Ranch R Double IPA - Victory Brewing Company

mdaschaf

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Had on tap at Brouwers. Review from notes.

A: Pours a clear orange, rather bright, with a small white head which is foamy. Nice head retention with pretty lacing down the sides.

S: Some citrus fruits upfront, lots of orange and orange peel. There is a bit of bready malt and a little sugary sweetness as well

T: Some bitterness right away with pine upfront which leads to some intense citrus fruit - mostly orange, but a bit of pineapple and grapefruit. Light caramel and grainy malt.

M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation. ABV hidden very well.

O: One of the best I have had from Victory. A smooth DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 05:51:38 | More by mdaschaf

Naters333

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had on tap at my local watering hole. Served in a pint glass.

A-Nice light orange color. Sticky. Great one inch white head. Leaves lacing all over the glass as I drink.

S- Great aroma from this beer. Pine, citrus, hops.

T- Delicious. Citrus, pine, hops, sticky to my tongue. Bitter. Hops.

M- Loved this mouthfeel. Sticky, medium feel. Made my mouth pucker.

O- Very solid Double IPA. Not the best I've had but just solid all around.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 21:38:53 | More by Naters333

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pour is a dark orangish copper with a light tan head. Nose is rather grainy, light doughy malt and some faint tropical fruit hops. Taste is lightly grained with notes of biscuity malt. It's got a bit of sweet hops. Pineapple, grapefruit, some citrus. Rather smooth balance and very bitter dry finish. Well carbonated crisp and clean. Of course well attenuated and smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2012 17:20:09 | More by cpetrone84

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Impressive bar pour head that is very slow to settle (lumpy).

Prickly pine aroma. Low malt smell, but still very inviting.

Starts off neutrally...not a strong malt but enough. The hop quickly takes over, providing a strong bitterness that I find one dimensional. Highly carbonated which quells any richness in the body. A potent beer that is way to easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 20:26:11 | More by smcolw

Chaney

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Pizza Paradiso in Old Town.

Served in a snifter.

A: Poured out a fairly bright orange color, with ever the slightest bit of crimson also. The head was fairly marshmallowy.

S: Pow hops! However, this wasn't quite as saturated as many West Coasters out there. I also got a nice fruit undertow here as well.

T: Right away, I got Victory's signature yeasty taste profile along with a substantial fruit bill as well. Hell, I even burped fruit!

M: Did I mention that hops were in this? Lots of lacing for sure, bitter, but the yeast cut that down to size as well as the sweetness, which wasn't syrupy at all.

O: I usually don't turn to Victory whenever I want to get my hop on (I don't like Hop Wallop and Hop Devil is just ok in my opinion), but this one worked for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2012 11:33:20 | More by Chaney

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from tap at Alewife, Baltimore. Pours a clear golden with thick head. Smells of citra like hops; grapefruit and sweet candy hops. Taste was mild all around and bitter to boot. Not very enjoyable, but easy to drink...basically just getting through it. The abv is well hidden, but so are the flavors...dissapointinng to say the least.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2012 00:57:42 | More by DrinkSlurm

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer was served from the tap at The Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in generic tulip glass glowing a solid gold. It held a one and a half finger tall tan bubbly head. This showed outrageous retention, staying for the entire tasting. Lacing was splotchy, and no sediment or haze was noted. Carbonation appeared active. The nose was fresh with citrus and raw piney hops. Nice grain followed, with sweetness, pale malts, and a light toast. Fruit came next, with more independent citrus, with all the juiciness, wetness, sweetness, and inviting nature of real fruit. Our first impression was that the flavoring was underwhelming. As we sipped, creamy, wheaty malts hit first. These suppressed everything until the peak, where juicy grapefruit hops, bitter peppery booze, and fresh strawberry sweetness drown the malts out. The finish is with fusel ethanol, bittering hops, metallic pale malts, light yeast, and synthetic cherry sweetness. The aftertaste breathes more of the same, with lighter grain, and solid fruity hoppiness. The body was medium to full, and the carbonation was medium. Thick cream and froth left a nice coating with each sip, with an eventual rich dryness felt all around the mouth. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank decently.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the fresh nose, and the insane retention of the head. The flavoring, however, was weak in comparison, especially after such a luscious nose. This beer was ultimately tasty for the style and great for the brewery, but we just wish the strength of the aroma carried better into the flavoring.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2012 21:08:09 | More by TheBrewo

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Premier gourmet offering another draft only DIPA (after Brooklyn's blast) and I'm excited.

The beer pours a clear reddish-copper with tremendous carbonation and a foamy off-white head that laces. The nose is big on hops producing a distinct pineapple, mango, and a touch of citrus. The beer's sweetness reels in the hops and is complemented by a refreshing bite from the ethanol. The taste is just as hoppy with a big malty backbone. What's really outstanding is this beer's mouthfeel. It's rich and creamy sweetness plays off the intense, yet tropical, hops to make this dangerously drinkable. The beer's freshness undoubtably plays a role in this, but obviously the brewers knew they had a special beer with an integrity that would be compromised if bottled. For almost $9 a 32oz fill this beer doesn't disappoint. I prefer to consume this at home considering its staggering abv and obvious drinkability.

Serving type: growler

08-10-2012 01:08:29 | More by ThePorterSorter

thedoubler55

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A golden brown color that is transparent, a nice one finger off white head at the top that does not leave to much lacing.

S: Lots of citrus and pine notes on this one and a slight hint of caramel and honey.

T: The taste is pleasant but not of the best IPA's I have had. Lots of citrus notes and grassy notes as well. A good balance of hops and malts.

M: Medium bodied and good amount of carbonation.

O: This is probably one of the best Victory brews that I have had, I believe that they have a big potential but they havent lived up to it yet.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2012 18:55:59 | More by thedoubler55

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Alewife Baltimore, 3/3/12.

A-Pours a clear golden honey with a thin foamy off white head and good lacing.

S-Citrusy with big amarillo hop notes and a good malty backbone.

T-Citrusy hops and caramel malt, a bit boozy.

M-Medium bodied, quite wamr.

O-A very solid DIPA, quite flavorful.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 18:49:25 | More by sholland119

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy, pale golden orange color with yellowish hues and a half finger white head that quickly settles into thin ring.  Spotty lacing.  

Sweet citrus hop aroma balanced by earthy grass notes, tropical fruit and pale malts.  Hints of orange peel, grapefruit and mango as well as some biscuit, graham cracker, grass and pine.

On the fuller end of medium-bodied with a decent balance of dry/bitter and sweet fruit notes.  Hints of earthy grass and pine provide a nice balance to the sweet fruit and booze.  Citrus/orange peel, grapefruit, pineapple and mango with earthy/soily pine, biscuit and graham cracker.  A bit hot/boozy in the finish.  ABV could be masked a bit better but it's still decently drinkable.  

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 02:37:31 | More by corby112

57md

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a light copper with less than a finger of head. The head dissipates rather quickly, but manages to leave some lacing behind anyway. The nose is a total pine forest. This is a very hop forward offering without a doubt. Citrus notes are upfront as well along with a milder malty flavor. A fairly distinct hop bitterness on the finish.

This is a stellar effort from a great PA brewery that knows how to do hops right! I was bummed when I found out that this would not be available in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 04:33:05 | More by 57md

argock

Virginia

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

Served on tap in a Shaker pint glass at Michael's Bistro (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Honey golden with 1/2-finger off-white foamy head with decent retention and some lace figures.

S: Major grapefruit attack with some pinesap and resiny hoppiness. The grapefruit character is like grapefruit peel or pith. The maltiness seems like straight pale malt.

T: The grapefruit barrage is unrelenting in this beer with heavy pithiness that borders on but doesn't quite cross into astringency. There is a good dose of pine and resin. I wish the malt component added a little more -- this is not a balanced DIPA. The malt component is straight pale with maybe a slight dash of Munich for a little nutty character, but if there was ever a beer that cried out for a little more Munich or some light crystal character, this is it. The pithy grapefruit gets to be a bit much towards the end.

M: Medium body with nice dry finish and even carbonation.

O: I liked this beer, but an entire pint is a tall order unless you really love grapefruit peel. I like DIPAs that are more balanced but still tend towards hoppy, and this falls way on the hoppy side. Not bad, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 00:46:09 | More by argock

KMcG

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this the week after Victory had visited Goodnight Irene's in NJ at Irene's.

A golden orange clear ale with a creamy head and fine lace.

The nose has clear peach aroma and traces of pear. A little hint of caramely melts in the background. 

This one is sticky and phenolic.  The peach is there in the front and the finish is a hoppy grapefruit rind.

It has a medium body with fine carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2012 00:45:44 | More by KMcG

MrBeerExpert

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Light golden and brilliantly clear. Thin white head with decent retention and low lacing.

S: Extremely aromatic citrus with a touch of catty pine. Fantastic!

T: Very well balanced. Not cloyingly sweet like many other Double IPAs. Lingering bitterness on the palate.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Slick mouthfeel with a dry finish.

O: Another victory for Victory. They almost never disappoint, but this a particularly fine offering.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2012 19:30:53 | More by MrBeerExpert

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with a small white head. In the aroma, a dry grapefruit citrus hop. In the taste, dry grapefruit like hops and a small sweetness in the end. A small hop bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry, grapefruit hop in the aftertaste. Big grapefruit hops all day!

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2012 16:31:58 | More by OWSLEY069

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ranch R Double IPA
Victory Brewing Company
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.00 %

LOOK: Clear bright golden color. Soapy foam forms and leaves lace down the glass. Appears well carbonated and perfectly clear.

SMELL: Earthy and herbal aromas of hops, candi sugar, malt sweetness, biscuits, and bread. Inviting but definitely letting it be known that this beer will be very hoppy.

TASTE: Semi sweet pale malts and an aggressive amount of dirty, earthy hops. The hop flavor draws in resin, sticky herb, pine, grapefruit rind, dry wood, and herbal notes. Very, very bitter, with a sharp hop bite. Somewhat mild malt sweetness is overcome by strong hops. A bitter beer with a mean streak.

FEEL: Medium bodied, well carbonated, semi dry finish. Big sticky hop flavors linger.

OVERALL: A very aggressive, bitter, astringent ipa. This particular hop variety used is a supreme bittering hop. Biting and earthy, this will quench only the true hop lover.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 19:01:01 | More by Stinkypuss

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap served in a pint glass

A - Golden amber with 1 finger white head with good retention and good lacing

S - Grapefruit, apricot, a touch of pine, caramel malt.

T - Follows the nose, big hop presence with nice malt caramel note, just a bit too much alcohol present.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, chewy.

O - Good, but the hops or malt needs turned up in comparison to the etoh.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2012 14:50:29 | More by williamjbauer

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at perch pub

Pours a clouded golden color with some straw yellow hues. One finger high white head bubbles up and leaves patchy lacing behind on the glass.

Intensely bitter nose with plenty of pungent hops. Citrus peel, grapefruit and a hint of pine. Thinner malt backbone with some caramel and faint bready notes. Spike of soft booze.

A boatload of bitter hops up front on the tongue with sticky pine resin. Orange and grapefruit slice through with decent juciness. Bready backbone with some caramel and sweetness. Finishes bitter, boozy and dry.

Medium body, decent carbonation, sticky and lingering on the tongue. This is easily the best hoppy beer Victory has.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 01:19:12 | More by xnicknj

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I believe I'm reviewing the correct bier. The Victory bier menu simply said Ranch Double IPA, no mention of "Ranch R", "Ranch S" or "Ranch 369"... I had 2 pints of this, one each on 02JUN12 and 03JUN12. Menu noted it was brewed with Centennial, Citra, Cascade and Simcoe hops.

My glass was filled with a clear, deep golden/orangey bier. Carbo was steady and plentiful, while the head was frothy and rocky, off-white, and left excellent lacing on the glass. Aroma was replete with citrus and more citrus! Rindy grapefruit and pineapple - superb! Mouthfeel was a firm medium, and this one was pretty smooth going down.

Malts? Really?? Flavor perhaps had a touch of sweetness in the guise of apricot and tangerine, but this was a hop show through and through! Rindy, pithy, resiny grapefruit was all over the palate. This one was solid x10, and highly drinkable! Prosit!!

4.45/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1470

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2012 17:02:45 | More by Bierman9

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

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

Had a growler filled of this about a month back when visiting my bro in Coatesville. Poured into a snifter for review.

A: Pours a golden copper with ample white head that clings to the glass. Pretty clear, but some sediment present in the glass likely from dry hopping or maybe yeast.

S: Strong pine hop presence with a good dose of American citrus hops. Reminds me of grapefruit, maybe a little orange, and some tangerine or something very similar. Hops definitely take the forefront, but I do get a small sweet malt presence - not much - but enough to slightly back up the malt.

T: A sweet taste that interweaves both caramel sweetness with hop nectar. Very nice if you're a hophead. Otherwise, maybe not so much. Tastes like a West Coast IPA should be, but I feel like the upfront hop character was held back at the last minute to let some sweet malt character shine through.

M: Feels medium to light but the sweetness makes this one feel a little more full in perception. Nice carbonation. The alcohol does not seem evident whatsoever. Nice even gravity to bitterness IMO.

O: I really like what Victory has tried here. It seems to me that they're trying to perfect a DIPA and sampled with this one. I really like it, although I think they may have restrained on the hops a touch to satisfy the East Coast crowd. Nonetheless, I would love to see this one make Victory's flagship or seasonal releases.

Serving type: growler

04-08-2012 00:37:33 | More by jwhancher

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.48/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap at Cole's in Buffalo, NY...

A: Pours a nice light honey color with thin wisps of white head along the top of the beer. There is a bit of lacing as it drinks.

S: The beer has a touch of malt and tons of floral and citrus notes. I'm picking up rose hips, lemon, and orange peel. It smells fantastic.

T: This is a solid brew. The floral flavors burst onto the palate straight away. Rose, lavender, and hibiscus come to mind. After the initial burst and bloom, my palate is met with a solid backbone of lemony citrus and orange peel. It's wonderful.

M: Medium bodied beer. For an IIPA this beer is surprisingly light and the hop characteristics are super fresh. The lemony bitters linger for awhile after drinking, but nothing in excess.

O: I thought this beer was really delicious. The flavors are great, it's refreshing, and it's incredibly drinkable for a 9% beer. I'd order this again in a heartbeat.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2012 14:48:52 | More by trxxpaxxs

russwbeck

Virginia

3.3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Clear yellow pour with about a finger of fluffy white head. The lacing clings to the glass nicely, but the retention leaves something to be desired.

S: A bit bland, the aroma is sort of dank and musty. Perhaps a bit malty, not a lot of fruit. Just average.

T: The taste is more bitter, but not particularly better. Piney, with a musty hop profile. I don't really know what they were going for here, but I think they missed.

MF: It leaves a weird taste on the palate. Crisp finish, the beer just isn't all that drinkable.

O: Skip this if you see it. I live Victory beers, just not this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2012 21:35:57 | More by russwbeck

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a nice looking golden copper color. The head was white and kind of thin by the time it got to me. Some minor streaks of lacing on the glass. The smell of the beer is nicely hopped with some refreshing citrus notes to it. The taste is kind of like a hoppy pilsner to me. It's kind of got an earthiness to it that is quickly overpowered by the bitter hops. The mouthfeel is smooth and dry. Overall it's a good DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2012 21:31:10 | More by Knapp85

metter98

New York

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is crystal clear copper in color. It poured with a patch of bubbles on the surface in the center of the glass and a thin ring around the edge.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of citrus in the nose.
T: The taste is very citrusy with flavors of grapefruit and orange. The hops also contribute a light amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with some hints of syrupiness.
O: The alcohol is very well masked from this beer, giving it good drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2012 03:33:55 | More by metter98