Old Horizontal - Victory Brewing Company

rootbeerman

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

from notes 2-4-2011

2006 vintage
A: poured into a pint glass, a nice cloudy brown with a little red in the body. a nice half finger creamy head, followed by a thin lasting layer.
S: very strong barley aroma and sweetness
T: very sweet malt/barley. caramel and a certain spiciness.
M: thick and coating, yet has good carbonation.
D/O: very smooth, almost too drinkable for 11%

Serving type: growler

04-01-2011 01:02:18 | More by rootbeerman

scottyb88

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This was done after the beer started to warm up...

A- pours a dark brown with red hues when held up to the light; light tan 2 finger creamy head

S-a lot of dark brown sugar, green apple skin covered in dark rum; a little bit of dark fruit

T-very full grainy and earthy malt flavors; caramel and toffee, but not overly sweet; a little bit of dark fruits

M-nice full mouthfeel that was smooth and creamy with nice carbonation; lingering aftertaste was actually very pleasant with no harshness

D-I shared this growler with a friend, but two good size glasses of it are intense; the alcohol flavors are present and it's a very big beer

Serving type: growler

07-16-2010 16:29:30 | More by scottyb88

TommyW

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark amber with a thin tan head that sticks well.

S- Lots of malts ranging from slightly toasted to caramel. Notes of alcohol are fairly strong.

T- Again lots of malts; slightly toasted, bread crusts and caramel. Alcohol is fairly strong on the finish. Hops are barely noticeable (surprising for an American barelywine).

M- Full feel that goes down smoothly.

D- An interesting, malt-forward American Barleywine. I'm interested to see what some aging does to this one.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2010 02:26:55 | More by TommyW

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this in the past, just never reviewed it before. Poured from a fresh growler into an oversized tulip glass. Looks amber/red to raisin in color, small amount of carbonation with a nice one finger tan, creamy head that lingers for a few minutes before subsiding into a light creamy head accross the top of the glass. Swirl, and the tan head sticks to the side and is very slow to fall back into the glass.

The bouquet is typical Victory for me, it's the German malts they so very much favor in their beers that give it a very distinct aroma. Smells of German malts, toffee, caramel, slitghtly floral (but ever so faint). The prevelant aroma is the malts. Overall, the aroma from this (or lack thereof) is a little dissapointing, to say the least.

The taste makes up for the lack of aroma, it's totally different. If I went be smell alone, I'm not too enthused about this beer. Sipping this, the flavor is rasins, plums, caramel, and brown sugar that stimulates the front of the tongue while the alcohol is quite evident throughout and sits on the back of the tongue. Afterwards, there's a nice mild bitterness that lingers on the back of the tongue with some sugary sweetness (a.k.a. - bittersweet) in the background while the alcohol warms the throat.

The beer leaves a sugary, fruity, bittersweet finish in the mouth, heavy body, and very enjoyable. I would love to cellar this for a year to see where it goes. I've seen in earlier reviews that some think the fresh, young 2009 version of this is a little harsh. I think it's pretty darn good, even at this age. If you like barleys, Old Horizontal is worth checking out. Ignore what your nose says and go with your palate.

Serving type: growler

12-29-2009 05:37:30 | More by jzeilinger

william5586

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler filled at the Victory Brewery in Downingtown and enjoyed later that night.

Nice amber color. The smell was sweet, fruity and very pleasant. The taste was sweet, full of fruit and malt. A little bitterness comes in from the hops, but is not prominent. It does help to balance the sweetness though.

The mouthfeel is medium/full bodied and smooth. The alcohol is present and gives a nice warming feeling as you drink, but it doesn't get in the way.

A great barleywine. At first, I anticipated having to share this with my roommates, but I threw in a movie and before I knew it the beer was almost gone and I was drunk, lol.

Serving type: growler

03-26-2009 22:46:18 | More by william5586

Rainne

Ohio

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

Got to take a growler home when I was at Victory. Of course I kept my notes and I actually just finished it last week.

A- Pretty. Amber copper color and both head and lacing are much better than I got on tap.

S- Alcohol makes a strong presence and then citrus, other fruits, some herbs maybe and an added malt caramel sweetness. Light hint of grains in there as well. Graininess of barley comes through stronger in the smell than on tap.

T- Mostly the same except the alcohol is strong but not right in the front. Good balance as the malt fruits and herbal flavors make themselves known. Nice subtle sweetness and hops bite. Stronger barley flavor.

M- Really smooth and not too sticky. Medium body but more carbonation than on tap.

D- High ABV of course but nice.

Serving type: growler

03-22-2009 12:11:26 | More by Rainne

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I purchased a growler of this at the Victory Brewpub in Downingtown, PA and poured it into a pint glass.
Appearance: The body is a deep amber color that is transparent only at the bottom. The head is tan and has great retention that leaves a ton of lacing.
Smell: The aroma is an upfront, in-your-face hop explosion of pine and grapefruit.
Taste: The dominate flavors are caramel and toffy that is downplayed by the warming booze. It is a bit brash, but enjoyable.
Mouthfeel: THe mouthfeel is very thick and smooth, but a bit stiff around the edges.
Drinkability: This is a very drinkable beer.
Don't drink and review.

Serving type: growler

01-20-2009 00:31:23 | More by treehugger02010

mecell2000

Hungary

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A friend of mine and I went to Downingtown to visit Victory Brewing Company in February. Among the excellent array of beers they had on draught was Old Horizontal. We both had draughts and I bought a Growler to take back with me. This review is on the Growler draught pour.

Everytime I opened the Growler you could hear a fizz pop like the opening on a soda bottle.

Poured into the Old Horizontal glass that the gentleman at Victory's bar/pub let me borrow without the intent to return.

Appearance is a brownish-black and full-bodied, a light cream colored head was ever constant, never fully resigning.

The smell was excellent; chocolate, caramel and coffee notes from the Malts provide the base and a very light warming alcohol smell helped finish.

The taste was the absolute embodiment of a barleywine. A warming, creamy beer that has includes all of the scents mentioned above, plus nuts and toffee, rounded out by a subtle sweetness.

At 11% ABV, it might not be one that you'd have two or three glasses of in a night, but it will go very well as a desert drink!

Serving type: growler

03-18-2008 01:22:23 | More by mecell2000

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.53/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Serving from a growler.

Dark ruby color with an off white head. Leaves a good amount of lacing on the side of the glass.

Smells sugary and fruity, grapes with a good touch of malt.

Tastes malty, with caramel and chocolate touches. Mellow grape flavor, finishing with hop and alcohol flavors. Hides the %10.5 ABV well. Malty, hoppy and sweet, great balance.

Feels good on the tongue, some barleywines are too sweet, this is just right.

An excellent example of the style, extremely well-balanced and drinkable.

Serving type: growler

03-01-2008 06:35:34 | More by Hojaminbag

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 11/15/2010. Pours very hazy and cloudy reddish brown color with a small fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lacing cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big caramel, raisin, fig, prune, apple, molasses, brown sugar, toast, leather, floral, slight pine, and earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of malt notes and subtle hops. Taste of big caramel, toast, raisin, apple, fig, molasses, leather, brown sugar, floral, grass, light pine, and earthiness. Slight earthy pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, toast, dark fruit, molasses, brown sugar, leather, floral, grass, light pine, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Excellent balance and complexity of malt flavors with subdued hops; with zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and full bodied; with a creamy, fairly slick, and lightly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent barleywine. Great balance and complexity of malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 05:05:42 | More by superspak

jucifer1818

Florida

4.39/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served as a sample, on tap, in Fermentation lounge, Tallahassee

a: deep ruby red, minimal head.
4.5/5

s: It smells of burnt sugar syrup(a bit like cotton candy), with some light bittering hops in the background
4.5/5

t: It tastes of light burnt sugar, caramel, and a strong hoppy finish (fruity hops, but mostly neutral bittering). A bit or roasty maltyness in their, but its barley detectable.
4.25/5

M: slick syrup, with little abrasiveness for its ABV and hoppyness
4.5/5

Overall: 4.5/5

A great middle of the road Barleywine, that gives both hoppy and sweet characteristics.
A prime beer for ageing OR drinking fresh

Highly recommended

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 14:22:08 | More by jucifer1818

draheim

Washington

4.21/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle (bottled 11/15/2010) into a tulip. Pours a clear mahogany w/ a 1-finger head.

Aroma is fruity, sweet. Pure malty goodness.

Taste is sweet caramel malt, vanilla, residual sugars.

Mouthfeel is full-bodied, coating, w/ a lingering aftertaste.

Overall a balanced caramel+vanilla barleywine. Wondering when barrel-aged Old Horizontal will appear.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 07:19:16 | More by draheim

themind

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a quality barleywine! It does not have that some times bitter, boozy taste to it like others. It really hides the ABV and has a sweet twist to it. I must say I am surprised by this. Over all I would purchase this as this one was a gift.

Bottom Line: it's good and worth drinking.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:06:28 | More by themind

Wolfpack2005

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2010 with best by 11/15/2015

A-Deep cloudy dark amber with a two finger off white head that leaves a nice cap on the beer through out

S-Carmel malts, apples, figs, and a little booziness

T-Taste follows the nose with the sweet caramel malts, figs and other dark fruit type flavors. The is a slight piney hop presence that helps keep the beer in check.

M-Medium body, medium carbonation.

O-This beer aged well. I was expecting this to beer way too sweet, but there was still enough hop presence to keep this beer smooth. I too taste a bit of a blend between and barleywine and a quad. Very smooth beer for 11 %

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:17:23 | More by Wolfpack2005

VanBeer

Indiana

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Just finished an Old Ho. Vintage 2005! I typically don't do reviews but given the beer/vintage I thought I'd give it a shot. There was no lacing but some carbonation remained even after 7+ years. The temp was at 58 degrees at my first sip. It was a clear, auburn color. The bottom was full of chunky sediment. It had a bourbony mouthfeel, especially on the back of the throat. However, it didn't taste boozy. Again, my nose could sense the alcohol in the chalice. The overwhelming flavor in my opinion was caramel. I'm sure there might have been more going on to a more discernible palate, but maybe not. I really think the individual flavors likely melted together after near 8 years in my cellar. It was quite a treat.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 03:02:48 | More by VanBeer

AmitC

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

My first barleywine.

Bought it on the recommendation of the beer store guy.

Poured into a snifter. Little to no head, just a thin layer of off-white head that disappears into a ring. Copper to light brown color. High viscosity and cloudy appearance. Little to absent lacing.

Strong malt aroma with a good mix of hop smell. Alcohol's abundance is felt in the nose. Sweet and bready.

Taste : A lot of alcohol, felt upfront. Good amount of bitterness and huge alcohol heat. semi-dry finish with no sweetness of malt. Huge sensation of alcohol as it traverses the palate and through the neck. Moderate hopping.

Mouth feel Full and strong. Moderate carbonation.

Overpowering alcohol. Do i like the style? Not really. Good for intoxication.

Style rate : 4.25
Personal rate: 3.5

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 02:16:02 | More by AmitC

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2003 vintage (yes, you read that right) gifted/extra'ed to me from Dope (you're the man!), split with my brother with my portion poured into a Deschutes snifter.

A: Hazy and slightly turbid brown body with red highlights...decent khaki head for a beer this old, with a little carbonation visible.

S: Huge caramel nose with tons of sticky dark dried fruit from start to finish...toffee as well, with tons of sugary, malty bready notes. No bitterness at all, really no hop character detected, and the malts seem to be in fine form.

T: Right in line with the nose...creamy, velvety body lets the sweetness of the brown sugar and toffee malts shine...lightly toasted bread and candy sugar...dried dates and figs coated with caramel sauce...hints of honey, with a metallic note on the finish.

MF: Creamy, lightly carbonated body, medium mouthfeel, with no alcohol detected.

O: At 9yrs old, this thing is spot on to several English Strong Ales/Barleywines I've tried. There is not a hop left in this thing, and all thats left is the sweet, caramelly base of malt. Its held up beautifully, and I'm thankful for the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 20:36:36 | More by Scotchboy

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to MaltyLareau for this vintage extra beer from a recent IP trade! Thanks Dave!

Vintage 2010 poured into snifter. Enjoy by date of 11/15/2015.

Appearance: murky muttled brown bodied beer with a thick cap of white head that drops down to a very fine thin ring. If left undisturbed the beer looks to be almost still, but a gentle swirl brings the beer back to life.

Smell: Deep and rich malty notes of caramel, toffee, dark fruits, and brown sugar. There still some hops in this beer; they smell a little bit old and stale. Which they should... Getting some lite grassy, floral, herbal, and citrusy hop notes. Spicy booze in the noze also.

Taste: Getting big raisins, prunes, and figs. Red apples for sure! A mild notes of caramel and brown sugar without getting very sweet. Also getting a leathery note. Finishes with spicey / semi-sweet note of booze and a touch of hop bitterness in the form of grass and pine. Nice balance of flavors here.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied beer with low carbonation; almost moderately carbonated. The carbonation really does this beer well. Its a little syrupy and astringent, but a little swish in the mouth and the beer has a nice little eppervescent sensation that seems to excentuate the malt profile and booze notes in this beer. I think this beer really ages well. The beer drinks a little bit under its ABV and a warming sensation is all that you get to tell you this beer is 11%. Its a pretty smooth beer for 11%.

Overall: Really well done American Barleywine with tremendous cellar appeal. I havent tried this beer fresh, but I really like how this beer drinks with almost 2 years on it. Its also got some Quadrupel influence in this American Barleywine from the spicy booze and dark fruits noted in the malt profile.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 05:53:46 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

BeezNeezy22D

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2011 Vintage poured from a bottle into a Snifter

A - Murky reddish brown. Small beige head.

S - Caramel. Booze. Sweetness. Figs Raisins

T - Sweet Caramel to start with fig notes. Bitter hop finish with a lot of booziness

M - Thick and Smooth

O - The very noticeable alcohol presence kinda ruins this one for me. Its not bad but I wouldn't seek it out again

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 23:00:30 | More by BeezNeezy22D

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks like the best by date on the label of the 12oz bottle reads 'Nov 22 2015'. Letting the beer warm up a bit before cracking it and emptying it into a brandy snifter glass.

Pours a very hazy brick red color with a beige head of a quarter-of-an-inch. Has some substantial legs for an 11% beer.

Caramel and toffee aromas push the malt envelope through with sweet and candied appeal. There's a smiling booze note coming out from the still beer. When agitated in the glass, a peeking creamy marshmallow soft sweetness reveals itself. Fainter than fresh, but still pertinent, resinous citrus hops linger and diffuse in the nose.

All of the different flavors bathe together as one. It's a nice-tasting beer, overall, but all of the elements have fallen off just a bit. Maybe except for the booze, which is very centered in here. Following the nose, there's a crisp toffee note from the aging malts and a muddied citrus hop note. A bit earthier than a fresh example. Raisin-y quality, but without all of the excess sugar. The sweetness is nicely matched by stalwart bitterness. Finishes clean, semi-dry, and a little fruity like an English Strong Ale.

Great warmth in this sipper. The body is bouncing along at a medium clip and the carbonation is rolling out nicely in this two-year bottle. Scrub, slickness, and no stick. Too thin for an exceptional mouthfeel rating.

I've been turning to this classic for years now. Recently, I heard they were retiring it, but BA has pulled that descriptor. No fresh bottles in my area, but fingers-crossed for its availability this upcoming cold season.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 04:03:58 | More by thecheapies

jettjon

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap into a goblet/snifter. Dark chestnut color, no light penetration. Thin whitish cap, quick to fade to solid ring and thin sheet. Nose is boozy, caramel malt, piney and floral hops. Taste is alcoholic and warm, piney hops, grapefruit; dark fruit (plums and raisins) toward end, dry bitter-ish finish. Mouth is creamy, rich, and bubbly on margins.

Overall: A bit astringent, probably would benefit from aging.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 22:52:27 | More by jettjon

siege06nd

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to IrishColonial for sharing this one...

A. Pours a rusty brown and fairly cloudy. A quarter finger of cream colored head fades quickly to a thin ring around the neck of the brew. Pretty good retention and lacing.

S. Plenty of caramel, ripe dark cherry, some raisin, and some toasted malt. Also a decent smattering of booze and something very very faintly vegetal. This is solid, pretty good malt profile on the nose, but something kinda weird is buried in here.

T. Follows the nose...caramel, fig, raisin, toasted malt, and some bittering hops. The bitterness balances the sweetness nicely, and this has a really nice nutty profile. What isn't as welcome is the boozy aftertaste...this one is quite hot.

M. Full bodied, but very highly carbonated for style, a bit too much for my liking.

O. A solid American Barleywine. The toasted malt notes set this one apart and it strikes a nice balance between this and the ripe fruit sweetness. Still a little boozy (this one is at least a year old), so I'm not sure how enjoyable this would be fresh. Very glad to have tried this, thanks Eric!

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 16:51:38 | More by siege06nd

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle courtesy of johnmichaelsen (he sent a sixer no less!) 2009 vintage pours a partly cloudy copper color with a voluminous off-white head that sticks around forever but surprisingly does not leave much lace.

Nose has really rounded into form nicely. Ripe red apples, caramel and still a touch of alcohol. Very nice aroma.

Taste is phenomenal at this point. Just the right amount of malt, fruit and alcohol. Most of the hops are gone and the oxidation has been pretty mild for the most part. The heat I remember fresh is totally gone and is really smooth. What is also nice is that the sweetness is not thick and cloying...nor is it sugary. It is more of a burnt caramel drizzled over some apple slices with some graham cracker crumbs. This would go perfectly with a slice of cheesecake! Ive heard Victory is not making this beer anymore, that would truly be a damn shame. C’mon MAN…

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:45:08 | More by twiggamortis420

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger off white head with excellent retention on a murky dark amber brown body.

S: overall somewhat light on the nose. grainy, malty, some earthy hops and booze.

T: dark fruits mostly apple, figs. Maltiness is strong and thus provides a terpentine like note.

M: thick body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: A little too strong with the booze. The flavor is pretty complex with the right amount of sweetness. Not bad but again a touch too boozy.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 23:49:54 | More by kylehay2004

secondtooth

Indiana

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fairly opaque ruddy amber, with a solid finger of off-white carbonation. Virtually no lacing present here.

Aroma is rich, malty, grainy, and alcoholic.

Flavor is thick with deep tones of roasted barley and an intense hop finish. I also get hints of dried fruit, leather, and nuts. The malts run deep in this one, and this is a serious barleywine. Definitely a sipper, but a superb one.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 12:17:09 | More by secondtooth