Festbier - Victory Brewing Company

Amalak

New York

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dull copper color that is crystal clear. There are tons of tiny bubbles with a limited head and no lacing. Nice malty scent.

This actually has a lovely rye taste to it. Nice and malty, a touch of caramel sweetness. Nice blend of flavors. This is a very smooth and refreshing beer. Nice carbonated tingle, but not heavy. Very complex and well-executed.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 20:15:02 | More by Amalak

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: My bottle looks just the like captured in the Database. Best Before Date is Dec-12-05; guess its time to crack this sucker.

Appearance: Gorgeous ruddy copper and dark orange body. Vanilla white head is creamy and produces a thin but patterned lacing. Lively but with a low key carbonation.

Nose: Hmmmm……definitely a great component of this brew!! The nose is warming, slightly herbal, mildly spiced with warming toasted caramels and freshly baked bread. Very nice indeed, even a few days past its Best Before Date.

Taste: Parallels the nose, but the tastes are higher in strength. The toasted malts are herbal caramels are dominant. Spicy hops and a lovely soft finish that lingers leaving you wanting more and kicking up the Drinkability a notch or two. A myriad of flavors but they are all in check, controlled and assembled in a very clean manner.

Mouthfeel: The body is like one of the bicycles that Lance Armstrong rides, lightweight but incredibly strong, it never lets you down. Bolstered by a synergistic nose and taste profile the body feel is incredibly solid yet vivacious and fleet of foot. Smooth too!

Drinkability: A tasty brew that has a high end return factor. Oh so easy to put down the throat, but not so easy to put the glass down back on the table. I could easily manage a 6-Pack of these puppies, now worries.

Overall: Lovely Jubbly – one of the best US Oktoberfests that I have sampled to date. I picked this bottle up whilst in PA last month, it’s a real shame that this one doesn’t come West with the other Victory brews. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2005 08:30:01 | More by TheLongBeachBum

rarevos

New York

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pint glass.

A: Pours an amber color with very, very light tan head. Head is about 1/4 finger's worth, and it quickly turns into uber-light lacing and then a ring around the glass.

S: Sourdough aroma up front. There's a tang behind that that's a bit hard to place. Metallic? Cracked wheat and some baker's yeast.

T/M: Very malty up front, but not super sweet. The malt is bready and rich, with a moderate caramel sweetness and a wheat germ flavor. Finish is mildly bitter, with a long and malty tail. Mouthfeel is a bit chewy, like a good hefe.

D: I'm not a huge lager drinker, but this is a really pleasant beer. Balanced, flavorful, and well done. I could drink a few of these for sure.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2006 00:53:14 | More by rarevos

bigdeuce

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ahhh, finally, a great American Oktoberfest!! This one is really good. Highly malty with some stickiness on the glass, leaving some slight lacing. Not much head after the pour. Caramel notes all over with a nice slight hoppy twinge at the end. Nice burnt orange in color. A highly recommended beer and decently priced. I say it rivals Paulaner and Ayinger as my top 3.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 23:08:46 | More by bigdeuce

Alkey

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle fresh date Feb 24, 07. Poured a reddish brown color with very little head. Not much in the smell department but a bit of malt. Taste of bready malts with a slight hop bitterness .Very drinkable I could easily drink a few of these. One of the best October-fest I've tried this year and will look forward to it in the next year.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2006 05:10:48 | More by Alkey

biggred1

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Orange tinted amber with a tight white head that quickly recedes after pouring. Smells of bready yeast and sweet maltiness. Tastes very rich and malty without being sweet, something like fresh pumpernickel with fresh butter flavor. Mouthfeel is fairly light and crisp, highly drinkable. Really nice, probably the best U.S. made oktoberfest i've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 23:50:34 | More by biggred1

FrothyBeverage

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beer has a very bold rich autum color. Froty head and numerus happybubble to the top of the glass. Smells of clove,pumkin, and spices. Very distinguished flavors in the taste. Carmel and harvest tones make this beer tasty. Has a very smooth mouthfeel and goes down fast. I find this to be a quaility beer, victory usually produces excellent beers.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 20:05:34 | More by FrothyBeverage

gabe23

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Deep golden color with a sudsy white head. Nice retention with average lacing.

S - Bready malt, caramel sweetness, and earthy/herbal hops. Just as a Marzen should smell.

T - Nice malty base with a sweetness that is not overwhelming. A nuttiness leads into a fairly bitter hop finish. Very clean flavor, though.

M - Medium body with plenty of crisp carbonation. Just about right for the style.

D - This was a nice Oktoberfest beer with a bit more hops than expected to balance out the malt sweetness. Perhaps a bit too bitter for traditionalists, but I liked it a lot. I'd have no problem drinking these all night.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 00:59:21 | More by gabe23

tjd112

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Poured into Flying Fish pint glass

Appearance: Poured a copper/amber color with a finger off-white head

Smell: Malty and bready

Taste: Caramel and toffee, otherwise, follows smell'

Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation, a bit heavy body

Drinkability - A good session beer

Overall - A good example of the style

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2009 01:39:05 | More by tjd112

gthornton

California

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I love this brewery, and can never say enough good things about them, so I will attempt to keep my flowery affection for them contained in this paragraph... but I must emphasize the overal quality of this brewery, you can taste the quality of ingredients and recipe in all of their beers, so grab them all.

A: Amber brown, with a light tint of orange/red. Fizzy head evaporated within a few minutes after initial pour

S: Biscuit, wheat, caramel, and toffee, with a well balanced, very mild hop characteristic. A hint of fresh cut grass... in a good way.

T: The freshness, and quality, and balance are immediately apparent here. The biscuit and lighter malts are the most notable, and the sweetness of the caramel and toffee balance those out nicely.

M: A very rich, and smooth texture. Very clean finish.

D: This style is designed for heavy consumption, and this might be my favorite rendition of that style. Perhaps a little sweet, and less carbonated than others, but a great fest beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 08:30:58 | More by gthornton

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Stopped by the brewpub for lunch. Had one of these at the bar then got a growler filled.

A: Crystal clear amber in color. Nice carbonation rising throughout. Very nice off-white head after a vigorous pour. Looks great.

S: Smells bready & malty, maybe a little doughy. Malts give a nice sweet aroma.

T: Sweet malts that provide abundant flavors. Nutty (almost walnut like), bready, dough-like, a tad toasty, maybe some slight fruit notes.

M: Nice velvety, medium bodied beer. Very smooth. Has a somewhat creamy texture to it.

D: A very solid, drinkable beer. I like this one in the fall. Not sure if I could drink it year round, but one I would certainly turn to when given the option.

Serving type: growler

09-16-2010 00:48:15 | More by jwhancher

bruachan

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

good clear copper. decent froth

phenomenal lagermalt aroma--pils and toasty vienna. spicy, herbal hop scents. smells like a delicious biscuit (a slightly hoppy biscuit)

not as richly flavored as the scent intimates. clean and caramelly with a refined bittering finish. good toasting. spicy hops--make it kinda refreshing, actually. i was first tempted to express dissatisfaction with the body (it's solid) but i dig it, for style

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 01:38:47 | More by bruachan

MONKandTUCK

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- poured on draught into the proprietary victory .3l glass. It's clearly a lager, with its thick full body holding still in the glass. It's an Amber hue, with a dark note similar to hardwood.

A- malty, nutty, sweet, crisp. Nothing about this beer is hop-forward, but I detect a nice spiciness which balances the bready malt nose very well.

T- This is the nutty and toasted flavors they describe in malts. There's definitely a reminder of sweetbread and cracker. This caramel notes are restrained. It's a delicious beer when the flavor peaks, but it just doesn't hold long enough. Really, it feels a tad thin.

The finish is nice; there's clearly a lot going on. My only complaint is that it has the classic lager bite.

My main complaint, and I think it's substantial, this beer is a lot thinner than I'd like it to be. I know it's not a Bock, but it's as robust as a session lager should be. Sometimes storage causes the beer to have a more noticeable dryness. I think it's great they provide a clean and clear beer, but some of the malt chewiness I was expecting is sadly left to be desired for.

M- It's a bit thin, almost like a pale lager. Otherwise, it's a very drinkable beer.

O- I could easily make this my go-to beer, and regret that the mass-produced stuff can't be on this beer's level. It's very drinkable: the more you drink of it, the more it grows on you. Still, it's clearly missing something; just a little more girth to the body and Victory has a perfect beer!

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2011 19:20:21 | More by MONKandTUCK

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This German style is undertaken very well by Victory; why am I not surprised? The color is a radiant amber hue, and is capped with a smallish white head. The nose is bit toasty, with hints of caramel, and the ghost of autumnal spice. The flavor has a strong nuttiness tending towards almond, and is smoothed out by notes of biscuits and toffee, and yet it does not cross the line into sweetness. Medium-bodied and quite refreshing, this is a very enjoyable example of the style; everything about it is well-done. Now that I think of it, I cannot recall a better Oktoberfest brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2011 23:54:04 | More by ktrillionaire

barknee

New York

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Updated on 11-1-08
I must say that I am certainly enjoying this years vintage of Festbier. Generous malts and a perfect hint of hops make for a brew that is massively enjoyable and delicious. The last time I imbibed unto this brew, last season actually, it was quite one dimensional and uninspiring. If you can find this at your local, pick it up and try it; I think youll like it. Rated as the number two "Oktoberfest" brew by the NY Times recently, blowing away the mass Germanic imports in a tasting competition.
For once I agree with the leftest SOB's at the NY Times. ;-0

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2006 02:27:48 | More by barknee

phisig137

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful amber color with a thin head. Little lacing is left behind, along with a ring of foam on top.

Aroma is full of malty notes of caramel, toffee, slight pleasant diacetyl, and sugar. Smells like mash, and you can almost feel the decoction in your nose. On the palate, it is slightly sweet, and heavily accents the malt, much like an oktoberfest should. Very smooth and clean, and full bodied. Drinkability is good.

Once again, a high quality brew from a brewery that always pleases. One of my favorite oktoberfest beers made in America

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2006 03:11:44 | More by phisig137

BlackJeremiah

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A: Reddish-copper in hue. A cap of persistent bubbles, fed by a few constant streamers.

S: Great whopping malts here. Biscuit, rye bread, sweet grains--like a European bakery. Slight citrus/orange notes, very understated.

T: Big, smooth malts are inviting and delicious. Hops enter a bit of the way in, rounding out the middle of this one. Nice balance, really chewy malt flavors.

M: A bit thicker and chewier body than some other O-fests I've tried. However, this characteristic fits the big ol' Old World malt flavor.

D: I love this time of year--so many highly drinkable O-fests. I've been particularly impressed with the American offerings this year, and this one is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 22:20:54 | More by BlackJeremiah

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer comes out a beautiful amber, very appetizing and inviting. Aroma is fairly strong and malty, not complex but pleasing. Flavor is richly malty with just a hint of spice and no hoppy bitterness. Texture is very smooth. Lip-smacking and easy on the palate, this is a decidedly drinkable beer - good from bottles, but better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2007 02:04:47 | More by Cyberkedi

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into my 24oz stein. Beer 5 of 6 of my BotO.

A: Gorgeous deep copper with a doughy beige head that sinks into a solid disk. Tons of carbonation. Pretty!

S: Bready with some fruit character with some raisins and a hint of figs. Doughy.

T: Bready with a mild caramel sweetness with a mild hop presence The caramel really hits the spot and balances things out beautifully, serving as a bridge from the doughy start to the very mildly bitter finish. Mild fruit character with some figs. Excellent!

M: Light and crisp on the palate with excellent carbonation and a great finish

D: I'm a believer. This is the best I've had so far!

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 23:20:39 | More by DefenCorps

weasbri

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big bubbly head on this one. I had to slow the pour to get it all in the glass. Dark coppery color, with a sweet malty fragrance.
The taste was all about the sweetness of the malt to me with some caramel flavor too. There was a bit of a hoppy flavor in the finish to top it off as well.
On my recent foray to Norm's, I picked up a six-pack of this, with some singles to taste as well, and I'm thinking that the singles will have to wait, as I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2006 23:20:13 | More by weasbri

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A – This one poured a very nice light orange amber with a good looking two inch plus head on the top. Amble carbonation was kept alive throughout which really gave it great retention and helped to keep the lively look of it going. A nice bit of side glass lace was apparent, but the real story here was the complete and total clarity of the color and the great hue to it overall. A very nice, classic looking lager here.



S – Aroma was nice, very light with a touch of fruit to it. Dominated totally though by the earthen malted grans. Lots of cereal and spice with almost what smelled like a touch of pumpkin. I don’t know if itt was really strong enough to be a major competitor in the overall scheme of things, however it did round everything out very nicely. Overall a really good light fall like aroma.



T – The flavor was great. Very light and refreshing. Naturally the biggest player here would be roasted malts and yeast. Nice little floral taste in the finish, which was also quite dry, I have to say a lot drier then I thought it would be fore sure. A nice drinker that went really well with dinner. It did have a noticeable yeast flavor to it, but nothing that was distracting from the overall appeal of it. Really well done I have to say and I have had quite a few lately in these styles, and this was defiantly upper tier for sure.



M – Very smooth would be a perfect way to describe it. Great carbonation helped to keep the flavor light and keep the feel rolling along. A good crisp, quick, and clean finish to it really helped as well. Perfect feel though for the style as it was light enough to keep going but had enough depth to make you stop and think.



D – Great. I could have kept going on this one all night. It just had a great blend of properties that helped to show off at just the right time. The perfect blend of a spiced amber ale mixed with low abv and great carbonation, what more could you ask for other then a 32oz mug.



Overall what can I really say about this one. It was really superb and just what was needed at the time. This was an extremely drinkable, well designed and very filling brew that really gave a good represent of the style and offered a none complicated version. In a day and age where everyone and everything keeps going better, it was nice to see someone just keep it simple and put out a quality everyday brew, well done.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2007 22:30:23 | More by mikesgroove

nickfl

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Amber-brown color with a two finger, just off white head. Retention is ok, but not great, clarity is almost perfect.

S - Deeply bready, malty aroma. Some yeasty character with a slight caramel note and a hint of hops lurking in the background.

T - More intense malty flavors. Quite a bit more caramel with dark bready flavor and some pleasant roasted malt. There is some hop flavor in the middle that leaves a lingering bitterness that blends perfectly with the roasted character in the finish.

M - Smooth thick and creamy mouthfeel. Moderate carbonation and just a bit of astringency towards the finish.

D - Highly drinkable beer, it is easy to put a few of these down. Great festbier overall; the malt character is wonderful and it has just enough hops to balance. The head is good for an American beer, but a bit subpar by German standards and the beer could be just a little bit smoother but, aside from these minor flaws, this is easily one of the best festbiers I have had.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2007 02:55:31 | More by nickfl

williamherbert

New York

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is a clear, glassy reddish orange. One finger of foamy cardboard-brown head. Totally see through.

Well-balanced sweetness in the light hops and mildly bitter German malt. Great combination! Smells fresh and flowery. Great aroma, like a fresh harvest ale.

Bitter German malt dominates the taste, but the sweetness of the yeast balances that. Hops are very delicate, but also add a lot. Very malty and autumnal. Slightly bitter ending.

Unusually smooth, nice body. A bit of Yuengling-like milkyness. Smooth feel perfectly offsets that bitterness. It's really delicious and easy to drink. A truly excellent fall brew. Drinkable but not thin.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2007 04:50:10 | More by williamherbert

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Market Cross Pub and Brewery a few nights ago. Served cool in an Imperial pint glass.

A - A deep amber w/ mahogany shades w/ a full two fingers of off white head that settles quickly into a minimal lace pattern.

S - Nutty lactic odors of malt and yeast w/ a lightly spice hop aroma and buttery sweet nuances of German malts.

M - A blend of full carbonation and dry malty/toasted biscuity textures with subtle sweetness. A gentle bit of spice swirls into the dry finish.

T - A mildly smooth and sweet malty flavor that is crisp w/ a nice grainy fullness that has a creamy round element and a fair amount of twiggy hops in the mix. I like the subtle lactic yeasty aspect that nods to original fests - it has an aroma that is pungent w/ a mellower flavor. The taste is one of Victory's thta I have maintained a fondness for over the years and has stayed true to its origin.

D - A very drinkable Octoberfest/Marzen that is darker than most, but is more flavorful and overall very quaffable. It is a style that is for celebration and this one is fit for it. I am glad this is one of PA's best festbiers since I have been a fest fan since visiting Germany in '92, this one makes PA proud.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2007 12:46:00 | More by Slatetank

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review actually written in January 09 while drinking the last bottle from a case.

Lightly chilled and poured into a Duvel glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: Clear dark orange/amber with a 1" thick white head that lasts a long time and leaves lacing and thin layer of foam on surface.

Smell: The aroma is fresh and has malt mixed with faint floral hops.

Taste: The flavor is complex with rich and bready malty sweetness, some mild caramel and/or toffee with subtle floral hops in the background.

Mouthfeel: Mouthfeel is medium bodied with nice creamy carbonation. The finish is long and dry with an interplay of sweet bready malt balanced by a mild bitterness.

Drinkability: This is a very tasty and drinkable beer and I could do several in an evening. One of the nicest festbiers I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 00:16:24 | More by drtth