Hop Ranch or DirtWolf

5/21 is heavily. Same as last year if not better. Same color, same amount of sediment...etc. unbelievable that this is 9%, but it is, in the name of science I put it to the test. Cheers.

 

that's good to hear. sounds like they worked out some kinks and it's back to its greatness.

 

Hop Ranch. When had the first batch of DirtWolf, it was wonderfully bright and clean. Now, however, it has that distinctive Victory yeast taste and feel that leaves it a bit heavier on the palate.

 

Just got a four pack from Matt at Capones...had an enjoy by date of 5/22/15. This batch is the best yet and the closest to that's year version. There was considerable improvement over the batches. The 4/26/15 was not good, 5/3 much better...but still with a good amount of sediment. Batch 5/22/15 is the clear winner. I had not planned to get a case with my disappointment with 4/26...but I will now.

 

Did Victory change their best by/enjoy by dates? Used to be 5 months out?

 

Ha! I was going to post the same exact question.

Total Wine's website says Jan. 2015, but I don't know how accurate this is.

Was the 2013 Hop Ranch in NoVA last year?

 

it was a QC issue, not that they dont sell. They wouldnt take a tens of $1000s of dollar loss on a beer because they dont sell. The yeast was an issue with the fest and lager. once it warmed, the flavor changed.

if there ever was a QC issue with Victory products, you would know, and consumers wouldnt be buying them.

 

I know.

But it wasn't to long ago there was talk of not bottling the Lager anymore and I can't see fest outselling the most average Oktoberfest.

 

but it'll be a somber day when they stop brewing fest... it is one of their favorites, its just not enticing to the average craft beer consumer

 

Neither are going anywhere.

 

I'd like to know this as well. I have the 5/21/15 batch. That would be pretty impressive if this was bottled 4 days ago and went through the distribution chain to my local shop in NY that fast.

 

I had HR on draft, tasted the same as last year to me and I enjoyed it. I do find HR to be a bit on the watery side and DW has more body, but HR is an easier drinker...a little smoother.

I'd be very sad if the Lager disappeared, it is one of my go to Helles beers and one of my favorite beers in general. But from what I have heard it has been making a bit of a comeback(stores around me that didn't carry it regularly are now, and I have noticed that it sells pretty quickly) and they are re-branding it:

http://en.paperblog.com/victory-to-rename-lager-to-helles-lager-1067084/

Festbier is nothing special to me (and I generally love O-fests) but I do drink it when it is out and I would hate to see that one go too, as the overwhelming amount of hoppy beers these days vs. anything else gets old to me.

 

I am heartened to read from @ESHBG concerning Victory Lager (Helles): “…from what I have heard it has been making a bit of a comeback(stores around me that didn't carry it regularly are now, and I have noticed that it sells pretty quickly)…”

I am a BIG fan of the Victory Lager/Helles and I hope that sales continue to climb for this beer.

I am not a fan of the Festbier; it has too much of a roasty aspect for my palate. I would not weep if Victory decided to stop brewing this beer … and decide to bottle the Kolsch instead!!

Cheers

 

If I am out grabbing a 6 pack of something but not sure what I want and nothing is jumping out at me, I find myself reaching for this or Sly Fox's Helles...getting into the habit of being sure to buy the beers I really like to hopefully do my small part to keep them going. It may sound a bit silly to have to consciously buy what you like however, I like to try new things regularly and I think we can all agree that you can sometimes lose sight of supporting your old favorites.

A non-hoppy, low ABV, well crafted Lager seems to be a possible candidate for the endangered species list, unfortunately.

 

“A non-hoppy, low ABV, well crafted Lager seems to be a possible candidate for the endangered species list, unfortunately.” Based upon discussion on BA threads that certainly seems to be the case. I wonder whether that is as significant for the broader craft beer market. There are lots of folks buying beers like Sam Adams Boston Lager, New Belgium Fat Tire, etc. You don’t ‘hear’ much from these folks in BA thread discussions but they sure are ‘talking’ with their wallets. It seems to me that folks who like to buy beers like Boston Lager and Fat Tire might be in the market for a beer like Sly Fox Helles and Victory Lager (Helles) if they were marketed to them properly?

Cheers!

 

Really love Hop Ranch, anyone seen any in northern NJ yet?

 

Very good points and a good question! I guess all we have to do is make Lagers the new it beer, and get people to talk about how they can pick out subtleties and crispness and clean flavors and yadda yadda like they do with hops. Hey if this session beers trend continues...

 

But Jack, if Victory did that then we'd have people telliing us all the reasons why we shouldn't enjoy it because its not really a Kolsch and doesn't taste like the "real thing."

Hope your holidays are filled with only good things and only good beer!

Returning to the central topic of Hop Ranch vs. Dirt Wolf, I still have no clear winner. Each has aromas and flavors I like and if forced to choose I'd probably throw up my hands in frustration and pass on both...

 

Indeed, I find myself recommending Lagers(victory's specifically) to people I talk about beer with in real life. The kind of people who don't like hops but like beer typically love a good lager. The end result of this is almost always positive.

When you bring up lagers on this site many are more inclined to drink a beer with "more" flavor. I see a lot of BA's treating lager as a subclass of craft beer and not real craft. I'm sure in time most folks will come around and be lager enthusiasts but it pains me at times to read reviews posts about lagers that are disheartening.

 

I just had this season's Hop Ranch last week, and it solidified my decision that Dirt Wolf is a better beer.