Cowboys, lassos. cattle drives, and wide open prairies. That’s what comes to mind when I hear the word ranch. I also get visions of Robert Duvall in Lonesome Dove asking poor Diane Lane for a poke…
As it turns out, I am completely off base. Hop Ranch has nothing to do with cattle ranching and everything to do with Craft Beer. Hop Ranch is Victory Brewing Company’s latest seasonal offering from their Ranch series of beers which feature hop varieties grown at small, family owned hop farms/ranches.
Here’s is a bit more information about Hop Ranch Imperial IPA from the good people at Victory Brewing:
To our hop ranchers, who coax and cultivate our enticing and flavorful hops, we raise this glass. Selecting the finest varieties in their natural, whole flower form, we craft our Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale, as a celebration of their successes. Pungent, floral and intense, this represents America’s best, in every relaxing sip.
And now for my review…
- Appearance: Golden yellow color with a thick head of white foam that tops out at an inch and settles down really slowly. Oodles of sticky lacing remains on the insides of the glass as you drink it down.
- Aroma: Loads of citrus and tropical fruit on the nose, i.e. grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, ripe pineapple, and maybe even a touch of mango. On the back end, there’s a touch of honey sweetness along with a smattering of funk.
- Taste: Creamy carbonation gives this beer a velvety mouthfeel. When Victory said this beer was hop forward, they definitely weren’t kidding. Everything that I picked up in the nose carried through to the palate with all of those citrus and tropical fruit notes taking center stage. For as hoppy as it is, I’m not finding this to be overly bitter. As you approach the finish, some sweet malts kick in to lend some balance. The finish is crisp and clean with a mildly bitter aftertaste that I am really enjoying.
- ABV: 9.0%
This is one dangerously delicious beer, especially when you consider it’s 9.0% ABV. Hop Ranch is VERY easy drinking and quite refreshing for such a high octane beer. Definitely a beer that will sneak up on you if you’re not careful. Once again, bravo Victory!
Categories: Brew Review, Victory
AMKrouse
The Alemonger
G-LO
limpd
The Wookie
The ROK
Sarah -BeautifulTangibleThings
The Astounding Prism
It's just the booze dancing... 
Once again I am best advised to refrain from commenting until my MOSAD backup arrives. So I’ll continue…..
Ranch? Cowboys? Cattles driving? Prairie Dogs? First of all, few of those ingredients would fit comfortably into a glass carboy for secondary fermentation regardless of how many ShamWows you rolled them up into. Robert Duvall? No chance. he’d consigliere you to within a few angstroms of your life at the mere threat of such abuse.
The word “ranch” is, in and of itself, about as offensive as it gets and connotes the blue-hued stinky slime some of you people slather about your bowls of rabbit food.
Meanwhile, I haven’t had a craft beer in 46 days so there really needs to be a moratorium on these types of posts. You’re making me crave matzo ball soup (or at least one of those rubber stress reducing, squeezy, twisty, Mr. Matzo Balls with which to occupy my idle hands).
Anyway, before the drought, I had a Hop R*nch at the Victory Brewpub one night while my wife (otherwise knows as A2) and I stopped in on the way home (whist risking the possibility of turning our children’s guinae pigs into pigsickles out in the 15 degree car). Nice beer. Very clean but with enough gritty bitterness to get in your grill. I agree – it’s a sleeper cell at 9.0%.
Now swipe that leafy pet food off off the table and tear into a serious slab………..
(as limpd would say, that is)
Cheers!
LikeLike
I got no beef with the MOSAD. They get things done. Respect!
What is this drought you speak of? How dare you put good health and a touch of vanity before magical elixirs. In the twitter parlance: #disappointed.
LikeLike