn’t smash you in the face like a Porter or IPA.
I personally am not a fan of wheat beers in general, they often leave me wanting more as I am really a fan of the India Pale Ales and the bitterness that they bring to the table, so keep in mind that your palate will dictate your judgement. This beer is defintely good, but I don’t put it high on my buying list for the simple fact it doesn’t fall in my spectrum of favorite beers.
I have never tried that beer, but am a fan of the citrus beers…with the fruit in it. And don’t try and call me a girl, just call me a beer drinker with a wider pallet than yours.
Sounds like a good beer and being that I am so close to NWI, I am not sure whey I haven’t triend this beer yet.
Oh yeah, AND SMELL THE DAMN BEER AND TELL US ABOUT IT!
Gumball head is one of my absolute favorites and it’s made locally!!!
I think you’re supposed to drink it out of the glass, but I actually prefer it out of the bottle.
Great stuff!
AG
I watched as this taste test was taking place. I don’t know if it went down like it says, but hey more power to the creative writing courses at Purdue…
I love the discription of the beer, it has inticed my intrest in this paticular kind of beer. I have wanted to try this beer for the long time and now I think I will.
@Freddie I will just sound like an asshole then. I don’t know what I am smelling.
@atom Thanks for visiting the site. I need to taste more Floyds. I have never actually been out to their site.
@Petry you saw me drink one at your house. I took those home and did a real tasting. I am not going to fluff my posts.
I have yet to taste this beer but will be sure to look for it next time I go to the liquor store. I am still new to the unique flavors but am always willing to try something new.
$10 for a 6pack is a little pricey for my style when I pay $12 for 24 Mystery bottles.
Robbie,
It is more expensive than that, but not as expensive as most. You will find 6 packs the go for $18.00 in the liqour stores around here. And I totally need you to get me one of those.
Adam
Sorry, beer is not to be messed with! I like your idea of reviewing different beers but when you start adding flavors other than grains it is no longer beer, it is a foo foo drink! All hail the King none will surpass Bud!
Oh Dave, that is blasphemy. Good beer comes in all different flavors and from different grains.
Now I am generally fully against adding more fruit to beer. I hate the lime wedge in a Corona, but when it is brewed into it. mmmm mmmm. That is good shit.
I will have to do a review of bud just for you.
Sorry, if it’s got a fruit flavor or candy, ie mint, It’s Not A Beer!
Dave, I’m with you on this one. While I love beers of all different flavors from different grains, I don’t like beers with fruity flavors. I like to go to Costco and buy mixed cases of beers like Sam Adams. You get 4 each of 6 different Sam Adams beers for about $20, hell of a deal, but there is always one flavor in the case that has “berry” in the name. I can go through that whole case in less than a week but 6 months later I’m throwing away the 4 “berry” beers. I can’t even get my wife to drink them and she won’t drink alcohol unless its fruity.
Beer is beer. Just cause you don’t like it doesn’t make it anything else.
Dude, Adam, can you say “brother from another mother?”
I am totally in agreement with much of what you said above. I myself am in no way a “beer sniffer” and my fave style is def IPA. Call me a “hop head” if you like, I just love bitterness of all kinds in my beers.
I actually do like Gumballhead, however, but if I’m in a wheat beer mood, I jump on some Goose 312, especially in the summertime.
Thanks a bunch for stopping over to my site, we should network a little eh?
AL
Allyn,
I love 312. Ryan is a fan too. My Brother in law Graeme is big on Bell’s Oberon American Wheat, but he is form Grand Rapids and everyone up there likes it.
Thanks for coming over. WE definitely need to network. You going to the Tweetup on the 20th?
Adam
I prefer Dreadnaught over anything at 3Fs. AlphaKlaus would be second. AlphaKing 3rd. Then the Behemoth, which by the way is on tap right now and is WAY better than last years brew.
The only time im drinking Gumball is if its a hot summer day and im out of dreadnaught
Mmmmm…. this beer sounds great. How does it stack up to Goose Island’s 312 Urban Wheat? Adam you are gonna have a ton of beers to write about after the West Michigan Winter Beer Fest. 400+ beers from over 200+ breweries.
Joe,
Thanks for stopping by the site and giving your opinion. I hope to try and review all of those. Bubblegum head wouldn’t be my first pick either, as I am an IPA guy. But it was definitely something I would recommend for people to drink to get away from those domestic lights.
Adam
Graeme,
It is about on par with 312. I like it a little more because it has more citrus and less wheat. In my opinion obviously.
I can’t wait for the Beer Fest. I am bring the flip and we are reviewing shit on camera. Be ready.
Adam
3 Floyds has the Dark Lord on 4-24, I would like to see an article on it…
There should be an event at 3 Floyds on 4/24 with live feed and various promotions from fanbrew.
Yeah, I have it on my calendar already. I have to stay on top of it because it sells out real fast.
Hey Adam, great post! I definitely want to try the Gumballhead. The problem I run into when trying different craft beers is that I am the opposite of most people that I know. I really don’t like overly hoppy or bitter beers. I have yet to try an IPA that I liked. So, that limits my selections as so many of the newer craft brews seem to be hop heavy.
My top 3 favorites right now – 3 Floyds Moloko, Dogfish Head Raison D’etre, and Ommegang’s 3 Philosophers. Oh, and I liked New Hollands Dragons Milk a lot too.
I know the Moloko is hard to find now, but you should definitely try that and the 3 philosophers if you get a chance!
Hey Jeremy,
You are in a bad place right now if you aren’t about hops. Everything out there is becoming over hopped or over oaked. Brewers are experimenting with boldness as the Craft beer market grows in popularity.
Gumball is a very hoppy wheat beer. I like Moloko a lot. And it is Barely wine season so that is what I am going to start looking more into right now.
I LOVE this beer! It’s not easy to find around here (Yorkville,IL). I always seem to get the “last” 3 or 4 bottles when I go to a place called the Tap House …I think the marketing folks need to get this one out there more!
Tammy,
I hope you found fanbrew an easy read. Be sure to check out our other reviews as well as some of our sports stuff!
I work at a whole foods market in the chicago land area and for months now have been almost addicts to what I feel is the tastiest wheat beer around. in my area this very is extremely hard to find, most shops have empty shelves where the beer should be and spout about long wait times. Here at my wfm we receive about a case per month. I put my name on the list and waited patiently for it to arrive. Months passed before it finally came in. since then I have been snatching it up before it can reach the shelf, to my own selfish delight. I’m a college student who in a few short months will be leaving for a big ten school. Rather than letting down my palate with ice house or the beast or what have you I’ve decided to stockpile my gumballhead until I leave. Just wondering if anyone can tell me the shelf life. Thanks
Scott,
Keep it refrigerated and the shelf life should be as long as you need it to be. Hop flavors can start to break down over time, but not so fast that you need to worry about a few months of cellaring.
Adam