Hop Wallop - Victory Brewing Company

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours shimmering bronze with 2+ fingers of fluffed up cream colored head. Great head retention & good lacing

S: Lemons & pineyness in copious amounts

T: Lemons & grapefruit, with kiss of honey malt then loads of pine up front. More of the same as this warms. Finishes with an all out hop assault, too much grapefruit for my tastes

MF: Medium-bodied, a bit oily with low carbonation. I'd preferred a bit more maltyness

Drinks good, but not a huge fan on the OTT grapefruit hoppyness. Hopheads might want to hoard this before the price rise hits, pricey enough as is. Not a bad DIPA, but plenty better out their IMO

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2007 06:01:15 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hop Wallop poured out as a yellowish copper color, the head was creamy looking as semi-thick. The smell of the beer is hoppy but I have a feeling that the cask may have muted some of the aromas in this one. The taste of the beer is hoppy also had a nice tasting bitter finish to it. The mouthfeel of this beer was silky smooth from the cask. This beer didn't last me very long, it was in my belly shortly after it was given to me. Overall I am looking forward to trying this from a bottle to see how much it differs, I've got a 6 pack waiting to go in the fridge right now. All in all it's a good IIPA that teams well with the HopDevil.

Serving type: cask

06-07-2011 17:23:25 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours into a dry pint glass with several fingers of foam, it settles into a compact and fluffy head. Rings and wisps of foam, it's a nice pint to look at. The color is an amber jewel tone, with a few lazy upward-moving bubbles.

Aroma is heavenly...fruity and juicy like Amarillo, clean and grassy like Saaz. The aroma doesn't hang around long enough, but that initial blast is really something. Malt is in there too to back it up.

Light mouthfeel, but bigger than your average IPA or pale ale. Mild astringency/bitterness at first, pink grapefruit pith, descending into more pale malt flavors, before a bracing finish. Very long, and bitter end. Reminds me of the aftertaste after tasting a fresh hop cone, that bitterness that just never fades. Light suggestion of honey a few minutes after the swallow, once the bitterness subsides.

Fairly easy to drink, especially so in warmer weather i'd imagine. Highly recommended for hop heads.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2007 00:06:05 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Golden yellow, looks almost like a pilsner, with a thick, white head, which leaves excellent Belgian-style lacing, and a lot of foamy debris.

S: Hops, hops, hops, full of pine and citrus, very fragrant.

T: Very hoppy, as in the name, pine is the dominant flavor here, with some citrus backing it up, there is some malty, biscuity flavor in this beer as well, but it is not as abundant, this thing is a true hop bomb.

M: Smooth, creamy, and crisp, a bit warming from the alcohol presence, but this is hidden well.

D: Another great Double IPA to drink, this one is kind of hard to find for me, but very enjoyable when I can, I also love the label, very entertaining.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2007 02:45:31 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Crystal clear orange yellow in color with a nice 1.5" fluffly head. Numerous slow rising tiny bubbles make this look over carbonated, but it isn't at all. The aroma is of piney hops, grass, and mild malt. The flavor is strong on the piney dry hop tones, but the malt is just right to balance this out. Some grapefruit and alcohol are also noticeable.

The mouthfeel is crisp at the start. The finish is crisp and dry with the strong bitterness lasting long on the tongue. Medium bodied which makes this an exceptional beer to drink. Very easy to have a few in one session.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2004 23:17:40 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours gold with a thin white head that hangs on for the duration.

The smell is of strong citrus. Musty, a flash of alcohol.

The taste is of chewy, citrusy hops all over the place - grapefruit and orange. Some floral notes. Malt is subdued, but enough to tie the hops together. Sharp alcohol comes through, which often detracts, but in this case adds a zesty spiciness

Hops and alcohol in the raw. The flavor lingers. Long, dry finish.

A slow sipping brew. Hopheads rejoice, others beware.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2006 15:46:51 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, procured during a trip last month to, um, interesting, metro Detroit.

This beer pours a slightly hazy, medium golden yellow hue, with one finger of tight foamy off-white head, which leaves a nice array of various forms of webbed lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of bitter citrus, milder pine, soft caramel, and more prominent crackery malt. The taste is bready, crackery malt, bitter citrus peel, a bit of pine resin, and emerging sweet booze. The carbonation is on the low side, the body a wavering medium weight, a tad prickly, but smooth enough. It finishes off-dry, with a decently strong uptick in generic leafy, piney bitterness.

An agreeable DIPA, one which borders on the IPA fringe, in terms of flavour - no big malt/hop showdown here, just a nice hop-forward brew, the extra booze warming well subdued, that is until the temperature effect takes hold.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 01:30:57 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hot damn, it almost taste like I ground up hops pellets and dumped them in a pilsner. But better. This sucker is 8.5% and drink relatively easy (for the bitternes) and without any interferenece of balance (pick one) from malts. This is all bawdy hops flavors. Nothing nice and finished tasting like so many DIPAs.

The smell is nothing special, just sweet and bitter spice like found in Victory’s Prima Pils, a hoppy European-style lager. The flavor is an intense, wild mess of fresh hop flavors with a bitter punch. Complex in flavor, it’s grassy, and citrus, pine-like and spicey

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2007 23:20:16 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A handpumped tumbler glass served at the brewpub in Downingtown.

A: The ale is a goldenrod color, a pale amber color that shows off more yellow than orange. A thick foamy head coats the top of the glass and laces in strata as I consume it.

S: The aroma is peppery with lots and lots of citrus. The cask has softened up the hops but they are still the focal point of the ale.

T: The ale is quite piquant, spicy and delicious with an intense hop presence. The cask has softened up the initial bite without detracting from the overall hop profile. The hops are citrusy with a lasting flavor that can't be avoided. The caramel malts nicely support the hops without getting in the way.

M: Mmmm, hops. This is by far Victory's hoppiest ale and what a great taste it has. Thick and resiny, coating the mouth with lupulin goodness.

D: The ale is a little too heavy to pound, so the one glass, especially on cask, was a treat.

Serving type: cask

06-21-2008 01:12:33 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

There's definitely alot of hype behind this brew, I found myself very fortunate to obtain a case of this beauty after there being somewhat of a shortage in the Pittsburgh beer market. Tasted my first bottle at D's sixpack, then I moved on to seek it out on draft at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse where I learned it wouldn't be tapped until the next day. Now let's take a look at this brew what does it do for me and how does it compare to the other bigger IPAs out there. Appearance: Amber with tiny hop particles spread throughout in a suspension like fashion forms a two finger depth head which lasts for quite some time when it does dwindle beautiful even bands of lacing nice. Aroma: Amazing blend of pine cone scented hops with citrusy grapefruit in nature hop dosage a candy like sweet finish to the nose this is nice I am loving it. Taste: Hops are there and in number they do give a burst of hops, but the great part about this beer is that it doesn't overdo it remains hoppy as all hell but allows different flavors to come and share the stage first off grapefruit sweetness is there with a sugary sensation that is straight up unique and tasty. I feel like I am partial to Victory but this one does live up to the load of hype that came with it, for me this is one of my favorite IPAs available today second to maybe only 3F's Dreadnaught IPA which has shown me the light not to overlook any small micro out there. Mouthfeel: Sticky texture to this medium body hop resin filled glass of ambrosia it's true "hoppiness is happiness". Drinkability: Amazingly easy to consume I can't picture this beer being 8.5% abv it just doesn't seem that way to me. Can't wait to get a taste of this one on draft I'm sure it will deliver on every level as well, and then maybe more so.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 06:35:39 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clouded gold with little head. Nose is strong with a floral hoppy tone and almost a yeasty presence as well. Flavor is salty. Almost like I am taking a sip of the ocean. Noticable hop presence, but like the nose, it is more of a gentle type of hop. Not the overpowering mouth kicker that so many go for. Feel is low on bubble and carries a decent liquid feel. Drinkable, yes. But I wouldn’t consider it a top DIPA. Seem to be better examples out there.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 00:58:08 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

2.83/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a hazy golden yellow, with a decent white head to it. Nose was citrusy and floral with somethign astringent. The taste was slightly citrus, floral notes, bitterness, off balanced not malty enough nor hoppy enough for a IIPA. Not a fan of this one at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2008 16:04:39 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a very powerful beer--high in alcohol and VERY high in hop. The on-tap version pours slightly cloudy, golden with a nice head.

The aroma is largely flowery hop. My daughter thought it smelled like oatmeal...hmmm, I don't think so.

Flavor wise, you better like bitter, bitter beer. The hop is overwhelming. The only way I knew there was malt was from the alcohol and the color. The beer is surprisingly rich given the flavor. The carbonation is expectedly high as a balance to the richness. I would not categorize this beer as "drinkable" simply because it lies on the outer extreme of an extreme category. If you're looking for something different and special, try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2004 16:53:10 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was given to me by warriorsoul, thanks again buddy. Pours a clear golden color, some carbonation, very small head, some lacing throughout the drink. Scents of hops, citrusy, pine (?). I really like the taste of this brew, the taste and smell is very different than other IPAs or DIPAs I've had. Nice bitter aftertaste. Medium body. Very drinkable, the color surprised the shit out of me, but I guess that's Victory's different slant, I would by this stuff every time if I could get ahold of some, highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2005 00:32:52 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer pours a pale yellow crystal clear body with a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles. The smooth creamy pure white head turns to a thin film.

S- The smell of green floral hops have an earthy, pine and pineapple qualities. There is a hint of fresh pale male in there also.

T- This beer has a nice juicy hop taste with notes of pineapple and floral green hops. There is a soft pale malt flavor that really compliments the hops. The finish is a nice hop bitterness with a hint of alcohol and white pepper.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a faint alcohol warmth after the finish.

D- Nice juicy hops are supported by alcohol and some malt flavors to really boost the hops even more.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2006 23:59:34 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Absolutely amazing! The lace from the cask pour and the insane amount of hops was leaving thick rings all the way down the glass. Sweet pine and spice aroma, fruity esters and a mild higher alcohol in the nose. So smooth on the palate with a biting hoppiness with a continuation of that with the alcohol in the finish. Every time the malt wanted to break through the hops beat it back down. The alcohol was a bit too much though this is thoroughly a sipping beer to begin with @ 8.5% abv.

Serving type: cask

03-31-2004 11:56:57 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had my first sample of the wallop on draft a few days ago at the Blind tiger in NYC. Never got a taste of last years product so I cant compare em. This is a fairly light/golden brew, clear with a white head. Moderate carbonation, nice tiny bubble film on tap and nice lacing is left behind. Strong nose of grainy hops. Hops and more hops carried the freight. Nice alcohol bite also lurking not to far from the middle. Love this style and loved this tasty, crisp, aggressively hoppy and flavorful brew. Looking forward to trying the bottled version.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2004 03:02:45 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.63/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

From 07/28/10 notes.

a - Pours an amber color with no head or carbonation.

s - Smells citrus hops, and floral hops. Hint of pine and soap, as well as fruity malts.

t - Tastes of oranges, lemon citrus, and floral hops. A decent amount of bitterness.

m - Medium body and no carbonation. Very easy to drink for an 8.5% ABV beer.

d - A pretty nice IPA that was easy to drink. Would have again.

Serving type: cask

08-17-2010 01:24:42 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12ozer bottle bought as a single from Yankee Spirits, Sturbridge, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" slightly off-white head above the slightly cloudy golden brew. Head lasts well, will slow-receding foamy lace. Aroma is somewhat earthy, very piney hops, and not much else noticeable. Taste actually starts with a bit of a sweet malt flavor, then quickly segues into the piney hops portended by the nose. Mouthfeel and drinkabilty are excellent for the style. Liked this one tons better from the bottle than the tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2005 20:28:29 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to warriorsoul for this.
Appears a light golden yellow with a dense 2 inch head with tons of spotty lacing.
Smell is of hearty hops, caramel malts, and corn syrup.
Taste is all of the aforementioned smells with a sugary start and an awesome hop explosion.
Mouthfeel is starchy and sugary which levetates towards the hops indulgance on the back of tongue. Man, this is much better than the draft versions I remember having for the past two years.
Thanks again, Tom!

Finger licking good...and then some!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2005 03:14:08 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy gold color with a fine tall white head.

Smell is sweet and malt and even a bit like candy. All that sweetness does not hide the hop load in this beer. Strong and a bit raw hop aroma here, strong pine and grapefruit scents with a harsh hint of eucalyptus. Bit of pineapple and mint in the scent too.

Taste is sweet but that is quickly stamped out by the hops in this brew. Grapefruit and Pineapple are the first major flavors mostly tropical fruit with a bit of mango/peach flavor. Tasty with lots of finer flavors the malt here is just to heavy to let them come out to the same extent that Pliny The Younger and Dreadnaught do. Having said that no way that I am not finishing this beer!

Mouthfeel is good, lighter than it tastes.

A great attempt at the Mega IPA and if Russian River and Three Floyds didn't exist it might be among the best, but this is 2006 and they do. A good DIPA and a great deal cheaper than Dreadnaught, I suggest you buy some of this for the weekends and splurge on Russian River or Three Floyds for Holidays.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2006 02:27:56 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On cask at the VBC.

Pours a cloudy, golden caramel color with a big creamy, vanilla white head that left some excellent lacing down the glass. Aroma is prominent floral hops and citrus with a slight undertone of sweetness and heat.

Taste is a bitter hop bomb throughout highlighted by a very strong floral citrus character. Underlying sweet maltiness is present but gets overpowered way too easily and seems to be there just for the hops to ride along on. Bitterness and alcohol just coats your palette in the finish, in an ending that you wont soon forget until the next sip. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, silky smooth, and delicous.

Wow, this was my first experience with this beer on cask and it was quite a memorable one. Not for the hoppy faint of hearted but ectasy for serious hop heads. Unfortunately that combo of hops and alcohol make it a serious sipper and I seriously doubt that I could (or would) want more than one in a sitting, so it takes a hit in the drinkability department. If your able to find this guy on cask outside of the brewery, do yourself a favor, batten down the hatches, and set sail for one hoppy ride.

Serving type: cask

11-18-2007 16:03:38 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks for hooking me up with this biegaman, long time in tasting!

Pours a clear golden amber, thin white head forms, nice lacing, spirals on the glass, settles to a nice ring around the glass. Smell is sweet, some honey and caramel, grapefruit and floral hops, bit more citrus, not bad, pretty light. Taste is nice, really thick grapefruit, caramel, floral/citrus, bit of a bitter astringency, almost plasticy, nice full bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is nice, full bodied, medium carbonation. Nice drinkable double IPA, but kind of lackluster nowadays, some off flavours but overall I enjoyed this. Thanks Jan!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2007 00:12:12 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I have edited my ratings slightly as of March 16, 2005. This is not nearly the same beer I consumed last year. And it pales in comparison to the top notch DIPAs around. It's a high octane, one dimensional hop juice with no substantial malt backing. That said, my rating is now a reflection of a midpoint between the 2003 edition and the 2004 edition.

A hazed deep golden appearance with small particles suspended evenly throughout. The head is thin and off-white in color. The lace is patchy. The aroma is minty, fragrant and perfumey but on the flipside, also pungent and raw. I like it a lot. The pure hop bliss hits the palate first and foremost. And it is of hop resin, mint leaves, bay leaves, orange rind, pungent mary jane and smoke. The bitterness is bold and clean, not harsh and intense. The malt beneath has a slight toasted characteristic and biscuity feel. The mouthfeel is crisp and clean and the body is about medium. This is a tremendously drinkable Imperial IPA.

Thanks for the special treat beergeek279.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2004 06:12:44 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber golden color with a thin white head. Aroma of hops, grapefruit and other citrus fruits. Lots of hops up front balanced out with a slight lemony citrus flavor. A touch too watered down for my liking. I feel that their Hopdevil is a far superior beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 08:20:34 | More by corby112