New breweries have been coming fast and furious lately, but I was a little extra excited when I found Victory in the case at BX Beer Depot this week. I’m a fanatic about big beers and Victory Brewing Co. has a few that I’ve been hoping to try. Up first is Hop Wallop. I’ve actually had the pleasure of this beer before, at the Bodega Brew Pub in LaCrosse, Wi while on a business trip a few years back. I knew this beer rocked.

Hop Wallop is an American Double / Imperial IPA, around here it comes in a sixer of 12 oz bottles. The alcohol content is on the low end of the style, coming in at 8.5%. It pours a surprisingly pale gold with a pure white head. I’m a little taken back by how pale it is. It smells of citrus, grapefruit comes to mind, and there is a little more than a hint of alcohol in the aroma.

The beer has a light to medium body, there is maltiness there but its quickly overwhelmed by the bitterness of the hops. The warmth of the alcohol is in the finish, but its masked nicely by the bitters. A citrus taste lingers after the finish. Its got plenty of punch, but the bitters are not as overwhelming as some of the more extreme beers in the style. This is an immensely drinkable, well balanced beer. I could drink more of these than I should.

Like I said, this beer rocks. It’s easily amongst the best of it’s style around here, right up there with Dogfish 90 Minute and Stone Ruination. Highly Recommended.

4.5/5 Rating