North Peak Brewing Company,  just north of Traverse City, Michigan, says Vicious, its American Wheat IPA, will become the brewery’s fourth year-round brew.

Here’s what North Peak has to say about it:

Beginning in August, Vicious will be available in six-pack retro-style stubbie bottles at retail outlets statewide (complementing Siren, Diabolical, Majestic and the summer seasonal Archangel).  It will also remain available on tap at restaurants and bars around Michigan.

The frothy head, and pungent, piney dryhopped scent (from Cascade and Amarillo hops) of Vicious alerts you to this brew’s imminent attack on your senses. Next, Cascade, Perle and Willamette hops batter your palate with bitter ferocity. Finally, Pale, Crystal (30 and 75) and wheat malts converge in a cloudy, thick body, delivering a smooth kiss of sweet death that leaves you howling for more.

Master Brewer Mike Hall describes this American original simply as “hops unmuzzled!”

The Cascade hops used in Vicious are grown about two miles away, through the Old Mission Hop Exchange – Michigan’s first full-scale hop farm and processing facility. Situated on 10 prime acres in the heart of Northwest Michigan’s fruit and wine-grape region, the hops are matured on a high trellis system, harvested, dried and pelletized, before being sourced to North Peak.

“Vicious, like all of the North Peak beer icons, is born out of Northern Lore,” says Greg Lobdell, who – along with Jon Carlson, Ron Jeffries and Mike Hall, are the managing partners of Northern United Brewing Company. “Many people from Northern Michigan have reported ‘Dogman’ sightings over the years and shown evidence of ‘Dogman’ encounters.  This beer has a ferocious hop nose and body and became a perfect fit for the Vicious name and ‘Dogman’ icon.”

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