Three Floyds People Power High Tea

Three Floyds People Power High Tea. Sparkling Ale with Rare Tea Cellar's Darjeeling Black Tea.

Brewed for the People to Benefit the ACLU. 

5% ABV. 19.2 fl. oz. can. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN. 

Now, here we have a kind of beer that I wouldn't normally be interested in. Not that into tea beers, but it's Three Floyds and I have to try everything they make. There's nothing they could make that I wouldn't plunk down the money to taste. Not yet, anyway. 

And I'm digging the label, for many reasons. First of all, there's the collection of Three Floyds label characters assembled, as they've done in the past. Zombie Dust, Gumballhead the Cat, Alpha King, Behemoth Barleywine, Deesko!, Necron 99, Rabbid Rabbit, Arctic Panzer Wolf, Alpha Kong, Robert the Bruce, and a bunch I can't recognize, all hanging out and getting hassled by some pigs. It's also drawn in a style very reminiscent of 1960's underground cartoonist Skip Williamson. Remember him, creator of Snappy Sammy Smoot?

Then, I see it, on the label: RIP Skip Williamson (he passed away a few years ago). Skip had roots in Chicago, and covered the trial of the Chicago Seven as a courtroom artist, and did illustrations for Abbie Hoffman's books. A fitting tribute to him for this ACLU-benefit beer. 

On with the liquid inside. 

Clear, pale golden color slim ring of ivory foam. 

In the nose: tea is here, not being shy. Slightly floral, lightly hopped. Intriguing, I like it. 

In the mouth: And tea is here in the taste, too. Again, high on the tea, low on the hops, light in body, easily quaffed. I haven't had an Australian Sparkling Ale in quite some time (where've you gone, Cooper's?), so I can't really tell how close they came to nailing the style. Light, delicate, fruity flavors. It's a pleasant beverage. Me, I need more hops, bigger body, and not tea. But, you go ahead and get you some if it sounds good to you. Don't let me stop you. 

Brewed as part of the People Power Beer Project to support the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)*, our Sparkling Ale honors the British working-class tradition of a restorative sip after a hard day’s work. Using Rare Tea Cellars’ intensely nuanced Darjeeling tea, this pale-gold hued ale has a soft bread/caramel malt flavor, full mouthfeel and bright aromas of muscat grape, watermelon, and strawberry.