Victory Hop Wallop

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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UPDATED: JAN 6, 2004 Is it me or is it because I live so near San Diego(hoppy beer capitol of the world) that this beer just does not impress? I tasted this one with jcalabre and I have to say that it is an east coast brewed Stone 7th anniversary. Dont get me wrong it's a decent brew, just not what everyone else is making it out to be imho.Anyways, its a dark golden brew with a decent white head. Nose is tropical fruit and orange peels when it decided to show up after warming. Medium/full bodied with a decent hop bite.Tropical/citrus fruits dominate the front with a spicy or peppery bite in the finish. If your impressed with this try some Alpine Pure or Exponential , you'll shit yourself.

Golden straw-like, crisp and clear in appearance. Holds a hearty off-white head. Nice citrusy nose suggesting a perfect balance of malts and hops later confirmed by tasting. Wonderful warm finish. Stone Ruination, you've met your match!

My bottle states 8.5% ABV and not 8.7%. Thanks to egajdzis for this bottle! Pours copper with a medium whitish head. Nose is sweetened hop bliss! Citrus fruit, maple, pine and sugar blend together to create a delightful aroma. Piney, grapefruit laden tongue that finishes with some sweetened tones. This is good! Not as rich as I expected it to be but still very "filling". Excellent beer!. Hopefully, this will be more widely distributed before long. Recommended!

UPDATED: DEC 12, 2006 03 bottle. It’s hyped, it’s in the top 50. . .it delivered! Brilliant golden orange color, quite bubbly, but not hazy or bottle conditioned (which is my biggest problem with this otherwise magnificent beer). Small disippating head. I had a medium strong aroma on mine, but what it was was fabulous. Sprucey hops, light conifer trees, very dry and peppery. Almost like some wintergreen in there or sweet mint. The aroma lasted pretty well too. Flavor is terfically balanced. This one had a nice hops and malt balance but tended more to the hops flavor, which is nice, as I would prefer more dry over more sweet. Pine hops, some juiciness, juniper. Not over-the top again (wow 3 not over the tops in one weekend for me). Slightly subtle, fresh and no acidity whatsoever. Quite carbonated, medium body. Finishes with a little bit of thiness, no doubt from the filtration, but still incredible. Thanks for the chance to try this George!
2004 bottle Nearly the same as the 03 (well, probably almost exactly the same recipe), but since trying this a year ago, I’ve since found better Double IPAs out there, still a great beer, but a bit too filtered which brings us to the conclusion that North York Sammy states, "Missing something."
2005 draught and bottle Excellently bitter from the outset, but with more of an herbal suggestion, almost like dill, lychee, wintergreen, tangerine and a touch of vanilla mixed in. Very curious in both nose and flavor, though it is more pronounced in the flavor. The bottled version seemed more bitter and with a bit more pine and sharpness, while the draught was stunningly balanced. Almost like they are using a similar (though amped) up recipe based on the prima pils. I must say, though it has american hops, it has a very crisp, light body, with pils like malts. Definitely not a cookie-cutter version this year. Upping it a few points.

Thanks to jcalabre for this. Light gold, small head that laces nicely, very little initial aroma. Tasted this alongside some other *very* premium examples of the style and while it was quite good and has a subtle character that sets it apart from the others, it held onto last place on mine and others lists.

UPDATED: JAN 25, 2004 clear yellow, hoppy, mild musty nose. Defintely need to let this one sit out to open up. This is far more a big APA than an Imperial IPA. Tasting this side by side w/ yulesmith, dreadnaught, 90 minute, ruination, I2IPA & white knuckle, it was the odd one out, style wise. It didn't have the look or flavor of what I'd expect of an imperial IPA, especially when the others did

Slightly citrus, good hop aroma. Slight citrus note carries throughout with a great bitterness balanced with just enough malt. Finishes drier with every drink. A great IPA.

This one reminded me of Ruination. Light amber color, moderate head. Aroma was floral and citrusy. Not overly bitter. Balanced for an IPA, slighly dry finish.

Crystal clear light amber colour with a thin off-white head. Aroma of hops, citrus, light floral scents with a nice malt background. Medium to Full-bodied; Sweet taste with floral flavours and a grapefruit/citrus taste. Aftertaste clean, some alcohol showing, with a clean malt presence. Overall, REALLY nice to try...definately worth trying to find, and by far the best Imperial IPA i've had to date! This is an Imperial IPA for haters of the style! Many thanks to egajdzis for the twelve ounce bottle which we sampled it at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on 27-December-2003. Thanks again Eric!

UPDATED: MAR 1, 2010 Thanks to BrianO for this treat. Pours a clear golden color with a thick white head. Retention is good. Aroma is all hops, piney citrusy and fruity with notes of peaches in heavy syrup. Also has a grassy note in there as well. Malt is there but way underneath the hops. Has a nice full Imperial like body that is slightly syrupy with hop resin. Flavor is sweet and with a lasting bitterness that really lingers with each mouthfull. Again as with the aroma, the flavors are mostly from the hops and are a blend of citrus and pine with an emphasis on peaches in my opinion. Malt is there to give it a some balance and finish is just the right amount of bitterness. Overall a top Imperial IPA which I hope will become a regular at Victory.