Victory Lager - Victory Brewing Company

CptAubrey

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into a Pilsner glass.

A: Pale, pale yellow. No trace of chill haze. Fluffy white head billows above the rim of the glass and clings lace-like to the inside of the glass after receding. A beautiful, sparkling beer.

S: Spicy hops, hint of grain, and touch of sulfur. Smell is light and enticing.

T: So smooth and clean! Soft sweetness of malt and herbal, spicy hops predominate with low hop bitterness in finish. Very well balanced. Malt, hoppiness, and bitterness are all soft and clean. No harshness.

M: Fine carbonation and light body. Not watery, but I've had other helles lagers with a little more presence.

D: Supremely drinkable. Refreshing, balanced, and clean. Overall a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 21:21:47 | More by CptAubrey

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Finally got this down here in TX! 12 oz bottle with a best by date of Nov 28 2011. Pours a fairly clear, light gold color with a decent cap of white head. Retention and lacing are both average.

Nose is saltine crackers and a light, citric-flesh fruit. I thought I would find more graininess and grassy hops, but Victory has beat a different drum once again.

Taste is light and crisp with some biscuit grain and a fair amount of bright hops...both flavoring and bittering. I like this beer quite a bit, not necessarily a classic helles, but damn is it refreshing and tasty. I would have no problem finishing off a sixer of this in a day. Tasty, clean and interesting...just what I want in a nice lager. Excellent beer, I see a repeat purchase in my very near future.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 00:47:56 | More by twiggamortis420

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +22%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a clear light gold with a white head. Nose is fairly mild ,with a pleasant fresh grain and a light hop note. Mouth is snappy, bright, super fresh grain and a kiss of sweet malt. A touch grassy in its hop element. This was one I overlooked for awhile but it's just fantastic. Understated, extraordinarily well balanced. Of course criminally underrated. One of the best lagers I've ever had, up there with Victory's best pilsners. They are masters with this style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2011 02:18:02 | More by JAXSON

mjurney

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle, enjoy by Jan 3 2012.

Slight hazy, gold-straw color. Lots of bubble rising up. Thin head.

Aroma is sweet grain, hay, touch of spicy hops.

The flavor starts off sweet grains, slight spicy hops towards the end. Some biscuity, honey, lemony. Body is light, very crisp. Medium carbonation. Dry finish and aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 23:20:34 | More by mjurney

saradad

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Going over some notes from the other night I got this:
A: Golden, visible carbonation, white head quick disappears.

S: Malty goodness with a citrusy hops balance

T: Sweet nutty with light citrus behind that, good balance.

M: Creamy, drying finish with a light hops aftertaste.

D: Oh yeah, this is a good one.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 19:53:12 | More by saradad

deadliest

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pale golden yellow. Lots of bubbles. 2 fingers of white head that sticks around for a short while and leaves dots of lacing behind.
S: Light malts and some citrus/grassy hops.
T: Light malt and citrus hops again. lemon zest, and biscuit.
F: Light mouthfeel. Crisp. Good carbonation.
O: Really good lager. Too bad craft breweries don't put out more examples of these beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 18:10:28 | More by deadliest

NODAK

Tennessee

4.3/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Smells pretty malty...biscuity....pretty tame.

The thing that defines this beer is how NOT in your face it is. The body is a somewhat sweet, grainy, but restrained malt. This holds for a decent while before the very tame hop bitterness makes itself known in the finish. There's also some biscuity notes on the finish as well. It's definitely a beer I'd recommend for people who are looking for a easy drinking beer year-round....while not incredibly complex, it's definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 03:31:33 | More by NODAK

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice golden color, with a white head that dies off and leaves a nice ring of lace around the glass. On the nose is light toasted bread, and touch of hops. On the palate there is a slight tart / sourness that tastes like green apples...whatever it was it tasted good, and I liked it. This is a super refreshing brew. I really enjoyed this brew...good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2002 18:01:39 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Part of the Poitras/VA 2004 vacation.

Enjoyed on tap at Capital Ale House - Innsbrook, Glen Allen, VA

14oz pils glass presentation. White 1/2" head over a plae straw brew, and no lacing present. Light pale malt aroma, and the flavor expanded on this with the crisp malt character leading up to a hoppy finish. Mouthfeel and drinkability excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2004 12:21:46 | More by ppoitras

doppelmeup

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Had a bottle of this in a mug after working in the yard.

Poured a pretty, lemony-straw color. Not much head and very little lacing.

Not a lot of aromas, mild malt and hops but nothing to jump out, however for the style this is what I expected.

This beer had an excellent, subtle flavor that was not overly hoppy or malty, but did have a nice, mild taste. A good example of a helles lager, IMO.

Kind of a fizzy mouthfeel, but also light, smooth and crisp.

It really excels in the drinkability category, I wish I would have bought more than one to sample, as I could easily drink several of these in a row, especially out on a hot summer day grilling. This will be my beer of choice to bring to a summer party, especially if there are lots of non-BAers around who might squawk at something other than a typical lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2006 18:00:15 | More by doppelmeup

Schmidts

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours light yellow from the bottle with a small lasting head. Smells of sweet malt and grain with a light touch of hops. Taste is rather wonderful light refreshing reminds me of the old days and beer I drank when I was young. It feels great in your mouth smooth and light and a light sweetness! It is Very Refreshing. This is the kind of Beer you can sit down and just drink one after another and just plain enjoy! This is a beer I will drink as long as it is made and I do not mind paying more for as it is truely flavorfull!
Beer Its Not Just A Beverage It s Food!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2008 00:18:15 | More by Schmidts

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

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoy by date of November 2004, Sampled December 2004
A spicy hop aroma emanates from my glass as I pour this beer. The beer is a brilliant straw gold color, and is topped by a frothy, just barely off-white head. The aroma is nicely full with continental spicy hop notes, I get notes of herbs, grass, and a hint of lemon. The beer is quite light on the palate, and has a pleasing malt sweetness. There is a nice bitterness in the finish, which is a nice balance. There is a decent amount of hop flavor here as well. This beer is actually defined by the hoppiness, though certainly not in the way that an IPA is defined by hoppiness.

This is just an incredibly tasty example of a Helles. Despite it being past its bottle date this beer tasted incredibly fresh and vibrant to me, I can't even imagine a fresh one being better.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2004 22:42:10 | More by Gueuzedude

Seanibus

California

4.22/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a radiant clear yellow, with a small head and streamers of carbonation. The aroma is powerful - you can smell this beer coming. It is bready and sweet with a nice sting of hop bitterness. The flavor is a little less powerful, but still delicious - bready, lemony with that distinctive Victory Brewing hop bitterness on the finish. The mouthfeel is thin and pleasant. This is an eminently drinkable beer

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 23:00:56 | More by Seanibus

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

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