St. Boisterous - Victory Brewing Company

CuriousMonk

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured 12 oz bottle into a snifter glass. Pours clear orange gold, thin white head. A quite fragrant beer - interesting mixture of flowers, honey, and spices. Not to heavy but definitely distinct. Taste adds a moderate bitter hop over a lightly sweet malt (has elements that remind me of honey). Not very good carbonation with lingering sediments which I found odd coming from Victory. Very flat, lacks head and lace. Am going against the grain here and say I wasn't impressed with this one overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 22:18:41 | More by CuriousMonk

brystmar

New York

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a tulip. Same bottle as RB below (aged ~1yr); "Enjoy by April 10, 2011" printed on the side.

A: beautifully orange, slightly murky. White head with poor overall retention, but a decent film of white tops the brew.

S: much bigger aroma than I was expecting. Malty & spicy with yeast, hops, some sweetness too. Fantastic -- I've never had a Helles that smelled anywhere close to this good!

T: malty at first with well-balanced hoppy bitterness start to finish. Spices shoot out with small peaks of differing flavors here and there, but it's still watery like every other Helles (and most lagers) I've had. Given the style, this is quite tasty.

M: a smooth beer with more body than expected. Not much carbonation (likely due to my half of the bottle being poured 20min after RB's). Creaminess is what I desire: gimme gimme!

D: Like most Helles, this one boasts good drinkability -- even given this particular high gravity recipe. I'd happily order this beer at a bar on a random night, and that's something I can rarely say about any lager.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 06:56:46 | More by brystmar

Richardberg

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - poured into a tulip. Bottle is about a year old, so I'm not surprised the head is a little lacking: half inch of white on top after a vigorous pour, gone in 30sec. A few bubbles float up now & then, or join the fleck of foam around the edge. Color is a muddy orange, almost pink at some angles, brown at others. Totally opaque, but not what I'd call cloudy; nothing floating.

S - big smell for a maibock. Sweet caramel malts, hops, a little winter spicing. Hops are entirely toward the floral side of things, which is good; pine and citrus would be out of place. Distinctive fruity plum character as well.

T - pretty much like the smell. Bitterness of the hops is more forward, but pleasantly so. I perceive the spices more as a bite than a distinct flavor.

M - still has enough latent carbonation to be crisp, almost fizzy on the tongue. Frankly I prefer this feel to the typical lager. A lot. Nice rich body too, coats smoothly, especially given the style @ "only" 7%.

D - well done. Not gonna drink a sixer like you might with a more typical bock, but this one is worth it, especially in a snowy winter like now. And yet, it's not like they gone and brewed a barleywine or a porter or something wacky: it's still very recognizable. And I like it anyway. Not the first time Victory has made me a believer in styles I'd otherwise discard. Props.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 06:27:58 | More by Richardberg

RickS95

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a bronze/copper color with a light tan head. Slightly cloudy.

There are a lot of smells taking place. I can pick up hoppy, flowery notes; some sweet fruits; and some warming spices.

I don't usually like lagers, but this is one of the best tasting lagers around. The taste is similar to the smell with fruity sweetness, hoppy bitterness and cinnamon.

The beer has some bite to it with the hops and spices, so it's not smooth and lacks the mouthfeel I look for.

Fortunately, this is a winter beer because it's perfect to keep you warm. It's got a warm smell and warm flavors, and just enough alcohol to warm you up as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 05:25:35 | More by RickS95

aasher

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one pours a a muddied orange brown, kind of like apple cider. The bottle is a little old so the aromas don't come out as they should. It smells of subtle pale sweet malts with light citrusy sweetness. It tastes very good for a Helles Bock. The citrusy hops complement the pale malts quite well. It drinks smooth with mild carbonation. I'm a fan of this one. I normally don't like this style but it has good flavor and is very drinkable for 7.4%.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 20:16:17 | More by aasher

keanex

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a snifter.

A: Hazy Amber color with a small fast dissipating head. Minimal lacing.

S: Pleasant hoppy and florally scents mixed with a malty scent.

T: A nice mix of hops, slight caramel, and a few other tastes I couldn't really put my finger on. Pleasant beer overall.

M: Low-Medium carbonation, lighter-medium bodied beer. Goes down easy.

D: Very drinkable beer, goes down smooth.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 14:59:39 | More by keanex

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Chicago Bears shaker pint glass.

Another second-chancer, which I'm happy to see out here in the middest of the Midwest. It pours a pretty clear pale amber topped by a finger of wan ecru foam. The nose comprises buttery biscuits, orange zest, caramel, and a light smattering of flowers. The taste strikes a very nice balance between orange-laden citrus on the one hand and buttery bread and caramel on t'other. Good times. The body is a stolid medium, with a light carbonation and a fairly smooth feel. Overall, a decidedly nice brew, something to kick back on a lazy autumn day.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 18:38:28 | More by TMoney2591

claspada

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Aromas are centered around suble bready and pale malts with some slight caramel/honey sweetness. A small bit of spicy/flowery hop character

The tastes are nice and pleasant. Somewhat sweet with pale malts, honey, grain, some pepperiness from the yeast and some mild grassy hops on the finish. Body is medium to light and the mouthfeel is crisp with fairly lively carbonation. Drinkability is high. A very solid beer through and through.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 18:05:03 | More by claspada

cameraman

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A medium amber color with some visible carbonation. A light beige to white colored head, that starts at a half inch and dissolving away to a thin layer on top. A malty fragrance, with touches of bread and cracked grain, finishing with a mild feint scent of grass. Malt, malt and more malt is the dominant flavor, with bread and biscuit flavors. Those flavors last till the back end, when it finishes with a hop bitterness of grass and citrus, did I mention the malt. The consistent medium body lasts all the way through, it leaves a medium dryness at the end. This is really drinkable, the color and aroma are classic for the style. The taste is malty, more malty than I would prefer, but it takes nothing away from the flavor. Overall this is a great beer for spring and the summer heat.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 03:31:17 | More by cameraman

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a slightly opaque off-gold color with a white head. The nose brings a lot of bread with a bit of grain and some light fruit notes. While the nose is certainly quite mild, I get a lot of different fruit notes sneaking out from underneath the doughy exterior. The taste dials back on this a bit, and ends up being more of a sweet bread-type brew. However, for the style it style has quite a bit of nice flavor. The feel is nice, with a light to medium body that's slightly creamy. Overall, this is a very good American rendition of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2010 00:38:14 | More by Thorpe429

njmoons

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I new favorite lager for me?? Maybe.

A: Hazy amber colored, poured with a moderate head that held up well

S: Unexpectedly malty with the light color, some noble hops, and sweet fruit subtlety in the background.

T: This is a great tasting Helles. Malty with a slight fruity sweetness (grapes/apricots), and a present hoppiness that was in excellent balance with the beer. This finish clean and crisp (where I think a lot of Helles beer miss). Overall a great drinking lager.

M: Appropriate to style, light with some body.

D: So drinkable that the 7.4% ABV makes for dangerous combination.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 18:00:35 | More by njmoons

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a pilsner glass.

L - hazed rust color with a white head that stayed as a thin layer leaving spots of lacing.

S - aroma is bready and earthy.

T - very well played, this beer tastes like it was brewed in Germany. Sweet malts dominate with a light bittering on the finish.

F - medium bodied with a crisp feel.

D - goes down easy enough.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 01:46:57 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly and leaves some lace. Slight hazy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Almost a caramel nose. Flavor is malty and hoppy, nice maibock. The higher ABV is totally hidden. $2.65 for a 12oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 22:32:38 | More by jdhilt

rtepiak

Poland

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a great maibock with a european quality. a german lager done rather well by an american brewery. this doesn't sell short. it has a lot of helles qualities with a nice noes of pollen honey/apple blossom sweet. that palate is in the middle with a mild hoppy brightness and a honey soaked hay. the bitter is there and just right. it tastes like a helles with a bit of a abv punch. the caramel notes are there. the sticks bitter is there and a gritty feeling on the gums. definitely having again.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 03:05:37 | More by rtepiak

confer

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Copper color with no head.
S- Sweet alcohol.
T- I dont know how to describe the taste other than it is a nice Maibock flavor but on the weaker side, with a small hop bite in the finish.
MD-This is a very easy drinker, as most are other maibocks I have had. The high alcohol content is alway a shocker for Maibocks.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2010 02:47:38 | More by confer

Pencible

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a translucent copper with some off-white head.
S: It smelled like bready yeast and warm caramel with some metallic hops and light citrus.
T: It tasted like metallic hops and juicy citrus, with bready yeast and some sweet caramel. It had a sharp bitter aftertaste.
M: It was slightly thick with moderate carbonation.
D: This was a pretty nice lager that was fairly basic, but light and easy to drink. The aftertaste was a bit harsh, especially considering how tame the taste was up front. But the alcohol was well hidden, and it was a generally enjoyable drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 19:06:12 | More by Pencible

u2carew

Massachusetts

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

12oz longneck
A) Pours with a finger thick head, off white, tight, creamy. Settles leaving a thick lacing at the edge of the glass. Slight chill haze. Copper in color with golden tones.
S) Light floral notes. Hints of grain and citrus fruit - grapefruit
T) Pleasant malty sweetness up front. Mellow caramel with some grapefruit mixed in. In the finish the alcohol shows up with it's "burn" along with a lingering hop bite.
M) Mellow fizz. Smooth. Medium body. Dry in the finish.
D) A well crafted, true to form maibock. I'd have another.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2010 21:45:02 | More by u2carew

matjack85

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's in Plainfield, IL for $2.19. At first I thought the St. Boisterous character was a santa figure and this was some Christmas Ale, but it is not. It's a spring seasonal Maibock that is released every April. My bottle says best enjoyed by April 1O, 2O11, so I assume this is from the April 2O1O batch.

The beer poured a medium orange/copper color with just a thin white rim for a head. Even that didn't last long and there was virtually no lacing. Not the prettiest beer I've ever poured.

The smell was full of caramely malt, some fruitiness, and a touch of floral hops.

The taste began with some initial sweet caramel and honey flavor, followed by some bitter herbal hoppiness. The finish was bitter with a slight alcoholic warmth, but overall the 7.2% alcohol is well hidden.

Medium body with super high carbonation.

This is a decent maibock. Not my favorite product from Victory, but very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2010 06:40:48 | More by matjack85

thecarster1

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a- bottle poured into a pint, half finger of head fades to a spotty layer, nice coloring, bright glowing gold to deep rich tawny brown .

s- wow, great nose here, complex malts, some sweetness, caramel earthy light hops. best smelling beer in awhile.

t- nice complex malts again, some light roast/toast, biscuit, nice earthy, herbal hops with some bitterness, some citric notes, a touch of alcohol. really tastes like springtime.

m- smooth, coating, medium to full body.

d- nice drinkability, this is like springtime in a glass. i would definately drink this again, another in the long line of awesome victory brews.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 02:41:33 | More by thecarster1

WesWes

New York

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a dark golden color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a solid pale and Vienna malt scent along with a touch of citrus and malt sweetness. The taste is good. It has a smooth malty flavor that boasts of pale and Munich malts along with a dry yeast finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a well brewed Hellesbock. It's malt forward with a damn smooth finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 00:58:26 | More by WesWes

irishking1977

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a clear copper hue with barely any head and little to no lacing. Typical looking lageresque brew.

S: Butterscotch and toffee with a hint of hops. Decent, but was a bit put off initially by the aromas.

T: Pretty flavorful brew. Rich buttery bread, butterscotch, and a hint of citrus and cinnamon. Not as hoppy as I expected, but it's there. Myriad of flavors mesh fairly well.

M: Moderately creamy and thick, with a good, stout carbonation. Solid mouthfeel.

D: One of the better interpretations of a Maibock, along with Rogue's Dead Guy Ale. Not as easy drinking as your typical lager; the abv is higher than average. Though, it was over 14 bucks for a sixer. Tough to justify purchasing this too frequently.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 22:23:55 | More by irishking1977

curasowa

New York

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

Pours a clear, dark yellow with 1 finger of head that fades to a ring without much lacing. The aroma is pleasant, with caramel malt and hints of butter and some nuttiness. Big, malty flavor upfront, with a nice, creamy body followed by some bitterness on the back end that helps to cut the sweetness of the malt. The finish is lingering and somewhat woody and drinkability is very good. I discovered this on tap at the Tap & Mallet and ended up buying a few 6er's. This is a tasty beer, all though I must admit I have been on a bit of a Maibock kick lately.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2010 21:13:07 | More by curasowa

jmerloni

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A really nice gold amber with tints of pink. Head is moderate, fades quickly.

S - I'm new to the style. This smells like hay to me. Quite yeasty. Maybe some pear, apricot. Maltiness is present. Interesting. I'm intrigued.

T - Bready with a berry taste. Tastes like Spring in France. I imagine Louis XXVI drinking this. It tastes earthy and regal. I can't put a label on what the flavors are here though. It's sweet, but naturally so, like honey. This is interesting.

M - Medium bodied and pretty wholesomely carbonated.

D - Pretty drinkable. Light and refreshing, especially when it's ice cold. This beer SCREAMS "SPRING" from the top of its lungs. Nice. I'll be looking into this style a bit more...It has a lot of potential I think.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 23:33:42 | More by jmerloni

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours very nice dark orange/copper color with beautiful two finger foamy and cream colored head. Ringed lacing...

S- The nice thing about this beer is that the sweet malt just pours out of the glass as soon as the beer is being poured in. The aroma really comes up and greets you with a, "HEY! I smell delicious- drink the hell out of me!!" Overall, a sweet malt nose, hint of caramel and just a tinge of hop presence to boot...

T/M- Has the same sweet malt taste as found in the nose. I was a bit surprised by the hoppyness of this beer at first, but it really settles to the style in between the sweetness as you drink more; but I like it. It finishes sweet with a nice medium to heavy carbonation and medium feel.

D- Overall, pretty drinkable. Again, surprised by the hops as it was not quite what I was expecting when I opened this up. I would enjoy a few in a row- no more than three I would say...

Overall, liked this beer. I would definitely purchase again after trying a few other Victory offerings. It leaves the tongue with a bit of a heavy feeling, but other than that this is a pretty solid choice.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 23:12:41 | More by TheGordianKnot

Kevuas

New York

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

This is an extremely solid beer, as most of Victory's are. I obtained a growler of this from the local distributor and have not been disappointed, twice now.

A very strong lager indeed. But not so strong as the flavors are not blended in a way which renders them dangerous.

Pours a nice golden color almost lagerish. The head settled down nicely after a few seconds but poured nicely. Taste- comes across very mild for a heavyweight (%-wise), with a nice complex taste and full-body. It does have a somewhat smell and you can taste some of that in the flavor as well.

I'm a big fan of this beer, especially on tap in a growler.

Serving type: growler

06-17-2010 22:54:16 | More by Kevuas