Festbier - Victory Brewing Company

Extrajoker00

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pilsner glass

Review from notes: Beer Tasting 09-23-2011

A : Brownish amber with a thin head

S : roasted malt and caramel

T : Sweet roasted and caramel

M : Smooth and a slow finish

D : Left me wanting more

I felt this was a good Oktoberfest and would recommend

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 02:29:21 | More by Extrajoker00

jmshulk

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Aroma: Really nice fall, grassy type of smell with some malts and maybe a hint of lemon.

Appearance: Awesome looking deep dark orange/redish color. Light Tan head the falls slowly and gently.

Taste: Nice bold toasted malt flavors with a little grass, some subtle lemon flavor. Not much bitterness.

Feel: Nice and smooth, medium plus body, with medium carbonation.

Overall: Really nice, refreshing fall beer. I've picked this up the past two falls and like sitting back and enjoying it once the weather starts to take a turn and feel more Fallish. It's got a really nice earthy flavor that goes down all too easy.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 01:22:29 | More by jmshulk

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle, well within stamped freshness dating

A - Crystal clear copper body with a fluffy, tan head that has good retention and good lacing.

S - I get some herbal, grassy German hop smells up front. A little out of style, but a welcome variation. The hops fade after a few minutes leaving a nice bready, caramel malt.

T - Sweet, bready malts with a good dose of caramel. Hops balance with a touch of herbal, leafy bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium body with the carbonation a bit too high. Finishes mostly clean with a lingering sweetness.

O - Nice representation of the style, with the hops being a welcome twist.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 16:01:30 | More by garuda

drabmuh

Maryland

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

At the time of this review, this beer is the #32 Märzen / Oktoberfest on the beeradvocate.com best of styles list, poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a New Belgium globe glass.

Beer is dark amber with a mild haze, lazy head, low carbonation.

Aroma is mildly nutty and mildly sweet, nice.

Beer is medium in body and sweet, nice finish, mildly bitter, really drinkable, good mouthfeel. I enjoyed it and would have it again, the munich malt comes through nice on the finish and midpalate.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 04:07:17 | More by drabmuh

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Pours a pale amber with 1/4" of bubbly head that fades to a thin lacing. Rich, caramel malt notes dominate the nose. Taste is deep, toasty malts with a rich, caramel follow through. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a good deal of carbonation.

Overall not a bad marzen. The toastiness is a little more than you'll get from most marzens, and it's not as rich as most. A good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 23:53:41 | More by tdm168

Rhettroactive

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 9/19/11
*From notes

A: Lovely blood orange-amber. A good pour yields a 1.5 finger frothy head and some really thick and chunky lacing.

S: A generous amount of nuttiness hits the nose here, which I find really appealing. The toasty malt mingles well with the nutty-earth quality, making for a solid bouquet.

T: First of all, it's not sweet - thank God. I like my O-Fest's crisp and dry, with some decent toast and a kiss, I mean a just a peck of hops. Luckily for me, all of the qualities I just mentioned describe this wonderful, easy drinking and delicious Märzen.

M: Compared to most in the Oktoberfest style, this is one well put together lager. It's not overly rich. Rather, the carbonation is a tad bubbly, making this something that's not only crisp, but packing solid substance.

O: Victory's Festbier is easily one of the top two or three American Märzen's I've had the pleasure of quaffing, and reminds me yet again of just how well Victory lagers. It's rustic in all the right ways, yet it's something I can return to again and again. Crazy, insanely drinkable. Buy it by the case.

Between this and Great Lakes Oktobefest, there's no need to look elsewhere for your next Märzen fix.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 21:56:41 | More by Rhettroactive

witster18

Tennessee

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A good accessible Okt.

Very malty profile... near choco hints... woodsy... sharp hop to balance late, but very sweet... scrumptious flavor, but a bit less alcohol/heat than most of the style and a bit more flavorful than most in the style...

will definitely re-visit....

the German versions tend to feel 'thinner' than this, but the differences here are quite refreshing... I don't know if this really helps in the drinkability aspect that is supposed to be part of the enjoyment of the style, but as for flavor, this is great!

probably the 4rth or 5th best american okt I've had....

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 20:42:41 | More by witster18

david18

New York

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

Below is a review I wrote about the bottle version of this.

An above average october fest that's not too strong on the malt to not be a good warm weather drinker. Good brown color, low carbonation, smell pretty good. This beer was not very expensive and as such was good for an inexpensive octoberfest.

---

The draft version was pretty much the same. A good Octoberfest that's worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 19:13:09 | More by david18

russwbeck

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear golden brown pour with only a small head.

S: Smells a lot more like an amber ale than a marzen/oktoberfest. Lot's of fruity hops and caramel malts.

T: The taste comes through a lot more like a marzen, with hints of typical amber ale characteristics in the back. Malty, with fruity hops in the background. Bread, crackers, caramel malts and hops.

MF: Carbonated well, crisp, light

O: Very drinkable, refreshing. Great beer for the fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 03:23:39 | More by russwbeck

thebrood1987

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I get a very rich smell of roasted malts that almost smell burnt in a way. I also get some soapiness (not in a bad way) and some subtle earthy hop character. The taste is all smooth rich and sweet caramel, toffee and bready malt which ends up melding with the slight flowery, floral hop that you can taste in Victory's hoppier beers.

My favorite thing about this obviously the sweet rich malt character which adds to a very nice body for a beer of this alcohol content. I'm also getting a slight nutty flavor mixing in with the sweet malts. I heard the brewer explain its a party beer because they made it sweet on the tongue which is something the brain says to wash away so you take another sip.

In the end the hops round everything out and really balance out that roasted flavor. The malts really seem to be roasted closer to burnt but not really. It does add for a very autumn like beer. One of my favorites of the season. Exceptionally well crafted.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 01:50:34 | More by thebrood1987

theotherone87

Pennsylvania

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

I purchased a case of this for my pittsburgh friends..

A-Pours a nice caramel color, with a frothy head with a strong pour.. It is easily seen thru

s- Not a strong hoppy beer, as it is a marzen, smells of some breads maybe ,and maybe some german hops

t- the taste is the best part, it is a nice easily drinkable beer for october and or a nice nite slash tailgating beer.

m-nice light carbonation,

o- I enjoy many of victories beers, and this one does fail.. I bought a case for my friends and I know they will enjoy this victory

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 00:24:57 | More by theotherone87

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark copper with a 1/2 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a thin film. Thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, caramel, and a roasty aroma. Taste is of toasted malt, caramel notes, and a roasty/bitter flavor. The aftertaste is of the roast/bitterness as well. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice toasted/roasted malt quality to it.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 05:21:32 | More by UCLABrewN84

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

dbtoe

Wisconsin

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

This is a good not great O-fest. I liked it, but probably will not be seeking it out.
12 oz bottle poured into a pint
Look is a darker golden with a finger of head.
Smell just like almost all Ofest beers, mild and malty.
Taste is full of fest malt maybe a tad bit of char. This really comes out in the finish witch lasts forever.
Feel is a little too much carbonation.
Overall it is a good tasting O-fest. I just think the after taste lasted way too long. Good beer if I’m only having 1, may become too much if having a sixer at a time.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 04:08:22 | More by dbtoe

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a standard pint glass. Fresh 2011 bottling.

A: Clear orange/copper colored body with a creamy, slightly off-white head. A moderate retention cap sticks around the entire time; however in traditional lager nature no real lace sticks around.

S: Sweet caramel, allspice, brown sugar, candy apple, toasted malts and some cereal. It does smell good and there are a lot of elements coming through but the style doesn't really allow for an overly aromatic nose.

T: Sweet dark grains, toasted malts, touches of honey and spice come through and last into mid-palate. A touch of floral hops and caramel are in the finish, with almost a quenching quality to the beer. It's extremely good and very flavorful, especially for a style some would argue is lacking in terms of flavor.

M: Bubbly and lively carbonation but not overly so giving it a medium body. It's very crisp and clean with a semi-dry finish.

In all honesty, this is one of the best Oktoberfests I've tasted. It has much more flavor than a majority of the American brewed (and even some German brewed) ones, with no off flavors. Easily one beer I will be stocking the fridge full of this fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 12:48:45 | More by ShanePB

schwaeh

Ohio

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

A: Pours a fairly transparent orange-amber color. Fluffy 2 finger white head fades slowly into a little cap. Light carbonation.

S: Caramel, toasty grains, and some doughy biscuit make up the aroma. A light dose of hops is present. Smells slightly sugary with some real nice fall scents.

T: The caramel and brown sugar start things off with some darker sugary flavors. The toasted biscuity malts follow along providing foundation for things. I got some vanilla and toasted nuts in there somewhere. Hops are barely detectable on the finish but help give that crispness at the end.

M: Somewhere between thin and medium but the creamy carbonation and richness help it feel bigger than it is.

O: Another great beer from Victory. Not my absolute favorite marzen but one I'm happy to have around when things are cooling off. I'm sure to buy some more of this.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 01:07:16 | More by schwaeh

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

Thanks you Victory for dating your bottles: Best by Jan 4 2012.

A: Poured a dark brown, caramel color, with kind of a burnt disposition overall. Clear in appearance, and with a rather sizable mildly off-white head.

S: Victory's yeasty malt profile upfront, with a substantial wafting of sweet German malts smacking me in the snooter. Some roasted nuts (chestnuts) as well as a tinge of cigar ash.

T: Really nice nutty finish... sort of a mothball-like quality there as well. A bit of bitter lingering that wasn't too bad, but was noticable.

M: A bit too "thick and chewy" to be a highly drinkable O-fest. Maybe I'm being picky here, but I would have preferred a little more subdued bitterness so that I might be tempted to pop a few of these.

O: I dug Victory's taste profile and honestly believe that they are some of the best in the biz at styles like this (Moonglow is a wow beer!), but I simple thought this was too rich for my taste. Still, this was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 23:12:54 | More by Chaney

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

WestValleyIPA

California

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Stone IRS tulip. Gorgeous amber color and a frothy, off-white 2 fingers of head. Smells of sweet malt, earthy grain, a roasted nut quality, light hop scent. Up front a light fruity sweetness, followed by a blast of nuttiness. Lots of barley/undefined grains. Extremely light hop bitterness on the finish. Dry. Very creamy mouthfeel. Little to no prickly bubbles. Just smooth, easy drinking. Great Marzen.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 21:59:30 | More by WestValleyIPA

Tballz420

Minnesota

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

Victory Festbier pours out a clear, copper colored brew, with a small white head topping it off. Not much in terms of carbonation.

The scent is what I want from the style, loads of European varieties of malts, fairly earthy and with some fruit notes poking through.Pretty doughy.

Loads of toasted, bready malts, nuts, vanilla, spicy hops, nice and sweet. Smooth mouth which finishes a bit dry.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 00:48:50 | More by Tballz420

adamette

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Live review. Poured from the 12 oz. brown bottle that I bought as a single last week from Save-On in Mentor, Ohio for $1.52 into my “The Second City” Weizen glass. “Enjoy by Jan 2 2012” stamped ever so lightly on the front of the label.

A Light brown creamy head over a nice copper translucent body which is very much to style. Lacing is fair to good after repeated sips. 3.0

S Strong barley malt husks smell that is both pleasing and something that I anticipate with this style. 3.5

T Really solid tasting barley malt centric beer that hits all of the style points but also offers a smooth feel that drives the drinkability up. I may have had slightly better Oktoberfest beers but few are more drinkable than this one. 4.0

M As described above, remarkably smooth feel. 4.0

D/O Also as mentioned above, really drinkable (I find that most every beer in this style is quite drinkable…I think that it is pretty much the idea of a fest beer) and overall this beer is good among other beers within its style. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 00:05:55 | More by adamette

Kromes

Georgia

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

A: a clear copper color with a thick off-white colored head.

S: One of the better smelling octoberfests that I've had. A nice toasted grain and bready malt aroma.

T: Sweet toasted malts. Maybe of touch of hop to offset the sweetness a little.

M: Light body and medium carbonation.

O: I really like this beer. Easy drinking and quality all around. One of the best Marzens I've had so far this season.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 21:46:09 | More by Kromes

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is clear copper in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high beige head that died down but never completely faded away.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of caramel and toasted malts in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the overall taste is quite malty and has flavors of caramel and toasted malts with hints of malty sweetness and a touch of bitterness and spiciness in the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied, clean and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness towards the finish.
O: The beer is very easy to drink despite all of the maltiness because the hops help to balance off the associated sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 21:31:26 | More by metter98

mooseo

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into pint glass.

A - Brilliant, clear dark amber with a small head. Not much retention.

S - Inviting aromas of roasted malts and spices.

T - Big roasted malt flavor up front, followed by some caramel and bready flavors. Hops are noticeable at the end and lend a good balance with the malt. Finishes rather dry with a lingering bready taste.

M - Light - medium in body, smooth mouthfeel. Very low carbonation, which was surprising (possibly a bad bottle?).

D - Nice example of the style, but not great. It has decent drinkability and is worth a try during the fall season.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 02:10:43 | More by mooseo

victory4me

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a standard shaker.

Pours a clear brown with two fingers of head that dissipate quickly with little lacing. Bready aromas of pumpernickle and seedless rye. Spicy yeast quality shines through, which is totally unexpected.

The flavors of brown bread are in the forefront, but a really terrific spicy flavors shine through and bring out nuances that I never expected. Mouthfeel is prickly from the spice and carbonation.

A truly well put together and interesting take on the style. A beer I will keep coming back to as the leaves change year after year. Well done, Victory.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 02:09:04 | More by victory4me