All Hail Hop Wallop

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. Beer: Hop Wallop

Style: American Double India Pale Ale ABV: 8.5%

While grabbing lunch at Mister Bones, a friendly little bistro in Greensburg, PA that also offers nearly 200 craft and import beers, I asked the gentlemen working behind the register, "What's a great IPA that's Pennsylvania brewed and will be great to wash my sandwich down with?" He offered up a few suggestions. The third suggestion was Hop Wallop by Victory Brewing Co. located in Downingtown, PA. The name alone intrigued me enough to choose it.

So, I sat down at the table and made an excellent pour. One similar to the picture on the left, and took my first sip. Their was enough hop flavor to rip my tounge out, which was awesome. I mean with a name like "Hop Wallop," it better wallop my taste buds. Considering the intense alcohol content and sheer style of American Double IPA's, Hop Wallop is extremely drinkable. I wouldn't necessarily describe the taste as bitter persay, but their is a very big hop bite. The color of the beer is somewhat lighter in color compared to other's of its style. Overall, "Cheers to Victory Brewing Co. for this one!"

Also, every label on Victory's beer comes with a little tale of how it became. Here's the tale of Hop Wallop: Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop headed West a broken man. For it was a certain Miss LuLubelle Lager that had left him, thirsting for more. Drawn by wild tales of the riches of the gold mines, Hop pressed on westward. His last nickel spent on a prospecting pan, Hop's hunger and thirst got the best of him. Two fistfuls o' barley and three of some wild and wayward hops tossed in the pan with some clear water was to be his meal. But sleep overcame him and he woke to a bubbling, cacophonous concoction. Overjoyed with the beautiful ale that he had made, Hop realized the secret of the 'green gold' he had discovered in those fresh hops. Celebrated far and wide, Hop Wallop lives on in this vivid ale with his words, "Hoppiness is happiness!"

Cheers!

Megabeerman