Festbier - Victory Brewing Company

dfillius

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: Aggressive pour yields 2/3 finger of off-white head that subsides to nothing. More head please. Liquid is a crystal clear amber color.

S: Crisp fruity nose, but very little smell overall.

T: Malty sweetness at first with a hint of crisp hops. Very balanced and clean. No fruity yeast taste, what a lager. Special because it is so solid.

M: So smooth, no off feel or flavor

D: A session beer all the way. Gimme more.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 18:02:44 | More by dfillius

Brewnami

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I just found this in the back of my fridge and I forgot how good it is. This particular one is not the freshest Victory Festbier I've had as I bought this in October and its been sitting in my fridge for almost 4 months, but its still great. Honestly one of my favorite Oktoberfest beers. I put this one up there with Paulaner and Spaten. Best American Oktoberfest I've had so far. Obviously you probably wont be finding this very easily right now and perhaps it may be best to wait for August of this year to try it for the first time. Sweet and malty, crisp and clean, very drinkable. Highly recommended for Oktoberfest fans.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2009 02:59:19 | More by Brewnami

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- light amber color not much head or lacing

Smell-malts are the main smell

Taste-Sweet and malty just like an Octoberfest should taste like

Mouthfeel- very good smooth and light

Overall- I always like this beer not sure what took so long to review but definitely one of the best Octoberfests out there

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 01:14:04 | More by ejimhof

magine

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a nonic.

Pours a hazy deep copper/amber. Head is off white and fluffy, nice tight bubbles. Head settles to a patchy island. Good clinging lace. Good looking brew.

Brew smells very malty; caramel, sweet bready malts as well. Some floral hops. Good nose.

Brew tastes sweet and smooth initially; creamy roasted nuttiness in the middle. Almost has a smoked flavor in the end as it warms. Nice chewy full bodied brew here. Nice dry nutty flavors in the end as well. A nice floral hop in there as well. Good flavors and balance. A great drinking, great tasting marzen. Very good.

This is a top tier oktoberfest/marzen for me. Up there with Great Lakes take on the style. I would love to sample both to see which one I prefer, but this is a damn good brew. Case worthy indeed.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:38:55 | More by magine

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Another solid offering from a great company... have not been dissapointed by any brews from Victory... Strange to say, I copped this Oktoberfest beer in late Decemeber, probably being only one of two six-packs left at Bottle King in Glen Ridge... best before January 14, so I still got some time to enjoy this one... Pours a brownish copper color with a ruby red glow... smell is very buttery and creamy... The taste is great, with caramel, vanilla, butter, and bread flavors... The best thing about this beer is that it went down so easily... like drinking water... mouthfeel was equally exceptional, and although this isn't the most flavorful offering I've sampled from Victory, it's clean, creamy taste truly satisfies... will definitely purchase this again next autumn... Certainly recommended...

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 00:33:47 | More by dsa7783

rtratzlaff

North Carolina

4.4/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This Marzen pours a clear reddish copper with a 1" head that dissipates leaving little lacing.

The aromas are bready malt, earthy hops and slightly metallic.

The flavor is dry with biscuit malt with a light sweetness that is matched and balanced by a herbal and earthy hop flavor.

The body is medium with a crisp carbonation that sits well on the tongue.

This is nothing to seek out, but a decent brew that hits the style spot on.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 18:24:47 | More by rtratzlaff

sweethome

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The best of my mid-atlantic fest beer tasting.

Pour is light copper color, looks like autumn. Nose is spot on to fest beer tradition - fresh, sweet malts. Complex, fruity.

Such a smooth, yet full flavored entry. Rich malts, builds to beautiful ending of maltisweetness moved on by a hint of noble hops. Carmel malts, nutty complexity.

A winner.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 00:47:26 | More by sweethome

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Copper amber with an orange glow to it leaves a nice sized cream vanilla colored head with sufficient lacing left after the foam wains away. Aroma: Slight floral hop note lingers in there but more importantly a toasted malt character that is possibly the most delicate and pleasant from an Oktoberfest bier to this point mildly sweet Bavarian malts a blended so nicely here. Tase: Defines a well balanced beer, not tame or muted just made in an accurate approach toward the Oktoberfest or Marzen style that is consumed by the liter in Munich every year rolling syrup like malt sweetness with toasted nuts representing as the backbone of delicious tasty brew from Victory. Mouthfeel: Not watery but medium to light bodied has a slightly sticky texture that glides well down the palate. Drinkabilty: Must surely be the most drinkable example of an American made Ofest to date, wow just awesome beer everyone needs to sample this beer then go out and buy a case like I am going to.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2003 22:41:51 | More by WVbeergeek

nomad

Kansas

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dead clear light copper, this beer had a thin head and little lace in the served pint glass. It smelled of husky grain, Munich malt, coming together to be bready in a wonderful way. Also, a strong presence of lemony hops. Tasted of these lemony hops on top of smooth and quietly strong Munich malt. Slightly textured grain accents in the middle, this beer was fruity without being necessarily this or that fruit.

A true embodiment of that classic amber flavor of Oktoberfests, mainly because of the thin body and flavor profile. Quaffable and easy, yet a sipper too if you wish. Next to Paulaner, for me, as a great Oktoberfest beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2003 02:07:54 | More by nomad

sacfly

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoy by Jan 1 06 on front of bottle.

Pours a clear amber color with a large, thick head of medium bubbles. Smell is a gentle mix of musty grains and slight sweetness. Fresh bread.

Taste is grainy, bread again, with a slight caramel sweetness and subtle hops. Mild bitterness comes in the aftertaste. Medium to light body.

Very enjoyable. I could drink this all day. Not too sweet like some Oktoberfest. A very well crafted brew!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2005 23:54:13 | More by sacfly

jdlivezey

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is a very drinkable Octoberfest. Very smooth, with a clean finish. From a lager perspective, I really like it. I was expecting a different finish, thinking there would be more bite at the end. Nothing like that at all...very smooth. This is a beer that should be available all year long.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2009 12:48:11 | More by jdlivezey

weller1js

West Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: pours a clear, vibrant orange with light carbonation, little foam and no lacing.

smell: well-balance with a rich harvest malt scent, a light hop aroma is present as well.

taste: starting surprisingly and unexpectedly clean, the maltiness presents itself late in the finish, with a very light, yet pleasing hoppy-maple undertone complemented by a just as pleasing harvest earthiness, finishing with a spicy-bitter sensation.

mouthfeel: I typically don't make the effort to critically review in the mouthfeel category, but it is worth noting that while the appearance lacked in significant carbonation, the spicy-bitter sensation serves to give the impression of carbonation, very surprising.

drinkability: was pleasantly surprised with this one, it has everything to expect in the Märzen style, and the progression of the experience is spot-on. If they could make this with a slightly higher abv and maintain the same consistency, it would have put it over the top.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 00:10:12 | More by weller1js

Pinto21

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shade red of being copper. Very nice white head.

Herp hop at first followed by sweet malts, a lot of sweet malts.

Malt, oh the malt. The malts have been carmelized. Herbal hops come through in the finish to bring everything together.

Great O-fest, actually best I've had. more hops and malts than the spaten or any imports i've treid

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 16:44:52 | More by Pinto21

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

In my opinion, one of the finest domestically brewed Oktoberfests; but more importantly, one that easily rivals those of Munich! It pours a clear reddish/orange-tinted amber body topped by a frothy ivory head that holds quite well and leaves some very nice lace. Clearly well-brewed! The aroma begs you to delve deeper with a softly sweet and mildly toasty (even gently bready) maltiness that's enhanced by a delicate floral hoppiness that's quite alluring! The mouthfeel is gently crisp from a fine carbonation, and slick across the palate with a medium/full maltiness. The flavor starts with a sweetish maltiness that expresses a soft toastiness and mild toffee notes as well as some lightly floral hop flavor. It sweetens slightly as it warms, but then finishes dry with some gentle bitterness and a lingering nutty and toasty 'crust of bread' note that gives it exceptional drinkability. It continually becons to you taste again! Exceptionally well-balanced and rich without being overbearing! As much as Victory is known for their heavy-handed beers (such as the hop drenched Prima Pils), they should also be recognized for their beers that display impeccable balance. This is one of them and it should not be overlooked!

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2002 18:35:18 | More by NeroFiddled

noel2977

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This - to me - is the sign that fall has come. My favorite Octoberfest brew out there...

Copper appearance, head dissapates upon the pour, very little lacing. The aroma is fruity/malty. The taste is malty-goodiness. A slight hint of yeast, intermingled with some simple fruit flavor and a return of malt on the finish. Not a long lasting finish, but it doesnt need to be. This beer is to the point. Mouthfeel has a perfect amount of carbonation. In summary, i could see myself sitting around with friends on a fall day on the deck drinking a few of these. Very drinkable. Seek it out and try one on for yourself.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 01:29:43 | More by noel2977

RBorsato

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark gold, light amber color with a low head. Light spicy malt aroma and an awesome candy-like sweet flavor (reminiscent of smarties?). There was a nutty character as time went on. A medium bodied and creamy brew. One of the best American style Oktoberfests in my tasting.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 07:49:05 | More by RBorsato

francisweizen

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap at Victory. Dark amber like a marzen should be. A nice white head of foam as well that lasts and leaves nice lacing as well. The aromas are all sweet malts up front and nice green hops on the back. The taste is sweet and malty with a more pronounced caramel flavor than most marzens. There is also the lovely taste of bready malts and fresh hops as well. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and the drinkability is very good. This beer is very festive indeed! Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2004 23:25:29 | More by francisweizen

oelergud

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful transparent bronze-red body with moderate carbonation. Light tan head with a touch of orange, tiny to large bubbles. Both lace and retention are pretty good.
Light lager scent and a sweet bready and grainy element.
Smooth flavors of grass, bread, grain and orange peel. Well balanced. Slightly fruity aftertaste with some mild hops.
Good perfectly full lager body. Nice coating and a hydrating feel without being watery.
This is a good lager that is pleasant to drink and likely to be a repeat.

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2006 15:23:42 | More by oelergud

LeftyBWS

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. brown bottle into a mug. The label declares "enjoy by Dec 30 '07"
A: Copper-amber in color, clearish and bright. Roughly one inch of smooth off-white head comes with the pour, and it recedes quickly to leave a thin layer atop the beer.
S: I can practically smell this from a few feet away, and it's quite nice. Sweet malts and a subtle earthiness are most noticeable, and there's a crisp grassy scent underneath, as well. After letting the beer warm a bit, I get a slight deep fruit smell along with a more noticeable hop scent.
T: Sweet yet crisp up front. The sugars explore the mouth and give way to a more noticeably hoppy taste in the middle. The underlying caramel malts remain tasteable, but they're not quite as sweet. The finish is a continuation of these tastes, with the addition of a little smoky taste, although the lingering flavor is sweetish and malty.
M: Relatively light and perfectly refreshing. Hardly a hint of unnecessary bitterness or alcohol
D: Great, I could drink this all night.
Overall, a fantastic beer for this time of year, or anytime for that matter.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2007 02:00:14 | More by LeftyBWS

Joker2008

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: Copper in Color, typical thin Octoberfest head

s: Malts

t: Malty but not too sweet. A Little spice on the back end. mmm!.

m: medium carbonation, very smooth nicee finish

d: very drinkable. Nice balance of flavors and body

Overall:
This one of my favorites in style. A very tasty drinkable beer.

Everything I expect from an Octoberfest

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2008 02:46:22 | More by Joker2008

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've always heard good things about this offering from Victory and now that they distribute to Tn, I can finally try it fresh...

Pours a beautiful burnished bronze color with a persistent fluffy head.. This just looks like the arrival of Fall if that makes any sense... Warm and inviting...

Classic O-fest aromas of sweet biscuity malt and a touch of noble hops thrown in for good measure... Smells a lot like the German Oktoberfests which is a really good thing...

And its spot on taste-wise as well... Sweet delicious malts that are delicately balanced by the slight bitterness of the hops towards the end.. Lingers at the finish...

Very very nice Oktoberfest from the folks at Victory... May be the best domestic Marzen I've had, right up there with Left Hand..

Highly recommended...

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2009 22:37:58 | More by Tilley4

mtnbikerpa

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle, pours amberish copper color with a copious amount of carbonated bubbles coming to the top. About 2 inches of off white head. Strong aroma of malts. Sweet malts of a caramel nature, substantial hop backbone. This is my favorite of the Oktoberfest beers and I look forward to it each year. I normally end up buy a couple cases. And just a side not, I have drank it well into March and it was fine.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 23:33:51 | More by mtnbikerpa

Hansford

Pennsylvania

4.51/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a Guiness glass.

A: Beautiful shade of brownish red/copper. Not very dark, but you know that you are going to get a full taste. Thin head, off-white.

S: Malts, malts, malts. Faint scent of hops, but this thing is all malts on the nose.

T: You get a ton of sweet malts. As Victory always does, the malt is very well-balanced with a touch of hops. Perhaps a little dried fruit as well. Fantastic flavor here.

M: Unlike a lot of "Oktoberfest" beers, this is pretty crisp.

Overall, this is definitely one of my top 3 favorite beers out there, if not my favorite. I found this bottle in the basement, thinking that all of them from the case bought in September's case were gone. What a surprise! But it's always available at the brewery, thank god.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 22:33:42 | More by Hansford

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

bb 12/12/05

deep orange color, thin stream of lively carbonation and a respectable head of smooth velvet and coarse bubbles. solid lacing. aroma screams lager yeast with a perfectly subtle malt richness and the faintest hint of hops. so drinkable and refreshing. light black pepper notes and a crisp autumn malt sweetness are detectable.. full bodied but light in terms of gravity, this beer goes down in big gulps. so fresh... unbelievable. carbonation, freshness, hop spice and malt smokiness add a faux-sense of fall spice... when in reality, this is nothing more than a well crafted, four ingredient beer. mild hint of alcohol in the finish is the only negative i can see here. difficult beer to get right- bill and ron have done it.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2005 04:48:23 | More by goodbyeohio

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A while back I bought a six-pack of Festbier and decided to save one bottle for a review. Tonight, I decided to drink it side by side with Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest. What a great experience this was, seeing how an American brewery has taken a very traditional style and put its American stamp on the beer. What I ended up determining by trying these two next to one another is that they are both of equal caliber, yet they must be considered in different categories. Festbier is clearly an interpretation of an original (and an excellent one at that!). Hacker-Pschorr is the mold for Oktoberfest beers, so it is by default, a classic and almost flawless beer.

The label says "Enjoy by Jan 06 09". Poured into an Amber Bock glass.

A: Good two fingers of almost white head sits on top of a perfectly clear, radiant copper body. The clarity is better than Hacker-Pschorr. The head retention is pretty good, and there is a minimal amount of lacing that is evident.

S: There is a faint smell, yet what can be perceived is predominantly malty with little wisps of hops. I can easily pick up notes of bread and honey in this beer. The smell is very clean. Overall, I would say that this beer has a great smell, but it could use some volume.

T: Definitely hoppier than the Hacker-Pschorr...well-balanced, giving an edge to the malts while keeping the hop flavor present. The aftertaste is sweet and bread/biscuit. Notes of honey. A well designed beer that follows a traditional German brew in the style of an American brewery.

M: Wet mouthfeel, with crisp carbonation. Smoother and less body than the Hacker-Pschorr. It is still medium bodied though.

D: Excellent drinkability. I would highly recommend that you drink this offering from Victory. It is delicious and a great example of the style. I could drink this all day.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 13:15:36 | More by MusicaleMike