HopDevil Ale - Victory Brewing Company

jwc215

New Jersey

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

Best by Jan.31, 2007- drank early October, 2006

Pours copper with a thin, white lasting head. Some lacing is left.

The smell is of fresh citrusy hops - grapefruit and orange peel.

There is a crisp, bitter citrus flavor upfront. Spiced fruits. A grainy malt backbone is just enough to give the hops support and body, and to add to the delicious complexity of the drink. A slight breadiness also adds to its character and depth. An alcoholic punch is noticeable, but doesn't interfere in the flavors. The hops are on the powerful side, but are not out-of-control, mainly because of the lingering sweet malt that makes it as balanced as it should be for the style.

The feel is creamy and rich. The full body and flavors hang on tightly. It goes down smoothly.

This is a shining example of an American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 01:06:42 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I brought home a bottle of this from a recent visit Stateside, due to its location of origin (never had a Pennsylvanian IPA before), and let's face it, the overtly pandering label art. Hey, it stood out from the multitude of IPAs available on the shelves during that particular shopping trip.

This beer pours a light, clear orange amber colour, with a few fingers of pillowy white head, which sticks around for more than a few minutes, and leaves a fair amount of soap bubble lacing around the glass. It smells faintly of grapefruit hops, and not much else, even as it warms. The taste starts with a grassy, flinty hop dryness, that moves to include more resinous pine bitterness, before washing over a thin caramel malt backbone to the lip-smackingly dry hop finish. The carbonation is understated, allowing the hops to remain the star of this show. The body is a wee bit less than full, but, for the style, I suppose it is just right. There is no noticeable warming from the elevated alcohol. For the strong, but not overpowering, hop goodness, and the smooth mouthfeel, this is quite a decently drinkable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 07:28:24 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a 6'er while a pizza cooked in the oven and man was this a treat.

Beautiful golden body with a 2" head that left a lot of lacing and retained some head all the way down.

Hops and spice in the aroma, could be a little stronger

Like the smell, a spicey hops bitterness that really hits the spot. I was hoping for a little more kick in the flavor, but it this is a well rounded, long lasting taste. MMMmmm.

Really pleasant in your mouth. It's got a little body to it and the carbonation is really on.

6.7%? You're kidding me. A nicely balanced drink that goes easy and tastes great. Consider for a hophead session.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2005 23:41:45 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A pint glass hand-pulled at the brewery in Downingtown, PA.

A: The ale is a brilliant amber color, the color that all good beer should aspire to, dark and mysterious but light enough to allow you to peer through it as you ponder its greatness. Capping off this magnificence is a billowy white head, full of dense bubbles that lasts nicely through the pint.

S: The nose has the big bite of HopDevil mixed with a creamy maltiness. The hops are still big and bold though, make no mistake about it.

T: The taste nicely combines the big hops with a subtlety that comes from the cask. The hop body is still big and American, grapefruit with an earthy undertone, but it was relaxed a bit, taking on a softer more concentrated body. The creamy head atop the beer is a sweetness that matches the grainy biscuit body nicely. The hops deliver a long biting finish that remains bitter long after the sip is a memory.

M: The cask has smoothed out the beer, mellowing the hops and accentuating the malts. The effect is a great drink, smooth and bitter.

D: HopDevil on cask was a revelation, robust and delicious. If you love HopDevil from a bottle, you'll flip for the cask.

Serving type: cask

08-17-2007 00:54:23 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Caramel amber huge creamy off white head leaves evenly strewn rings of lacing. Aroma: Buttery cascades caramel covered whole hops great aromatics. Balance is what makes this beer works so well that smack of hops with a great sweet bready smelling malt backbone. Taste: INSANE, great tasting beer very much heavenly mixture the hops are accented by the cask serving type the warmth of the beer with the creamy texture carries the flavor so well. If you love this beer on draught and the bottle find it on cask well worth you beer hunting. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied creamy texture so hop resins gliding along the palate. Drinkability: Freakin' amazing, simply effortless to enjoy.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2004 04:21:02 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clouded very dark amber brown with a tan head. Nose is hopped, citric, and clean. Flavor is smooth. Not overly flavorful though. Slight hop tones with not much else going on really. It is smooth, yes. There is just no outstanding flavor quality here. Feel is standard for what you’d expect. Quite drinkable, but yet another craft brew that has quality, but no outstanding personality (have I become spoiled???). Tried it, moving on, most likely not to return.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 21:08:58 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a copper color with a white head that lasted throughout. The nose is hops with some pine and citrus. The beer is smooth and the hops really come through. Very bitter towards the end. I enjoyed it but I don't think I could have more than a couple in one sitting because it's so dry at the end. Not as hoppy as I thought and the bitterness killed it for me. Wanted more hops, less bite.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 00:33:35 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice sticky lace, but the head dies very quickly. Cloudy and slightly orange in the amber color.

Very fresh dry hop aromas--alluring. The flavors have an excellent blend of round, pale maltiness with a distinct bitter kick of hop. The bitterness lasts long after the swallow. Strong carbonation as well as a strong oily alcohol touch.

This is a superior IPA: full bodied, bitter, aromatic. I'd love to try this one in a blind flight with Stone IPA (my current favorite). This one is very close.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2004 23:55:55 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

Pours a golden/amber color, nice carbonation, small thin head, some nice lacing afterwards. Scents of hops, malt, citrus, and caramel. The taste is very hoppy with a little bit of a malt taste, has a very nice bite at the end. Medium body. This is a very nice IPA from Victory, do they make anything bad, lol. Very drinkable at the ABV, very hoppy, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2005 00:54:35 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a light copper crystal clear body with a very gentle carbonation. The head is a creamy off-white that slowly turns to a thin film.

S- The smell of big bold juicy hops has hints of pineapple, resin and grass. The smell of pale malt gives support to the big hops.

T- The hops have a fresh juicy flavor with notes of fruit, citrus and some pine flavors. The malt flavor has some pale malt qualities but there is also some toasted notes aswell. The finish has a soft yet tangy hop bitterness that hands on your breath.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a smooth texture. There is no astringency or alcohol warmth.

D- This beer is about hop flavor. There is not a lot of bitterness and the hops have a fruity flavor that is unusual. Smooth hoppy beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2006 23:53:44 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

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

A bit dryer and crisper than on-tap, the clarity is a shade clearer but still hazy with a frothy sticky head. Quite aromatic with lots of semi-coarse hop, lightly toasted grain alcoholic esters. The flavour is a mirror image of the aroma with lots of hops in the bitterness and flavour. I prefer it on draft though, probably because I usually drink it our of a 32oz mug at Bukowski’s Tavern.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2002 11:39:48 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

Pours dark auburn, with a puffy off white head. frothy, leaves a ton of lace. On cask , so the mouthfeel was very soft and smooth. very pleasant. Sweet malt on the tongue, back ground of citrusy hops. Grapefruit. Flavors are vibrant and well defined. This beer tasted FRESH. Well crafted and served. well worth the high marks it receives.

Serving type: cask

02-20-2004 12:36:48 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.58/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 01/22/12 notes. Picked up a bottle of this on Friday at Stateline in MD. 12 oz. bottle poured into my Duvel tulip.

a - Pours a somewhat transparent reddish amber color with moderate carbonation evident and one finger of fluffy off white head. Light lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of fruity malts, pine hops, caramel malts, grapefruit, and citrus hops. Hops are there but not overly strong, and more malts than I was expecting.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, pine hops, fruity malts, pale malts, caramel malts. taste has more hops than the nose but is still decently malty, and has some lightly bitter to it. A step up from the nose to me.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation, with some light bitterness.

o - Overall a nice IPA, though I was expecting it to be hoppier. A nice mix of hops and malts, and pretty easy to drink. Would give another shot sometime.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 16:35:07 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Appears a glowing amber with small amounts of carbonation escaping from the bottom. The nice frothy one finger white head soon lays out to a thin film and leaves lots of nice lacing.
Smell is of a mild mix of citrus and pine hops backed with some sugary malt.
Taste is of creamy malt and lots of infused hops including a sugary grapefruit and a nice array of maltiness that balances this brew.
Mouthfeel is super smooth and creamy and runs over the palate nicely. Mild cask carbonation makes this seem like a completely different Hop Devil but in a good way.
Drinkability is superb as the cask seems to mellow out some of the bite of the hops and the sting isn't noticible. Sticky, resinous hops stay on the lips making me want more of this treat.

Finger licking good.

Serving type: cask

06-26-2005 14:18:06 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazy red colored ale with a fair tan head. I could almost call this amber but it is more red than that.

Smell is LOTS of citrus hops with a fairly strong sour note from them. Little bit of bready malt scent is there but the hop scent simply dominates this beer. Little bit of oak scent in this.

Taste is very mildly sweet with a slight sour note and lots of hops. First sensation I get here is smoke, and it is very pleasant. The smokiness reminds me of a good Scottish wee heavy. Strong oak and grapefruit are the next hop flavors to make themselves known. Fairly bitter without getting harsh this is a great IPA that pulls off that trick very well. Strong hop oil slickness on the teeth and tongue.

Mouthfeel is good rich without going to far.

Super drinkable for a very strong IPA. This an excellent beer with only one fault, the 6.7% ABV makes this a bit strong for drinking one after another. Great beer that I can recommend.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2005 02:06:54 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On cask, via hand pump, @ the Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, PA) on 8/5/11. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a deep clear copper in the glass, topped with roughly 1 ½ fingers of stiff bright-white head. This retains at nearly a full finger, staying rich throughout, and drenching the sides of the glass with heavy creamy lacing. The aroma is loaded with grassy, spicy, earthy, and piney character, which is undercut by a layer of fresh smelling grapefruit zest. Backing notes of caramel and bread fill out the back of the nose, while just a touch of light alcohol heat creeps out as well as this warms.

The taste is bright feeling with a fresh citrus bitterness that possesses a pronounced earthy edge to it. This however is immediately cut by the malts, with notes of toasted bread and caramel doing a nice job of balancing this. Hops return in the quite aggressive finish on this though, with notes of pithy rind, spice, and resin all contributing to the strength and dryness of this. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a fantastic creamy feel and an overall smooth crispness that glides along effortlessly despite the assertive hop profile and light alcohol warmth that is present. Just a great cask feel here that really contributes a lot to this.

With its American take on a British IPA, Hop Devil seems to be a rather polarizing beer with some people. Cask however is the way to go with this beer, as it really pops those hop flavors, helps smooth out the earthy and aggressive edges of the profile, and generally keeps that close to 7% ABV drinking rather nicely. A pint on cask here is just a given for me when it’s one.

Serving type: cask

08-08-2011 14:50:31 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy brown/red, thick off white head forms, lots of lacing and good retention, head lasts until the end. Smell is sweet and malty, lots of toffee, but with nice floral/pine hops, good balance. Taste is sweet toffee, some grains, lots of floral hops, little bit of pine, clean bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Great IPA, superb balance, easy drinking. Thanks for the bottle DrJay/or Dan.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2006 22:16:29 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

Pours a deep copper color with a slight head. Nice pungent/oily/flowery mix in the aroma. This is a decent brew. Pretty solid caramel malt backing. Good hop flavor, but again, I'd prefer more bitterness. Easy drinking for an IPA. There's no signature taste here that really stands out. This is another IPA that everybody else seems to die for and I just think it is plain good, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2002 23:13:01 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

I am partial to this beer because it is a local favorite of mine. Pours a nice dark amber color with a thick, foamy white head that settles into a slight lacing. Aroma is dominated by citrus and earthy hops with slight roasted malt hints. Very well-balanced quaffable IPA with a nice malt backbone to counter the bitterness from the hops.

Serving type: cask

12-02-2008 08:26:16 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.65/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What an overrated IPA from the East Coast. Its not bad, but boy, is it overrated. I think this is probably middle of the road at best for a California IPA.

Something weird about Victory's hoppy beers (this one and Hop Wallop). . . they seem more like English IPAs with a higher amount of hops. Rather than the usual hop character used out West, these ones seem to just load up on whatever Euro style hops (E. Kent goldings, Hallertau, Saaz) as opposed to some of the higher alpha acid hops out West.

Beer looks decent, nice amber goldness, smells like a minimal hop bouquet of some of those other hops, taste dissapates too quickly. Just expected more from the label and reputation.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 00:22:07 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Had not had this beer in some time, but saw it on tap at the Judge's Bench last night, and figured why not.

The beer pours a rich copper color, with pretty good head retention and lacing. This beer really doesn't look like an IPA, but it sure smells and tastes like one. On the nose, I get some light bitterness and pepper, with a hint of underlying malt. The beer smells as if it will be on the dry side, which in fact it is. On the palate, the beer is a little heavy handed in the malt department, but there's pleny of hoppy bitterness to balance it. In fact, I think the excellent balance in this beer is probably its best feature. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and drinkability is very good. The finish is relatively dry with the alcohol very well disguised.

While nothing exciting, this is still a good solid IPA, one that is very easy to drink with relatively low alcohol. Unfortunately, there are just too many better IPA's on the market these days, for me ever drink this on more then an occasional basis. Nevertheless, this is still a solid IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2009 14:48:48 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: bottle at a friend's house

A staple of the Philly area, VHD is a common find and on average a very good beer overall. A reddish amber color with a nice white head, varying in size, but generally well-retaining and well-lacing. Fruity, happy hop nose with a well-defined bready malt base. Crisp bready malts in the taste, sweet, with an influx of citrus hops, grapefruit, pineapple, orange zest. Medium-bodied, well-balanced, a little bitter in the finish, but overall a fine quaff.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 14:53:30 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

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

Cask at Trappeze in Athens.

Pours a slightly hazy copper color with a one-finger off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of moderately grainy caramel malts with good amounts of floral and light pine hop aromas.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Mildly dry caramel malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by pine hop flavors. Midway through the sip the hop flavors turn more earthy as the spruce notes fade, carrying through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I was expecting more of this beer after having Hop Wallop a few times but the hops were surprisingly faint. A nice beer but not worth seeking out.

Serving type: cask

08-16-2010 03:57:01 | More by glid02

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.68/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne.

Pours a pleasantly hazed deep amber, with flashes of red to it. Head is full, frothy and reasonably persistent, maintaining the majestic crest synonymous with a good IPA. Lacing is sketchy and sticky. Looks good.

Nose is a pleasant mildly fragrant, slightly fruity hop bonanza, giving a fresh (if generic) American hop aroma. Looking underneath, there's a slight meaty savouriness to the malt and even a weird salty or smoky hint. This is a very, very subtle character, however, but it's what sets it apart—mostly this falls squarely in "generic IPA" territory.

Taste is light, nutty and clear, with a mild bitterness through to the back, and a fragrant if slightly muted and stilted hop character. Finish has hints of pine and lavender, giving a clear bite to the aftertaste. Feel is smooth and supple. The taste is, however, quite generic, and it feels slightly flat, as if it has been cut through and dynamically shortened.

A decent brew, but not one of the best IPAs I've had. It just feels a little flatter and more generic. Despite the intrigue promised on the nose, this really ended up being "just another IPA".

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 08:22:51 | More by lacqueredmouse

Gusler

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It’s been almost a year since I sampled this “Elixir of Life”, and Victory is in my top 10 all time favorite breweries, just so damn many fine beers, and only one mouth.

An unclouded deep amber to copper color as it mellows away in my glass, the head portly in size, semi-creamy in texture and the color a beauteous light tan with the resultant lace a satin like sheet to cover the glass. The rich aroma of the hops, crisp and fresh with a sweet malt backing, what a treat for the senses, start is rich in malt, sweet with the top middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is peacefully acidic, the hops masterful in their spiciness, dry as a desert bone aftertaste that takes the hops till the very last drop, one damn fine brewery, one double damn good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2003 00:48:40 | More by Gusler