Victory Brewing Vital IPA
I can get behind a good IPL (India Pale Lager) — essentially, a pilsner that’s been heavily hopped. They are often refreshing and make for an enjoyable treat on a hot Summer afternoon. Victory Brewing has taken that concept and twisted it around a bit. Instead of lagering, the company has used a good amount of pilsner malt in the grain bill of this 6.5% ABV beer (as well as, a Kolsch yeast) and crafted Vital IPA in a similar fashion as your standard IPA.
Combine a blend of American Simcoe, Chinook and Citra hops with that malt/yeast base and you’ve got yourself a tasty brew that refreshes wonderfully and goes down quite easily. I particularly love the pilsner-like character that interacts with the hop blend easily, accentuating the notes of grapefruit and pine, while a decent bite (65 IBU) grips the tongue lightly before fading to a clean, lasting finish.
Light and lively, Vital IPA is ideal for cooling off after working (or playing) over the hot Summer months to come. I’m a firm believer that there’s nothing like a cold, crisp pilsner to reinvigorate the soul after a heavy day of yard work. Now, I’ve got this wonderful combination of pilsner and IPA to challenge that premise.
This is a review of a promotional sample.