Craft Beer Review for Liberty Bell Ringer by Victory Brewing Company

Liberty Bell Ringer is an American Double IPA by Victory Brewing Company that blends citrus and tropical fruit with bready malt and booze.

Fast Facts
Beer
Liberty Bell Ringer
Style
American Double IPA
Brewery
Victory Brewing Company
ABV
8.7%
IBUs
76
Hops
Cashmere, Centennial, Simcoe
Malts
CaraPils, Flaked Oats, Pilsner
Calories
261 (Estimated)
Commercial Description: We packed double the dry-hops into this DIPA, this time using Cashmere hops our brewers fell in love with during hop harvest, which help amplify the tropical, fruity hop flavor and aroma. And because we can never get enough, we did it twice. Let it ring. Philadelphia is home to generations of some of our country’s most celebrated craft brewers. To pay tribute to the amazing city of Philadelphia, we created a beer that celebrates the artistry, unity and expression of freedom that both Philly and the craft brewing community stand for. Each year, Liberty Bell Ringer showcases a new hop to highlight the complexities and nuances across different varieties. This year, our brewers used the Cashmere hops they fell in love with during the hop harvest. A cross between Cascade and Northern Brewer, the Cashmere hops in Liberty Bell Ringer bring tropical fruity hop notes that balance a smooth bitterness.
Available
Spring & Summer
Web Page
More About this Beer
Rating

Liberty Bell Ringer is an American Double IPA that’s brewed by Victory Brewing Company, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the ale was served in an IPA glass from a 16 oz. can.

Packaging art for the Liberty Bell Ringer by Victory Brewing Company

What You Need to Know

The Downingtown, Pennsylvania-based brewery releases the Liberty Bell Ringer during the Spring as an ode to Philadelphia’s place in the American Revolutionary War. Each year the brewery showcases a different hop varietal in this seasonal brew and this year they double dry-hopped Cashmere to pair with the Centennial and Simcoe varietals.

Appearance

The DIPA pours a somewhat cloudy golden hue and is topped by a thick cap of puffy, white foam that shows excellent retention. The head’s reduction leaves a smattering of residue on the sides of the glass.

Aroma

The aroma mixes sweet tropical fruit and honeysuckle. As the beer warms, a scent of booze becomes more apparent.

Flavor

The palate is led by a mild dose of floral hops over doughy bread that transitions to a sharper bite of citrus. A taste of booze follows and the session is rounded out with sweet tropical fruit.

Label art for the Liberty Bell Ringer by Victory Brewing Company

Mouthfeel

The feel is soft and smooth with a medium body and matching carbonation. The finish is dry with a moderate astringency. The high alcohol content imparts warmth.

Overall

The presentation of the Liberty Bell Ringer is solid and the aroma, while enticing at first, becomes a bit too boozy once the beer loses its chill. There’s a lot to like about the palate with its citrus and tropical fruit flavors. But the taste of booze is just a bit much. The feel is a little too warm from the booze but is otherwise within the style expectations.

Overall, the Liberty Bell Ringer is delightful brew and really the only drawback (or perhaps it isn’t) is the high alcohol content, which isn’t masked particularly well. Otherwise, there’s plenty of bite for hopheads and a lot of fruit flavor for everyone else.