Moonglow Weizenbock - Victory Brewing Company

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mahaffey's today. This has long been one of my favorite beers from Victory, but for whatever reason, I have not seen it on tap here in Baltimore in some time.

The beer pours a reddish amber color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is weizenbock sweet (think Aventinus), with considerable clove, bubblegum and banana. Flavors on the palate generally replicate the nose, except I also pick up some brown sugar and chocoate flavor. Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full in this fairly sweet beer, though there's nothing heavy or tiring about drinking this beer. The alcohol is really well disguised and integrated into the flavor profile, and as a result drinkability is pretty good.

Just an all around solid beer from Victory. Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2010 20:50:03 | More by johnmichaelsen

SShelly

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal dark amber color with a big poof of head.

Aroma is strong rich malt, a little bit of esters but nothing overpowering.

Flavor follows closely behind the aroma witha giant burst of malt, leaves a nice rich malt sweetness in the mouth.

Overall not my favorite style and could possibly use a little melanoiden character to add to its complexity but damn tasty regardless.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2010 16:21:17 | More by SShelly

augustgarage

California

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Hollywood. Served in a Aventinus eisbock glass.

Orange-gold body with bronze highlights. Thin ivory head recedes to a small snow-drift leaving wisps of lacing in its wake. Delicate legs.

Hay, lightly caramelized banana, butter-cream, and faint hop notes in the nose. Melanoidins are present but excessively restrained.

Buttered brown bread, red banana, and lightly fruity yeast notes on the palate. The finish is more of the same with a bit of sourdough. A little sweet and lacking the pungent bready flavor of the best examples of the style - but overall, pretty well done.

Creamy, smooth, and a touch effervescent. Slightly warming from the ABV.

Very easy drinking, and free of any off flavors, but still lacking balance as well as the magic meal-in-a-glass satisfaction of the best Weizenbocks.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2009 18:19:17 | More by augustgarage

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Presentation: 20oz imperial pint

Appearance: Slightly hazy dark amber beer with a dark ivory cream head that fades to a thick ring and film with good retention.

Smell: Really nice, BIG caramelized bananas and spice aromas dominate, just like they were expected to. Rich and sweet; these aromas just kind of ooze up out of the glass, it's like a wall of aroma

Taste: Big sweet burnt banana sweetness, with slight alcohol present as well and some light hints of vanilla.

Mouthfeel: Fairly full and smooth

Drinkability: Medium to medium high; this is tasty but it's a powerful beer and quite filling; I couldn't drink a lot at one sitting

Conclusion: Good example of the style; I especially like how the typical banana flavors/aromas here kind of have a burnt/sauteed in butter quality to them.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 17:24:07 | More by BedetheVenerable

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 ounce pint - $6.50 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Descends from the top-level tap a mid-range mahogany-hued body topped with a finger of off-white foam.

Smell: Tangy, spiced bouquet of bready dark malted wheat and supporting clove and peeled banana notes, as well as sweet-scented hints of caramel and golden syrup.

Taste: Ah, the tanginess of German wheat malt with a taste of toasted bread smothered in gooey, sweet caramel sauce. Mingled amidst the malty tastes are some spicy phenols providing a mild, easy-going cracked clove flavor. Also, some fruity touches of raisins and bananas to be found in there. Hint of sourish yeast. Lightly spicy, herbal hop character with a mild, restrained level of bitterness. Finishes tangy and malty and pretty crisp, I must say.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium-high carbonation. Smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: An agreeable Fall seasonal that isn't just another Pumpkin Ale or Oktoberfest. Although the alcohol isn't overly evident in the taste, it sure did sneak up on me later, providing me with quite a glow of my own.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 04:59:20 | More by ChainGangGuy

Kendo

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Lionheart in Albany, 11-11-09.

A: Slightly hazy coppery-amber body with a 1-finger ivory head. No lace.

S: Bananas, ripe apples, clove and basic fruitiness. Hint of sweet malt and some spice.

T: Slightly bready malt foundation followed by apple pie -- i.e., overripe apples and some spice. Clove and banana (presumably from the yeast) are up front in the taste too. Finishes with some alcohol spice, and heat is felt in the belly right away.

M: Slightly heavier than medium in heft, but not quite full. Slightly slick in feel.

D: Pretty good. Not my favorite style of beer, but I enjoyed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2009 22:47:58 | More by Kendo

GoalieRon33

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Caramel, brownish color with legitimate "moonglow". Interestingly dark

S- Fruity, somewhat. A bready smell is also evident, but not overpowering.

T- Top 5 ever for me. Nothing I would change about it. Bready, fruity, enough bite, with enough smoothness. Wheaty, with a flavor somewhat like the Franziskaner Dunkel Weiss...Wonderful

M- Not too overpowering, but still enough to let you know that its there. I love it...almost perfect

D- A little too much for the average drinker, but wheat beer lovers would love it, as I do. This is one of the best beers I have ever experienced. YAY For PA!!!

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2009 06:21:33 | More by GoalieRon33

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Moonglow Weizenbock looks like it has a dark brown body, but when held up to the light, it is a vibrant red. The head springs up quickly, creating a nice cap of foam on top of the beer, but it does just as quickly and doesn't leave any remnants of lace on the side of my glass.

The aroma is good. A touch of sourness with big blast of banana and a lot of medicinal smelling cloves with a wheat twang.

The aroma is great. Just a tinge of sourness comes through toward the beginning with a flavor similar to candied apples accompanying it. There is also a big wheat twang in the front end. Other malts also add a touch of light chocolate and an almost sugary sweetness. The banana comes next, and it is probably the biggest flavor in moonglow, but it is offset and balanced out by a big, peppery, clove flavor. This is a pretty complex brew that I definitely enjoy.

The body is a touch of medium, but the carbonation is on the higher side of the style; it's very active.

Any beer as good as Moonglow is pretty drinkable. This is a great one, and it can be had a pretty fair price also.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2009 02:22:14 | More by Hojaminbag

ImusBeer

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Came in an 11oz pour a dark copper with a thin white head that died to just a wisp.

Smells of wheat and grain is about all I could get, possibly honey or sweetness. The taste is almost all Belgian, citrus mostly lemon and some honey sweetness on the finish.

It was slightly syrupy on the tongue with the sweet aftertaste, a nice sipping beer but not all that complex.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2009 16:00:29 | More by ImusBeer

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dusky, semi-transparent brownish copper. Head was thin, but that was probably an artifact of how it was poured. Spicy, wheaty, slightly yeasty aroma is appealing. Wheaty and spicy flavor has hints of caramel. Texture is lively and tingly, making this pleasant to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2009 15:16:26 | More by Cyberkedi

glid02

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a chestnut brown color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of bananas, grainy brown sugar, clove, and hints of green apple. As it warms a robust dark wheat aroma shows up and the banana aromas strengthen.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth dark wheat flavors up front with a surprising amount of body team up with green apples and bananas. Midway through the sip a good hit of clove comes out and segues into a smooth crisp and sweet ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It has a smooth thickness with soft carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall this was a very smooth beer with tons of complexities and popping flavors. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2009 01:23:12 | More by glid02

atsprings

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served a nice hazy orange with a thin diminishing head. Aroma is loads of burnt caramel, clove and dried fruits. The beer is quite flavorful with loads of malt bite, fruit and molasses. The beer is medium bodied with somewhat well hidden alcohol. This is a very enjoyable weizenbock.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 20:03:05 | More by atsprings

sonicdescent

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is a red/brown with a respectable head that turns into a crown with decent lacing.

Scent is piney, with banana and orange peel also rearing their head.

Taste is sneaky; almost watery at first then a nice balanced hop flavor comes in at the end.

Mouthfeel is adequate. Medium carbonation and body.

Drinkability is good, it's a good smooth beer that goes down easy. I will order again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2009 17:16:36 | More by sonicdescent

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A pint glass served at the Batdorf in Annville, PA.

A: The weizenbock is a muddy auburn color, equal parts thick orange and brown. No head to speak of, although that seems to be par for the course at the 'dorf.

S: The nose is wheaty, fully of banana and clove esters and a solid rush of boozy warmth. Breadiness from the malt mixes with the esters to good effect.

T: Even when the weizenbock is cold, the esters stand out. Fruity, bubblegum and clove with banana for good measure, flavors abound. The wheat flavor lacks the light tartness that more delicate weizens show off but that abrasive strength is a nice substitute. Bready malts, the barley aspect, drive the thickness of the ale and provide a dry counterpoint to the esters.

M: Every now and then, I detected a metallic flavor. It was fleeting and may have jhust been my imagination. The weizenbier is robust, flavorful and fortified.

D: A winter warmer indeed, this one will keep you comfy at night. A stand-out weizenbock.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2008 13:57:58 | More by akorsak

adamette

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Tap & Mallet in Rochester, NY a few hours ago. Served into an appropriate clean, clear goblet. Waitress apologized since it was very cloudy. "All of the kegs were just agitated since they were being repositioned." Indeed I had recalled a delivery truck loading/unloading on my way into the restaurant moments before.

A It was cloudy, orange brown, opaque body with minimal head by the time that it was delivered to my table. I am not sure that its appearance was affected by the waitresses report of the keg agitation. I drank it over the next 10 minutes and did not observe any "settling" of any kind beyond its main appearance. Anyway, I do not believe that it affected the taste.

S Great, fruitty, malty, sweet, much like a Weisenbock that I had not too long ago at Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, Ohio (Great Lakes Glockenspeil).

T Fruitty sweetness continued. It is like pears, peaches, grainy, malty all together.

M Full smoothness is a great way to describe the mouthfeel.

D Alcohol of 8.7 well hidden by fruitty, full smoothness of this beer.

Notes: This is the second Weizenbock that I have tasted/rated and I have thoroughly enjoyed both of them. They actually are quite similar imo.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2008 02:26:52 | More by adamette

DaggerEyes

New York

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured a hazy copper with a two finger off white head that settled to a thing surface film. Super sticky with delicate lacing.

A tad bit funky and earthy with super sweet banana and clove tones

Clove banana taste with a bitter hop bite, alchohol is present, not over powering but you know it's there

Creamy medium bodied, nice finish

this was a good beer, but I doubt I could drink more then one in a session

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2007 22:09:46 | More by DaggerEyes

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub.

Arrived a rich copper color with a good inch of dense, foamy head. Smells of lemon and spice but most noticeable is banana. Initial taste reminded me instantly of fresh baked banana bread. Rich fruity and nutty. Alcohol is well hidden. Very fresh tasting. Delicious! I wish I had a few homemade chocolate chip walnut cookies to go with this. Mouthfeel could be a little heavier to back up the taste. I could easily savor 3 or 4 of these in the course of an evening.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2006 20:17:33 | More by ClockworkOrange

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep murky amber hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a heavy yeasty malt and a good banana aroma.

The taste consisted of a robust toasted grain with a spicy yeast element. Some mild raisin flavor as well.

The mouthfeel was full and chewy.

Overall a nice, and flavorful weizenbock. Solid ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2006 03:22:12 | More by plaid75

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at the Victory brewery in Downingtown, PA.

Arrived a dark murky brown. The thick head disipated quickly.

Aroma is full and rich with citrus and banana, as well as a distinct spicy herbal quality. Packs the crisp effervesence trademark of a weizen.

Flavor is deep and sharp. Smooth banana is accented by spices of clove and black pepper. Dark fruits make up another major element... figs, plum, and even raisens. Warming alcohol character is detectable, and seems to be wrapped up in the figs and plums.

My first sampling of the style, and I am impressed. An excellent fall style, crisp yet rich and warming. This paired excellently with their "Victory Burger" with peppers, onions, and hot pepper cheese.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2006 16:22:04 | More by HugoGrim

orsulacp

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this beer into a pint glass; it had a big light tan head that had good retention. Very murky deep copper color, I roused up the yeast and it looked very inviting swirling in the glass. It hits the nose with spicy cloves, caramel, apples, and some bananas. Really creamy, the cloves are first then it tastes kind of like a caramel apple, a mild apple flavor. Great mouthfeel, I like the creaminess. Some parts of this remind me of the Sunrise Weiss, the cloves and fruit flavors are dead on, and then add the rich malts and you get this fine brew

A note on the 2006 version: I had the bottle and wasn't too impressed the flavors were really suppressed. I already had a 1/6 on order so I had to get it; the taste difference was very noticeable. If you want to taste this beer at it's best get it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2005 02:17:54 | More by orsulacp

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a caramel color with a 1 finger off white head. Some spotty lacing is left behind.
Smell is of banana, wheat, caramel, and chocolate.
Taste is of the same aromas that has been watered down slightly.
Mouthfeel is fizzy, full bodied, and sweet.
Drinkability is good. I'm a big fan of the style and I like Victory's version.

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2005 21:22:23 | More by weeare138

scooter231

New York

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Blind Tiger. A very sweet concoction. Pretty to look at, and then you take a whiff. Sweeet is what you get. Kind of smells like sugar coated fruit. Tastes... caramelized- very, very sweet- a bit too sweet for me, but not enough to make me put it down. I get some brown sugar and vanilla in here- almost a sherry type thing going on. Soooort of reminds me of ice cream.

Overall drinkable considering the sweetness of it- and the alcohol content- not my favorite thing, but a nice nightcap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2005 04:04:10 | More by scooter231

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$2 16oz. pints at CAH last Sunday.

Cloudy deep amber in color. Thick and creamy layer of tan-colored head rests eternally on the top of the beer. Incredibly thick rings of lace on the glass. Aromas are softly-noted bits of bannana, alcohol, caramel. Flavor is silky smooth layers of fruity esters, ABV warmth, spices. Finish is spicy, with some extract of vanilla poured over a caramel square. Good mouthfeel...thick almost. Drinkable...it sure went well right after the Arrogant Bastard pint before it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2005 00:34:48 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

ommegangpbr

New York

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Blind Tiger in NYC.
A tasty confection.
Emphasis on confection.
Very sweet, but properly so.
A bit more carbonation would make this more refreshing, or less cloying... though I didn't really find it cloying.
Seems to be an under-represtented style... I'd like to see more of these; I think I've only seen Aventinus.
Has a marshmallow type quality to some degree.
I also get quite a bit of rum raisin ice cream.
Definately raisin... definately ice cream...
Boozeahol is well concealed and/or used.
Well crafted.
Victory proves its brewing skills time and time again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2005 10:25:06 | More by ommegangpbr

eveninghawk

Massachusetts

3.3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this one on tap in a nice hefe glass. The beer has an opaque caramel color with a one inch head that fades after a few minutes. The beer clings well to the side of the glass, looking almost a little syrup-y.

There are caramelly banana-y overtones in the smell, that sort of sweet fruity combo with a hint of yeast on the end.

Boy is this mother sweet! Very fruity like apple cider, in fact, i was asking myself partway through if i was drinking apple cider... many similar flavors going on. Underneath (and we're talking WAY underneath) are creamy undertones befitting the beer, but the apple ciderness is almost overwhelming the beer of it all.

Mouthfeel isn't as syrupy as its sugary taste implies, making it easier to drink than I'd imagined, but I'd stay away from ordering another full pint again because it's just too sweet for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2005 23:57:20 | More by eveninghawk