Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma'am

Victory Hop Wallop

I just got walloped - Hop Walloped to be exact (it was an obvious pun, but it had to happen) - by Victory's robust, year round Imperial IPA offering. 

Bearing the image of the legendary coal miner Horace "Hop" Wallop (he's fictional, just FYI if you get upset when you don't find his name on wikipedia) this delicious beer pours a golden yellow color with about a finger of head. 

When I went in to smell it I was immediately hit with a strong aroma of grapefruit with some piney undertones, possibly from the use of Cascade hops (?). I'd heard of grapefruit being a taste present in many IPAs but never was it so obvious for me as in the Hop Wallop. 

Not being a huge grapefruit fan, I wondered how that character would carry over to the taste, but upon drinking it was very pleasantly surprised at just how great the flavor was. Its very hoppy while managing to remain well balanced. The finish is especially great; the zingy hop flavor sits on the palate and back of the throat for some time allowing you to really enjoy the complex flavors. As the beer warms the flavor continues to evolve, staying very hoppy, but becoming more and more balanced. 

All in all an great offering from an great Philly brewery.

-Andrew

QUICK TASTE

Victory Hop Wallop

Downingtown, PA 

American Double/Imperial IPA

8.5% ABV

Appearance: golden yellow with low carbonation

Aromatics: stroooong smell of grapefruit with spicy piney undertones

Taste: very crisp on the tongue, bright

nice lingering finish, zingy hop flavor stays on the palate and back of throat for quite some time

Notes: Delicious, one of my more favorite Imperial IPAs due to the fact that its hoppy, but not mind-blowingly so

87/100

Goldilocks and the Three Bastards

The Arrogant Bastard label states that: "This is an aggressive beer, you probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful you have the taste and sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth."

Today's fairytale-like review will focus on the Bastard, the Double Bastard, and the Oaked Bastard... One taster, one Goldilocks. Three beers, three bowls of porridge. Coincidence? I think not.

I, who we can affectionately refer to as Goldilocks, got to choose between these three pours. So follow along as I take you through this storybook tasting... that is, if you have the courage to enter the house of the Arrogant.

Arrogant Bastard: Like Mama Bear's porridge, this is the first impression that we have to this family of beers and the flagship beer of the Stone Brewing Company. Its the original, the one and only, the Bastard! It was one of my first craft brews and my first American Strong Ale. The first time I had it I didn't like it (just like they said), but I loved the idea of it so I pretended like I did. However, after 3 or 4 Arrogant Bastards I developed the taste and appreciation of it and it is now one of my go-to beers. It tastes of pine hops with a little citrus and some light caramelized malt flavor. It's the strong hoppy bitterness that is the dominant flavor and the lasting impression of this beer.

Quick Taste

Arrogant Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 7.20

American Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head

Aromatics: Malty Sweet

Taste: Bitter and Malty, Light hops flavor

Notes: One of my first craft brews, great character and awesome bottles

87


Double Bastard: Again, the beer is mostly pine-tasting hops with a little citrus, but this beer is very malty and much stronger on the back end. When beers use a lot of hops, sometimes more malted barely has to be added to balance out the bitterness. I feel that a lot of times this creates an alcohol flavor and sweetness that I don't tend to like, and that starts to happen a little bit with the aftertaste in the Double. Like Papa Bear's bed, this might be a little to hard for most, but then again, you may be more worthy than I.

Quick Taste

Double Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 10.50

American Double Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head

Aromatics: Malty and Alcoholic

Taste: Harshly Sweet and Malty, the flavor lingers and improves as it fades

Notes: The alcoholic flavor is the almost too much

84

Oaked Arrogant Bastard: Just to complement this story even better, this Baby Bastard comes in the smaller 12oz bottles that the other two do not. This beer is strong, yet smooth; just right - like Baby Bear's porridge and bed. The oak barrel aging process works very nicely with this beer. It helps to balance out the strong and overpowering flavors that can mask some of the subtleties of the classic Arrogant Bastard. The Oaked Bastard has a much more complex taste (or it could just be that I actually notice it in this one) than the other two. And, unlike a lot of other barrel-aged beers you don't get an overpowering whiskey taste. In my opinion, it's the best of the three, and it's just how Goldilocks, er... I, like it.

Quick Taste

Arrogant Bastard
North San Diego County, CA

ABV% 7.20

American Strong Ale

Appearance: Redish Brown Color, Slightly Yellowish Head, least head of the three

Aromatics: Malty and oak

Taste: Mellowed and more balanced vierion of AB (Bitter and Malty, Light hops flavor)

Notes: By far the most balanced and smooth of the three

89

Mom... Theres a 400 Pound Monkey under my bed...

With a name like "400 Pound Monkey" I thought I might be facing a badass crazy hoppy Imperial IPA. Well, I should have known better due to it being billed as an English IPA, but I tend to be a slow learner, especially when my mind is allowed to stray towards the arena of huge, lineman-sized monkeys. 

Either way, this Monkey was not the best beer that I've ever had, but certainly a very tasty and sessionable (yeah, using a buzzword, so shoot me) English IPA that'll sneak up on you with its deceptively high ABV (almost 7%). 

It poured a light golden yellow with a nice, small head and had a very understated aroma. Herbaly(?) hops were definitely the first aroma I got, with a little bit of citrus mixed in. 

The taste followed in just the same manner, with a forefront of subtle pine notes and some lemony citrus bite afterwards. As I usually find with IPAs, the flavors are enhanced as the beer warms and the Monkey was no exception. The flavor became better and better with every sip, but no one flavor ever took over the show. 

All in all, a very well balanced B+ grade English IPA. If you want to enjoy an IPA but can't handle something like a Double Dry-hopped Arrogant Bastard, this one is a great starter with which to begin understanding the nuances of the style. And trust me, I should know... I'm a total wuss when it comes to extremely hoppy beers... and I totally liked the Monkey.

- Andrew


QUICK TASTE

Left Hand Brewing Company 400 Pound Monkey 

Longmont, CO

ABV 6.70%

English IPA

Appearance: Light golden yellow with a quickly diminishing 1-2 finger head

Aromatics: Quite subtle, with herbal smelling hops

Taste: Fairly thick mouthfeel for an IPA. Lower bitterness, as would be expected from the English style, yet still maintains a nice dry, citrusy finish. A few different flavors coming out, from pine to an almost lemon-honey flavor. Well balanced though, so no one flavor dominated.

Notes: A great "beginner" IPA due to its non-overwhelming hoppiness and nice bright flavor. A tasty, above average representation of an English IPA. 86/100.