October 2010

I was at Binny’s in Glen Ellyn, IL (my local beer heaven) and right next to me this guy suddenly lets out an exclamation of pure joy, practically dives down to the bottom shelf and snags the one and only six pack of Gumballhead Wheat Beer from right in front of me – as if afraid I’d beat him to it.

At the register it appeared someone had called ahead to have a six pack set aside – and someone else was calling about it, only to be told it was all gone.

Yesterday I was in the Apple store buying a new computer, and the subject of beer came up and the salesperson told me he didn’t really care for things like Porters or Barleywine Ales – he liked wheat beers.  So I said, “Oh, I bet you’re a fan of Three Floyds Gumballhead.”

He got a big, contented smile on his face, like just the memory of tasting it made him happy, and he confirmed that, YES, he really liked Gumballhead.

So guess what I ran into tonight on the way home.  Gumballhead.  I figured I’d better grab it  before someone else did, so that I, too, could share in this beer induced nirvana. 

This was based on pure peer pressure, because while I do like the occasional wheat beer, it’s not my favorite by a long shot.  Maybe, though – just maybe – this is something so special it will blow off the top of my head.

Three Floyds describes it on the label as such:  “Red wheat and boatloads of armadillo hops gives this American wheat brew a lemony finish.  Slight haze in the bottle is yeast added for bottle-conditioning.”

I pop the top and give it a sniff.  It smells very hoppy and a bit sour.  (Good sour, like lemons, not bad sour like spoiled pickles.)

Speaking of lemon, it does indeed taste very lemony.  It’s light, hoppy, and smooth.  Has a delicate mouthfeel, well balanced carbonation, and a gentle hoppy bitterness that lingers long after the bottle is done.

Sadly, it’s wasted on me.  I have to say it’s pretty good, but nothing I’d dive in front of someone else to snatch off the shelf.  I’m not that impressed.

So here’s your cue, all you Wheat Beer Aficionados, to tell me I’m crazy, because I know you will.  If you were here right now I’d simply hand you the rest of the six pack.

Cheers!

My final word:  good but not groovy, and not a Holy Beer contender.