Festbier - Victory Brewing Company

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

PhageLab

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap @ The Tap House in Hampton.

A - Nearly clear light brown, produced a 1/4 inch head that stuck around for a few after being poured into a pint glass. Minimal lacing.

S - Like roasted almonds and something sweet, possibly vanilla bean.

T - Lightly toasted malt profile with hints of something sweet, again I'm picking up vanilla. Well balanced as nothing overpowers your senses.

M - Average, decent carbonation and a light crispy body.

D - All in all, nothing spectacular here, but a decent brew that everyone should at least try once. I could definitely have a few, and next season, I will try a few more.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2007 16:14:19 | More by PhageLab

Abita45

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have had this beer from the tap and by bottle. Each time, it offers up a clear, clean copper color, little to no head, and a sweet, brown sugar aroma and maltiness. The taste is smooth, malty, and for a drinkable as I find this beer to be, the malt gives it some substance and there are enough hops to give it a little bite. Unlike many Octoberfests, where there is a roasted malt or dark molasses taste, this beer is on the sweeter side of this style, but it works well and makes for a well rounded autumn beer. This beer will appear to a broad spectrum of people because it bridges darker fall beers and amber lagers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2007 23:19:05 | More by Abita45

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Amber brown body with a thick healthy cream white head.

S: Strong malt aromas power through with a dash of hops in the back end

T: The malt aroma is manifested in a rich malty taste. Caramel comes through a bit towards the middle and a strong roasted finish.

M: Creamy mouthfeel that sits on the palate with a bit of carbonation.

O: Very refreshing... first had this at Victory's Fall Fest... fresh and lovely on a warm fall day.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2007 17:46:27 | More by callmemickey

Stimack

New York

3.35/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served to a nice clear amber color with a good-sized frothy head that had a nice retention leaving a good amount of lacing at the top of the glass. The aroma seems to be musty with a great deal of malt wrapped together. Some spiciness seems to be present as well along with a slight nut and alcohol scent breaking through. Over all a pretty good smelling brew. The taste, to me, seemed to disappoint. It did not seem to have enough oomph, seemed watered down. The Malt flavors where there but they did not stick out. The flavors that where present where caramel, nuts, toasted grain and a hop/dry finish. Not a bad beer but do feel that it holds up against some of the better Marzens from Germany and is mediocre to a number of Marzens brewed here domestically.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2007 12:24:24 | More by Stimack

beerking1

Virginia

4.97/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beautiful garnet-amber color, crystal clear, pure white, small head. The aroma is a great combination of Munich Malt and subtle hops. That, however, is only the beginning. The real pleasure comes with the first sip, and last until the last drop. This is a great example of the style, exhibiting the unique flavors of a true decoction mash, with the wonderful malliard flavor components this brings. Seek this beer out!

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2007 01:33:44 | More by beerking1

ncvbc

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pour was a dark copper color, thin head and decent carbonation.

Smell was sweet and bready. A little earthy hop presence also comes through for a brief moment.

Taste is more sweet malts. Caramel and a light bit of chocolate, more and more as it warmed. Some hints of fruit and less hops than smell suggested.

Mouthfeel is smooth and medium.

Overall the drinkability is pretty good here. Nothing stands out with this offering but it seemed solid enough.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2007 06:34:33 | More by ncvbc

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

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear, reddish-brown body with a white head.

Smell: Aroma of toasted malts with a bit of caramel and a light fruitiness.

Taste: Bready maltiness with only a light caramel sweetness to it. Very, very light hint of roasted grain. Faint yeastiness. There's a soft, tea-like bitterness on the dry, crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Make no mistake, this beer may not be overly complex, but it is exceedingly drinkable, in every possible way. In fact, it's the best Oktoberfest beer I've had all year (only two, as of writing this).

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2007 21:14:16 | More by ChainGangGuy

cichief

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on draft at the Frisco Grille and Cantina, Columbia, MD.

A- Pours a deep amber color (perfect for the style) with a thin tan head.

S- Smells bready and malty, subtle hops finish.

T- A nice taste of malt, but not too sweet, a fresh fest beer.

M- Not overly carbonated, very smooth, medium body.

D- A very good example of the style, a little more hop finish would have put this beer at a 5.0.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2007 02:35:06 | More by cichief

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Victory- Festbier

Appearance- Golden chestnut brown with no head.
Smell- Light sugary malt with hints of earthy hops.
Taste- Full flavored malt with mollasses. Nice earthy hop flavor well balanced.
Mouthfeel- Lighty sweet with a solid flavor throughout.

Overall- Much better 2nd time around. A good session beer!

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2006 20:02:43 | More by NJpadreFan

JohnnyM2002

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap into a 4 oz tasting glass.

Pours an orangish/brown with a 2-inch foamy head. Smells of sweet, roasted malt. Very good blend of malt, a hint of citrus, and sweet caramel. Goes down a little on the thick side and has a nice caramel aftertaste. Very drinkable lager...great for enjoying at night as a dessert brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2006 00:24:36 | More by JohnnyM2002

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Victory brewery bar.

This beer poured a nice yellow/orange color with a nice thin white head that disapated rather quickly. The beer has a nice aroma of sweet malts and a bit of a bready nose to it. The taste is pretty much what you get with the aroma. A nice bit of sweet malts with the earthy, bread smell / taste. The taste does not linger in the mouth for very long but this is still a solid beer and very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2006 01:55:21 | More by ggaughan

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer came a dark burgundy with some orange highlights and no head. Smelled of a smoky sweet lager with some pasty oats and a slight nip of unobtrusive hops. Tasted of fruity raspberries, doughy and pasty oat malt with a nice bitter snap in the finish. Mouth feel was medium bodied with a sharp electric small bubbled carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2006 18:56:59 | More by DarkerTheBetter

HugoGrim

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Victory Brewery.

The first beer I tried on my trip to Victory, it arrived a copper/bronze color with a small white head. Carbonation visible throughout, and nice lacing down the glass.

Scent is herbal/spiced hops with bread. Very clean.

Crisp. Malts and hints of caramel up front with Earthy hop spice backing it up.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2005 14:27:40 | More by HugoGrim

EPseja

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a sixtel of this from Andy's in Bogota, NJ for a pary I had this weekend. There is no substitute! Draught beer for a party rules over any other means - especially when it comes to spreading the good BA word. Drank it from 1/2 yards all evening long.

A - Poured a beautiful clear amber honey colored brown with a very respectable head. Good for an Oktoberfest bier.

S - Mildly yeasty maltiness with a hint of hops. Clean and fresh. No detriments.

T - Straight up caramel malts off the bat. Not overly sweet, to it's credit. The finish brings about a nice, subdued hoppy dryness, without being obtrusive. Easy!

M - Mildly carbonated, rising to an even froth before the finish. Very easy to drink as a session beer.

D - So so easy! The moutfeel and taste make this an easy drinker. You could only be so lucky as to be able to score a mini-keg of this as I did.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2005 03:44:12 | More by EPseja

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appears a copper toned amber with a decent white head that sticks around. Lots of sticky lacing tries it's best to cling.
Smell is of rich malt, a bit of sweet fruit, a touch of sour bread, along with a mild helping of hops for good measure.
Taste is a nice blend of the above making for a nice rendition of the style with just enough difference to make it a Victory beer.
Mouthfeel is malty sweet with some sours and bitters and a crispness on the tongue and palate.
Pretty enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2005 17:04:35 | More by weeare138

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

rdrummer

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is not my favorite Victory brew, but it is very drinkable. It is light amber color with a small off-white head. The aroma is one of the barley malt and a kicker of hops. The taste is pretty much the same. By comparison with the good German Fest beers, this is not quite there. In contrast to the Spaten brews and the like, this is superior. It is a pretty thick feeling beer but is very drinkable. It goes down very smoothly leading to drinking more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2004 22:36:36 | More by rdrummer

stingo

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A very nice offering from Victory - a bit thicker/chewier than its German counterparts, it fills the stomach quicker, but not without some great taste. Nice light caramel throughout with a dash of hops at the back to round out the flavor. Definitely a beer to have with food (pizza and/or pretzels come to mind) as well as on its own.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2004 02:51:38 | More by stingo

Boto

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught @ Victory: This one pours a bit of a coppery color, with only a little head. Some lacing down the glass. A fairly decent malt nose. A trace of hops. The taste is pretty much along the same lines. There is a bit of a smokey, dry taste to it also. A very smooth, easy drinking beer. Good for session drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2003 21:37:46 | More by Boto

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

ElGuapo

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep red amber in the glass topped with a minimal coating of white foam that dies quickly but manages to leave some lacing on the glass. The aroma is pretty faint. Nice hop notes and dashes of orange along with some slightly bready maltiness.

The flavor is a bit lacking, but it is pretty good. Orange peels along with a little bit of hop bite give it a nice flavoring, just toned down. Some sweetness comes in, but it stays very well-balanced. Orange peels also add an interesting note. It is very drinkable, and it is definitely different from the other micro Oktobers I have had this year. A great session brew, but just a bit light for me.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2003 16:33:06 | More by ElGuapo

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This seems to be one of the truer to the style Oktoberfests I have sampled. Draft pour left little head atop this amber/orangey brew. Bready aroma with a hint of alcohol in the nose. This beer seemed to have more of an alcohol character than the 5.6% showed. Bready malts balance this alcohol flavor nicely. Mouthfeel is slick and clean. Not a great fall seasonal, but Victory has stayed true to the style, as they usually do. This is a decent seasonal, but to me not worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2003 17:58:47 | More by IrishRedRock

bierman2000

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A better Oktoberfest beer, very malty and somewhat dry. There is a slight hop character. Very refreshing and a great beer to drink with almost any food. It is not overpowering and leads to being drank with ease and in copious amounts. Worth seeking out on tap as it is much better than the bottle version.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2003 13:36:26 | More by bierman2000