Three Floyds Speed Castle 6Pk is a wet-hopped American imperial pilsner from Three Floyds Brewing Co., packaged as a six-pack at 5.6% ABV. What sets this beer apart is its use of fresh, unkilned Spalter Select hops sourced directly from German farms — a single-hop approach that delivers an unusually clean, herbal complexity rare in the imperial pilsner category. It carries an 86 rating on Beer Advocate.Quick Facts: ABV: 5.6% | IBU: 23 | Origin: Munster, Indiana, USA | Style: American Double/Imperial Pilsner | Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Co.Production & HeritageThree Floyds Brewing Co. has operated out of Munster, Indiana, and built a devoted following for aggressive, hop-forward beers. Speed Castle takes a different path, showcasing a single hop variety — Spalter Select — a relatively modern cultivar bred in 1993 at the Hull Hop Research Institute in Germany. The hops are used fresh ("wet"), meaning they go from harvest to brew kettle without drying, preserving volatile aromatics that would otherwise be lost. The base is a straightforward American pilsner malt, allowing the fresh-hop character to remain the focal point of the beer.Tasting NotesAroma: Fresh-cut grass and dried herbs greet the nose first, followed by a bright lemon-citrus lift. Underneath, there is a gentle bread-crust sweetness with faint caramel malt warmth.Taste: The entry is crisp and malt-clean, quickly giving way to a citrus-forward mid-palate where lemon and light herbal bitterness take hold. The 23 IBU bitterness stays moderate and measured, never overwhelming the pilsner malt backbone. A subtle grassy, hop-driven character threads throughout.Finish: Medium-bodied with a semi-crisp, slightly dry close. Lingering herbal and citrus notes fade gradually, leaving a clean palate that invites the next sip.How to Drink Speed CastlePour cold into a pilsner glass or tall tumbler to showcase the clear golden color and preserve carbonation. Speed Castle is built for drinking fresh and cold — no embellishment needed. For cocktail-adjacent serves: try it in a Beer Shandy with fresh lemonade, where the existing citrus profile amplifies naturally; in a Radler with grapefruit soda for a low-ABV summer drink; or as a Michelada base, where the herbal hop bitterness pairs well with lime and hot sauce.Best For Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where a flavorful but sessionable beer is needed Hop enthusiasts exploring single-hop and wet-hop brewing techniques Pairing with grilled foods, seafood, or lighter fare that calls for a crisp beer Gifting to craft beer fans already familiar with Three Floyds who want to try beyond the brewery's heavier offerings Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Speed Castle taste like? Speed Castle leads with bright lemon citrus and herbal grassiness over a clean pilsner malt base, finishing dry with moderate bitterness at 23 IBU.How does Speed Castle compare to Victory Prima Pils? Both are hop-accented pilsners, but Speed Castle uses fresh (wet) Spalter Select hops for a more pronounced grassy, herbal character, while Prima Pils relies on whole-flower German hops in a more traditional European-style approach. Speed Castle also sits slightly higher in body as an imperial pilsner at 5.6% ABV compared to Prima Pils at 5.3%.Is Speed Castle good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its crisp malt base, moderate bitterness, and 5.6% ABV make it a balanced, highly drinkable beer that rewards straightforward cold pours without any need for additions.Where is Speed Castle made? Speed Castle is brewed by Three Floyds Brewing Co. in Munster, Indiana, in the northwest corner of the state near the Illinois border. The Spalter Select hops are sourced fresh from German hop farms.What foods pair well with Speed Castle? Grilled chicken or bratwurst benefit from the beer's herbal bitterness; raw oysters and shrimp complement its citrus and dry finish; a sharp aged cheddar contrasts nicely with the clean malt; and a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette mirrors the beer's grassy, citrus-forward profile.What sizes does Speed Castle come in? Speed Castle is commonly available in a six-pack format of 12 oz cans.Is Speed Castle worth the price? Speed Castle positions in the mid-range craft beer tier, and the use of fresh German hops and single-hop brewing adds a layer of quality and intention that justifies its placement above standard macro pilsners while remaining accessible within the craft six-pack segment.Why Speed Castle?The wet-hop, single-variety approach is what distinguishes Speed Castle from the crowded pilsner field. Fresh Spalter Select hops are highly perishable and must be brewed quickly after harvest, giving this beer a seasonal specificity and aromatic vibrancy that kilned-hop pilsners simply cannot replicate. Three Floyds built its reputation on bold, uncompromising beers, and Speed Castle applies that same commitment to a style that demands restraint and precision. With an 86 on Beer Advocate and over 16,000 ratings on Untappd, the beer has earned consistent recognition from a broad cross-section of craft drinkers.
