Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA

Victory Dirt Wolf Double IPA.

Clear, bright golden coloring, lush white, long-lasting head. Lookin' fine. That ain't no lie.

Aroma: honey-sweet, tropical fruit bitter. Citra? Mosaic? Another hot hop I haven't thought of? Nicely balanced, plenty of hop flavor, little bitterness.

Taste: Hop bitterness right away, gliding the palate, stays calm and cool. Modicum of sweetness strokes the tongue, bumps up against bitterness, and the slide together down the throat. Malt body is medium-ish, light, not getting in the way of the hops. Alcohol isn't felt, but hinted at. Oh, wait, there it is…

Dirt Wolf isn't a pretty name, but I assume it has links to the lore of hops. Before I check the label to see for sure, I will add my final thoughts. This is right on the money, delicious, balanced double IPA that perfectly fits the mold set by Bell's HopSlam. It's a good formula that's proven popular. And easy to market: "Can't find any HopSlam? Think HopSlam's too expensive? Try this, it's just as good!" I almost wrote "almost", but, really, it's just as good.

Not a tongue-ripper, not a palate-destroyer, just a nice, hoppy pleaser, with an onset of alcohol. mmm, hmm.

Here comes the gobbledygook: "Darkly heroic, humbles lupus (hops) have empowered brews wit bite and character since the 11th century. DirtWolf is a tribute to these untamed vines which rise from the earth with the voracity of a 'wolf among sheep.' Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best US varieties of hops in their natural, whole flower form, as they bring a vital, pungent reality to the soul of a wild element in our dangerously satisfying DirtWolf."