HopDevil Ale - Victory Brewing Company

nomad

Kansas

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was an amber with orange and brown hues, transparent, and with little carbonation. Had an off-white colored head that was foamy and very steady, some lace, and good little tendrils of stain.

Smelled of hops - fresh, flowery, and full - and notes of orange but thin and cleanly so. Taste was of a chewable tasty malt and lickable tasty hops. The hops were a little sour but more bitter; both characteristics were none too strong, though. The body of the flavors created a very toasted and earthy character, with a slight salt flavor that came through after a couple swigs. What I noticed most was how well-rounded this IPA was, as the malt is recognizable and bases the obvious hops, and develops a small fruit taste in the middle of the swallow.

Finish is dry, and I could feel some sort of malt behind it all. A little nutty and burnt taste in there, too. And with a watery mouthfeel this all amounts to a fairly refreshing and mostly balanced IPA, but just a little too earthy for me though.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2003 17:55:54 | More by nomad

dwarbi

New York

4.8/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this on cask at Copperfield's. I've had it on tap and in bottle, but the cask blew me away.
Beautiful, perfect head. The beer was a reddish copper color. Smelled peppery, but not enough there. Hoppy, too, of course. Tasted very smooth, hoppy, and a teeny tiny bit bitter. Excellent beer.

Serving type: cask

05-02-2003 23:00:46 | More by dwarbi

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Finally did gets me some of the 'Devil. Right up the side of the head! Whew, Baby, this be the real thing. Hop nose just a waftin' on up there, that great clear amber flittin' its tail 'neath a creamy 2 fingers of ivory. The lace she be dropping in, but sliding on down to the body again. Oooo Man. Creamy full body caresses the palate and wakes it with citrusy flavors and flowery accents. Tried to sip; no luck. This be gulpin' good beer. Two thumbs up for the 'Devil.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2003 20:12:29 | More by AtLagerHeads

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +18%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Being a big fan of hoppy beers I found HopDevil to be one of the best. It's a beautiful clear amber color with a nice thick off white head that slowly dissolves to a sheet on the beer and leaves a good amount of lace on the glass. The aroma is full of flowery esters and citrus smells. Each sip is a hop lovers delight. Hops dominate each sip with their citrus and flowery flavors. Some toasted malt is found in the background to balance out the flavor. A mild bitterness and sticky pallett is left behind.

This is an excellent and very drinkable beer. If you like hops I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 14:07:15 | More by WanderingFool

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Barrelhouse Brewfest sample #8. I like the coppery color on this one. It has a BIG orange, hoppy aroma. I figured it to be a blast of bitterness, but it really wasn't just all about the hop. I found the malt and hop balance to be most excellent. I'll need to find some more of this. I've heard it's even better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2003 14:29:08 | More by brewdlyhooked13

powoo19

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have to be honest, I bought the beer for the bottle art. It is very cool. After hours of letting it chill I cracked one. It poured nicely, with a nice rich color. It clung nicely to the glass with each sip.
The taste was, as expected, very hoppy, which I have come to enjoy over the years. It leaves a great feel and aftertaste.
This is not a session beer in my opinion, but it is very good.
Give it a try, you wont be disappointed, unless of course you think Rolling Rock is good, then just stay away!
Happy Drinking

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2003 05:44:15 | More by powoo19

Morris729

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark reddish amber color with a massive foamy white head that coats the sides of the glass with thick sheets of lace as it recedes into a creamy lace. Nose is dominated by spicy and floral hops with some additional notes of pine oil. Medium to full-bodied with a slick mouthfeel due to all the hop oils. Taste starts off with strong raw hop leaf flavors followed by some notes of sweet malts and a juicy fruitiness followed yet again by strong bitter hop resins and tannins. A marvelous IPA. Thanks to paceyourself for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2003 13:37:04 | More by Morris729

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on cask. More than one. It's great on cask. I've had it numerous times on draft, and loved it's big hoppy-ness, but on cask, all the rough edges are smoothed away and it turns into even more of a session beer.

Beautiful amber color and head when first poured. Like a said, a great session beer, even at 6.7 (althought that's pushing it). You still get a mouth full of hops, but it seems even more balanced at cask and at that temp.

Recommended, especially on cask for a change. This is good stuff.

pat

Serving type: cask

04-24-2003 08:32:04 | More by PatandDavid

dmarch

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is certainly a favorite in this area and was a favorite of mine even before I moved here. Amber color with a head that never seems to diminish. Hops are very noticable in the aroma and the taste. A nice malt character is present, but lets face it, this is a hop-head's beer. This is the type of beer that I'd like to stock up on and always have on-hand.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2003 05:43:42 | More by dmarch

Running4beer

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoy by date of 06/14/03
Pours out a hazy copper/orange color with a medium white head that reduces to a thin sticky layer. Smell was of floral hops and malts, they both jump at you. Obviously a taste of hops is going to be in there and then the malts made just as strong a presence as the hops, a slight spicy taste also was in there. Mouthfeel was smooth and easy to drink. Drinkability is devilish in a good way cause this can kick you ass being so easily drinkable.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2003 15:50:46 | More by Running4beer

jtw5877

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice orangish kind of color with a nice white head sitting on top. Excellent hop aroma, which of course is expected. Flavor is balance and a nice amount of hopiness and enough maltiness to back things up. Not as in your face as I expected but a great beer none the less. I'd recommend to anybody that likes hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2003 14:21:25 | More by jtw5877

fes1

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The Devil made me do it. Victory Hopdevil is a exceptional IPA,
the hoppy flavor is may be overpowering to a drinker of the big boy brews but a true beer drinker will appericate the taste of this superb beer.

The color, the taste, and the aroma will have you say
The Devil made me do it too.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2003 20:42:39 | More by fes1

fattyre

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a slightly hazy medium dark yellowish red color with a medium light tan head. The mouthfeel is firm soft and rounded. The smell is sweetish herbal and piney. The taste is very mild malt heading to a herbal hoppiness. Perhaps I got an older bottle. The hops weren't nearly as pronounced as I expected, not over the top and it seemed pretty mild for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2003 17:03:30 | More by fattyre

Darkale

Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma is, of course, flowers and hops. A thick tan head with a mixture of large and small bubbles and great, tenacious lacing. Color is copper-orange, darker perhaps than the usual IPA. Taste is slightly chewy, a wonderful hops snap that is spicy without being distracting, with a backbone of malt. The hops and malt have a wonderful intercourse in this beer -- can I say intercourse? Because the two ingredients love each other, and I love being there with them. Sweet and sour are perfectly mixed. A delight.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2003 18:52:56 | More by Darkale

budgood1

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

this devil pours out hazy, slightly murky dark rust colour. a small but thick off white head reduces to a sticky lace. although it's obvious that there is mighty hop load in this beer, what impresses me is the malty aroma that stands up to the usually nasal piercing hoppiness. upon tasting, it's a total malt and hop assault, battling out on the battlefield known as my tongue. malts seem very bready and sweet...full bodied...super malty mouthfeel....easy drinking...tasty floral hopping and just the perfect amount of bitterness in the finish. this is one of the few IPA's where i actually think the malt outduels the hop in the profile...and it's welcome.

perfectly balanced and extremely delicious.

thanks to frank4sail for the devilish sample.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2003 17:02:27 | More by budgood1

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice hazy orange with dark golden tones, thin foamy head that really lasts for awhile fades to a thin haze and thick ring. Fresh dried floral hops and fruity aroma with an awesome grainy, toasted bakery-like back. This had a really complex aroma with lots of floral hop, some citrus, spice, & grassy grain, super fresh, yum. Tastes like it smells, fresh dried floral hops, with some citrus & spice notes and sneaky bitter, grassy notes as well. But not enough to ruin the solid hop crispy drying finish. Feel has a somewhat creamy medium body and airy dry. This is a solid IPA with great balanced hop bite and toasty malt backbone that tasted very fresh and is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2003 06:21:16 | More by tavernjef

BeerBuilder

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Orangish-amber color with a tan head. Leaves good lacing. The aroma is spicy, hoppy, and with a bit of caramel malt aroma. The flavor starting out is of sweet malt, which flows to a spicy, bitter hop finish. Not a bad medium-bodied beer. Not over the top with the hops. I would definitely sample this brew again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2003 10:12:15 | More by BeerBuilder

guinness33

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

pours a hazy copper colour with a fairly thin but lasting head. hints of citrus and spice in the smell along with what seemed to be a bread-type smell as well. taste echoes the smell with hints of salt as well. it's definitely a hoppy brew, but the hops are not overbearing. i'm normally not a big fan of ipa's and therefore wasn't expecting to enjoy this one as much as i did, but i really dug this beer. alot. another solid offering from victory.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2003 18:01:14 | More by guinness33

Winter

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Like most Victory products, this bottle features a creative illustration. HopDevil has hop flower in the face of a devil illustrated on the front label. 'Enjoy by Mar 17 03' marked clearly on the front side of the bottle.

This IPA poured a clear reddish-amber with a tan foamy head that is retained throughout consumption. The wonderful aroma consists of floral hops, citrus, malt and spice. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and has a creamy texture. HopDevil exhibits the perfect hop balance. Bitter yet not too salty. Excellent biscuity finish that was and unexpected delight. Touch of citrus also. HopDevil is not overly complex, but just a really good IPA. It's one of the best I've ever sampled.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2003 10:20:39 | More by Winter

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz amber bottle with a clearly stamped "best by" date, month, day and year!

This IPA poured a hazy, reddish amber color with a creamy, light tan foam that left very nice lace on the glass. The smell came blasting from the bottle the minute the cap was popped: a beautiful, fragrant, floral hop aroma! Some citrus, biscuit, malt, and a hint of spice also in the smell. The taste was almost completely hops (bitter and floral) with only a bit of malt, which is overwhelmed. The mouthfeel was crisp, but slightly chalky. Full bodied, lively carbonation, with a lingering hop flavor. The drinkability was good.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 21:20:46 | More by UncleJimbo

far333

Connecticut

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours an nviting golden color, with a white and long lingering head. Noticeably hoppy smell of citrus and pine, followed by a very strong hop flavor that rolls over the entire tongue from front to back. This is a great beer, with a tremendous and intense hop flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2003 05:59:31 | More by far333

rabidawg

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours perfectly, with a full, solid, off-white head that sticks and sticks and sticks. Leaves enormous amounts of lace that don't look like they're going anywhere. Very fizzy appearance, looks quite carbonated, with a deep orange-amber color.

Smell: Can we say hops? One more time? Smells like a freshly mown hayfield with some malty notes.

Taste: I've been reading about hops online, so I had an urge to drink some IPA. Lo and behold, I decided to pick up this beer. I've got to sayit one more time . . . hops! The carbonation hits hard at first, with each bursting bubble releasing some more hop flavor. Wonderful bitterness that reminds me of the taste of biting into a grapefuit. In the middle there is a sour, tangy taste, and it finishes with a lingering bitterness on hte back of the tongue.


Great IPA. Will return to this one again and again.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2003 17:35:26 | More by rabidawg

Maestro

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer is truly incredible. The hops are so well balanced even though there are way more than the average IPA. This ale has quite a smooth taste and is very mellow despite its extreme hop characteristics. The nose is very hoppy but the malts sneak through as well as some citrus hints. The taste is very clean but it has a little bite. The head is not too strong but it leaves quite a nice foamy lacing on the glass. There seems to be a slight hint of apple in the middle of the beer. There is substantial carbonation throughout the beer. The malts come out at the finish line making this orange/red ale quite a find.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2003 18:48:36 | More by Maestro

Dantes

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Package:12 oz. brown longneck bottle. “Enjoy by APR 19 03” Usual well-designed Victory graphics adorn bottle, with leafy “HopDevil” character. Short blurb describing the spirit of the beer.

Cost: $6.99 6-Pack at Bottle King

Presentation: Pint glass at 45º-50º

Appearance: Medium dirty-blond color. A bit cloudy. Loose, light white head, settles quickly to a thin film. Exhibits some small-caliber bubbles.

Smell: Hops are very evident, along with some strong citrusy notes. Malt struggles up through the sharper notes. A bit aggressive at first, but evens out as the head settles. A nice, but somewhat one-dimensional aroma.

Taste: The taste is a bit more balanced than the aroma. I am not normally a fan of “overly” hopped beers, but this one accomplishes it a bit better than most. First sharpness of hops and citrus bite are somewhat moderated by the malt and alcohol warmth. Clean and but a bit thin and brittle without being sharp. The middle and finish are a bit insubstantial and short. A touch too dry. I’d like to give it a 4.25.

Mouthfeel: Nice carbonation, smooth and even, but a bit coarser than Sierra Nevada Celebration and a touch watery.

Drinkability: Very drinkable. At the price and ABV, this is an excellent go-to beer for every season. On draught, this would probably be fuller and softer (as suggested by other reviewers), and more enjoyable for me overall.

This is an excellent effort, but I think that this is not as good as the SN Celebration. Perhaps this is an unfair comparison as one is a seasonal special and costs $1-$2 more, but stylistically they are similar. Celebration is definitely NOT a barley wine. Given the choice, I’d buy extra Celebration and set it aside, but this is a great alternative.

Backwash: As this is practically a local brew and readily available year-round at a relatively low price, it is virtually untouchable for value. A great all-around beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2003 13:02:10 | More by Dantes

Bunnyhop

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A slightly hazy, medium dark, yellowish-red IPA with a medium, light tan head. The smell is hoppy and piney. The taste is malty with a cedary bitterness. The body in my mouth is firm, yet softly rounded. Overall, definitely and IPA, but a bit on the hoppy side for my evolving taste.

Bright and colorful eye-catching label with a picture of some hops with devil's horns. I've heard alot of good things about this beer but it wasn't as "over the top hops" as I expected.

(source: PremierGourmet; Buffalo, NY)

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2003 16:13:32 | More by Bunnyhop