St. Victorious - Victory Brewing Company

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

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours clouded brown with a creme head. Thickly sweet. Malts are present, but the strong sweet flavor is what dominates. Kind of one-dimensional to me. Feel is decent on the body. Carbonation has a bit of a bite. Overall it seems a bit too cloying really. It's okay at best I guess.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2008 18:52:31 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice dark amber-orange. Clear. Very little head; absolutely no head.

Strong metalic aroma. Very little sweet malt. Disappointing.

Better flavor; malty and full bodied. There is good hop balance and enough carbonation to keep the sweetness in check.

This would be a good D-bock if the smell could be rectified.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2007 01:19:18 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

Thanks to Bitterbill for the brew.

Enjoy by 22/08

Pours a nice clean/clear dark brown/ruby color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy tannish head, not much lacing afterwards. The nose is of sweet malts, and caramel. The taste is sweet/malty and caramel. Medium body. Drinkable, the last three brew's I've had have been Doppelbock's, this is a very good beer, but nothing compared to the last two I've had, sorry Victory. Recommended though.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2007 00:53:23 | More by Wasatch

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

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle from BeerBeing as part of UTBIF. Thanks for the opportunity. Enjoy by Jul 27 06.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" orangey tan head above the clear burgundy brew. Dense head lasts nicely, with ample lace. Aroma is vinous with malty sweetness and dark fruits. Taste is hearty grain, with light fruitiness mixed in, light alcohol flavor at the close to accompany the ample warmth. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both excellent. Could easily be a dangerous brew to have many of in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2006 21:09:18 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Ortino's Northside...
Appears a dark brown with a red hue and a light tan head. Very dense and unsure of the visible carbonation.
Smell is of cocoa powder, smoked peat, caramel, molasses, black plums, and roasted nuts.
Taste is equally as enjoyable as the aromas.
Mouthfeel is right on. Chewy, warming, sweet, and balanced with a quick finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2005 17:00:24 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

3.78/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled from a 12 Oz bottle thanks to Imstillthegman.

Poured in to my glass I am rewarded by a clear strikingly crimson colored beer. Back light only intensifies the color and shows a brilliant maroon colored beer with a tan head.

Smell is good clean and malty. A bit grassy in aroma you can smell a fair bit of Nobel hop in this one. Not nearly as good smelling as it looks.

Taste is a little sweet and grassy with a malty after taste. On the dry side for a Doppelbock this lacks complexity.

Mouthfeel is OK.

An OK beer but not anywhere near the best of its style. Not a beer I can really recommend.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2006 23:23:57 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

Served on tap at the VBC on 12/12/08.

Pours a deep, clear, amber with a finger of creamy tan head (but almost off-white in color)that shrinks down into a solid, thin layer of retention, with a good flare-up that leaves some nice looking swathes of lacing behind. The aroma is nice and assertive smelling with notes of cocoa, nuts, bread, dark fruits, caramel and some fresh, floral hops in the back.

The taste is thick with bready malts, chocolate, dark fruits, and brown sugar. It's all very smooth and malty up front but there is also some welcome notes of roast and hops that punch up the back and add a little more character to the equation. Finishes with sticky remnants of dark fruit and caramel tang and even a little bitterness at times. The mouthfeel is medium-fuller bodied with a firm carbonation up front but then smoothes out into a chewier layer that rides underneath.

Very nice. Full flavored and chewey yet still smooth on the palette, this is a well done Doppelbock from Victory. I haven't visited this since having it in the bottle a couple of years ago, so this was a nice catch-up on a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2008 17:38:39 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received from DrJay as part of BC2!

Pours a hazy orange brown, nice thick off white head forms, drops slowly leaving tons of lace, great retention, a very nice looking beer. Smell is sweet and malty, lots of toffee, iron, bread, yeast, some spices and dark fruits, very clean, very malty, nice. Taste is very rich, thick caramel, biscuits, raisins, bread, iron, fruits, brown sugar, nice and caramelized, good flavour, solidly balanced finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Not world class but a nicely done doppelbock, thanks Jay!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 02:34:06 | More by Viggo

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

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear, deep mahogany. Thin cap of light brown head. Lacing is pretty full. Really nice aroma. Baked bread aroma. And yeastiness. And sweet malts. Nice blend on the nose. On the palate, cinamon bread come forth quickly. A little molasses. Rich malts. Doughiness. Lots of good things going on. Smooth in the mouth and flavor. Medium-full body. Silky feel. Great Dopple.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2006 03:56:01 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a very dark amber/ chestnut brown color with thin tan head hthat settles into thin lace. Nice roasted chocolate, malty aroma. Roasted malty flavor that lasts throughout, with hints of chocolate, caramel, chestnut and licorice. Very well-balanced and quaffable with a bitter sweet dry hoppy finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 08:33:30 | More by corby112

glid02

Georgia

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

Had this at Firefly in Washington DC.

Pours a clear chocolate brown color with a one-finger off-white head. The head dissipates fairly quickly into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of sweet caramel malts with medicinal hops and chocolate flavors that poke through every now and then.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Sweet caramel malts kick things off, followedy by slightly bitter hop flavors that carry through the end of the sip. Chocolate flavors are a bit stronger than I would've gathered from the aroma, but they complement the malt flavors very well.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness for the style, with medium carbonation that makes this go down smoothly.

Drinkability is good. I had no problem finishing my bottle and I thought about buying a sixer at the store nearby.

Overall this isn't quite world-class, but it's one of the better U.S. micro-brewed doppelbocks I've had, if not THE best. Definitely worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2009 20:07:41 | More by glid02

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

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

This started out by pouring with a huge, deep brown head that just dwindled away to nothing, not even wisps. The color was a clear russet-brown/
mahogany. The nose was very malty with an underlying molasses/tar scent. I should point out that this last was not off-putting, just present. It had a really thick mouthfeel with a caramel sweetness on the tongue. The finish was a blend of sweet flavors - caramel, toffee, molasses. Warming, it became even richer, more toffee-like. A very interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2005 23:59:37 | More by woodychandler

DrJay

Massachusetts

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

Clear, dark chestnut with more intense reddish highlights under illumination. The foam was light brown and didn't form an overly thick cap with a vigourous pour, but did exhibit short-lived lacing throughout. Malty aroma, lots of breadiness with some toffee and a hint of cocoa. Dried fruits (prunes and raisins) melded nicely with light alcohol. Mild bitterness made itself apparent at the back of the palate. Very malty, but not overly sweet. Notes of bread crust, toasted grain, and caramel on the malt side, with plum and raisin rounding out the fruitiness. Alcohol warmth and flavour became integrated in the finish. Medium bodied, actually lighter than I expected, with carbonation that started crisp yet quickly became creamy. Good texture with just a little dryness. I really liked this - very malty without the cloying sweetness that can appear. Too bad it's only a seasonal, but at least I can get it.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2007 19:28:21 | More by DrJay

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

A deep set shade of blood orange colour with dazzling ruby that absolutely blazes to the light. This melange makes up the entirety of the beer's appearance less perhaps the thinnest of white lace around its perimeter. Rather gorgeous by all accounts.

It is a delicate but luring bouquet, one that marries dark buttery caramel with dark sugar coated fruits. It smells filling. There is a hint of chocolate or cold coffee. Raisins and plums seem actively fermenting in sugary sweet malt serum.

The taste fully explores this combination of flavours and even introduces another component: hops. A green leafy bitterness, full of resin and sap, finds its way between notes of raisins, gingerbread, brown sugar, plums, and molasses - all of which are coated in the sticky sweet malt sugars.

The mouthfeel isn't quite as gooey and sticky as the best, but it sure is viscous. Notes of dark caramel and rum soaked raisin stay glued to the palate. Its level of carbonation is properly adjusted so as not to interfere with the delicacy of the flavours.

I like that they've stuck true to style and haven't skimped on one ounce of what makes dopplebocks so delicious: the malts! Victory certainly are victorious here. I could guzzle this down pint after pint and, fortunately or unfortunately, there seems to be no sign of the 8.5% here to stop me!

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2008 02:59:07 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mild burgundy color with a one-finger head into my glass. Beautiful colors are always a good thing.

Sweet, possibly chewy malt greets the nose. The smell of spring is in the air, is it not? A slight alcoholic edge is present as well.

Thick, chewy malt dazzles the tongue with a slight hint of plum. Lots of alcohol warmth as well.

Good overall mouthfeel. The alcohol kind of overwhelms the palate though.

A decent example at best.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 03:51:46 | More by Brad007

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

On-tap at the Blue Nile: Big lusterious head of thick yellowy ivory foam sits atop a luminous moonlit blood black. Glares brightened dark red in certain light along the edges and bottom, but make no mistake this a a darkened bloody black. Cap recededs slowly, patchy strings of lace take shape along the receding lines of foam keeping a firm skim always present and the lacing sticky.

Lofty yet somewhat shortened on the nose hairs with a dark fruity center of dark cherry and a good portion of dark toffee. Seemingly plummy and rendering a high ended sugary sweetness from a complex layering of malts.

Taste is sweet and complexly so. Lots of little nuances to it that sway to and fro with a dark fuityness preliminary of highly tanged dark cherry. There, and mixed well, is the toffee/caramel, and again a little more to the tang to it then gathered as it has a leathery backing along its course of flavor. Good sense of plummy stuff and seemingly port-like in some areas of its profile as it peaks a tad more towards the finish with a slight smokey tang and soft, dark chocolate waffer-like fluff.

Feel is tender, smooth, malty, and warming, semi light to medium body yet set within a soothingly sweetened texture and character.

A fairly decent effort here, quite Belgain-esk in some fashion as its complexity is more then enough to lift the eyebrows and swirl the mouth buds into a firm sense of stability in smoothened sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2006 03:48:16 | More by tavernjef

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured red-orange with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, caramel, and dark chocolate. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruit, and subtle sweet alcohol. It had a light feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. Wow! Where did all of that flavor come from!? Based on the aroma I would have not expected there to be much going on in this one. It was definitely a pleasant surprise when I took my first sip. The flavor is really as that saved this one for me as the aroma was VERY weak in intensity. Worth trying for the flavor but that is about it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2011 16:30:37 | More by thagr81us

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A. Poured into a mason jar. Hearty in color with an amber hue. Small off white head sticks for a while.

S. Bready and chocolatey. Sweet pumpernickel smell. A fantabulous splendor to behold.

T. Very malty, with a noble hop. Caramel malt and toasted grains . Slight solvent alcohal character, but balances very well with the roasted malt flavors.

M. On the light to medium side of "Full Bodied". Smooth and flavorful.

D. Warming and filling. Great for the cold winter months. Very strong but also very welcome. Solid brew from Victory here.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2009 02:57:50 | More by Stinkypuss

RoyalT

Ohio

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

Appearance – This one was dark brown in color with an unusually large head that was lightly browned and showed terrific retention.

Smell – The malts here are really big. They are heavily-toasted and taste more like a Dark Belgian Ale than a DP. There are some refined raw sugars in here as well.

Taste – This one is big and malty, again more like a Belgian than a German Doppelbock bier. The sweetness is like brown or raw sugar and very granular and smooth.

Mouthfeel – This Victory offering is somewhere between medium and full-bodied. It is evenly balanced between malts and sugars.

Drinkability – This is a great-tasting beer that is a bit off-style from an authentic German Doppelbock. I enjoyed it very much though and will definitely seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2005 02:29:30 | More by RoyalT

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a clean orange-ish to amber color with a light tan head. In the aroma, roasty caramel and a small presence of alcohol. In the taste, caramel, roasted malt, with a small presence of earth and hops. A small hop bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small sticky caramel like aftertaste. Big caramel and a bit sticky sweet, small boozyness and a nice mellow hop.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 12:00:54 | More by OWSLEY069

ZAP

Minnesota

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

A classic doppel that rates with the best of the best.

Pours a nice clear auburn color...nose has some dark fruits...cocoa...very inviting.

Flavor is rich and malty....some dark fruits (plums) and cocoa...toasted malt impressions as well...

Body is on the low side of full....smooth...some nice warming characteristics but it is not harsh at all....very smooth...

Overall a hell of a doppel...reminds me some of Celebrator in that it is not a huge in your face brew....subtle...smooth...tasty...nicely done....

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2006 04:09:45 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into my small snifter cold
A - Deep beautiful chestnut brown lager with garnet higlights. Almost like a few drops of black coffee dissipating into medium grade maple syrup. A lovely medium tan head that diminishes into a a practically absent one that allows minimal lacing.

S - Vinous malt and sweet wood scents waft up to my nostrils. Dry graham cracker sugar like biscuit scents emanate from the the core of this bock. A pleasant almost port like scent with slightly floral hop underpinnings is detected.

T - A rush of nutty grainy and sweet date-like flavors greet the tongue. Tannic ever so faint grape skin fruitiness makes its way around the boundaries of my mouth. More nuts and woody flavors mix with sweet and somewhat sap like flavors. Subtle roastiness manages to give a sweet nutty grainlike quality along with minute hints of vegetal flavors.

M - Rich, sweet, slightly effervescent textures here. Syrupy light maple qualities just shy of cloying with tinges of bitteness.

D - A greatly drinkable lager for the substantial gravity. It is consumed best in limited quantities-a finesse beer with many strengths. Excellent for winter with warming qualities

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2007 17:42:04 | More by Slatetank