Victory Brewing Company- Hop Wallop Ale: Not for those who have a pacemaker or other heart conditions.

Hop Wallop Ale has a great little bottle. It rocks a fictitious story about Hop Wallop. Apparently Hop Wallop was a down and out gold 49er who had fallen on hard times. He passed out while his last handful of barely and hops fell into his water canteen. When he awake he had brewed this hoppy tongue twister. Being an English teacher I appreciate the quickly dying art of the short story. Let’s hope Hop Wallop can keep me entertained past the bottle.

Hop Wallop pours very thick and dense citron with an incredible amount of foam and carbonation. It was bubbling like champagne ten minutes after I poured it. The scent is an earthy citrus and a nuclear hop warhead. There is not one ounce of sweetness on this brews breath. Hop Wallop was not into subtlety apparently.

WOW. This beer is intense. I love, love, love hoppy beers, but this is crazy even by my standards. I was not able to track the IBUs down anywhere, but if I had to guess, I would say well over a hundred. The oil from the hops clings to your palette long after each sip. It actually dries your mouth out over the course of a bottle. Hop Wallop is definitely an experience. It is pure hops. I was not able to detect any other flavors. For some people this would be beer nirvana, for sweet malt lovers this is purgatory. I am in the middle. I mean I’m glad I rode the ride, but I’m not in a hurry to get my ticket punched again anytime soon. Victory Brewing has lived up to its name. They are the new king of the block in the nuclear hops race. Damn.

ABV: 8.5%

Consumed: Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy a Six Pack

Victory Brewing Company- Hop Wallop: A Homerun Of Hop Hysteria

It’s a Sunday night after a long day of taking care of chores and other menial domestic tasks, I decided to bust out the Wok and make some beef & veggie stir fry.  Upon my completion of dinner I looked forward to a night on the couch watching the new mini-series on HBO about the battles and victories of The United States Marines in the Pacific during WWII, The Pacific.  I figured that since I was victorious in my domestic battles today that I deserved another victory to make the day complete.  This victory I refer to is Victory Brewing Company’s Hop Wallop.  Will I defeat my desire for something refreshing, let’s find out.

Victory Brewing Company’s Hop Wallop is an Imperial IPA and their website describes it as, “We celebrate the pioneering spirit of old Horace 'Hop' Wallop and those who dare mighty adventurous things in this vivid, robust ale. As our annual homage to the hop harvest, expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty.”

Hop Wallop pours a semi-cloudy golden/honey color with a fat 1 ½” microscopic bubble off white head with a strong citrusy hop aroma with hints of grapefruit and comes in at 8.5% ABV.

Hop Wallop is an understatement, it should be renamed Hop Baseball Bat because it smashes your taste buds with a homerun of hop bitterness.  There is an ever so faint sweet malt beginning that is interrupted by a bitter hop blast and then finishes with an understated but present honey sweet finish that is crisp and refreshing.  Of the Imperial IPA’s that I’ve sampled this by far is the most bitter of the bunch.  If you like your Imperial IPA’s with loads of citrus hop bitterness then this is your opening day starter for sure.

ABV: 8.5%

Consumed: Imperial Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack