The 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.