Sierra Nevada Torpedo:

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Ale is a big American IPA; bold, assertive and full of flavor and aromas highlighting the complex citrus, pine and herbal character of whole-cone American hops.

Victory Hop Wallop:

We celebrate the pioneering spirit of old Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop and those who dare mighty adventurous things in this vivid, robust ale. As our annual homage to the hop harvest, expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty.

Below are my tasting notes:

• 16.  Sierra Nevada, Torpedo; Dark amber. Woody, nutty & boozy. Alkaline & thick bodied. Balanced hop bitterness w fruit cake complexity coming through
• 16.  Victory, Hop Wallop; Golden. Grainy, floral nose. Well-rounded mouth. Lovely subtle Harvest brew that is one to see out

Both are awesome beers and would have either of them again in a second (in fact, you’ll see I’ve given both of them 16s) but I have to pick a winner and it’s got to be the Hop Wallop, probably just for the name (but maybe for the subtle approach they seem to have taken).

This is my first Victory beer and as Utobeer has a few more from the range, I’m going to make a visit next week a priority to pick up a few more bottles.

Final note is that on first sip of the Wallop, my immediate thought was I’d really like to see how Thornbridge Kipling stands up against this.

The label on this one is pretty cool with a Viking (Olde English) tale about where the word Wassail came from.

This was a conditioned bottle bought from the well stocked Middle Farm in East Sussex.  I was also able to pick up a 07 and 08 of the Old Bounder Series, an annual Barley Wine that is launched with a beer walk in early December.

This poured with no head (so quite reminiscent of all the British Christmas Ales I tried) and was a reddy/caramel in colour.

Taste wise, the label promised a strong, full bodied fruity beer with underlying hoppiness and this probably got my expectation up.

Still, I thought the taste was a nice chewy malt with some of the hop bitterness I yearn for.

In the end, at 6% and with the taste footprint, I wouldn’t classify this as a Christmas Beer (and I don’t think Ballards does either). I’d put it down as a well rounded winter ale and one worth trying and having again but personally, I would go for something new on the pumps before trying again.

15/20.

The Beer Viking crew managed to get away from the sea long enough to attend the Great British Beer Festival in London back the summer – it was held 5-9 Aug 2008. However, during the long journey back home aboard our viking longship we lost the tasting list and our brew review notes. These historical papers have now been recovered for posterity and with here with provide a summary of what beers we did try.

In no particular order of tasting, but alphabetic by brewery first British and then US:

1. Cains – IPA. 3.5% ABV. “A light full-flavoured session beer with subtle hop aroma.” Served by a hot chick. 2 stars **.
2. Cains – 2008 Culture Beer. 5%. “Pale coloured btiter with a citrus hop character…” Only 1 star *.
3. Castle Rock – Harvest Pale. 3.8%. “Blonde straw coloured bitter with assertive citrus hop bitterness with some sweetness and a refreshing zesty finish.” 2nd beer of the day. 4 stars ****.
4. Kelham Island – Pale Rider. 5.2% “Full-bodied, straw coloured pale ale, with a fruity aroma and a strong fruit and hop taste finishing with well toned bitterness and some sweetness.” 4 stars ****.
5. Palmers – Copper Ale. 3.7%. “Copper coloured, fruity, hoppy with a refreshing zestiness.” 3 stars ***.
6. Salopian – Golden Thread. 5.0%. “A bright golden ale, using wheat and lager malt and first gold hops. 3 stars ***.
7. Weatheroak – Keystone Hops. 5%. 3 stars ***.
8. Whim – Flower Power. 5.3%. “A pale golden beer with fresh floral and fruity aroma, a bitter fruity flav and deep bitter finish.” 4.5 stars ****+. This was the beer of the festival ’08 for this crew! This also looks like it might have been a one off brew? Whim doesn’t seem to have a website but some more info on the brewery is here.
9. Chelsea (USA) – Henry Hudson IPA. 3 stars ***.
10. Smuttynose (USA) – IPA. 3 stars ***.

Overall the GBBP was a solid success and is one of the greatest beer festivals on the planet. Maybe even the universe. Next year look for the Beer Viking hospitality tent as we will be camping out for a multi-day raid next time.

It’s a brewery homage to the hop harvesting community around Poperings.

There are three types of hops used to make this but so far I haven’t been able to find what three.

I sadly only had a 25cl bottle to try but from my first initial taste I know I’m going to be having this a lot more.

It’s bottle conditioned but I didn’t get that crazy Belgian explosion.

Ivory head that sticks to the glass as you drink away this nectar.

Quite a golden to caramel colour.

Really clean start and then the hop bitterness comes in, though I would say that is quite balanced and then finishes with a slight fresh sour note.

While spinning some wheels before hitting a train, I dropped by utobeer and asked for some recs to help develop the Belgian pallete.

arabier by the De Dolle Brouwers of Essen, Belgium was suggested (also twice by a couple of other punters there) and so it was a definite bring home.

There’s viewing opions about what exactly hops are used (Kent Goldings vs. Nugget-hops from Poperinge) so here’s what the brewers say about the beer:

An arabier is a pure malt beer 8°vol/alc brewed with flower Nugget-hops from Poperinge. It has the special dry-hopping taste and aroma, so appreciated by beer lovers all over the world. It is one of the two main beers from De Dolle Brouwers throughout the year. Aging time is limited due to the fact that hop bitterness is declining with the time. Store arabier cool and dark and serve cool at 10°C. Cheers!

With my limited experience, I can tell you the following:

Woah, this suckers pours out with a crazy head so be ready with your glass and take some time.

Taste wise, I get some inital quite mellow bitterness that then builds leaving quite a green, grapefruit hoppy aftertaste that then mellows out leaving you wanting more.

I like it, don’t think I could sit down and drink them back to back but maybe that’s the point with these beers.  Will need to get a second opion from the Doc.