Victory Brewing Company‘s DirtWolf, 8.7% Double IPA
Darkly heroic, Humulus Lupulus have empowered brews with 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.”
– Victory Brewing Company
Why DirtWolf? Humulus is a Latin name possibly originating from the Low German word “humela” for hop; lupulus literally means a “small wolf,” referring to how the plant climbs over and smothers trees. Webster defines humulus lupulus as, “European twining plant whose flowers are used chiefly to flavor malt liquors.
In an effort to provide a greater variety of beer styles to their customers, Victory Brewing Company has released DirtWolf Double IPA this month, a tempting new beer that will be available year-round.
Victory describes DirtWolf as, “Wildly assertive, intentionally untamed and dangerously satisfying.” It marks the culmination of Victory’s double IPA series experiment with whole flower American-grown hops. DirtWolf is brewed with two-row German malts and a combination of whole flower hops including the classic Chinook hop, along with the newer Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops. DirtWolf will replace Victory’s Hop Wallop® Ale.
President and Brewmaster, Bill Covaleski says, “We’re very proud to bring this delicious new double IPA, DirtWolf to market. As brewers who enjoy experimenting with beer styles and ingredient varieties, we are constantly looking to keep our core audience captivated and interested while creating opportunities to attract and introduce those new to the craft brewing movement. We think, and hope, everyone will be as pleased as we are with the result.”
Appearance
Foamy white head, hazy golden color with loads of bubbles.
Aroma
Fruity, citrusy – lemon and grapefruit, piney.
Taste
Tropical – mango, grapefruit, pineapple, orange; hints of pine.
Mouthfeel
High carbonation, perfect bite of bitterness, finishes dry.
Overall
They have definitely mastered the balance of hop bitterness, hop flavor, and hop aroma. I absolutely adore this beer because it celebrates everything wonderful about the hop. Kudos to Victory for brewing up a solid double IPA. This wolf will make you come back for more. I think I’m in love…
Wayne Weighs In…
Eons ago, in the early days of my adventures in craft beer, Victory Hop Devil was one of my go to favorites. DirtWolf is just as solid an IPA, though perhaps a bit less bitey (I guess Wolves, though badass, are not as vicious as devils.) This Double IPA packs all the hoppy goodness I know and love, but has a sweet side hidden in the background. Though that softer character really only emerges toward the end of the glass; when you first jump into DirtWolf you are a defenseless sheep before the stalking wolf.
Wanna pick this one up? DirtWolf is available in 4-packs for about $9 at many bottle shops and grocery stores, including Whole Foods and Wegmans. Use Victory’s Beer Finder to find DirtWolf near you!
Check out… this video from Victory Brewing Company to learn more about DirtWolf:
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