Review Date 1/14/2015
Try?
Re-buy?
Way
back in 2014, I bought a bottle of
Victory Moving Parts Batch 1
(MP01) at Total Wine. As I sometimes do, I socked the beer away with the
rest of my stash and promptly forgot about it. I pulled it out in December
of 2014, just a little bit past its labeled “best by” date of November 6.
The beer was delicious, but I still caught some flak from beer geeks who
said I hung onto it for too long.
Having enjoyed Moving Parts Batch 1, I was on the hunt for Moving Parts Batch 2. I never saw it though a Total Wine, and sort of lost hope that I would find any. Happy circumstance then, when I saw that my local Taco Mac had batch 2 on draft. So shortly after they tapped the keg I ordered up a mug. This time, there would be no taunting about hanging onto the beer too long. You just can't get fresher than a newly tapped keg.
Now,
I knew that Moving Parts Batch 2 would be an IPA of course, but what kind of
IPA? There are after all lots and lots of them these days. Then I took a
sip. I was immediately impressed and simultaneously enthralled by the
amazing herbal, tea-like bitter English hops and the way they danced across
the malty stage of the beer perfectly.
Victory says this about MP02 in a press release:
Victory MP02 IPA. Light gentle herbal hops in the nose, a bit of caramel malt up front, glorious herbal tea hop aroma permeates the beer on into the surprising bitter finish.
Victory says this batch runs 7.1% alcohol by volume, though it did not seem it. They mention a suggested retail price of $4.99 for the 22-ounce bomber. I paid $5.99 for Batch 1 in the bottle, and $5.75 for Batch 2 on tap.
My mug of Victory Moving Parts Batch 2 MP02 IPA arrived a brilliant orange amber color with light gentle herbal hops in the nose, a bit of caramel malt up front, and simply glorious herbal tea-like hop aroma permeating the beer on into the surprisingly bitter finish.
This is a beautiful old school English IPA, albeit a bit stronger. I’m glad I had it on draft, because it is not a beer that would age as well as the last one, though I think properly stored in the bottle it could easily go 6 months. It paired very nicely with my usual, an order of Taco Mac’s famous Buffalo wings. I’m giving this one 5 stars, folks, for adherence to style, bargain price and all around wonderful beer status.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
