HopDevil Ale - Victory Brewing Company

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

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Poured a clear apple-cherry color with a foamy 1 finger beige head that displayed excellent retention through most of the drink. A nice sheet lacing was left behind.

S: The nose yielded bright citrus, light pine and dry grapefruit.

T: sweet and citrusy with pine with a dry flowery hopping. There was a huge, dry munich malt backbone and dry hopping in the middle of the palate. On the finish was dried grapefruit, dry flowers with a good carbonation bite. Overall a very nice, dry flowery hopping that coats the tongue with bittering success.

M: a medium fullness and creminess with a nice carbonation presence.

D: A great citrusy and dry flowery hopped ipa backed by an equally huge dry toasted munich backbone makes this a standout. Leaves your tongue dry and anxious for the next sip.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 16:18:14 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

It had been a while since I tried this beer, so it seemed like a good place to start on my first trip to the Victory brewpub since moving to the area (yesterday). And how was I going to say no to it on cask?

It produced superb, thick rings of lace and was a rich amber colour, but a little on the murky side. The grapefruit aroma was very pronounced and a little sharp compared to what I remember from the bottled version. The same grapefruit character was in the flavour as well, along with a very solid, caramel, malty backbone to balance the ample bitterness. It felt very full in the mouth as well - I was a little surprised since many beers I've tried on cask seem a little thinned out without the extra carbonation. Overall, quite excellent! I'm sure the guys back in Toronto will be jealous.

Serving type: cask

04-24-2006 02:12:54 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a resinous citric and piney hop and not much else.

The taste was upfront raw spicy hops. Biting citrus and pine flavors dominated. Solid grainy malt as well.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a tasty hop driven ale.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2008 17:57:46 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gee, Hop Devil gets reviewed so seldom that I am anxious to get one posted. Ha! Instead, I want to indulge in a little bit of (not really) frivolity.

Ode to Hop Devil

O, great Hoppus Maximus!
You were my first love.
I discovered you early on
And although I have had others
You remain the one that converted me.
Once, I embraced Rolling Rock,
But the pony left me behind.
Then, I received your kiss,
And I was won!

My mentor, Lew, puts it so well:
You are the perfect marriage of malt and hops
And who am I to disagree?
Your tawny beauty is breathtaking
But so is your tannish head.
Some find you indescribable
But I must disagree!

You, dear Hop Devil, are the beer for me.
Rotsaruch, Maybrick, Shapudding, favorites all,
But you, Hop Devil, make me sit up tall.
Your sticky lacing,
Your thick, full mouthfeel,
Your bitter start,
Your sweet end,
Your reddishness,
You, baby, are my dream.

They say that the devil is male,
But you give that supposition the lie.
Hop Devil, you are as sensuous as any woman.
I will love you until the day I die.


My apologies if that seems rambling or silly, but it was heartfelt. May my Karma be struck dead.

Serving type: cask

02-20-2007 10:03:15 | More by woodychandler

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

Halloween 2007. Fresh growler fill via Consumer's Beverages on Elmwood, in Buffalo.

A stiff pour would conjure an average level of tanned white head. This would eventually fade in the middle, part strictly to the sides and then, after a good run, give out entirely around the halfway point of the pint. One element never compromised, however, is the colour; a toasted copper that glows ruby when examined at different angles, it is lovely-looking from each and every angle I inspect it.

The aroma is a fleshy concoction of zesty, eyebrow raising hops. Although C-hop dominated (meaning it boasts dynamic, domineering scents of pink grapefruit and pineapple), the bouquet also consists of rotting flowers, bubblegum, pine serum and a long list of other freshly squeezed citrus fruits. Despite all this the aroma is, believe or not, surprisingly balanced by a biscuity, toffee-like maltiness.

Hop Devil is liquid hop candy. Plain and simple. As well as overtones of spruce and pine, the flavour contains notes of grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, lime, lychee and so on and so on and scooby-dooby doo. It is a citrus convention. But chaperoning all this are the aforementioned malts, which, if you care to notice, are bready and sweet (doubt you can though as the finish has an enduring mintiness).

Although almost 7%, the extra alcohol is, for the most part, unnoticed (and in any case the beer remains incredibly quaffable). It has a smoothing, toasty, biscuity maltiness as well as a leafy earthiness, the two infused and enlivened by well-integrated acidity. The bitterness seems to clamp onto the tongue for a long, rewarding aftertaste and really rams those pine-y, citrusy notes in.

Victory's Hop Devil was one of the first American IPAs I tried (and consequently one of the first beers to turn me onto bombastic hoppiness). It has been around for some time and remains a wonderful IPA, arguably still among the best the East Coast has to offer in the style. Right down the checklist, it fits all the criteria. It is, without doubt, a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Serving type: growler

10-13-2007 05:01:40 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

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

33cl brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a generic hefeweissbier glass in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger head of good thickness, decent cream, and pretty good retention. Colour is a semitransparent copper-gold. Generally appealing.

Sm: Very hoppy (shocker). I suspect they dumped a bit too much cascade into this one. Some bittering hops are present, but it smells tame enough. The aroma is mild in strength.

T: A very pleasant full barley foundation is well hopped, but fortunately the bittering hops are not overdone. To its credit, it's quite well built, but the problems emerge when considering the balance. It feels like they created a bland barley foundation and just dumped hops into it. It works to a point, but has drawbacks. The primary issue is that the open and close have minimal flavour while the body carries everything. Strucuturally, it's problematic, but it does work. I do like it (which is relatively rare for me when I drink IPAs), but there's work to be done.

Mf: Smooth and wet - perchance a bit too wet for the style and flavours it's meant to complement.

Dr: Very drinkable. It avoids the two common pitfalls of IPAs: it's neither too coarse nor too bitter. I'd recommend it to fans of the style as a rare example of a well done IPA. That said, there's work to be done. I look forward to trying more beers from the same brewery.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 04:14:15 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

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

Color: Pours a decent reddish-copper color with a one-finger head that quickly fades.

Aroma: Smooth and very hoppy on the nose. Malty too.

Taste: Starts off smooth and malty and then the hop bitterness kicks in with mild citrusy notes. It's smooth and not overly bitter. Feels balanced on the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Decent hop bitterness. Good malt backbone.

Drinkability: Very drinkable for an IPA. It does remind me a bit much of an APA but the hop bitterness alone makes up for that.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2008 19:39:04 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

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

Review from notes taken on 1/30/10 during a side by side tasting with wild devil.

Brown bottle with a best by date of 2/9/10. Pours an amber color, partially cloudy with a finger of white head and nice lace upon the glass. Faint particles stuck in suspension. Aroma of citrus hops that flows through the taste. Citrus and grass predominent both in smell and taste that finish bitter from the hops. Medium feel with a moderate amount of carbonation. Overall well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 23:53:33 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Bronze (a little darker than the average IPA), with an off-white head. There's a little retention & lace.

S: Mostly citrus and pine, with a little sweet malt in the background.

T: Lots of American hop flavour here, but it's a nice blend (citrus, floral & pine with a little earth in the aftertaste). There seems to be an underlying malt sweetness, but this ones certainly balanced to the bitter side. Quite refreshing, and I wouldn't have suspect the alcohol was this high.

M: Moderate body is a little oily & acidic. Moderate carbonation has a prickly, thirst-quenching feel.

D: As long as you like American hops, this is very drinkable. The alcohol content will catch up to you though!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 23:28:53 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

On cask through the handpump at the Brick Store Pub. Pours a dark amber that is a bit hazy. The beer has a wonderful head, especially for cask ale, huge and creamy and off white that leaves some nice lacing. Smells bitter with leafy hops and a rich bitter earthiness, and a touch of grainy sourness. The taste exhibits a nice deep bitterness and an earthy richness as well as a hoppy, creamy finish which is unique to the cask in my estimation. Nice mouthfeel, creamy and dry with a slight graininess. Absolutely delicious, and even better on cask.

Serving type: cask

02-21-2009 03:57:29 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

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

Poured into Sierra Nevada Tulip Glass

Pours a 1 and 1/2 finger creamy and fizzy yellowish-cream colored head. Great retention and amazing lace walls! This really makes the beer look excellent. Solid flow of carbonation bubbles from the etching. Color is clear dark ruby/golden bronze.

Aroma: I really pick up the bready malts here. Not as hoppy as I was expecting. Floral hops stand out the most. The citrus level is fairly low for an IPA. This is a fairly solid IPA.

Taste: the floral hops are not as pronounced here. There seems to be more fresh earthy hops mixed in. The same bready malts are here. A little booze shines through. ALso there is a mixture of citrus present.

Mouthfeel: Bitter. The booze shines through after left in the mouth for a while. Medium bodied. Medium level of carbonation as well. Leaves a mouth full of floral hops for an aftertaste. Very sticky and dry.

Overall, this was a good IPA for a change. Normally it is all of these DIPAs that are coming out and I hardly drink regular IPAs, so it was nice to get to have one of these. A really good representation to the style and worth a try. I will drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 21:24:03 | More by mothman

Dogbrick

Ohio

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

This brew is a pretty sanguine amber color with a medium and clingy off-white head. Nice lacing throughout. Aroma is heady floral hops. Medium-bodied and crisp with a near-perfect level of hops in the flavor. There is a hint of citrus (lemon/grapefruit) and grass as well. The finish falls off just a little toward the end but overall this is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2003 14:19:16 | More by Dogbrick

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

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

12 oz received from seanpachefddfa and the East Coast Beer Tour LIF.... poured into my shaped SA glass. thanks Sean.

2 finger head disappears quickly.... no lacing.. descent cap.. brew is a hop hazed sunset orange.

aroma is fairly muted.. some citrus and spicy hops are noted.. but there is quite a bit of malt going on here.

fairly bitter out of the gate melts into the thick pale and light caramel malts... hop flavors are a pithy grapefruit.. resinous yet earthy hoppiness.. body is pretty standard for an AIPA.. so is the carbonation... finish is long and fairly harsh bitterness.

Not bad.. just not great.. seems sorta one dimensional.

Thanks again Sean!

3.5/3.5/3.5/4/3.5

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 07:19:37 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

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

Rich and seriously hoppy. More malt and roasted flavors than most IPAs. Seems more powerful than the ABV would indicate. Attractive clear dark amber in the glass. Light bodied. Enough foam and carbonation in the mouth. Some spice in the hoppy aroma.

Bitterness is more in check than a lot of IPAs, but it does end on a dry and bitter lingering note. Some tartness. Surprising dark notes. A lot of grain flavor. A touch of flowers but more resiny and dark caramel. A clean and well made brew that should appeal to the IPA enthusiast.

12 oz bottle from Best Damn in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 05:28:41 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Pours a cloudy dark amber, barely transparent, with a thick beige head. Decent aroma is hoppy and has evergreen and yeasty tones. Flavor is fiercely hoppy with a considerable yeasty overtone, not too much bitterness, and even a sweet hint. Texture is smooth and lively, leaving a satisfying finish.

Serving type: cask

02-01-2009 00:14:56 | More by Cyberkedi

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Growler shared by Lunch. Thanks Paul!

The appearance is simply fantastic. The beer appears transparent and amber / orange in color, with nearly two inches of dense, creamy head that coats the glass with a thick sheet of lacing.

The aroma brings a balance of hops and malts, along with some toasted notes.

The flavor is tangy and bitter, with malt in the driver seat more so than hops. Very fresh, crisp and clean on the palate, as this growler was just filled. While I appreciate balance and realize that a beer doesn't have to be over the top to be a good brew, HopDevil just lacks the hop presence required by the style.

The feel is decent enough, but I find myself distracted by the hop to malt ratio.

Overall, a middle of the road offering. There are many better IPAs that are easily accessible.

Serving type: growler

04-01-2011 00:29:07 | More by Huhzubendah

ccrida

Oregon

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

12 oz. bottle poured into an impy pint glass, Hop Devil is clear copper with a tight, creamy khaki head that is long lasting, leaving moderate lace.

Smell is softer floral, citrus hops, fairly spicy.

Taste very well balanced for a big IPA, my favorite thing about this beer, which I've had many, many times. I really like how floral the hops are, big but subdued at the same time, a much different hop profile then the pine/grapefruit combo I've become so accustomed to here in the NW. Smooth semi-sweet malt is countered by a very firm bitterness.

Mouthfeel oily, with a medium-light body.

Drinkability is high. Hop Devil keeps it smooth while still delivering a very sophisticated hop fix, with almost no indication of the robust ABV. This is so anti-west coast, I love it! Brings but great memories of my 10 years in Pittsburgh.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2008 02:16:43 | More by ccrida

RoyalT

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – This was a work of art. The body was a gorgeous, deep dark orange with a monster head that rose and rose. I couldn’t stop staring at the lacing that it left when it finally went down.

Smell – Extremely complex hop profile. I think just about every type of hop must be represented in this ale. There’s also a subtle yet distinct malt balance, but this one is all about the beautiful hop scent.

Taste – The complex aromas found there way into the taste. The hops were very well balanced, and made this one a pleasure to consume. The malt backbone was enough to balance, but this one certainly is all about the hops.

Mouthfeel – Medium-bodied with a bit of carbonation. The exceptional balance of this ale made it feel terrific in the mouth.

Drinkability – This was a terrific IPA that was exceptionally smooth, tasty, and exciting all at the same time.

Comments – I rereviewed this on 01/15/04 and determined that I must have originally had a bad bottle.

Comments – I re-reviewed this on 01/15/04 and determined that I must have originally had a bad bottle.

Update – I sat down and re-rated this again in early ’05 with an ’04 bottle. This really is a gorgeous-looking APA. The Appearance can not be improved. I really enjoyed the balance and mouthfeel of this ale, as I said in my initial review, and found that it is so drinkable that it just disappears from the glass.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2003 03:35:12 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

California

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

From a 12 oz bottle to a pint glass. Best by Aug 19 '08.

Appearance: Beautifully clear amber, darker in color than most IPAs. The head leaves a bit of wispy lace as it descends into a ring.

Smell: Earth, pine, grapefruit and caramel with some herbal notes. Unusual for the style but very nice.

Taste & mouthfeel: Juicy grapefruit, pine and bitter herbs with an earthy malt backbone. This is drier than the nose implies; sweetness is low, serving as more of a subtle undertone than a balancing element. The finish brings out a deep resiny hop flavor, though bitterness never becomes overwhelming.

Notes: Got this one from dyan - thanks! I've had this several times in the past but never fresh. Until now, that is.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2008 21:27:20 | More by largadeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Somewhat cloudy dark gold/orange in hue. A nice head appears and retention is good. Leaves behind some spotty lacing.

S. Some earthy hops and some malt.

T. Absolutely splendid. Alot going on here as well. Floral hops in the forefront with a caramel malt backbone that is very delicious. Despite being an IPA, this is not overly hoppy. Very well balanced indeed.

M. Medium bodied, perfect level of carbonation. Smooth and delightful to the palate.

D. Very drinkable despite the high ABV. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2008 15:19:03 | More by Stinkypuss

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a nice deep amber color with a nice big white head. In the aroma it has hops and faint smell of alcohol. It has the a big hop presence and a spicy, abrasive malt characteristic. This was the first IPA I ever drank on a regular basis, and I remember saying to my girlfriend (now wife) "I will not marry a girl unless she likes Hop Devil" Guess what we drank at our wedding?!

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2007 22:40:55 | More by OWSLEY069

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: When poured from a bottle to a pint glass, had a bright amber color and a somewhat cloudy texture. There was an inch of head that dissipated quickly.

S: Floral hops, a bit of malt and something sweet in this area.

T: Naturally, as the name would imply, the hops were front and center. There are also some caramel(?) flavors, as well as malt.

M: There was a good amount of carbonation and a slightly slick finish here.

D: Overall, this is a pretty drinkable beer. The hops provide a sharp bitterness, but it's a well-balanced flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2008 13:13:46 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Terrapin pint glass.

A: Pours a golden copper with a small dense off-white head. Head retention is minimal but leaves a solid lacing around the edges.

S: Sweeter, more malty aroma than most AIPA's I've tried but pleasantly so. Definitely some citrus and floral hops in the smell but not overpowering.

T: Just as in the aroma, there are more sweet malts than I'm used to in an IPA but it is balance nicely by the floral hops. Definitely some fruits in there with a biting, slightly metallic hop finish to round things out. Something seems a little off...

M: Prickly with a bit of carbonation. Actually fairly creamy as IPA's go.

D: This one actually had a slightly unpleasant bitterness in the aftertaste, so it may not have been fresh. Still a decent IPA, but I will seek out again to rerate as I think I may be shortchanging Victory with this review.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2008 00:14:15 | More by gford217