St. Victorious - Victory Brewing Company

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Dark amber~brown in color. Thin but persistent head with a touch of lacing.
S: Heavy notes of a toasty malt aroma. There's also a sweet spicey smell here, some clove aromas are noted. I had my nose in the glass nearly from start to finish, this one is a beer to savor.
T: Complex ripe fruity/spicey flavors. There's a generous malty character, with just a hint of hops, enough to keep this from being overly sweet.
M: Very nice level of carbonation. Alcohol is strongly warming. There's a syrupy mouthfeel to this one that carries the flavors all around the mouth and really enhances things.
D&N: Yes, I gave it a five. This one has everything I like, it's a great example of the style; great smells and flavors, and it's from my state. Had this one on tap at Sharp Edge Beer Emporium with beergeek279 and cupbeerman.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2004 13:22:06 | More by JackTheRipper

stingo

Pennsylvania

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

Had on tap at home - pours a rich orangey amber with a creamy white head. Some nice lacing too. Both parts of the mouth (front and back) are made happy by the texture and the taste of this magnificent beer. Nice malt flavor at the front and a very agreeable dryness at the back. This elegant seasonal makes the year round Festbier seem clumsy and awkward by comparison. Also beware, it hides its 8.5% ABV well. Run, don't walk to Victory to taste it before it's all gone (esp as it is not available in bottles).

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2004 01:05:31 | More by stingo

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

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

Served in an imperial pint at the Sharp Edge Creekhouse. The color was a dark amber, with a wispy white head. The smell was a strong sweet malt. The taste started with a strong malt sweetness and then the low-alpha hops grew into the taste a bit, and the alcohol was almost unnoticable. Mouthfeel was nice and thick. As for drinkability, I definitely wanted quite a few more of these.

Thank you to Victory for sending this gem of a beer over to Western PA. A dopplebock that stands up with Salvator and Celebrator as amongst the best in style. Quite good, and as long as it's around, this will be one of the beers I'll naturally gravitate towards.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2004 22:46:35 | More by beergeek279

rdrummer

New Jersey

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

I had this on tap at Victory during the BA Philly Rally. It was the first time that I tried it, and the first double bock that I had for a while. It is a beautiful looking beer with its dark amber color and small white head. It has a malty aroma with the hint of some kind of fruitiness. It seems to have an odd hint of citrus that I didn’t expect. The taste is a sweet malty explosion with that fruity rounding at the end that makes it a special brew. The feel is the mouth is one of creaminess, slightly thick. This was drinkable from first sip to last. I had no time for a second but on another trip, I will be sampling again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2004 22:27:50 | More by rdrummer

pezoids

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at Victory at the Philly gathering. This really is a gorgeous strong lager. Poured a very clear amber-reddish color and was topped off with a small head of syrupy cream foam. Thick and sweet malt nose, with cordial-like fermented fruit. The taste is full of flavor and complete with malty sweet and syrupy fruit and even some hot cinnamon spiciness. Very smooth and full bodied. Small orange rind bitterness comes through in the finish and remains in the back of the throat. Well made.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2004 13:25:43 | More by pezoids

stewart124

Ohio

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

Dark mahogany color with an off-white head that hangs around for a bit. Smells of dark malts and spices. Slight hints of cinnamon come to mind as well as plums and raisins. Strong tastes of old aged malts and bits of hops hit the palate followed by a warming alcohol feel that warms the stomach and brings a smile. Delcious tastes of fruits such as plums and rum raisins bring this beer to a nice complexity. Very nice brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2004 23:23:10 | More by stewart124

ManekiNeko

Virginia

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

Served in a sample cup at the Michael Jackson Beer tasting held at RFD's.

Appearance: A slightly murky cherry red/burgundy colored liquid topped by a light tan head that dissipated to a small ring of foam. No real lacing of note was left.

Smell: Aromas of prunes, cherries, assorted fruits, and caramelized malts beckon you, sirenlike, to sip upon their goodness.

Taste: Mesmerized by the siren-song of the nose, a hearty quaff gives you sweet and dark caramel malt flavors with a hint of smokiness lingering in the background.

Mouthfeel: Solid medium body. Nice and crisp.

Drinkability: A lovely and contemplative beer. One to quaff while poring over the Old Testament or maybe Homer, I'd say. I'd have no problems drinking a decent amount of this stuff.

Marginalia: In a total beer geek moment, and I blame Randall th' Enamel Animal for this, I was able to pick out the rauch malts used in this. It's such a small amount of rauch that you'd be hard pressed to taste it if you didn't know beforehand. I "blame" Randall for this since all the other taste receptors in my mouth were still reeling from Randallized 120 Minute IPA. The only thing that I could taste with assured clarity was smoke.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2004 04:04:55 | More by ManekiNeko

pheurton

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

1/2 gallon growler: glowing burnt crimson with a creamy beige head that retreats to a small collar, but leaves little patches of lace on the glass. caramel-dipped candy apple aroma with a touch of noble hops. relatively low carbonation results in a creamy and full mouthfeel. layers upon layers of malt complexity are mind boggling. i taste toasted munich malts, all kinds of fruit, and a caramel backbone. light earthy hops come in at the end to keep things toned down just enough. the drinkability is amazing, considering the style and ABV. the first quaffable doppelbock i've ever had. just fantastic stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2004 22:13:17 | More by pheurton

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Obvious decoction mash here, some many complex levels of maltiness it is crazy! Nice layer of hop bitterness to keep any kind of cloying sweetness away. The mouth feel was so creamy from the dense malt body. Tasted of freshly baked brown bread with a hint of spicy alcohol.

On of the best domestically brewed Double Bocks I have had to date.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2004 12:00:19 | More by Jason

Edwin

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Victory Brewing Company.

Appearance - An amber/brown color like a strong Lager. Not so much head on top, but most Doppelbocks I have had don't have a lot of head to them.

Smell - A malty, fruity mix with pssibly a dash of a hop scent mixed in. Some candy-like smells come through as the glass gets emptier.

Taste - Malty and fruity with some sweetness and a slight alcohol tinge. A very nice spring offering.

Mouthfeel - Deadly smooth and easy to drink. Thank goodness I was trying to sample different beers, or else i'd have been swimming in these. They go down too fast and easy!

Drinkability - I wanted to drown myself in this one, but the 8.5% scared me off, as I was driving 75 miles home. Definitely a good offering from a very good brewery. Thumbs up!

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2004 21:03:00 | More by Edwin

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, I tell you what there are breweries out there that claim to be world class, but Victory doesn't have to act, they are the real deal. This authentic German style Strong dark lager or Doppelbock is dead on, pours a ruby deep amber tone off white cream colored head not very thick and doesn't stick around very long leaves behind specks of lace on my imperial pint. Aroma deep plentiful layers of malts supporting a cast of other stars, the German Hallertau whole leaf hops and plum esters. Smells predominantly of fruit soaked in alcohol with caramel malts around the edges, hmm hmmmm good. Flavor is flowing with a wave of malts creating over ripened fruit notes and a touch of hop flavor bringing mild but perfect bitterness to the table, I think I'm in love. Rolls down the palate with a slick slightly syrupy texture and medium body packs a nice punch with 8.5% abv. Suprisingly incredibly smooth and drinkable, I am sold never had two doppelbocks in a row, I had two imperial pints of this with dinner tonight damn good. If this is an option I will pass on Celebrator, Salvator, or any other (insert word here)ator knockoff.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2004 06:18:43 | More by WVbeergeek

nomad

Kansas

4.78/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

1/2 gallon growler

Gorgeous deep ruby with fine carbonation supporting a wispy head. Fairly consistent lacing is moderate and slick. Starts with a thick foamy head but settles away to nothing. The color is most impressive, shining transparent and gem-like.

Smells like a fruit cordial, along the lines of maraschino cherries wrapped in a thin caramel sauce and a nice drop of alcohol. Opens to Munich malts, among others, with a wonderfully grainy accent. Builds a creamy and nutty sense that gently melds into the fruity, malty core. Classy and almost liqueur-like on the nose.

Like its smell, it comes across with a first flavor of a cherry cordial that is actually only faintly sweet, leading to an even better flavor of figs' skin, meat, pit, and all. Next come roasty notes turning to musty/earthy notes with a soft, mellow noble hops deftly blended in. Like a good doppel should, it has rough and sizable malt rippling through the whole profile. Mellow but full of bockness, it slowly develops a smooth sense of grainy, earthy flavors of molasses. Has the definition of a nutty finish from first to last pint.

Yet as fruity, roasty, and quietly dark as it tastes, St. Victorious is in sum none of the above. It has a serene, creamy, and smooth approach that expresses a deep sophistication hard to find in others of the style.

Full bodied but slick, it slides back way too easy. At the brewpub, at home, this beer's mouthfeel greatly helps its dangerous drinkability. I could write about its mouthfeel as much as its flavor - smooth, big, yet silky. Exquisite. God bless the man who figured out the decoction brewing method.

I've been waiting eight months to quaff this beauty, anticipating its release since the first day I became a Philly resident. Take a trip to the brewery to taste the care and love that exudes through this creation.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2004 16:23:02 | More by nomad

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

St. Victorious is back on tap at Victory!

The beer is poured into a 12 oz. glass with minimal foam, but what is there is white and lacy on the sides of the glass, like the remnants of a Belgian ale's head. It is deep cinnamon in color.

The aroma is barely detectable, both in the nose and in the mouth. There is a slight hint of a doughy-malt aroma, but it takes effort to discover it.

The first sip is a complete and utter shock given the mild aroma. This is a BOLD beer! The unbelievably strong flavors of the German malts and hops vie for dominance, and are pretty much even through mid-glass. The carbonation reminds me again of a Belgian brew, only this beer's level is practically off the charts. The combination of this and the nearly-overwhelming level of alcohol make this beer tingle without relent in the mouth. It is a very dry beer: there is no hint of sweetness whatsoever. As the beer warms near the finish, the malt and alcohol become dominant and the mouthfeel remains energetic.

I was disappointed when I first brought this beer to my nose, but once I started drinking it I was floored. I only wish now that I opted for the 20 oz. glass. Highly recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2004 03:29:35 | More by JimsArcade

cerevisiaephilus

Michigan

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

My second favorite Victory brew after HopDevil, this beer is outstanding. Drinking it fresh on tap in one of the 0.5L German style glasses in the spring is an awesome experience. The beer is so beautifully malty it almost makes me shed a tear. Then I realize its only available for the spring and definately not where I live currently (Indiana) and I acutally do shed a tear. This beer is overwhelmingly smooth. The malty goodness is not too sweet, not too dry, just right in my humble opinion.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2003 20:32:23 | More by cerevisiaephilus

Jarod

Pennsylvania

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

This beer came to me a brown/copper/amber color that was clear. The head was a cream/light tan color that was not that dense and lasting. Semi-decent carbonation was felt on the tongue. I did not really notice a lace. The aromas that came from the glass were of dark rich malts, dandelions, and some dark fruits (plum, raison) It has a solid rich flavor that was really good. I tasted caramel, dark malts, light cocoa, dark sweet fruits, roasted nut, light earth and some bitter hops (which was not overbearing, rather enjoyable.) This beer is not over powering in any departments, all smells and flavors are well balanced. It left a great feeling in 3 senses; my mouth, nose and even eyes were all pleased. Another score for VICTORY.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2003 09:22:47 | More by Jarod

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

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