Old Horizontal - Victory Brewing Company

ahq514

Illinois

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

Poured from 12 oz bottle into NG globe glass. This beer is a little over a year old.

Pours a murky amber color on the verge of brownish. Has an almost two finger head, slightly off white. Appears to have low carbonation. Some lacing spots.

Heavy malt profile as expected with sweetness. Lots of caramel, some vanilla, light cherries, and earthy hops.

Taste beautifully matches the aroma. Big heavy hitting caramel malt right up front. A nice sweetness that transitions into an earthy hoppiness (almost like tobacco), which lends a bit of a bitter bite. A real light fruit flavor that showcases cherries. Finishes dry and slightly bitter.

Nice fuller body and low carbonation.

A good barleywine. I'm actually not a huge fan of barleywines. This is a good one especially with a year on it. The alcohol has mellowed out some and the flavors blend together better in my opinion. Pick it up next year when its available again hopefully.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 04:21:37 | More by ahq514

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Firestone Walker tulip. Pours a ruddy, hazy, reddish-brown tint with a stout, resilient head that lasts with the best of 'em. Thick, heavy lacing clings to the side of the glass as the brew recedes down the sides. This is a very rich smelling barley wine. Very malty with forward notes of caramel and barley. The taste is pretty decent. Hoppy, with hints of vanilla and caramel. Tons...I say TONS of booze. This is not a bashful high ABV offering. The mouthfeel is pretty smooth. It's not very effervescent, nor does it leave any kind of bitter aftertaste. The alcohol is again present, but it goes down smoothly enough. Overall, amid so many other barley wines I've had, this one is only average. Pretty certain this isn't one I'd hunt down.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 02:01:26 | More by Retail1LO

DCon

Missouri

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

Enjoyed on-tap @ Jack of the Wood Public House in Asheville, NC for $4.25 (special). Tapped from an unknown handle (sitting at a seat) into a 12oz Snifter Glass.

Aroma- Has nice caramel and malt aromas that hit home for this style. Then finishes with a light boozy note. Very standard.

Appearance- Received with a 1 finger head that dies fairly quickly. Has an amber colored body that is clear. Leaves suds behind on the glass.

Flavor- Tons of malt, caramel, and strong alcohol hits the palate just like the nose. Has a medium bitterness level and is very smooth going down (wetter than most barleywines).

Mouthfeel- Medium Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Sweet Finish, and nice alcohol warming.

Overall Impression- Not so much chewy like some barleywines or too much strength. Just right and represents the style well. I would definitely go back for another one of these but have to move on to new beer. Recommend!

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2012 00:35:05 | More by DCon

TheFlern

Idaho

2.9/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Most recent vintage, not sure if 2010 or 2011.

Appearance: Light copper with white head that dissipates to nothing. No lacing.

Smell: Smells good, aromas of light fruits like pear and apple. Slight hop aroma in the background.

Taste: Sweet, alcohol, light fruit flavors.

Mouthfeel: Lots of carbonation, too much for the style imo.

Overall: Not as good as I was hoping for. Probably won't try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 01:59:18 | More by TheFlern

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into chalice glass

Appearance - A Nice deep red/brown color with a haze that faded. A Very wispy head was present when poured which dissipated quite quickly.

Smell - Not all that potent, but some sweet notes of dried fruit.

Taste - A sweet taste hits your tongue immediately. Cherries overwhelm the taste pallet with a nice malty flavor developing later on. This is then followed long after by a very subtle yet pleasant alcohol taste. Good for the style.

Mouthfeel - Nice and creamy with not too much carbonation.

Overall - A very good brew. A barleywine I would recommend over others I have had. It's too bad Victory did not continue brewing it this year.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 23:45:10 | More by Darkmagus82

tsauce2

Indiana

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

P: 12 fl oz bottle in to a globe glass

A: SRM is deep amber. Clear filtered and translucent. Head is light cream, 1 in, dissipates to edges of the beer. Medium carbonation. Medium/heavy lacing.

S: Alcohol, malt, caramel, hops, and dark fruit.

T: Sweet with a caramel overtone, followed by dark fruit notes and malt. Light hops. Aftertaste is caramel and light alcohol.

M: Full body. Viscous. Caramel and dark fruit notes stick to the palate. Finishes wet.

O: Quite tasty. For 11% ABV, alcohol is very well masked. Excellent caramel and dark fruit flavors, nice carbonation. Great fresh, imagine that this will turn in to pure gold with a few years age. Will buy more of this.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 14:22:18 | More by tsauce2

keanex

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle with a "Enjoy by Dec, 2, 2015" stamp into a tulip glass.

A: Slightly hazy with a nice deep red color and a thin tan head.

S: Smells sweet and of dark fruits (maybe cherries, I can't pin point it, but it's definitely inviting with only slight alcohol esters appearing as I swirl the glass.

T: Sweet and malty upfront with a tinge of earthy notes and a slight floral bitterness with an alcohol apparent, but not heavy, finish. Almost has a medicinal taste to it, like Robotussin.

M: Medium bodied, though syrupy with almost no carbonation.

O: This is one of the better barleywines I've had, I'm no expert in these though. I'm enjoying it though it's definitely very drinkable for 11% making it a great sipper.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 04:47:14 | More by keanex

curasowa

New York

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

Appearance: Copper color with a huge head that fades slowly with chunky lacing.

Aroma: Lots of syrup-sweet malt that is a touch doughy with some wisps of floral hops.

Taste: Thick, rich and creamy. Loads of sticky sweetness, a hint of yeast and just a little hit of earthy bitterness just past the middle. A fair amount of alcohol shows up in the finish, which is otherwise smooth and lingering with residual malt sweetness.

The Rest: A fantastic, slow sipper of a beer, and it drinks quite well without any aging. Well hidden booze for being 11%, and none of the harshness that is found in many other Barleywines makes this a winner.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 00:35:11 | More by curasowa

UCLABrewN84

California

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

Thanks to silverX for sending me this one!

Best by 11/8/15.

Pours a slightly murky iced tea color with a 2 inch puffy tan head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Small chunks of foam dot the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, brown sugar, toffee, candied fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is of toasted malt, biscuit/bread, brown sugar/toffee, dark fruit, citrus zest, and alcohol. There is a medium level of bitterness after each sip along with an alcohol warmth in the back of the throat. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good barleywine that I can see aging into something awesome. However, it is drinking just fine at the moment and I am glad I was able to try a bottle of this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 07:11:35 | More by UCLABrewN84

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

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

A-dark red brown color with an off-white head and some lacing

S- rich roasted malts and honey with some spice and hop notes

T-rich malty flavor with caramel sweetness and nice hoppy finish. Alcohol not overpowering

F-medium to heavy in body with moderate carbonation

O-a nice sipping, savoring barleywine

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2011 01:36:38 | More by MDDMD

jifigz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: This beer pours a deep and hazy reddish brown with a tan and cream colored head that disappeared rather quickly.

S: The beer smells rich, fruity, toffee/coffee like and boozy. The fruit aromas are sweet and caramel mixed with a light floral aroma from the hops.

T: The initial taste is very candy sweet followed and rounded out by a boozy slight bitterness. The aftertaste is very rich and caramel like with a lingering hop bite as well. The 11% ABV is certainly noticeable but I don't see that as a detractor.

M: The MF is thick and creamy, very viscous and satisfying for a cold weather warmer.

O: This is a very solid barleywine. The flavors are complex and the mouthfeel is very suiting. The booze level is perfect for a good level of relaxation and enjoyment to occur after just one or two of these brews. A solid example from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 16:03:41 | More by jifigz

gtermi

Texas

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

A: The beer pours a dark almond brown, with no head.

S: The beer has maple, raisin, some fruit and some caramel.

T: I am getting some brown sugar, then gets some malt. It also has some alcohol and raisin/ fig tastes.

M: This is so easy to drink and has a great amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel is the top of its class IMO.

O: This is a very good Barleywine beer. I am sad that they put a halt on this beer and I thank silverX for sending me this beer while it was still available.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 05:26:37 | More by gtermi

Morey

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle with "Enjoy By Nov. 22 2015" stamped on the side of the label. There's a long shelf life on this beer (like all BWs). This particular bottle is almost exactly one year old.

Pours a hazy reddish brown color with a beige colored head that stood a towering two fingers tall following a medium pour. It took quite some time to settle and is leaving behind plenty of lace.

Smells of Buckwheat honey, caramel, maple, and figs. A touch of hop oil/bitterness in there as well.

Taste starts off with caramel-malt flavor. Pretty sweet, but there's still some bitterness present after 1 year of aging that helps balance the sweetness. Bitterness melds with the sweetness towards the finish for a lingering burnt caramel flavor.

Medium...headed towards full bodied with a syrupy factor. Carbonation is just below middle of the road.

A nice sipping beer for the colder months overall.

Morey's Bottom Line: I've had this beer plenty of times before. It's a really nice beer to have during the winter as a nightcap. My only knock is that it's just a little too sweet. This makes it hard to drink fast, because after one year, the alcohol isn't very noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 02:30:33 | More by Morey

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into my trusty snifter. Dated best by 11/22/15 (I think - year is hard to see), so drinking a little early perhaps, oh well.

A: Pours a solid orange/copper color with a good amount of bubbles that quickly shoot up to the top to form a thin off white head. The beer itself is pretty murky with a few harmless floaties!

S: Very sweet with a ton of dark fruits - figs, raisins, plums...faint citrus...some biscuity caramel maltiness. Just a touch of astringency in the nostrils.

T: Burnt brown sugar and toffee, rum-soaked raisins, figs, molasses, chocolate-covered orange peel. You get a really nice soothing booziness at the end.

M: Viscous as hell and heavy in the corners of the mouth. Full-bodied chewy beer for sure...maybe just a tad more carbonation than I'd like.

O: This isn't the best barleywine I've ever had, but it might be tough to beat the bang for the buck. I've got the Duck Rabbit coming up next, but it's going to be hard to top this in this price range. Nice malt sweetness with just enough hop presence to balance it out. Ths is the kind of beer that definitely gets me thinking about food pairings...glazed duck...mmm...

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 00:53:38 | More by kbuzz

sliverX

New York

3.83/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Well the fact it's not being brewed this year had me me go out and pick up one of the six packs on shelves still around from last year.
Pour- A hazy rich copper, a 1/4" white head that didn't last long and went down to a thin ring at the glasses edge.
Smell- rich malt (bread, toffee), raisins, booze
Taste- Rich malt, very bready especially in the finish, a touch of burnt toast, a bit earthy, slight tobacco. Not getting much hoppyness but that's likely the earth tones
Mouthfeel- medium to full, lots of carbonation hanging in solution
Overall- A bit boozy but I could see setting a few of these down for a year or 3 more and them being fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 02:41:34 | More by sliverX

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a burnt orange with a bit of haze and white head. Nice lacing..

Smell is an enticing blend of toffee, grains, honey, and hop nugs upfront with an amazing candied fruit aroma. Really unique.

First, this beer is delicious. Caramelized sweetness to complement syrupy dark fruits, roasted malt, and a full flavored hop bitterness are all represented with a lingering boozy aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is thick and smooth with no syrupy trail despite the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 03:14:29 | More by TheMultiYeast

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

12oz bottle, BB Dec 2013, a holdover from my stash from last summer's touring swath through the Pacific NW...

This beer pours a dark, murky golden brown colour, with one finger of tight foamy tan head, which leaves a few arches of lace around the glass as it evenly settles. It smells of musty caramel, dusty toffee, raisin bread, soused black fruit, and earthy, leafy hops. The taste is big semi-sweet caramel malt, plum, prune, and raisin all, a bit of crumbling wood, earthy herbs, mild pine resin, and softly bitter leafy hops. The carbonation is very mild, the body medium-full in weight, and pleasantly smooth. It finishes sweet, but well tempered - subtle booze warming, edgy fruit notes, and decent, but understated hops.

At first, and for a spell thereafter, I thought this was much more representative of the English style, until the hops ambled their way in. A very nice warmer, not too sweet, not too bitter, and quite easy to sip at none too slowly, given the ABV. Good stuff, especially as the first sub-freezing day of the season sets in.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 23:45:46 | More by biboergosum

AlexanderCsamaj

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I like Barleywines because they are sweet and high in alcohol. Many are too sweet. Occasionally I come across a barley wine that is mildly complex and easy to drink. This is one of those beers. Don't be afraid to let it sit. But if you can't wait, you won't be disappointed because the case didn't cost you much. I stock this beer in my house. Another fine beverage from the folks at Victory.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 00:51:48 | More by AlexanderCsamaj

littlelorib

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into goblet. I just bought this about a week ago, so i'm guessing it's fairly young. The freshness date on the bottle is over two years out.

The beer is golden brown in color and clear. There is very little head and it quickly dissipates, leaving a faint ring of lacing around the glass. My first impression of the scent was of honey, followed by other malty scents. Taste is of mixed malts and alcohol with maybe a hint too much hops for my taste. Definitely roasted malts in there, i detect a hint of coffee and some butterscotch. Mouth feel is rather soft and smooth, not what i expected.

Overall a decent beer. It is getting better as it warms, the taste is becoming more complex. I'll take my time with this one, you have to with all that alcohol, and then let the rest age a bit before i try it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 00:09:31 | More by littlelorib

backfat

Indiana

3.65/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Got this from my buddy alan. I usually don't care for this beer because it's pretty hot fresh, but this bottle is 2 years old so we'll see how it goes. Lots of yeast cake is settled on the bottom of the bottle. Pours a viscous copper cider. Dark and glowing red with tons of yeast debris swimming about. everlasting head with watery and unimpressive lace Strong white wine grape aroma mixed with some spices, apple, grass, and tea. A pinch of malt with a touch of alcohol. This is a lot better now than it was fresh IMO. Taste is vinous with a malty backbone. A little bitter on the back end with lots of caramel and grapefruity hops. very thick and milky mouthfeel. overall, not bad. I don't care for the mouthfeel, but this beer has mellowed with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 04:43:13 | More by backfat

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle - thanks to iguenard for this one

Appearance – Murky light brown colour with a massive size fizzy and frothy beige coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation visible and there is a good amount of lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, hops, caramel, earthiness, raisins

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, caramel, and some hops. There is also some raisins mixed with pine/herbs, and a bit of an anise taste. It ends with a caramel sweet herbal/hoppy aftertaste.

Overall – This bottle might have needed a little bit more time in the aging department. It came across as slightly harsh but it tasted better as it approached room temperature. It definitely has some big bold flavours going on if that's what you're looking for.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 14:05:40 | More by spinrsx

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Probably the 2010 batch, since I got it in 2011 and it's not in season yet.

Finger of offwhite head that dissipates quickly into some surface patterns. Hazy amber body.

Nose has caramel, raisiny malts.

Taste is a classical barleywine (faintly woodier, though), but has a steely, piney finish. Hopped, I suppose, to a metallic degree. Warming finish though. Kinda like eating a malty pine tree. NB: This improves dramatically as it warms-- don't drink this one too cold. At proper temperature it's more balanced. Still metallic, but better.

Mouthfeel is utterly unremarkable.

This is kinda miserable, and only barely passes for a barleywine. I should rephrase-- it has all the barleywine aspects I dislike, and none that I enjoy. For something this old, I had expected the hop character to mellow, not become metallic.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 03:23:05 | More by zaphodchak

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a 16 oz. snifter.

A- Cloudy dark copper/dark orange with thin off-white head. Lacing resides almost immediately.

S- Sweet amber malts, some oak, and possibly rye?

T- Bitter roasted amber (again rye?) malt. More bitter/astringent, very little sweetness, like a lot of barleywines.

M- Medium bodied, bitterness and higher carbonation make this hard to drink, have to sip this one.

O- This is a year old bottle. Though I remembered liking this more last year. A decent barleywine that comes in a 6 pack at least.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 04:38:05 | More by kawilliams81

lovindahops

New York

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

such a great day with the news that came my way. Have to celebrate with popping open an old horizontal. I love victory and it's a great time to enjoy one

A- pours a hazy amber with a magestic head of foam that conspires with some fair lacing on the sides

s- good whiff of grains, barley, raisins, and stong butterscotch notes. No alcohol scent which is surprising for the 11%

t- great combo of caramel, fruit, and the right malt flavors. Some piney themes show up and the flavor is still oh so good. THis is my kind of barleywine

m- creamy and full of flavor for all the right reasons

O- this is a well crafted barleywine that does not become a big beer with no flavor. The right properties emerge making this a great brew. I will be getting more!

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 19:32:25 | More by lovindahops

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz.

Pours a deep cherry red with brownish tint, yellowish fine white head at about a half inch retains well.

Smells of rich caramel and buttered bread malts combined with floral piney hops.

Tastes of pine hops and apple and caramel sweetness. Some spiced notes as well.

Feels moderate and a bit sticky with some alcohol warmth.

Pretty good hoppy BW, a sipper for sure, and the spiced flavors add a nice unique twist. Definitely a worthwhile BW.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 17:34:52 | More by Cylinsier