St. Victorious - Victory Brewing Company

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Deep red in color with orange hues and perfect clarity. Poured with a rich, off-white foam that slowly reduced to a wispy cap that left a thick ring and sheets of sticky lacings around the edge of the glass. Smoked and dark grain aromas with sweet fruit fruit in the background. Medium bodied, slighty syrupy feel at first, followed by tight, slightly aggressive carbonation. Dark and slighly charred malt flavors up front followed by chocolate malt with dark fruit flavors beneath. Herbal hop bitterness toward the end followed by smoky, tobacco-like flavors and sweetripe fruit. Fabulous flavors and aromas make this an amazing dopplebock.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 01:18:47 | More by IronLover

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

4.61/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 FL. OZ. bottle into a pint glass. Purchased at the Victory Brewpub store. ENJOY BY: Jan 24 2014.

Appearance: Pours a clear dark amber body with a thick off white toffee colored head. Good carbonation.

Smell: Aroma of sweet caramel and toffee. Slight sugary molasses. Very sweet aroma. Smells delicious.

Taste: Sweet malty dates, raisins. Slight coffee flavor. Very rich and sweet. Tastes delicious!

Mouthfeel: The body isn't too thick, making this drinkable. Enough malty molasses texture to coat the mouth, but no real strong/offensive aftertaste.

Overall: Absolutely delicious and perfect for this never ending winter. What a doppelbock should be!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 23:58:35 | More by JednoPivoProsim

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-deep ruby amber color with a light tan head and good lacing

S-malt, dark fruit, caramel, slightly smoky

T-rich malt, dark fruit, caramel, slightly burnt toast, moderately bitter finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth and rich

O-a solid doppelbock, nice flavor and very pleasant to sip

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 21:32:19 | More by MDDMD

CHADMC3

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a deep copper body with ruby hues beneath the thin, tan head, which is patient to dissolve leaving a scattered lacing around the glass.

Aromas of toffee and caramel malt float from the glass as well as figs and sugar. If I am not mistaken, there also appears to be just a hint of smoky malt, almost similar to a rauch, but again just a hint.

The flavor is similar with sweet caramel and toffee malt, a touch of dried fruits, and a dark bread quality. Again, I could swear there is a dry, campfire hint in the flavor as well. As it warms, there may be a nuttiness mid-palate as well.

Medium to fuller in body with generous carbonation and a sweet, flavorful, full finish.

A great Doppelbock that would probably have greater recognition if it made it to more markets.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 00:34:18 | More by CHADMC3

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass.

Appearance
Reddish mahogany with 1 finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Excellent clarity with low carbonation.

Nose
Toast, biscuit, brown sugar, toffee, cocoa and sugar cookies.

Taste
Dark toasted breads, biscuit and sugar cookies. Brown sugar, toffee and cocoa nib with touches of dates. Maintains an earthy residual bitterness along with hints of smoke and floral hops.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, smooth, silky and bitter.

Overall
The flavors are right-on for a good Doppelbock, but the extra bitterness kind of kills it for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 14:26:59 | More by justintcoons

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep amber color with a thick fluffy off white head that remains throughout most of the beer.

The scent was of roasted caramel malt, nice fruit presence.

The taste was of very strong malt, caramel, toffee, bread, sweet fruit, and light notes of alcohol.

Full body, smooth and soft, low to moderate carbonation.

This was an excellent presentation of the style, very flavorful and easy to drink. I will have to add this to one of my favorites from Vicotry.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2012 13:59:01 | More by BeerCon5

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle. Marked 'Enjoy By Dec 17 2011'. Poured into a pint glass.

Clear dark sienna body with a half-inch of cream-colored head. Frothy and withstanding.

Smells of dark bready malts and fruits. Some yeast character. Hints of caramelized sugar and cold-press coffee. Not much aromatically from the hop additions.

Roasty sweet malts, like bread pudding. Some caramel that tastes like it comes with some age. The fruits are very ripe; oxidized apple flesh, raisins, and some fried banana. The malts are tried and true, big and bready with a rich sweetness. Balancing bitterness finishes on the swallow. This is a great homage to German brewing. Stands up to some of the best.

Very slick feel. Mild carb leaves the liquid feeling creamy and full. Drinks easily.

I stand by my German brewers with making my favorite Dopplebocks--Aventinus, Celebrator, Optimator. But, Victory did really well here. I would absolutely buy this again. A well-made example.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 03:26:35 | More by thecheapies

TheBigBoy

Pennsylvania

1.78/5  rDev -56.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Ouch - I did not like this one. While Victory is one of my favorite breweries, this flavor didn't cut it for me. My guess is that Dopplebock is not a blend I should frequent. Just too much of a dry, brown, stouty kind of beer for me that I found boring and non-tasty. Seem's Dopplebock fans may like this one, so don't let my review keep you from this one if you are a Dopplebock fan.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 04:56:55 | More by TheBigBoy

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from a twelve oz bottle into pint glass
A - pour produces a caramel/dark brown hazy colour with two finger tannish head
S - caramel, toffee, malty, a little fruity and very sweet
T - very sweet and malty, little bit of dark fruits
M - very smooth and easy to drink
O - very delicious beer, another enjoyable brew from my favorite brewing company

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 01:49:56 | More by vicsju1991

Morey

Pennsylvania

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

12oz bottle with "Enjoy By Dec 17 2011" stamped on the label.

Pours a hazy red-brown color. Looks really inviting when you hold it up to the light. Cream colored head stood about a finger tall, but has settled to a thin and spotty layer after about 5 minutes or so. Decent lacing on the glass as you sip.

Hearty aroma filled with sweet malts, ripe figs, a kiss of hops, and some alcohol.

Taste is malty up front, followed by a bit of sweetness. There's definitely some bitterness towards the middle. The malt body remains throughout, and makes for a smooth and slightly chewy finish.

Medium...bordering on full bodied mouthfeel with a fairly low carbonation level.

An above average Doppelbock overall. Drinks really easy too.

Morey's Bottom Line: Another solid (albeit lesser known) beer from Victory. This is a really good beer. I've had quite a few Double Bocks, and this one is up there with some of the better ones.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 21:20:31 | More by Morey

smakawhat

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner short style glass at Roscoe's Pizza Takoma Park.

A sticky caramel and toffee like head is presented with tiny uniform bubbles and succinct. Body is a cloudy brown and orange, sort of dull. While drinking the beer gives a good solid puck. There is no lacing on this whatsoever.

Nose has a malt stickiness and toffee classic to the style, some mild hints of chocolate and banana, but sort of clean and wet smelling. There is also a faint anise smell here too.

Taste brings a light bodied and very wet malt. Light toffee aromas in the mid palate which also mix with a sort of wodden like character, almost teak like. Texture though is very wet for such a doppelbock which I expect to be bolder and thicker.

Overall pretty solid and enjoyable, but lacking in body and fullness in the feel otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 01:15:05 | More by smakawhat

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Blind Tiger, NYC, NY

Poured a chestnut color with amber hues with a sparsely lacing white head. Aroma of sweet caramel malts, roasted nuts, toffee. Slightly sweet in the taste with caramel and toffee, subtle tones of raisin, nutty, bready, grassy, with a somewhat bitter finish/aftertaste. Medium mouthfeel, moderately carbonated, and pretty easily drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2011 22:36:12 | More by Rifugium

outdoorbrewer

New Jersey

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

Poured into glass briskly to create a nice rocky off-white head that lasts awhile and fades to cover an bright amber brew with decent lacing. Dark bread, melanoidin malty aroma true to bock character. Brisk flavors of malt greet the palate with light bitterness to balance fades with roast grains. Finishes with bitter/sweet smoothness medium to full body, creamy texture, and an almost lively carbonation. Well worth a taste again. Enjoyed!

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 02:09:02 | More by outdoorbrewer

PCampbell

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a tulip glass. Pours a nice dark brown / burgundy color with a medium tan head that linger on the edges for a while.

Has a very heavy smell of crystal / caramel malts, with some dark fruit and roasted malt notes as well. The taste has the same qualities as its smell: caramel & roasted malts, some great malty sweetness but there is a little bit of hops to break up all the malts.

A nicely done doppelbock, very malty and flavorful, well worth picking up if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 14:07:49 | More by PCampbell

larryi86

Delaware

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

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- A fairly clear brown with a hint of red and a nice one finger head

S- Caramel malts, hint of toasted malts, dark fruits

T- Sweet, complex, very close to the nose. Earthy, toasted finish with a hint of bitterness, I feel that it goes well with with the sweetness.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- This is a really good beer, and I am very happy I picked it up. I am very impressed by the complexity, can't wait to get more.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 22:05:54 | More by larryi86

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pilsner glass.

This brew is a deep amber color with a one finger thick tan colored head that leaves minimal lacing and a thin, wispy layer is left behind.

Smells of roasted malts, toffee, caramel, sweet dark fruit - raisins and maybe cherry.

Tastes of rich, roasted malts and dark fruits - caramel, toffee, raisins and cherries. There is also a faint spicyness that is somewhat earthy and herbal.

Smooth and creamy with a dry finish.

In spite of the abv, I enjoyed several of these - sweet, but not overly so. A nice sessionable brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 03:03:42 | More by ujsplace

magine

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pilsner glass.

Pours a clear ruby red dark caramel. With a light tan head. Head settles to a patch island head. Sticky lace remains and rims the glass. Pretty good looking brew.

Brew smells smoky and roasted; sweet caramel malts smoked leafy scents even. Good smelling brew.

Brew is smoked; roasted malts, caramel malts. Creamy malts, sweet chocolate Leafy earthy aromas. Brew tastes and feels great. Some spices as well. Finishes slightly dry. Lots of goodness going on here. Great brew.

Wow, very creamy and tasty. This is a tremendous dopplebock. Very sessionable and case worthy.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 22:50:37 | More by magine

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2011-11-23 in Columbia, PA

Notes: It says on the bottle label "Enjoy By Dec 17 2011" so I'm having this near the end of the recommended range.

A - Mostly clear but mostly impenetrable mahogany with a 3/4-finger tan head that fades very quickly and leaves moderate lacing.

S - Grapes, mild roasted malt, mild caramel and mild hop floral.

T - Grapes, medium roasted grain, touch of caramel, fig, touch of citrus flesh and rind. Never quite dries but pallet clears well with a lingering grape/fig flavor and very moderate hop bitterness.

M - Thinner than I expected. Medium body and light-medium carbonation give a cream soda-like feel. Not chewy but not watery.

A - I like it well-enough but the grape sweetness/kool-aid isn't my cup of tea for this style. I'd rather have a hearty, toasted spicy-bready flavor for my doppelbock.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 23:01:15 | More by Tucquan

MrKennedy

Australia

3.18/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle obtained via trade with Knapp85. Poured into a Mikkeller tulip glass.

Pours a reddish-ruby colour, with a nice shine to it and a relatively deep tan coloured head of creamy looking foam that dissipates over time to be just film.

Sweet malt aroma, mixed with a touch of smoke and a slight hint of vanilla. Doesn't seem to work too well together though, despite the uniqueness.

Tastes mostly malty and of alcohol, does improve as it warms up. Quite a fullness to the finish of it.

Malt coated mouthfeel to it that has a bit of a tang at the end. Some creaminess comes through.

A little bit all over the place, some high points, some lows as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 10:40:27 | More by MrKennedy

chodinheaven

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark ruby colored beer with a little head that sticks around for a little and then dissapates into a patchy form on top. The smell is interesting and hard to place. I get a smoky quality, like tobacco, and possibly a faint sweetness backed by a little boozy twinge.

Malty indeed, but with a medium body and high carbonation. The combination of the three create a different mouthfeel, one that is boozy and spritzy and very dry. The taste is unique. That smokiness in the aroma comes out in the taste as well, but in a way that is almost weird. Like maybe that flavor is a little off to me. The hops are there as well, hitting a little in the front of the taste, and then again in a bigger way in the finish. The booziness comes out more and more while it warms up, becoming slightly more than just a zest of it. It adds another dimension to the brew however, and it's actually a pretty enjoyable boozy taste.

Overall, this isn't my favorite from Victory, but it feels old school and for that I respect it. Also not my favorite style admittedly, but other doppelbocks that I've had are not like this. Definitely one to try for those of you into the style. You won't regret its uniqueness.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 05:52:20 | More by chodinheaven

mdvatab

Indiana

4.9/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 12oz bottle into shaker pint.
Best by 12/17/2011

Aroma: Sweet molasses, carmelized sugar, black cherry, & vanilla.

Appearance: 1.5 finger of light tan foamy head gradually settles to 1 finger. Beautifully clear, reddish-amber body.

Flavor: Rich, chewy caramel supported by a hoppy balance. Manages to achieve a rich, malty sweetness without being cloying. Dried black cherry with herbal hop in the background. Reminiscent of iced tea on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation. Medium-full delicious body.

Overall: EXTREMELY tasty! Complexity of aroma, substantial body, maltiness w/ balance, and it begs you to have another sip. Definitely one of my new favorites. Thanks for the trade, Curious Monk!

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 02:38:35 | More by mdvatab

ZeroSignal

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with freshness date, poured into a SA Perfect Pint

A - Dark amber pour with a good finger's worth of light brown head and a nice lace.

S - Notes of toasted bread crust and golden malts. Light fruity aroma.

T&M - Deliciously bready with both a crustiness and a bit of cereal. Big malt bill with lot's of toasty bits. Fuller bodied with a big feel. Sweetness comes through with a good dose of caramel. Some of the sweetness sticks around at in the finish, and makes me think of toffee.

O - What a delicious beer. Lot's of malty goodness and pretty much everything I think a Doppelbock is supposed to be, and executed brilliantly.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 01:48:39 | More by ZeroSignal

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This Doppelbock pours out with a nice brown colored body. The head was a tan color that was kind of fizzy. The smell of the beer had some good malty aroma with some soft yeast on the nose. The taste of the beer is pretty good. There's a softness to the taste, the flavors are mostly sweet. The mouthfeel was medium bodied. Overall not a bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 04:43:03 | More by Knapp85

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle to pint glass.
Nice looking bock from Victory. Dark brown with shades of amber and a respectable foamy head. Smells of malty goodness. Palate is complex and robust, yet very traditional. Layers of bready malt flavor and a touch of fermented dark fruit are complimented by a clean German yeast that adds to the depth of flavor. Full bodied with a clean finish. Another wonderfully brewed German-style lager from PA.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 01:09:37 | More by JunkYardJake

soze47

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is the second year in a row I've had this one. First time review.

Appearance: Ruby brown in color with a pale white head the disappears throughout the glass. Lots of bubbles dancing through out the glass, even as it warms through to the end.

Aroma: The nose reminds me of spring time. Lots of notes of malt with a multitude of roastiness, but there is a grassy, almost budding quality to the hops.

Taste: Very complex and layered. Right after the pour and still cold, this beer is much more malt forward with the roasted qualities standing out. However, after a few drinks and as it warms, a fruitiness of grapes and raisins comes forward and mixes really well with the hops to create an almost dry finish. This one gets less sweet as it goes.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Nice, loose body lets the flavors dance. This one is not nearly as heavy as the ABV may suggest. This one goes from being bubbly to creamy as it warms and settles. That makes this guy all too drinkable and a potentially dangerous brew to give to someone who is not in the know on the ABV.

Overall: Great brew. I like this one a lot and enjoy pondering how it evolves throughout the drink. I should make a point to pick up more of these before they are gone.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 21:50:45 | More by soze47