Style: Imperil IPA

ABV: 8.7

93/100

Aroma:	10
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	5

Victory Brewing Company DirtWolf Double IPA

What the brewers say

This dangerously delicious recipe features often subtle, but sometimes assertive, signatures of American hop varieties. Look for: Citra: heavy citrus aroma, fruity flavor; Chinook: grapefruit, resinous pine; Simcoe: dry, piney; and Mosaic: earthy and mildly floral, with notes of sweet citrus and spice.

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Bright citrus hop profile includes notes of lemon, orange, and tropical fruit with some floral notes and a bit of grain sweetness.”

Flavor: “Strong fruity and tropical hop flavors—pineapple, star fruit, kiwi, lemon—is balanced with a grainy malt sweetness, but the balance is definitely weighted toward the hops. There is a floral element to it, but it’s more honey floral.”

Overall: “A very juicy IPA with more tropical notes in the hops than others in the category. It’s crisp, clean, and well-balanced. The juiciness hides some of the bitterness, but it’s a very well-balanced beer.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The New India Pale Ale (Spring 2014) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Double Jack

**Aroma:** “Bright fruit/citrus hop up front: lemon zest, subtle orange, some floral character, some wildflower honey notes. Slight alcohol notes. Light malt sweetness. Clean and crisp. Good level of complexity.” **Flavor:** “Fruity, intense hops carry through—pine, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, some cattiness. Bitterness compliments the rich malt profile well. Lingering bitterness.” **Overall:** “Very tasty DIPA with a complex hop profile and complex bitterness.”

Stone Brewing Company Ruination Double IPA 2.0

Aroma: “Lemon and red grapefruit– hops aromas, grain sweetness, and nice hints of pineapple as it warms. Bitter orange, candied citrus, green onion, garlic, and honey add to the juicy character.” Flavor: “Aggressive hops bitterness is piney, resinous. Biscuity malt helps round out the finish. Hint of higher alcohols in the finish. Bitter orange, more scallions, a touch of earthiness, and a lovely caramel note. Complex flavor and great mouthfeel. Finishes with a lingering bitterness.” Overall: “Big earthy hops bomb with very light oxidation. This beer is high enough in IBUs that you really need to let it warm thoroughly before drinking. As it warms, some nice fruity, citrusy flavors help balance out the aggressive hops bitterness. The hops profile comes across somewhat murky, which isn’t to say it’s bad—it leaves one guessing, which can be quite rewarding. A nice double IPA overall.”

Victory Brewing Company Prima Pils

**Aroma:** Complex, strong hop profile with grapefruit, grass, pine, and citrus. Pils malt adds fullness. Some minerals. If aroma had a color, this would be dark green. **Flavor:** Moderate bready malt sweetness followed by intense, resinous hop profile. Bitterness is high for the style but finishes clean and dry. Moderate malt sweetness with nice pils malt flavor. Needs more malt to balance. Crisp, with a carbonic bite and lingering astringency. **Overall:** A nice, different, complex take on a pils that leans in the direction of India Pale Lager. Hops shine but aren’t overpowering. A bit unbalanced but interesting and very tasty. Like drinking pine needles. You may need to scrape your tongue! Hop lovers, rejoice!

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.