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3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale

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3 Floyds' flagship — a boldly bitter American pale ale that established the brewery's aggressive reputation. Centennial and Cascade hops deliver resinous pine and citrus in a full-bodied, uncompromising frame. Alpha King made Northwest-style pale ales cool in the Midwest.

ABV
6.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Resinous hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
hoppypineycitrusy
hoppy
piney
citrusy
clean
herbal
malty
Aroma
The nose is immediately dominated by assertive Centennial and Cascade hops, delivering prominent resinous pine and bright citrus notes.
also:orange
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale

◎ Appearance

Alpha King displays a bright, golden-amber hue characteristic of the American pale ale style. The beer presents excellent clarity with a white, creamy head that demonstrates solid retention. Vigorous carbonation creates a lively, inviting presentation in the glass.

golden-amberclearwhite headwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose is immediately dominated by assertive Centennial and Cascade hops, delivering prominent resinous pine and bright citrus notes. Subtle malty undertones provide a grain-forward foundation without overshadowing the aggressive hop character. Clean fermentation allows the hop profile to shine without distracting yeast esters.

resinous pinecitrushoppyclean

◐ Taste

The palate opens with bold, unapologetic bitterness that defines Alpha King's character, supported by a full-bodied, crisp framework. Citrus and pine flavors from the hops dominate the mid-palate, with malty sweetness providing counterbalance and texture. The beer drinks dry despite its ABV, maintaining balance through resolute hop-forward bitterness.

bittercitruspinecrispfull-bodied

◑ Finish

A clean, dry finish with lingering resinous bitterness that persists pleasantly on the palate. The aftertaste remains hoppy and slightly piney, reinforcing the beer's uncompromising Northwest-style character.

drycleanlingering bitterness
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
88
Appearance
82
Finish
86
Serve at 7–10°C

Serve at 7–10°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with 3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale

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About American Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a American Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar American Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, bitter, full-bodied character as 3 Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all American Pale Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →