Holy Hops!!

I haven't always been a hoppy beer fan. I've liked pale ales for a long time, but it took some time for me to learn to appreciate and even crave a good IPA. Little by little I opened up to appreciate hops, and last year took the leap into Double IPA territory with Bell's Hopslam.
I had heard the hype but figured that my adversity to super hoppy beers and the $15 six pack was enough to keep me away. Eventually, my curiosity got the best of me, and since I love every other Bell's I've had, decided I should just try Hopslam. What a beer! The honey mixed perfectly with the hops and it wasn't anywhere close to bitter. I have since tried a number of double IPAs and nothing compares. The style still tends to be hit or miss with me, so I decided to pick up several to review.

Bell's Hopslam: For Christmas this year my wife bought me a gift certificate to a local liquor/beer store with an impressive collection. I purposefully saved the last $20 for the release of Hopslam. This beer is so good, it's quite scary. At 10% you can't put down too many and be functional, yet it is surprisingly refreshing and the honey it's brewed with leaves you with a taste for another swallow! It pours a golden orange with a lacy white head. Right away the wonderful citrusy hops assert themselves but are quickly followed by the honey aroma. The beer is surprisingly smooth and not overly sticky like some double IPAs. It doesn't have much in the way of maltiness, it's all hops and honey! Very sweet with a crisp, almost dry finish. There's a lingering sweetness that entices you for another drink. This beer is outstanding! It will turn reluctant hop heads and impress any beer lover.

Sierra Nevada Torepedo Double IPA: This double IPA pours a copper orange with a thin white head. Nice citrusy west coast hop aroma nose hits you right away. Sweet at first with a grapefruit flavor, and a slight maltiness and caramel in the body. In the finish there is a strong bitterness that lingers. There's also some nice sweetness as well as some citrus and a noticeable heat from the alcohol. Much more bitter than a lot of DIPAs I've had. I liked this beer, but it wasn't as well balanced as some I've had.



Victory Hop Wallop: Most beers I've had from Victory Brewing Company have been really enjoyable and this one is no exception. It pours a cloudy golden yellow with a thin white head. Huge citrusy, grapefruity, and reisiny aromas. Sweet right away with a lingering bitterness in the finish. Throughout the beer is a lot of grapefruit flavors. It's sweet with a nice bittering finish and just massive hops throughout. A very good big, hop loaded ale.

In other notes, this week was my spring break and I brewed twice, an IPA and a Pale Ale, I'll be posting about those coming up.
Salud!
Bearded Brewer