Victory Lager - Victory Brewing Company

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

99bottles

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

The all malt lager is exactly what it claims to be. A solid session brew, in the same style as any of the popular macros only with an important distinction. No filler. As inclined as I am to chuck the export lager style in favor of something more flavorful, or stylistic or <insert your reason for drinking good beer here>, I still think that this beer has a very important purpose. To serve as an example as to what an European export style lager should taste like.

Pours a fresh golden color, with abundant carbonation that slowly settles to a thin lacing. The smell is crisp and reminds slightly sweet. The first taste is refreshing. Very refreshing. Like, yummmm. It's not a craft brew. It's a beer. It could easily be slipped in Joe six pack's hand and he might not even notice the difference. The finish is clean, with the slightest pucker, and no filler aftertaste. The malt is well balanced, and does not sink or cloy. Hop character is subdued, and serves a supporting role. It's not in there to be the focus, it may not come through as strongly as one might like, and without it the beer would be too thin. Relax with this guy, and take it for what it is. Drink it right out of the bottle, kick those big dawgs up, and put on a smile. A solid beer, satisfying and enjoyable; not looking to win awards.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2004 21:12:27 | More by 99bottles

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served in a bottle, best before date of 24JAN04, which was a few days ago.

Appearance: pale straw in color, scant head.

Smell: Malty, slightly grainy with a bare hint of a floral hop aroma.

Taste: Mostly a malt sweetness, hop bitterness is barely there.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, clean feel. Carbonation is moderate. ETOH is not noticeable.

Drinkability: Seems like a Muenchner Helles, Very smooth with a nose and a taste that are a bit too subdued. This beer would be a great session beer, just because of the mildness of it.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2004 05:25:41 | More by JackTheRipper

pheurton

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

new Helle's style: crystal clear golden with a frothy white head, which settles to a decent collar and does a good job of leaving trails of lace down the glass. lightly toasted sweet malt on the nose with a crisp light aroma of european hops. very clean on the palatte with a light sweetness balanced harmoniously with an assertive yet soft german hop bite. thirst quenching and refreshing, the flavor is there but never in your face. YAWN.

sadly, the new helles style can't hold a candle to the older dortmunder style lager they used to make, which was much bigger in body and flavor. i guess this is meant for more mass appeal, but i wish the old lager wasn't sacraficed for this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2004 17:38:28 | More by pheurton

PSUDREW

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It pours a light strwa color. It also has a light, sweet note to it, and bery hop resonance. not so much a presence, but it is there, and it is a resonance. Pours a light straw color, but not muh to it. It is very fizzy, but that is it. Over-all, I feel it has a light, sweet, malty flavor to it. The hops are there, but it is an after thoguht. Over all it has a nice, light mouth-fell, and, IMOO, it could be a good conversion beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2004 05:18:36 | More by PSUDREW

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured crystal clear pale golden then the yeast came and the beer was turbid. The head was white and tall, but fell quickly to lace the glass.

The aroma is very little. Some slight malt aroma. No hop aroma. Slight fruit aroma, oddly enough, grape.

The flavor is fruity. The beer is slightly sour and has a grape taste as well. Some bitterness in the flavor, but only slight.

The finish is dry. The body is medium-light.

12 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2004 00:43:28 | More by GCBrewingCo

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

Gasp100

Delaware

3.83/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice pale golden color with a lilting head that dissipates quickly. The carbonation is right on with this old standby. The smell is malty with a super slight "skunky" scent. The taste is great -- clean, clear but just bold enough to take this a few steps beyond the macro's. The mouthfeel is crisp but doesn't last too long. The drinkability is second to none --- some think this is a little bland but I think it's a perfect representation of a standard, simple, great tasting lager. This is Bud on steriods. I think you could server this to any macro drinker and they'd be pleasantly surprised. This will probably become one of my standard beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2003 01:04:03 | More by Gasp100

Ianhockey91

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice transiton beer. Pours out a yellow/caramel with a nice white head which dissappears quickly. tastes a bit bland, but it beleive this one is meant for refreshment, not of comlexity. The mouthfeel was quite fizzy but still good. Overally if youve got friends over and dont want ot stock up on BUD get this it will please both sides.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 19:54:46 | More by Ianhockey91

Jon

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pale straw with a frothy white head. Leaves only the slightest trails of lace down the glass. Nose dominated by aspects of lemon zest, yeast and some sweetish malt. Tastes rather bready in the German pils style, with notes of the lemon zest, yeast and some grain. Mouthfeel is quite prickly and carbonated. This is one refreshing brew. It's easy to drink and serves well as a summer thirst quencher. Nice effort.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2003 02:23:19 | More by Jon

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

2.98/5  rDev -17%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The first two times I had this beer it was directly out of the bottle. The thing that comes to mind is "alright." It could definitely be better. It had a syrupy finish that detracted from the overall taste. The third time, in a glass, I was quite surprised at how light this beer looked. It reminded me of Coors Light. Very unexpected. All in all, not a bad beer. But not a good beer either.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2003 01:27:00 | More by GeoffFromSJ

kindestcut

North Carolina

2.93/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The beer poured a remarkable clear gold with evident carbonation and a large foamy head that survived several minutes. The beer looked far more clear than I was expecting, even for a lager.

The aroma was obvious malt, grain and herbs. The aroa was not overpowering, or even all that strong.

The taste was not very satisfying. I usually like lagers, but this beer is not as sweet as some I have had in the past. I felt like I was drinking liquid Grape Nuts and the musty malt was overpowering.

I have to say I wanted to like this brew but it just wasn't my cup of...well, beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2003 20:09:42 | More by kindestcut

Cizauskas

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a personal favorite for a 'go-to' beer .

Bright deep golden. Medium body with a pleasant quality of lightly toasted malt. Crisp finish with slight afterburp of hops. No grapefruit, resiny hops here, but a spicy, floral aroma and flavor. Very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2003 17:40:46 | More by Cizauskas

UnionMade

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Review is for the export style.
The beer pours a clear straw gold, topped with a huge, craggy white head. The head foamed up like crazy, filling half the glass with head. Very sticky lacing, forming large clumps of broken head on the glass.
Aroma is slightly sour and oxodized, with a winey white grape quality. Crisp pale malts and some mellow herbal hopping beneath. Mostly an oxodized aroma, which is a shame. I was assured this was fresh.
Clean pilsner malts dominate the flavor, with a light, crisp hoppiness following, finishing slightly dry and grainy, with a hint of unripened peach sourness. Moderate oxodization, with a bit of a papery flavor in the aftertaste, and some wine-like grape notes. Huge, mouthfilling carbonation, most likely because of the age, with a medium body.
It's a shame this is old, because I expect the hops are wonderful. Unfortunately, they've all but disappeared. I'll have to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2003 02:02:21 | More by UnionMade

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Appearance: Appears a pale straw color gold with a nice sized white foaming head leaving speckled lacing without much consistency to the pattern. Aroma: Grainy and light in malt sweetness, there is just a touch of hop presence in the air, I mean I know the helles style lager is delicate but this is a beer marketed toward the masses not one I m proud to hoist from Victory at this point. Taste: Crisp refreshing grassy sweet texture from the imported malts and a good amount of bitterness here to obtain balance, overall disappointing in the flavor department whatever happened to my beloved export style lager, shame on you Bill and Ron your targeting a "Bud/Miller/Coors" crowd with this one what happened to "we brew the type of beers that we like to drink"? Okay that was harsh considering this is a difficult style to make clean tasting balanced brew, I can also fathom how Victory needs a beer on the light side, but this one borders watery for me. Mouthfeel: Is thin carbonated water like texture, just no character. Drinkability: It's alright even good and refreshing but lacking the awesome flavor profile of the export style lager that anyone who purchased the Victory sampler found as a true jewel, in one word disappointing I was at least expecting a very flavorful Helles, oh well yeah I think I could drink a six pack of this without feeling anything. Light, crisp, refreshing lawnmower beer with no off tones, well constructed but lacking flavor.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2003 14:13:54 | More by WVbeergeek

leeenglewood

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Was still in the all malt lager packaging but the case came with a flyer inside of it telling the about the change in recipe to the helles lager style. Pale yellow with a slim head disappears after a few sips with tiny bubbles rising to the top. Smells like husky grains and is somewhat grassy. Taste is a decent light sweet malt flavor a tinge of hops that are herbal tasting. Does quite well on the palate and is no way extreme in any which way. A very good take on a the german light lager style while not catering to anything specifically because it certainly has more flavor then any macro pale lager and as such is a very good substitute for them. Like a gateway drug of the beer world nothing great nothing bad just plain good is the new recipe. I expect to see Victory turn more peoples head then ever before. The new recipe is a victory for your taste not your pretensions.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2003 04:06:36 | More by leeenglewood

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

roguetester

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This is a review of the reformulated All Malt Lager. It is now "Helles Style". I picked up a growle of the beer while in the area and took it home to sample...

The beer poured with a large white head that dissapated quickly. Beer is extremely clear, light yellow in color.

I'm not sure what Hops variety added to the aroma, but I did not like it. It may be the style, but I was not a fan. It seemed rather pungent.

The taste was clean as was the aftertaste. Very little in the way of malt or hops flavoring. This beer is about as easy drinking as they make them.

I'm having a hard time trying to describe this beer without using phrases like Bud or Miller. Helles is Germany for light and this tasted like a light beer. There was an article in the forum about if breweries should have guest light beers on tap. I think Victory has answered by creating this lowest common denominator brew.

Having gone to High School I consider Victory my home town brewery and support them when I can. I, however, do not have much good to say about the new All Malt Lager.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2003 11:21:16 | More by roguetester

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 ounce bottle, freshness date is “Enjoy by May 20 03”. Has a red, blue and yellow label that is quite striking in appearance. It has a picture of a hand holding a bottle of Victory, whilst simultaneously giving the famous Churchillian two-fingered “V” sign. The label is in the style reminiscent of old Communist Posters from the 1930’s Soviet Union. Has a short blurb on the left hand side, which has a nice, but polite, dig at some other Lager producers that use Corn & Rice.

Appearance: Amber gold in color, with a very clear body. Frothy head easily forms when first poured, looks great at first. But it slowly rescinds to settle down to a thin collar covering. Low carbonation but the head never completely breaks down.

Nose: No surprises. A malty nose to start with, which has a sweet caramel aspect.

Taste: Starts rather reserved at first, and builds with every sip. Malty beginnings amidst a creamy caramel setting that has a light grain feel. The end is slightly dry but with a lip-smacking malt finish. An extremely clean beer from start to finish, no rough edges at all.

Mouthfeel: Average, yet the creamy mouthfeel and a lovely smooth malt texture, all help to increase the mouthfeel slightly and aid its Drinkability. Very nice!

Drinkability: Started as an easy to drink run of the mill lager, that finished as a very quaffable, extremely tasty malty lager. I would imagine this to be a real imbiber on tap.

Overall: Took a short while and a few mouthfuls, but this Lager really grew on me in the end. Impressive!!

Thanks to Francisweizen for the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2003 03:27:14 | More by TheLongBeachBum

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

dmarch

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Everybody around here loves yuengling so there alway scared to try any of Victory's beers. This is the one I always tell them to get. It's always available and it gives the macro something they can not only enjoy, but appreciate. Clear copper in color with a fluffy white head. Sweet maltiness in the aroma and slight hops. Taste is malty with a slight flavor of hops in the finish, not much bitterness from the hops. For what it is, it's a great beer. It's like they just did what every macro brewery does, only they did it much better.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2003 11:26:10 | More by dmarch

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: typically transparent, pale yellow color, short, off-white head.
Aroma: initially decent, dry, clean, with a late emerging caramel malt sweetness, mingled with notes of honey, amnd bourbon.
Nice, simple, easy-going taste, are my first impressions, and I was prepared to write this one of as ordinary, but it grew on me, and it got better as we became further acquainted.
Malt is predominant, providing excellent, lip smackin' texture, yummy.
Caramelly sweet, but not too so, it seems like sweet and dry just catch each and amke it a well-matched tango. Sweetness leads, though, and danced the tastebuds it a vigorous fandango.
Fills the mouth with friendliness on it's every entry.
All American lagers should be this good!
Thanks to PintofAle!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2003 15:51:17 | More by feloniousmonk

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A slighty hazy golden body topped by a frothy white head. A lot hay and grass in the aroma. A soft malt opener, swept along with a gentle hop brush. As stated, superbly balanced. Light bodied but not thin. A fine session lager, a hell of a lawnmower beer. An excellent crossover beer for the B/M/C/H/C drinker willing to try something a little better.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2003 20:23:16 | More by RonfromJersey

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

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

Pours a cloudy gold with a foamy fading white head and some trickles of lace. Floral hop and sweet malt aroma. Medium malt with caramel notes. Fruity, and citrusy lime-like hop bitterness. A slight alcohol fuminess weaves in and out. Very fluid and drinkable. Nice summer treat!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2003 18:57:20 | More by BeerResearcher

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a nice deep golden color with nice rocky head,a slight malty sweet aroma not much to speak of.taste was nice and fruity witha good malt backbone,very drinkable.A real nice lager not to wimpy but realy drinkable,I would seek it out again when i wanna drink something a little lighter but with some real substance.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2003 18:42:34 | More by oberon