Victory Brewing DirtWolf

Beer Name: DirtWolf
Brewery: Victory Brewing Company (Downingtown, PA)
ABV: 8.7%

How sold: 12 oz. bottle
Where bought: Belmont Station (Portland, OR)
Price: $3.11
"Enjoy By" Date: April 6, 2015
When Opened: March 5, 2015
When brewed? Year-round beer
Where distributed: Victory Brewing can be found in many states, fairly accessible.

What's on the Website: "Darkly heroic, Humulus Lupulus (hops) 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 veracity of a 'wolf among sheep.' Hops have made an assertive comeback in American craft brewing. Revel in the best U.S. 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 Double IPA."

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured into a clear pint glass. Golden-orange-copper color, hazy, with significant carbonation. Very little lacing. 4/5

Smell (25%): Primarily grapefruit (bitter-citrus) aroma, tempered by some tropical notes that could be passion fruit. There is a floral component in there as well. Complex and well-received. 4.5/5

Taste (40%): Mostly malty bitter-citrus. The bitterness hangs around but does not detract from the overall tasting experience. Slight alcohol flavor is noticeable from the second sip. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium body that coats the tongue well. Bitterness lingers around for a few seconds before dissipating. Very carbonated. Not as refreshing as other double IPAs I've had, but still good. 3.75/5

Overall (20%): Definitely an above-average beer that barely breaks into the "4" tier on my rating scale. It got there for the top-notch aroma I got at the start. Taken aback at first by how carbonated it was, but it grew on me. For me, it got a bit too bitter and alcoholic about halfway through to consider it a go-to beer. Still, I enjoyed the grapefruit and tropical hoppy experience DirtWolf had. 4/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4/5