Author Archives: skibikeandbeer

Evolution Craft Brewing Co., Lot No. 6

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PicsArt_1381170009269

We took our annual, end of summer beach vacation down on the Delaware shore this year. Before I left, I was told to keep an eye out for Evolution beers. Evolution Craft Brewing Co., out of Salisbury, MD was offered in tap and in bottles in restaurants in the area and the local beer store had a number of selections from them to choose.  The Lot No.6 is a Double IPA and comes in at 8.5% abv. Out of 12 oz bottles, it poured a cloudy amber with a medium to thick, almost creamy head. Strong, predominately citrus hops on the nose.  Sweet, citrussy and piney hop flavors predominate and it has a nice, smooth malty finish was surprisingly smooth for a big 8.5% double. I really enjoyed this beer and found it to be a very good DIPA.

While down on the Delmarva, I also sampled Evolution’s Lot No. 3, which is their single IPA. It too, was a very good beer. I believe it has a 6.8% abv and was smooth and hoppy. I didn’t bring any of them home so I don’t have a true review).  But, I did enjoy the Lot No. 6 more than the Lot No. 3.  But, I tend to enjoy prefer DIPAs.

Victory Brewing Company, Hop Wallop

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Hop WallopThe Legend of Hop Wallop

Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop headed West a broken man.  For in the City of Blues a Miss LuLu Belle Lager had left him thirsting for more.  Drawn by wild tales of riches to be had in the gold mines, Hop pressed on westward.  His last nickle spent on a prospecting pan, Hop’s hunger got the best of him.  Two fistfuls of barley and three of some wild and wayward hops tossed in a pan with some clear water was to be his meal.  But sleep overcame him and he later awoke to a bubbling, cacaphonous 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.”  Enjoy!  (Story from the bottle label).

Victory, out of Downingtown, PA, labels this a “very hoppy ale”.  I enjoyed them out of 12 oz bottles which I poured into pint glasses and revealed a beer cloudy gold in color with a thinnish white head.  It had a strong malty nose with hints of hops and alcohol.  It is, after all, a big 8.5% abv. ale.  It has a slightly bitter, hoppy finish and overall is very enjoyable.  Not quite as much of a pronounced citrussy or piney hoppy flavor as I tend to enjoy best, but this is nonetheless, a very good beer and is quite tasty.

Oskar Blues Brewery, Deviant Dale’s IPA

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Deviant Dale's Watermarked

Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons CO. and Brevard, NC, Deviant Dale’s. IPA (16 oz. tallboy can).  This is one of my favorite IPAs.  It is my current stand-by, as I almost always have a four-pack (It’s sold in 4-packs of 16 oz cans) or parts thereof in the fridge.  It pours a nice, deep amber in color with a light off-white/beige head which leaves nice lacing on the glass.  Strong grapefruit and citrus on the nose with an almost sweet, hoppy, mild malty finish that is just outstanding. Very drinkable at 8.0% abv.  This is basically the equivalent of a Double IPA. But, Oskar Blues calls it an IPA, because their Dale’s Pale Ale, is such a hoppy Pale Ale, it is really an IPA itself.

The lyrics from Widespread Panic’s song Tallboy, “Let’s sling a little mud, girl. Sippin’ on a tallboy” circle the top of the can.