Mad King's Weiss - Victory Brewing Company

scootny

New York

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A golden straw with a light cloudiness. A smallish head that fades somewhat quickly but there is a good amount of lace so the appearance is still good. Carbonation is low for the style. Smell is not quite as fragrant as you might expect for a hefe. Wheat malt and a nice spiciness. Some lemon and clove with a touch of funk. Not much banana but still an above average nose. A faint note of alcohol. Taste follows the nose but it develops on all of those. The malt is superb and twangy with the lemon and clove really making this one special. There is some bubble gum and cinnamon as well. A bit of soap. Banana shows up bigger here and the finish is hoppier than any hefe I can recall. Not hugely so and not a bad thing, just a different take. Finish is quite dry as a result and this adds to the quenching aspect of the brew. Alcohol flexes a bit as you swallow but it never gets big even as it warms. In general this beer blossoms as it warms up and that allows you to really appreciate it. Feel is smooth and finely carbonated. The lower level really not a problem here. Crisp and refreshing. Drinkability is enhanced by the lower carbonation and overall, between the dry hoppy finish and silky mouthfeel it is close to perfect. Even with the slightly high abv this is a great session beer as long as you take your time and let it get cozy with you.

I went to a Victory takes over the taps night at Rattle and Hum in NYC to score this one and I wish I had more.

Serving type: growler

11-04-2010 05:37:46 | More by scootny

avalon07

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a growler to a weizen glass. Had a pale yellow color and a hazy consistency. There was a big, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. OK lacing.

S: A sweet aroma of wheat, bananas, and some spices.

T: Tasted of wheat, mixed with spices up front and bananas in the finish. A generally well balanced flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a super dry finish. Light-bodied.

D: One of the best, most drinkable hefeweizens you can find in the U.S.

Serving type: growler

06-27-2010 13:03:13 | More by avalon07

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pale golden color-not quite an "off yellow". Small white head on top. Nice spicy aroma-somewhat cloveish and peppery. Crisp and clean tasting. A slight hint of hops. Lemony and citrus like flavors. Slight phenolic taste. Mild banana and clove notes. Very clean in the long run though nicely complex. Good body. Boy I could drink this all day. Light and crisp. I bet the 6.2% would catch up in a hurry. Very, very enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

08-29-2009 22:49:50 | More by lackenhauser

Nickls

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(From notes)

A - Sunny, hazy yellowish color with a thinner pure white bubbly head

S - Citric and tart up front; some banana; spices as well

T - Seems like a cross between a Belgian Wit and German Weiss; citrusy but yeasty as well with spiciness; and the banana shows up toward the end

M - Touch creamy and medium overall; fairly muted carbonation

D - OK in this arena; good flavors, but I've had more refreshing in the style range; was good that the citrus cut through the banana, but it was a bit scattered for my taste

Overall, an interesting brew and take on the style, and more than worth a look.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2009 22:49:33 | More by Nickls

schmitter

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Came to me a nice deep golden color with a fairly thick head. Smelled a bit peppery but mostly citrus notes of lemon, and more so, orange. It tasted like a fairly traditional wheat beer but what i really loved about it was it had a somewhat hoppy bite going on. If you've had whirlwind, this is almost the same just with a bit more alcohol and some more complex notes.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2009 20:48:11 | More by schmitter

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This came from a growler I bought at Victory Brewery and Restaurant in Downingtown, PA. I poured it into a pint glass.
Appearance: The body is a cloudy dark gold. The head is three fingers tall, white, great retention with lots of thin lacing.
Smell: The aromas are dominated by bananas, but also have orange and earthy notes.
Taste: The taste is overwhelmed by bananas and doesn't have much else dimension wise.
Mouthfeel: This beer had a crisp mouthfeel.
Drinkability: This is a drinkable beer.
Don't drink and review.

Serving type: growler

06-03-2009 22:50:52 | More by treehugger02010

SPRichard

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had this on tap at Local 44's locals only event

hazy straw yellow...fluffy white

banana, wheat spiciness, cloves and lemon all present in the nose

banana...slight peppery wheat...lemon stands out as the beer warms

very smooth drinking

this is the mold American hefeweizens should try and replicate....very glad this was on the list today at Local 44

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2009 04:10:57 | More by SPRichard

baldmasterflex

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from growler into tall hefe glass.

Yellow with hints of browny orange. Wouldnt say it is hazy, but not perfectly clear. Perfectly white bubbly head.

Muted sweet aroma with a definite spicyness and smell of bananas.

Taste is pretty good. Not as sweet as i expected. Would describe it as a bigger Sunrise but lacking on sweetness. Was honestly hoping it would be more like a Leffe giving the ABV.

Drinks smoothly and quickly. Which doesnt need a warning since this beer comes in at 6.2%. Carbonation is very present but not aggressive. Ends with a bitter dryness in the back of the throat.

Hefes are not my thing, but i wanted to give this a try as it is a brewpub exclusive.

Serving type: growler

02-09-2009 00:51:45 | More by baldmasterflex

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.43/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 7/10/08. On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a cloudy light gold with a thick creamy head. Aroma dominated by spices (clove). Flavor also very spicy with some light bubblegum and banana. A decent hefe, perhaps a little TOO spicy for my liking, as the spices masked a lot of the flavor of the beer.
6/4/7/4/14 (3.5/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2008 18:26:57 | More by LilBeerDoctor

WesWes

New York

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a gold color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It's a maltier version of hefe than the Sunrise. It's not as yeasty and has a bolder malt aroma. The taste is good. It has a wonderful malt flavor that adds a thick mouthfeel and complexity. It's easy drinking with a nice Munich malt content. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This was a bit of disappointment. I've been wanted to try this one for some time. All in all, a good hefe.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2008 21:44:51 | More by WesWes

SIRIUS2

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at the Victory Brewery.

Light yellow, not really pale, but rather a golden color with a fair colored haze. The head was very creamy and thick at a solid two fingers with great retention. The foam left heavy trails down the sides, not really dainty enough to be called lacing. This look really good!

The aromas brought me back to center with the typical light fruity banana smells and a hint of spicy clove. You can pick up some of the wheat malt and just a bit of citrus on the nose.

Interesting, this is. It has a light, delicate sense to it but at the same time has a very complicated set of flavors that come through. The wheat malt is noticeable, along with banana, clove, & yeast that typically goes along with it, but there was something on the order of cinnamon or nutmeg that was faint but seemed to bring everything together. Toward the end came some light bitterness, presumably from hops, that seemed to hit just before the finish and then everything ended with a relatively clean finish. Carbonation was fine and abundant and lent itself well to a slightly creamy texture. This was a beauty!

I don't know that I am doing this brew justice with my review. It's not your average hefeweizen and you really just need to experience it to get that wonderful complexity. Very drinkable, very smooth, and very recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2008 17:16:11 | More by SIRIUS2

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy yellow color with a nice big white head. In the aroma, big dry banana, and just a small hint of spice. In the taste, dry banana, clove, and spices. A smooth and medium mouthfeel and a semi dry banana aftertaste. Good flavors of banana and spices, easy to drink and a good body.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2008 13:07:32 | More by OWSLEY069

Chinon01

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - An unfiltered opaque beauty with a solid meringue head.

S - Spicey, phenolic, flowery, juicey . . .

T - Similar to smell. Alive, spicy with strong phenolics. Rich and complex. Note: As the beer warms however phenolics can go a bit too far (i.e. band-aid, campho phenique)

M - Substantial, thick, rich, layered . . .

D - Highly drinkable as the spice cuts, blends and compliments the overall richness and layeredness of this beer.

edited 11-21-08 drinkability increased to 4.5.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2008 04:11:52 | More by Chinon01

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clouded gold with a creme head. Looks like a hefe. Smells like a hefe. Funky banana clove-ness. Flavor is good. Smooth and with a good balance of things going on. Just a nice mix of dough, spices, and banana. Feel is smooth. Good balance of carbonation and liquid. Very nicely done. A great drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2008 18:38:37 | More by RblWthACoz

AltBock

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I was able to try Mad King on tap at High Street Grill's Victory promo Tuesday on 5/20/2008. The served it to me in a standard pint glass. I wish they had served it in a Weizen glass, but none were available. You take what you can get.

This Victory Hefe poured not a hazy, but a beautiful murky and bright lemon yellow. I honestly didn't think a Hefe could get this murky. Hazy, yes, but not murky. Sitting on top of this beer was a 3/4 inch creamy head of white foam. This head fo foam had decent retention that left behind foamy white rings and a few spots of white lace around the glass. I can't get over how nice the color of this Hefe really was.

The aroma was plain and simple with malted wheat, cloves, bread, and plenty of ripe bananas. It's just what you look for when it comes to smelling a Hefeweizen.

If I could describe the taste in two words it would interesting and delicious. This Hefe was filled with malted wheat, cloves, nutmeg, a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of yeast, and tons of ripe banana. That was good enough, but at the end, the taste took a Hefe to another level. After the banana, in comes some bitter citrus hops. Where they did they come from? Not too bitter where the hops covered everything up. It was more of a refreshing bitter taste.

I would have to say that this Hefeweizen is more medium bodied than light bodied. The aftertaste was soft with malted wheat and a hint of bitter citrus hops.

When I ordered it, I thought it was just going to be a standard decent Hefeweizen from Victory. Boy, was I surprised to find that out that this beer was really that good! One of the most interesting Hefeweizens I've had lately. Would I order this again? You bet I would! It's something you need to taste for yourself.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2008 16:57:58 | More by AltBock

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a growler purchased at the Victory brew-pub.

A cloudy, off yellow color with a small white head. It seems very bubbly. No lacing. No yeast particles.

Lots of bubble gum and bannana with some coriander. A very typical smell for the style.

A bannana type taste is up front, followed by some bubble gum flavor. Finishes with a peppery yeastsy taste.

A nice light mouthfeel.

Good drinkability. I tend to think that most Hefes are very drinkable.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2008 07:10:04 | More by Hojaminbag

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is one of if not my favorite Hefe of all, and it does not disappoint from the growler. Unfortunately Victory does not bottle Mad King's, so I can't get it very often.

The thick head of the beer does not translate from the tap to the growler so the appearance suffers a bit, and the aroma is not as full and intense, but overall it is nearly just as good as my initial glowing review of this beer.

Victory makes a lot of great beer, and I think this is bare none the most underrated of their line.

Serving type: growler

11-06-2007 01:05:43 | More by HugoGrim

marcpal

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

On tap, Stuff yer Face event in NJ. Admittedly not a fan of this style, but I do give it credit for representing what it should.

Served on tap at the restaurant.

A: Pale yellow with wheaty head and lacing. Offered and rejected the fruit accompaniment.

S: Wheat and strong spice.

T: Wheaty, a little too much of clove or spice for my personal taste but appreciate the quality there.

M: Good job here, good texture.

D: Honestly surprised to see this beer be as strong as it was - a credit to Victory on that one. Well disguised and drinkable.

Again, not a fan of the style, but I do give them credit from what I think is a good representation. Honestly surprised by the ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2007 01:52:33 | More by marcpal

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewery.

This beer seems a little off to me. It's too big and sweet for it's own good. The yeast has come through some spice and banana, but the overall flavor is muddled up by the sweetness, ruining the complexity for me. Maybe it's there and I just can't get it.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2007 02:33:11 | More by tempest

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Blue Nile, poure into a Summit Hefe Weizen glass by yours truly.

Cloudy and golden, huge rocky, pillowy head, nice and thick.

Aroma: sweetness, & spice, and the usual ethereal delights found in any good, airy weizen. Cloves get louder, and that banana note rises above. Citrus notes peel out, too, eventually. (bad joke, I admit)

Brisk carbonation, big texture, coats the mouth, tingle of hops...very mellow, with flavors of citrus, banana, low-laying spice. Light-bodied, but substantial and satisfying. Little notes of lemon shine through the layers of wheat, bits of banana take turns on the tongue.

Leaves the palate tidily, with a linger of flavor, very refreshing, and urges a further drink.

Nice one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2007 08:31:15 | More by feloniousmonk

Hefe

Maryland

4.88/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had a sample of this at Victory this past Mon (7/23) Took a Growler home based on that experience.

The beer pours a hazy luminescent amber with a pillowy white head. The aroma is wheat and clove with subtle underpinning of tropical fruit. The flavours are wheat, spice, citrus peel, banana, all balanced on one of the smoothest mouthfeel's you can imagine. As for the drinkability, I could have easily polished off the 64oz Growler myself If I didn't have to share. ;-)

Serving type: growler

07-26-2007 14:27:21 | More by Hefe

RedHaze

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Tuscadora Mill in Leesburg, VA.

Pours a very hazy pale straw with a one finger head that takes a long time to fade to a nice cap. The lacing is thick and sticky, leaving a nice sheet behind.

Smell; lots of cloves and wheat, with a little bit of bananas thrown in. There was a nice lemony citrus, as well as a touch of a peppery spiciness.

Taste; very nice wheat flavor right away, and then fades into the cloves, bananas and lemons. The spiciness that was in the aroma is there, it just took until the beer warmed up to come out. This was also a a little sweet in the finish.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied and very smooth, and the drinkability was really good, as I had no problem consuming a couple of these during dinner.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2007 22:36:54 | More by RedHaze

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Holy Presentation, Batman! It came in a tall Weiss glass, plus the head was like marshmallow Fluf, or Jack the Ripper's avatar. The color was a cloudy lemon-yellow with a lot of CO2 bubbles present. The nose had alemony zestiness, a peppery spiciness, and a yeasty mustiness. I wnet fruit-free and for Phatz, having fruit with this beer would have been a classic case of gilding the lily. The mouthfeel was thick and full, almost creamy. I got a lot of banana esters as well as black peppery spice in the mouth. The finish was yeast-driven mustiness, like opening a box full of pulp magazines, like mystery and detective fiction or comic books. I know that smell intimately and this definitely mimicked it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2007 01:51:59 | More by woodychandler

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at the restaurant.

A: The ale is a pale yellow color with no haze and a white head that laces nicely. It, unfortunately, was served with a lemon slice that was promptly discarded.

S: The ale has a soft wheaty aroma and a smattering of spices.

T: The ale has a very soft wheat flavor that is accentuated by some spices, notably a clove flavor that lingers long in the drink.

M: Soft and smooth on the palate, this is good for hot summer days.

D: This is misclassified, in my opinion. It is closer to an American Pale Wheat than a hefe. Either way, it is a good refreshing beer that hides its strength well.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2006 17:04:03 | More by akorsak

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Victory brewpub. This beer poured a cloudy yellowish body with a thick foamy white head and respectable lacing on the glass. The nose was dominated by some quality spice tones and banana notes as well. The taste also had some good spice notes, cloves, as well as touches of banana and vanilla. Very well put together beer and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2006 02:49:35 | More by ggaughan