Moonglow Weizenbock - Victory Brewing Company

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served on-tap at Texas Arizona in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a hazy to cloudy dark amber in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation and some reddish brown highlights. The beer has a finger thick creamy beige head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a slightly thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of sweet toffee malts with some lighter hints of banana and clove. There is also a light amount of yeast presence.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of malts with some toffee and dark fruit sweetness. This is over the top of some spiciness - clove and banana - as well as some yeastiness. Light amounts of lingering bitterness in the finish.

M: Medium to full bodied with light amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Fairly easy to drink considering the ABV - which is well hidden in this brew. There is a nice complexity and balance to the flavor making this one quite enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 04:38:27 | More by dbrauneis

Weli

Wisconsin

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A-Dark coppery orange color with poor clarity (which is great for a weizen) and a thick off white to tan head

S-Slightly bready, fruity, a bit of bananas and dates in the nose, not overwhelming though

T- Real hit of malt sweetness up front, more or less balanced by a smooth bitterness. Kinda fruity in a fashion similar to a Trappist ale.

M-Effervescent carbonation, thick and slightly cloying

O-First Weizenbock I've had, tastes very Belgian in its character, lots of raisins, and stone fruit flavor. Balance definitely favors the malt

Edit after having some more examples of this style I decided this beer is definitely too sweet for the style and a bit cloying when compared to its German brethren that tend to be much more drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 03:26:05 | More by Weli

scootny

New York

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

A lightly hazed light chestnut brown in my 300 ml Aventinus glass. Very good sized head that stays for quite a while and covers the beer all the way down. Some nice lacing on the glass. Some stickiness in the fluid evident. Smell is sweet with banana, alcohol and caramel. Lovely warm dark bread aromas. Taste is full of overripe banana and clove. Raisins and dark fruity sweetness. Wheat malt twang cuts through with a dark toasted nuttiness and caramel vanilla notes.Alcohol is well integrated and not overpowering. Fell is velvety with a silky carbonation and a smoothness to the swallow. Aventinus sets such a high bar to touch that I am doubley impressed by the overall excellence of this brew. It is so close that I would not be surprised by someone preferring the domestic version. It's that good.

Serving type: growler

11-24-2012 00:28:30 | More by scootny

philerman

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler ($11.99 at Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting--the keg was leftover from a Victory tap takeover earlier this week.) into a nonic pint glass.

A: Pours hazy dark tan with about a finger's worth of foam.

S: Aroma is somewhat chemically owing to the high abv..notes of coconut and yeast as well.

T: Banana, malt, not too much wheat...some alcohol burn.

M: Really hits the top of the mouth, a bit bitter on the aftertaste.

O: A style I definitely look forward to every year--more so than the myriad pumpkin beers. This fits well and will probably make an annual tradition.

Serving type: growler

11-17-2012 23:49:19 | More by philerman

confer

Pennsylvania

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

I do love this style of beer. The best of the Weizen and Bock worlds.
Pours a hazy flat gold with orange hints when help to the light.
The smell is a mix of both styles with the banana of the weizen and also the spiciness of a Maibock showing up.
The taste mirrors the smell but with more intensity. Deep banana and the flavorful maibock taste. Feel is a bit on the thick side as it should be.
Overall a great beer of a great style.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 00:38:53 | More by confer

paulhargus

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on-tap at the Victory Brewpub.

A: dark brown with some orange tint. about 1 1/2 inch off-white head. slight retention and decent lacing throughout

S: nutty/banana aroma. even a slight bubblegum scent. once the beer warmed up, you could very distinctly smell the alcohol. not a huge fan of the heavy alcohol scent.

T: wheaty and malty. they say you will taste a healthy banana flavor and you certainly do. i enjoyed that very much. however, as with the scent, once the beer warms, you REALLY taste the alcohol. i had a .5L weizenbock glass and about 2/3's of the way through, i felt like i was having a mixed drink.

M: medium bodied, well carbonated.

O: overall, this is the first weizenbock i've ever had. i didn't think i would like this style, but i found this beer to be very enjoyable. the high ABV will certainly have you feeling fuzzy after just a few. as mentioned above, i would go with the smaller glass and not let it warm too much, unless you enjoye a strong alcohol presence in your beer, which i do not. would certainly try this again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 03:49:06 | More by paulhargus

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is amber-brown and really deep. Slightly cloudy with a great head and nice spider web lacing on the glass through consumption. Smell is malty sweet with molasses and maybe a hint of caramel. Taste is sweet with nice body and good depth of flavor. It has been a while since I last had this beer but very pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2012 21:52:58 | More by Oakenator

claspada

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours is a dark amber color with a medium size khaki colored head that recedes leaving some spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with spicy yeast esters; then as it warms I get more sweet, hearty, wheat bread followed along with some banana bread notes.

The tastes begin with a good sweet bready base. Then as it warms I get clove and gingerbread along with a subtle banana flavor. Some brown sugar and molasses, as well.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a medium carbonation. Finish is moderately creamy with a mild warming feel.

Overall this is one of the better American interpretations of the Weizenbock I've had recently but still not up to par with the great German examples.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 15:58:41 | More by claspada

LiquidAmber

Washington

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

Review from 3/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a hazy orange amber with a one finger off-white head and lacing. Caramel malt, wheat, banana aroma. .A pleasant weizenbock with some dark fruit flavors. Typical weizen clove spice, orange and sweetness at first, dark fruit and light malt middle and a bit of hops at the end. A light metallic flavor on the finish mars an otherwise very nice beer. Worth revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 20:17:37 | More by LiquidAmber

rlee1390

Indiana

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

A-Cloudy deep ruby (slight bit of orange) that isn't quite brown. Some sediment and a two finger head.

S-Dark fruits (not over bearing) with some clove as well.

T-Lots of dark fruits, balanced with cherries and pomegranate. A tad (not much) bitterness. Clove and banana come out as it warms.

M-Medium bodied, nice carbonation well. However a tad bit of alcohol heat is present.

O-A nice weizenbock, really think this is an under made style.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 22:57:04 | More by rlee1390

Brenden

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is a thick, heavily clouded ruddy bronze-brown with lots of yeast particulates ("floaties"). Swirl the glass for best effect. The tan head rises to just over a finger but fades off more quickly than expected, leaving respectable lacing behind.
The aroma is strong out of the bottle. It's got the just-ripe banana with some sweet and bready malts along with clove and a touch of spiciness. Almost like gently rum-soaked fruits and breads (not fruitcake, certainly better).
In the flavor is just a little more complexity and balance, particularly as very gentle floral notes come out. This beer is really well attenuated and everything's complementary; as it is, it could be too sweet, too boozy, too malty, too heavy, too spicy, etc., but everything just goes together so well and nothing's overdone at all. Victory knows how to brew...
...as further exemplified in the feel, a lush, rich but not too heavy, free flowing creamy and crisp medium body. Great stuff all around here.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 06:06:06 | More by Brenden

Foamster

New York

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

Just enjoyed this on a cool summer's day, even though this is a "fall" beer.

Another great beer from these guys. They never disappoint.
That unidentifiable flavor? Licorice! Enough said. World class,, 4.5 in taste and mouthfeel (4.5), 4 in appearance and smell.

The appearance and smell were modest, self-effacing -- which made the outstanding taste and mouthfeel that much more enjoyable and surprising.

Nothing more to say except - make this the first beer of your day. Savor it.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 19:57:17 | More by Foamster

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy orange-brown with an epic cream topping. Unfiltered, for my pleasure.

Overripe banana and clove esters, some gooey vanilla, and lemon pie filling. Great aromatics wafting off of this'un.

Big-time clove and juicy red apple/pomegranate. Alcohol kick with soft banana, sweet cherry, and buttered pumpernickel bread. A clove-forward weizenbock.

Slick and filling. Above-average carbonation. Drinks at a fast pace.

Pennsylvania rocks out some great German beer styles. Moonglow is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 23:19:37 | More by thecheapies

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to djrn2 for sending me this bottle.

The beer pours a hazy brown color with a white head. The aroma is full of caramel malt with quite a bit of clove and banana mixed in. The flavor has some additional notes. I get a lot of caramel and toffee, as well as some cloves, pepper and spices. There is also a little bit of banana as well as some alcohol. Medium, full mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 02:41:41 | More by Mora2000

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into weizen glass, best by 9/2/2012. Pours very cloudy reddish orange color with a nice 2-3 finger fairly dense off white head with great retention that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Some nice spotty lacing on the glass, with plenty of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big caramel, banana, clove, pepper, molasses, orange peel, toasted biscuit, raisin, prune, and yeast spices. Great aromas here with good complexity, balance, and strength. Taste of big caramel, banana, molasses, toasted biscuit, clove, prune, raisin, pepper, citrus peel, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of dark fruit, banana, clove, biscuit, and molasses on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Dangerously easy to drink for 8.7%. Alcohol is extremely well hidden, with only a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent weizenbock. Great flavor balance and complexity; and super smooth to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 04:40:11 | More by superspak

budgood1

Minnesota

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

pours out a sediment laden, chunky and cloudy dark amber with a billowy light tan head. this froth reduces slowly leaving lots of lace. spicy, peppry aroma with doses of wheat and fruit. bananas, cloves and lemony notes abound. smells delicious. the flavour profile is a meaty mix of doughy malts, wheat and yeast, and lemon pepper spice that damnces on the tongue in a spritzy dance of joy. it's got a boozy aspect to it which also adds a subtle spicy flair. more floral and spice derived hops finish things out with more fanfare. big and bold body. effervescent mouthfeel keeps thing interesting on the tongue, but is also has a velvety, rich feel to it also. dangerously drinkable for a high ABV weizen bock. yummy stuff.

overall a damn nice stab at a classic bavarian style. victory nails down the most important aspects and delivers a winner. highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 21:22:11 | More by budgood1

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from session notes.

A. Nice dark brownish orange color with tons of delicious looking yeast turbidity, tall fluffy head that has great retention and better than average loops of lacing left behind on the glass.

S. Near textbook aroma of yeasty banana bread with cloves, but slightly more amplified in breadiness than the other two features.

T. Flavor contains the usual suspects of yeast, cloves, and banana bread but also has momentary flashes here and there when the tongue picks up on some ester fruit spectrum. Gets a bit of warming booze towards the finish.

M. Thick, creamy mouthfeel sensation feels like cramming silk scarves into your mouth. My only whining on this is that I would prefer slightly more carbonation to move the liquid around across the surface of my palate. That's a really subjective preference, however, so as always YMMV.

Overall, an excellent Weizenbock.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 00:31:00 | More by WastingFreetime

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Pours a dark amber with a ton of dense, soft, foamy, off white head that has decent retention. The nose has a sweet, bready, malty aroma as well as a fruity, banana note. The flavor is bready and caramelly up front with a peppery, spicy, clove-like, banana smooth finish. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied but a bit crisp. The alcohol adds warmth, body, and a bit of spiciness to the finish.

Overall, this is a smooth and enjoyable beer. The malts and spice blend together very well. The alcohol is heavy but not overly boozy. Nonetheless this a solid take on the German style.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 23:23:13 | More by tdm168

buschbeer

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle
Served in a weizen glass

A - It pours a brownish orange with amber highlights. It is hazy from the yeast present. On top sits a huge tan head.

S - The aroma is banana, cloves, and some bread.

T - The taste features the banana and clove but is spicier than the aroma let on.

M - Medium with some biting carbonation.

O - This is the first beer from Victory that I have liked. The alcohol is very well hidden. I think I could get a buzz on a few of these easy drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 19:42:06 | More by buschbeer

JohnnyMc

Ohio

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

A very good and balanced beer. There is a predominantly wheat taste, followed by subtle spices and a slight hint of banana. It has this very rich texture, but balanced at the same time.

For such a high alcohol content, all the flavors do a perfect job of masking it. Very interesting and easy to drink. A pleasant surprise.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 04:20:31 | More by JohnnyMc

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

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

12 oz. bottle poured into Golden Monkey goblet.

A - Pours a deep amber with a sizable head which sticks around for a while. Good lacing. It is very cloudy and tiny specks of suspended yeast can be seen throughout, giving it a neat look.

S - Banana, cloves, wheat, and sweet malts. Complex and fruity.

T - Starts with sweet malts. I get banana, tropical fruit, some clove, rounded out with a bready character. Alcohol isn't very present.

M - Thick and chewy. Light carbonation complements the flavors well.

O - There are all kinds of flavors going on here, but it is very well balanced and highly drinkable. Yet another example of why Victory is one of my favorite breweries. I highly recommend Moonglow and will definitely get it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2012 04:14:49 | More by NoLeafClover44

SLeffler27

New York

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

Develops a long lasting big creamy head that is off-white, almost almond. Hazy brown with amber highlights and suspended yeast amidst the carbonation. Glows toward the bottom of the glass while patch lacing develops above.

The flute glass helps to develop a fresh, doughy bread aroma that brings back memories of unbaked apple pie. There is also an earthy component and hint of cedar.

The aroma was a good forecast of the flavors. However, the flavors are more blended than distinguished. There is some banana bread and excelled balance of sweet, sour and bitter. The interplay is intriguing. The finish is moderate with subtle yeast influences.

Moonglow has a medium to full body with a slick velvet texture. Carbonation is over the top, almost aggressive, while alcohol is just right.

Refreshing and satisfying at once, this is superbly easy to drink. Enjoy either with a hearty lunch or early dinner, perhaps as something to sit back and relax with. Regardless, Moonglow is a winner.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 22:36:31 | More by SLeffler27

mariposafan

Wisconsin

2.83/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Murky burnt orange with a beautiful beige, creamy head. The head lasts very well.

The aroma is mostly pretty classic hefeweizen - banana/bubblegum with a hint of cloves. Quite a bit of alcohol on the aroma as well. Overall it could stand to be a bit more potent and have a bit less alcohol.

The flavor is a major letdown. Lots of bitterness. Lots and lots of straight alcohol. Not much at all of the hefeweizen flavors I expected let alone the more intense versions that I hope for from a weizenbock.

The mouthfeel is good - a little thicker than a hefeweizen and with plenty of carbonation. The carbonation does a decent job of cutting through the bitterness but doesn't do anything for very excessive alcohol flavor.

Overall a major disappointment. The overwrought bitterness and alcohol just swamp anything I might enjoy about the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 19:39:07 | More by mariposafan

jera1350

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A muddled light brownish orange color with a dirty fizzy head that shrinks down to a creamy ring.

Wheat, clove, banana and herbs. Quite complex.

Complex for the style. Getting lots of various spice and fruit notes. Clove is there and a hint of banana, but not the typical dominance for the style. I like how the fruit comes through. Some creamy dairy in there too.

Lots of carbonation, but it is soft. Dry finishing. Medium body.

Not what I was expecting for the style. Thought I was going to get hit with lots of banana and clove, but there is a wide array of fruit and spices here. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 02:25:49 | More by jera1350

J23hc

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Exquisite mahogony tone with an orange tinge. Thick and foggy. Creamy off white head, down to clumps. Lots of banana on the nose, with peanut butter and chocolate truffle. Very complex flavor including caramel, clove, citrus, hop bitterness. Chemically aftertaste. Very full bodied and refreshing. Smooth yet crispy. What a great offering from victory, relatively high abv

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 22:37:17 | More by J23hc