Victory Lager - Victory Brewing Company

nomad

Kansas

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured an orange-gold color with a soft thin pillow of a head that was slow to fall into a frothy landscape. The beer had a beautiful natural haze from the high malt content and tons of little carbonation. Smell was a great mix of big malts and German hops: nice florals, some farm scents too. Taste was rosy and fruity – equally hoppy and golden malty going back and forth. I could taste the head, too. Foremost, the mix of malts were damn tasty, bringing on a slightly sour finish.

Didn’t know a lager could bring such good sour, golden malt, and hop oil flavors. Combined well with the very soft mouthfeel. So, too much flavor for a lager? My American tastebuds have been dumbed down. Thanks I live close to Victory, so I think I had a very fresh bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2003 19:59:05 | More by nomad

cracgor

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is probably one of the easiest drinking beers I've had in my life. 12 oz bottle. Pours out a pale yellow with a fizzy white head. Looks sort of like champagne. Has a very sweet fruity smell to it. Drinking it is like liquid gold. Not really light in flavor. There is tons of it, just all very pleasant and very little bitter flavor in it. Has a sweet floral hop. It is amazingly clean and crisp. A light tasting beer to enjoy in the summer. This is hands down the best example of a "lawnmower beer" I have ever tasted.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2006 01:05:59 | More by cracgor

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis in Atlanta.

Pours a clear light straw color with a one-finger bright white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of absurdly crisp light malts with sharp light citrus aromas. Also present are hints of leafy and spicy hops.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though note quite as robust. Smooth light malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by bright citrus flavors - more lemon rind than anything else. Midway through the sip the citrus influence fades a bit and the flavor profile becomes more bitter with the addition of earthy hops. Very slight hints of breadiness come into play before fading out to allow the hops carry through to a solidly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall this is another very good lager from Victory. Very smooth and I wish I had access to this more regularly. Very well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 02:41:08 | More by glid02

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 fl oz bottle into a pint glass. Enjoy by May 6 2011. Why do I keep finding such out of date Victory beers?? I guess I need to pay better attention at time of purchase.

Appearance: Cloudy yellow-golden lager color with a thin white head that all but disappears completely.

Smell: Very malt heavy aroma. Does not have the grassy, metallic smell of most helles lagers.

Taste: Wow, this beer actually tastes good. I hate to try it when it is not three weeks past the "enjoy by" date! I think I just found my summer go-to and my next case purchase. Very malt forward with just an slight hop bite.

Mouthfeel: Appropriately heavy mouthfeel with very little carbonation.

Overall: Again, I am very impressed by this beer. I just hope I can find some fresher examples!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 15:03:12 | More by JednoPivoProsim

rebel1771

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a pale yellow with little to no head.

S: Grainy aroma with sweet corn and honey. Just a touch of a grassy/hoppy note at the end.

T: Very similar to the smell, the taste is full of sweet grains and a notable honey flavor. Slight hop note at the end.

O: This is a very good brew, perfect for summer cookouts.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 22:18:55 | More by rebel1771

yeagerbm

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Taking a step back to the lighter side of beer I picked this one up in a mixed sixer.

This lager pours into my glass a brilliantly clear yellow gold with a thick foamy white head.

The smell is a mellow fresh beer aroma.

The taste of this beer is very smooth and medium bodied with a light but well rounded malt flavor. This is a very well made lighter lager without the watered down character of typical American offerings.

Whenever you are in the mood simple but high quality beer this is it.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2005 03:28:23 | More by yeagerbm

hustlemuscle

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A crystal clear yellow with a big puffy head, smells of saaz with a mild undercurrent of malts. Tastes about the same, crisp and refreshing,slight malts, slight hops, with a tiny tartness that comes out as the beer warms. A fine lawn mower beer, or relaxing summer day beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2005 21:00:56 | More by hustlemuscle

thekanna

Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Yellow bordering on gold with white head that dissipates quickly.

S: Yeast and light hops with notes of flowers, citrus fruits, and slightly sweet malts.

T/M: Incredibly crisp, sweeter malts with yeasts and notes of grassy hops and citrus fruits in the aftertaste. Light body with a lot of effervescence and slight creaminess. Delicious.

D: One of the better lagers I've had. Bravo, Victory.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 01:39:53 | More by thekanna

MaineBeerMan

Maine

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice golden hued beer with a good head of white foam that left just a bit of lace.
Smell was full of toasted malt and nice floral hop aromas. Kind of an earthiness there too.
Sweet malt flavor with a perfect hop balance, some toasted malt character blends into the crisp light hop finish.
Damned tasty beer with a great drinkability, I'm not usually big on lagers, but this one hit the nail on the head. I would drink a lot more of these if I could get them, thanks to NeroFiddled for a sample of a great lager!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2002 22:09:31 | More by MaineBeerMan

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is one of the absolute most approachable beers I've experienced. With all the recent conversations about approachable, easy going transition beers I wanted to start off by saying this definitely falls in that category.

Appearance: Typical for the style. It is a pale golden color, completely translucent. Head fades fast and leaves no lacing.

Smell: Musty and sweet right up front. It is gently malty with a clear presence of some hops but it is just laid back and relaxed.

Taste: The taste is the same way. Laid back and relaxed. This beer is interesting and good to taste but is remarkably easy to just drink with out thinking. The lightly toasted malts have a barley caramelized attribute to them. The hops character does not want you to notice it; so well balanced and simply supporting the overall affect of the beer on the palate. There is a bit of homemade bread or dough attribute as well, maybe that is what subconsciously says take off your shoes, sit on the porch and enjoy the hell out of me.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is incredibly smooth. this style tends to be very crisp and this one is light crispy and only gently bitter in the dry aftertaste. A bit more slick than some.

Drinkability: Many of the characteristics of this beer may seem reserved. It may not be as ‘big’ as some of you my prefer, but it is remarkably easy, one of the most enjoyable session beers I can think of.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2006 06:56:28 | More by Phatz

bierman2000

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Smooth malty lager that is quite thirst quenching and low in ABV so this lends it to being highly drinkable. Light amber in color and very full bodied for a lager it is another excellent beer from Victory, with a hoppy finish and floral bouquet. Smooth mouthfeel and taste make this a great year round beer. Better on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2003 13:45:56 | More by bierman2000

blackie

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

appearance: Pours a white 1", short lived fizzy head that is fed after the pour by bubbles from the bottom. The beer is a golden straw in color.

smell: Pretty much the same as the taste. A slight, grainy sweetness of pale malt, light noble hops, and maybe a little corny sulfur.

mouthfeel: The carbonation is on the low side of the high range, and the body light.

taste: The taste is of slightly sweet pale malts, light noble hops, and just a touch of bitterness. Very clean, well balanced, and especially flavorful for a beer of this style.

drinkability: off the charts drinkability, I will likely drink this by the truckload this summer

Best by date of June 08, 2006 printed on the label

resampled on 6/16/08 with a best by 7/15/08 bottle...scores updated slightly from 4/4/4.5/4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2006 04:55:22 | More by blackie

BlackBearForge

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Victory Lager pours a bright crystal clear lemony yellow with pale amber highlights and a frothy white head that breaks down into a thin surface covering quickly. Lacing is minmial.

The aroma smells like really good fresh beer for lack of a better description. Fresh baked bread and lovely floral Noble hops.

The flavor is an exercise in balance between the light bready malt and the Noble hops. There are no big heavy handed out there flavors, no giant hop attacks, just good refreshing luscious German style lager you could drink all day. Simple doesn't mean a lack of quality and the beer has quality. Muted honey and ever so light citrus flavors present themselves.

The mouthfeel is medium light, soft and perfectly carbonated.

I honestly did not know what to expect from this beer after reading so many negative reviews. I couldn't be more pleased however and can see downing many bottles of this in the future. It's not big, it's not hoppy, it's just good, dependable quality beer, what more can you ask than that?

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 23:11:38 | More by BlackBearForge

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pouring Victory’s All Malt Lager, I am surprised to see that there is a little bit of sediment in a bottle of beer that isn’t bottle conditioned. The head quickly goes from a thick orange-white head to a white coating. While not cloudy per se, it is closer to translucent than transparent. From a distance, I’d swear this is a Helles.

The aroma is most definitely citrusy: lemon peel, to be exact. Bringing the aroma into the mouth, it is fuller than it is crisp. Using just this sense, I’d assume again that this is a Helles.

The first sip is light and malty-sweet with hints of orange peel. The carbonation is about average. This would make it about as crisp as other pale lagers, but the above-average hop presence ramps-up the level of crispness. It’s also smooth and creamy. The multitude of taste sensations here are just amazing for the style. The creaminess wanes as it finishes and winds up almost crisper than the first sips.

Apart from the bold German varieties, I am not a fan of lagers. Victory All Malt Lager has officially changed my stance. It’s easily my favorite pale lager, and ranks up there as a session beer of choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2004 00:41:24 | More by JimsArcade

LeftyBWS

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. brown bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass.Label includes an "enjoy by ---" date.
A: Pale yellow in color, somewhat dusty, but almost clear towards the bottom of the glass. Thin white head, fairly bubbly but clean. No lacing.
S: Fruity and sweet. Orangey, with some caramel malts detectable. Kind of unassuming, but pleasant nonetheless.
T: Crisp, with the malty sweetness and slightly bitter hoppiness intermingling harmoniously. Sorta wheaty, but mostly just smooth and satisfying.
M: Refreshing and crisp; the beer explores the mouth. Tingly after-feel.
D: Pretty good. On the lighter side, so ideal for spring/summer.
Overall, a great-tasting lager. This beer wins points from me not so much for having an outstandingly unique taste, but rather a perfect balance of a bunch of flavors. They're hard to pinpoint exactly just because they're blended so well. Definitely worth investigating for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2007 02:00:14 | More by LeftyBWS

HitokiriNate85

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by 11/22/2010

A - Very light, straw gold. Light carbonation is visible giving the beer a thin, bright white head. Great clarity. Basically what I'd expect for the style. Unfortunately, in the end it doesn't leave much of a head and doesn't lace in the least.

S - Light grain and bread notes. Flower and lemon notes from the hops. Very clean and seems pretty spot on.

T - Just as good as the smell led me to believe. Victory really hits the mark with its lagers. Follows the nose really well, and it honestly does remind me of Prima Pils a lot. It's more bready, less grainy, and the flavor is a lot more rounded(Prima Pils being sharper in comparison). It has a really nice bitterness and a great flowery, lemony hop profile.

MF - Very nicely carbonated, and there's enough body to make it known but not so much as to make me think I'm drinking say, a bock.

D - It's a very clean, full-flavored helles lager. That alone makes it more drinkable that most other beers. It's very fresh tasting and very good. It's awesome to have such good examples of German styles made a few hours away.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2010 01:15:04 | More by HitokiriNate85

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

poured into pint glass. to style, a pale straw color, with bright white head, which fades fairly quickly. the aroma is of light hops. taste is well balanced with light flavor. clean finish.
higher carbonation, light body.
very easy drinking. refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 03:24:25 | More by jmdrpi

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle thanks to ChrisPro as part of the Blind BIF Round 4. Served in a tulip.

Pours a clear golden-straw color with a short white head. Carbonation bubbles are apparent. Head does not stick around for all that long. The nose is a bit grainy with some pilsner malt and a bit of floral and herbal hops. The taste brings a bit more of the hop components of the nose along with some grain in the background. Light body with good carbonation and a dry finish. Drinks quite well; very quaffable. This is a nice session brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 21:07:51 | More by Thorpe429

BeerAngel

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very clear pale golden hue with lots of bubbling action and a small white head. The smell is that of a combination of grain and a light citrusy hop. The taste reveals more of the citrusy character with a hop bite on the nose and followed by earthy grain malt. This light bodied brew finishes crisp and clean and goes down super easy. Not highly complex, but tasty nonetheless. Thanks to Rotsaruch for sending me this brew! Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2003 11:38:58 | More by BeerAngel

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pale, milky sunshine yellow with a fine yeasty haze. The bone white cap is decent, but isn't up to Victory's usual high standards. The foam is neither creamy nor sticky and doesn't look all that impressive as it deflates. A squeaky clean glass doesn't help.

Back on track. The nose is a wonderful combination of fresh, sweet grain and bright, lightly spicy, fruity hops. It's exceptionally well-balanced. I haven't had that many, but I don't recall a better Munich helles lager nose than this one. If the flavor follows the aroma, I'll be a happy man.

It does. The first thing that hits me is how much flavor is packed into each mouthful. Victory Lager is well-malted with loads of golden, flame-kissed grain that is deliciously, lightly sugary sweet. Thankfully, the flavor is as finely tuned and as balanced as the nose. A generous amount of German hops provides floral, spicy and herbal flavors with very little grassiness.

The beer stays balanced to the very end. I would have liked a longer finish (it's perfectly clean and crisp by the way) since the flavor is so much to my liking. The light mouthfeel is appropriate for the style and does nothing but enhance drinkability. A somewhat vigorous amount of carbonation keeps things lively all way to bottom of the bottle.

Victory Lager is what American macro lagers should taste like. This bottle contains a simple, straightforward, extremely well-crafted beer that is enjoyable solo and should match up well with all manner of foods. Along with Ayinger Jahrhundert Bier, it's my new favorite version of a style that I don't usually pay much attention to. Victory brews good beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2005 15:05:45 | More by BuckeyeNation

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A clear light golden in color with a small frothy head. A fast fading head leaves just a ring and spotty lacing.

Smells of malts. There is a sharp crispness in the aroma as well as sutle hints of grass.

Taste has that crisp malt taste, but not overpowering more in balance. A light toasted malts or toasted biscuit. Followed by fresh grass with a lemon tartness at the finish.

Thin and ever so tart. Finishs clean.

A good easy drinking beer. A smooth sutle malt forward style that's sure to please.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 12:47:21 | More by micromaniac129

beerinator

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Very clear, very very clear. Light golden, extremely white head with good retention.

Aroma: Sharp sweetness to the smell. No hops in the aroma. Acrid acidic sharpness. A bit of grape was noted.

Taste: Very nice mouthfeel. Feels just right. Sweet in the finish, doesn't linger. Not a lot of hop presence. Very drinkable beer. Sessiony.

Notes: A good choice for initiating others into the world of great Microbrewed lagers.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2004 15:25:07 | More by beerinator

CSquared

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle

Appearance: Golden yellow with a huge white head that fades fast. Mild lacing remains

Aroma: Pale malts, slightly grassy hops, and slight phenolic note

Taste: Sweet at the start, and then the German hops become quite present. This beer definitely got better as it went.

Mouthfeel: Smooth start finishes with a slightly coarse dry end. Fairly full body for the style.

Drinkability: Drinkability is quite good, but flavors get quite surpressed if too cool. This would be a great stepping stone beer for macro lovers

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2004 22:56:47 | More by CSquared

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Clear straw yellow with a bit of head that recedes to just around the edges.

S. Bready yeast and a bit of malt.

T. Very flavorful. Mild hop bitterness, some grainy tastes, sweet background and ultra smooth. Interesting style lager from victory.

M. Medium bodied and almost creamy, but it is alittle watery around the edges.

D. Drinkability is very good. A nice beer to relax with and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2008 23:56:09 | More by Stinkypuss

witster18

Tennessee

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Lager yes... hellas style... not so much.

This is a dam^ fine lager. Very subtle flavors. Mild sweetness and a touch of hoppy citrus. Just a slight bite of dort/export lager here and that really makes it for me becuase there is a lack of the usual oversweet slightly alcohol floral of most hellas lagers. That makes the style in limbo, but this is basically a mistake free lager... the perfect lawnmower beer if you will.

one led to another.. and another... etc....

would probably still be drinkin the stuff had I not run out.

Probably my third fave lager behind dort gold from great lakes and Brooklyn Lager. This is a toned down version of a fantastic lager.

I'll definately revisit.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2010 21:06:53 | More by witster18