Hop Devil Ale - Victory Brewing Company

claspada

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap in Downingtown, PA. Not at the brewery itself, but close enough. Anyway...
Pours a nice copper color with an off white head and some lace rings as it goes down.
Aromas begin with a good amount of pine and floral hops as well as a bit of citrus.
The tastes add some caramel but is mostly pine and floral hops without too much bitterness.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly dry.
Overall it is good, but forgettable in a sea of IPAs which exist in today's market. Good to find on tap amongst the other domestic swill my hotel had on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2011 18:23:38 | More by claspada

fattire513

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at mellow mushroom in dublin oh. Saw this on tap and had to try it.
Appearance is a hazy orange, with minimal head. Good lacing though.
Smell is not too strong compared to other ipa's. Columbus brewing ipa is much stronger.
Taste is not too bitter, rather smooth for an american ipa which I like. I also prefer bitterness as well but this over is nice.
overall I could definitely get this beer again. I'd like to try it in a bottle to see if there are any differences.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 00:36:38 | More by fattire513

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. pour at the Food Shack in Jupiter, FL.

Appearance - Two finger off-white head atop a deep amber body. Pretty clear with good lacing. Dark for an IPA, but otherwise nice looking.

Smell - Not a lot of aroma. Some piney hops and a bit of bready malt. Sometimes I have trouble getting good aromas when I get a beer on tap, but this is even lower in aroma than that.

Taste - Piney hops first with a toasty malt midrange. I wish it was hoppier, especially because there isn't a lot of citrus to it. The piney hops make it feel less... brisk? A long, almost smokey bitter finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel - Good carbonation and medium bodied. It's easy drinking and tasty.

Overall - Not bad, not great. Hardly this side of good, really. I'd drink it if nothing else were available.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2011 13:12:52 | More by Alieniloquium

jcw122

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance-A beautiful medium copper color, very appealing!

Smell-Hops

Taste-This is where this beer really shines. It's an IPA, so you obviously expect lots of hops. And you do get lots of hops, but it's VERY well balanced with maltiness and LOTS of flavor! The hops aren't overwhelming which I really like. The flavor is complex, but stay extremely drinkable. I had about 3 in a row, with little fatigue compared to other hoppier beers.

Mouthfeel-I've had this beer a few times. It comes off as less carbonated feeling than most beers.

Head-Good head, but like I said, it doesn't feel very carbonated, even with fairly aggressive pouring (I've had bottle too).

Overall-One of my absolute favorite beers right now. I brought some to a party for me and a friend to enjoy, and it was highly entertaining. Lots of character to this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2011 18:50:14 | More by jcw122

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - Dark orange amber in color. The carbonation is spot on with another half inch of head. Poured just right!

S - Aggressive hops with bitter pine and grapefruit. I get a mild malt but indeed it smells hop forward.

T - It quite good in fact. I do wish the malt profile was a bit stronger to balance the intense hop blast on my tongue but with a name like Hop devil it's indeed hoppy. Malt is there to balance and make it drinkable but it really wasn't too balanced still enjoyable.

M - Light to medium the bitterness was spot on.

Overall I liked this beer. I found it even more hop forward than my current favorite DIPA Mojo Risin. Well done victory!

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2011 00:18:54 | More by DrDemento456

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

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

Where else can you get a Victory Hopdevil Poured to you in a fresh plastic cup other than Reed's nightclub in Blue Bell, PA. I've had this beer many a times before but this review comes on the most recent indulgence at a local wateringhole/night club. The beer was a happy hour brew on draught poured into a plastic cup. Here the beer was a dark brown color with moderate. This beer was delicious as always. With German imported Malts this weights in at a 6.7% ABV. The first time I had this beer was at the Las Vegas Lounge in Philly. I was working as a File Clerk in Philly at the time and Victory was much less known in 2006. The beer still remains delicious and is still one of the best in the game. I'm not a huge hope head, but this beer breaks the mold and transcends all bounds for those that love extra hoppy and those that don't.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2011 02:17:36 | More by Ryanm1

ElliotNess

Australia

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A lot of IPA's try to distinguish themselves, Don't expect this one to stray from the good 'ole harsh bitterness and ever lasting hop aroma. Good beer for a dry mouth on either a cool night or an afternoon of football. Not as drinkable as some IPA's but the Hopdevil definitely doesn't disappoint the hop heads.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2011 22:35:43 | More by ElliotNess

Lillenk

Michigan

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

Had on tap at Grill One Eleven.

Appearance is a really nice dark gold color with a very nice white head.

Smell is huge with hops and citrus.

Taste is a blast in the face of hops. Love this beer. Finishes smooth enough to leave you wanting more but with enough of that sting of hops to know you're drinking an IPA.

Mouthfeel is nice but a little big to crush more that 2 or 3.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2010 02:03:26 | More by Lillenk

nkersten

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap while waiting for my plane at the Philly airport. Served in an imperial pilsner glass, a dark amber orange color with a foamy white one finger head that fades to a collar with good lacing. Smell is not as hoppy as I would have imagined. Some pine, lots of malt body but not too sweet. Taste is earthy and spicy hops, some pine, malt flavor is subdued, finish is very bitter. Maybe this is an old keg but I would like to see a little more hop flavor. Medium bodied with a bit too high medium carbonation, finish is pretty clean. An ok beer, but not my favorite IPA by any means.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 21:45:46 | More by nkersten

BeerisfoodLLC

Maryland

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

12 oz bottle into a pint glass:

A - amber golden color, light head with good lacing.

S - strong malty scents and equally strong hoppy scents.

T - Interesting mix of tastes, typical bitter hops tastes mixed with strong nutty malty flavours as well.

M - Medium to heavy bodied, lower carbonation.

D - Excellent beer, not very sessionable though.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2010 01:16:23 | More by BeerisfoodLLC

knephews

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've had this beer on tap in different bars across Pennsylvania and it never disappoints.
It pours a medium orange/copper/rust color with a slight frothy head. The scent is pure IPA: citrus & hops.

What sets this beer apart from the other IPA's is the taste...You get that hops kick in the front, not overpowering (which is good) and then finishes with a very slight malty sweetness.

Some IPA's are either overpowering with the hops (which is fine, depending on what you are thirsting for at the moment) or finishes with a sweetness which overpowers the hops. This one, in my opinion, has the right mix in the right order.

This beer will have you wanting more but be careful, at 6.70% abv, it sneaks up on you!

It's one of the best IPA's out there and one of my favorites. I'm lucking to have this brewed in my home state.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2010 17:52:09 | More by knephews

taigor

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into regular pint glass.

A - Poured clear copper orange color with medium head that quickly dissipated leaving moderate lacing around edges of the glass.

S - Very hoppy and citrusy with slight hints of bread and caramel.

T - Hoppy bitterness from start to finish with spices, citrus fruits and slight malts. All flavors are balanced very well.

M - Medium bodied with high carbonation.

D - Very good and enjoyable IPA. Definitely try to get it draught instead of bottle. Heard that draught is a lot better.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2010 21:29:55 | More by taigor

bierguru

Florida

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A -
body is a orange but not really copper color head is a creamy white that stays very well

S -
right up front you get hit with a grapefruit smell along with slight hints of malt and biscuit and finishes with a smooth hop smell

T -
grapefuit right up front and some other citrus herbal taste then finishes with a strong but smooth hop taste

M -
some bite on the tounge from the bitterness from grapefruit and hops but nothing annoying very smooth

D -
this is my favorite American IPA its bitter but its a really smooth bitter and very tasty

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 03:45:39 | More by bierguru

Thorpe429

Illinois

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

Super fresh at the brewery. Nothing like a good hoppy beer straight from the source. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a nice copper color with an off white head and some lace rings as it goes down. Nose brings a good amount of pine and floral notes as well as a bit of citrus. Taste adds some caramel but is mostly pine and floral hops without too much bitterness. Medium body and slightly dry. The first few times I had this I was not a huge fan but it has really grown on me over time.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2010 12:26:20 | More by Thorpe429

Chickenhawk9932

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

In the glass it was a nice cooper with a white head, good lacing.

In the nose it was fresh citrus - sweet & bitter - and an orange floral scent. Really a lovely bouquet.

Sweet orange hit up front, followed by the fresh citrus, finnishing with bitter grapefruit. Just enough sweetness lingers as not to overwhelm with the bitter dominance.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2010 03:19:21 | More by Chickenhawk9932

david18

New York

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was my bottle review from a bit ago:
I didn't know this was considered an ipa. I would have thought it was a pale ale. As an IPA i would say it falls short. Not enough hoppiness, in aroma or flavor. HOwever, it is a decent beer and not a bad one for beer novices. Think sierra nevada pale ale.

---

I think the draft version is a little more bitter and I enjoyed it more. It is at my local bar and I'll definitely have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2010 18:41:42 | More by david18

bigrzman

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Copper colored with outstanding head retention. Head is creamy with and it has streaks of tiny carbonation which are consistent. Smells of a crisp hop with a spicy lemony note. Tastes like a lemon rind with a high amount of pilsner malt. Nice dry palate with good hop kick correct for an ipa. I can drink a few over a night nothing to get crazy with.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2010 18:02:59 | More by bigrzman

salvo

Indiana

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

I've had many disappointing bottles of hop devil, so I was pretty sure I was going to opt for the other local brew on the drive through Pennsylvania, but the generous taste poured by the bartender at the Elephant and Castle convinced me a pint would be in order.

Beautiful almost clear golden color under an inch of head that melted slowly; lace all down the glass.

Nose is big pine and some sweetness of biscuit malt.

Wallop of a first sip, representing the keystone state well: aggressive coastal hops in a DFH 90MIPA kinda way but mellowing to a more midwestern APA style, certainly drier and less sweet and malty than the DFH.

On tap the devil is a totally different animal.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2010 00:26:09 | More by salvo

jagoffyinzer

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a dark copper with nice head and lacing. Smells of biscuit, piney, and earthy. Faint smell of yeast and malt. . A bitter bomb hits your taste buds with a slight resin and spicy finish. Despite the finish its clean and fresh. Very silky feel but not too heavy. A fantastic beer from a fantastic brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2010 01:12:58 | More by jagoffyinzer

bamadog

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Fries Cafe over in Cincinnati had this on tap the other night, so I thought I would give it a shot. Overall, Victory has only had a couple of beers that I feel are decent, and they tend to fall short for the most part. Review is from notes taken on 7/9/2010 and poured from the tap to a pint glass.

Appearance: Pour is a solid and consistent coppery color; starts with a one finger off-white head that fades to a thin, but full, cap; body has decent clarity and shows light carbonation bubbling throughout.

Smell: Very, very faint. Bit of a musty grainy presence with a dusty hop scent, and that's it. Not impressed.

Taste: Mostly tall, dry and slightly musty graininess; a very faint, near dusty hoppiness (these flavors make me wonder if this just an old keg or something...); bit of a sugary/candy-like sweet maltiness in the end.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation in a light to medium body; a light and semi-dry stickiness lingers around on the palate, but mostly it's a moist finish.

Drinkability: Meh, I could take it or leave it... I would gladly give it another shot though if I was told that the keg was fresh and re-review this if needed.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2010 20:22:40 | More by bamadog

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Over 1800 reviews for this beer, I think most of us are already familiar with this one so my review really won't make much of a difference besides restating what's already been said. (Really?)

A - Pours a dark amber color, mild carbonation with a thin and delicate white head.

S - Not overly fragrant, modest caramel malt aroma, a little crackery, mildly floral and piney.

T - Krackery bisquity and caramel malt back bone. Has a small amount of floral hop character and the bitterness comes from the piney hop bittering. Balance is perfect throughout the entire sip. The caramel fades and leaves the mouth with a grapefruit and pine bitterness.

M - Finishes semi-dry, a little prickly and grainy on the tongue, and medium body.

D - Very high. Is a hopped up version of an English style IPA.

Needs more aroma but is incredibly WELL balanced for an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2010 22:13:05 | More by jzeilinger

boss302

Florida

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

Victory hop devil

A Clear amber with a thick lumpy smooth head, fine bubbles and nice lacing. Head sticks around for a while.

S. Having a hard tome smelling big hops. A litle piney aroma and that's about it. No offensive aromas.

T Malty sweet, nutty, a big hop bite, seems high for an American IPA. There is a lingering hop flavor that sticks to the back corners of your tongue.

M Medium body, high carbonation, a little sticky from unfermentables.

O An excellent beer for the hop lovers. Definitely would have another.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2010 01:24:28 | More by boss302

bundy462

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Copper with an off white head that clings to the glass.

S: Very hoppy and spicy, slight grain. Pine for sure.

T: BOLD! Huge hop kick, pretty extreme with a spicy sting. Malt presence that gets beat down by the hops.

M: Creamy and full bodied, nicely crafted. Goes down smooth.

O: Nice drinkable IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2010 03:19:22 | More by bundy462

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at the Lucky Dog.
Standard shaker glass with a small head cap. Copper in color with amber hues. Head was small but retained very well and left a trail of lace rings in it's wake. Fresh nose of pine and citrus. Malt hits up front followed by citrus and piney hops. Finishes bitter and dry and leaves you wanting more. Solid drinkability if your a hop fan. A well made IPA from Victory.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2010 00:44:44 | More by JunkYardJake

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Victory HopDevil poured an amber color, with no head. It smelt of one thing, hops. It tasted just of liquid hops. It was not the easiest to drink, but overall a fantasitc beer, very hoppy, and worth a try, but this wouldnt be a beer for everyone, but a real beer fan would enjoy it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2010 07:26:14 | More by vette2006c5r