Festbier - Victory Brewing Company

Vancer

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazed amber brew looks nice in my freebie Sammy Adams glass. An ivory head lingers about for a short time, and then it settles with just a ring of lace.

Light hops with a bit of pine undertone in the aroma. Bready malt in the quaff, a surprising brew to be a on the sweet, malty side versus more on the hop bandwagon. Nice medium bodied brew to sip in the fall weather.

Very drinkable, but kinda steep with the $10 per sixer price.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 00:16:08 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

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

poured a clear deep amber color with creamy white head. Smell is nutty, malty, and bread-like. Taste follows through with a robust maltiness and toatsed nutts. Finishes big and malty with little hops present. A really good drinking session beer that I look forward to each year.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2005 01:18:22 | More by tgbljb

flagmantho

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz bottle into a mug. Prost!

Appearance: rich amber-orange hue with a crystal-clear body and a thick finger of frothy ivory head. Great!

Smell: dry, biscuity malt, which is style appropriate but not my favorite interpretation of the style. It's a bit prickly and off-putting to me.

Taste: dry, biscuity malt. It starts out breadier and sweeter, but rapidly dries out on the palate. Style appropriate. Bitterness is pretty good, though. Not terrible, but really not to my taste at all.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation. Satisfyingly fizzy.

Overall: I'm just not in love with this beer. There are Oktoberfests that I like, but this just ain't one of 'em.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 17:55:44 | More by flagmantho

Gmann

New York

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

Pours a nice coppor color with a small and short lived head that settled into nothing, bit disappointing. The aroma is of a steely caramel malt, bit bready and grainy. The taste has a nice bready malt base, caramel, touch of grain, not much noticable hops; pretty clean. Nice moderate feel, with semi-soft carbonation, chewy; finishes slightly dry. An good example of an American Oktoberfest; nice bready caramel malt. I expected a bit more of a hop presence from Victory but this malty lager does well.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2008 02:24:46 | More by Gmann

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a growler. Has an amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is very mild, slightly sweet. Taste is very easy drinknig, malty and finishing a tad bitter. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has decent drinkability. Overall this is a pretty good selection.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2009 22:04:15 | More by tone77

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz single bottle into a East End pint glass. Haven't had this one yet, strangely.

Victory Festbier pours out a bright copper/orange color with a very light brown mixed in. The liquid does not look so thin which bodes well. A two finger head rose up with a vanilla white head & fluffiness, some minor bubbles within. A cap stays on the surface throughout, no lacing though.

The smell is a mix between a lager & marzen. It's not huge but when your nose gets near the glass some sparks fly. Festbier is malt driven and that's noticed through fresh baked bread and some sweet sense. This has a somewhat more earthy scent than most in this style from a different form of using the hops. The little green cones don't give off normal hop scents(Tropical fruit, pine, citrus) but more of a down to earth smell.

The taste is familiar for a oktoberfest and doesn't really offer anything new, IMO a marzen is a marzen, at least American versions. Festbier gives off sweet malt first, than a mix of light hops, malts and grain, after that the sweet malt comes back, in that order. The malt is big, the hops are light and the mix makes this a enjoyable and familiar drink. Some bubblegum, cotton candy with some warming on the end.

Fest has a decent enough feel, when I let some sit on the tounge some fizz came off. I am used to these beers being pretty dead but this one shows some life. Not a lot of carb but enough to be felt. Fest is a very small step up from light bodied and could go down the hatch with ease, and pretty quick mind you. The malt base really smooths things over making this very approachable.

I enjoyed this, although I pretty much knew what I was getting into. Festy is a bit different if only for the way the hops gently come out to play. In most Marzens I really only get big malt globs. I would gladly enjoy a sixer of this in a sitting with the low ABV, but 1/2 way through I probably would be looking for a new style to tackle. I've yet to find a oktoberfest that could hold my interest, either way this is good for a go.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2009 23:18:26 | More by onix1agr

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.45/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at the Sunset Grille. Poured a tawny, brown color, and it was quite cloudy. What's up with that? Had a creamy, tan head, which faded quickly, and left no lacing. Verrry mild malt nose...where is it? Mouthfeel was quite nice, though; good body and smooth. Flavor had some ok malt, a smooth flavor but mild. Even a hint of some fruitiness present. Not bad, but not really fest-like. Perhaps it's the tap lines? I'll try it again elsewhere, and keep an open mind.

overall: 3.45
appearance: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 3.5

352

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2002 14:34:50 | More by Bierman9

Durge

Connecticut

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

A deep copper brown color with a modest white cover that dissipates quickly to random swirls. Lacing is fair. The aroma is no doubt cabbage malt with a hint of chocolate and herbal hop. Pretty neat. The flavor is absolutely in keeping with the nose hit. A beautiful malt bath with an herbal hop edge that makes for a lucid, dry feel in a medium bodied brew with modest carbonation. A very satisfying Octoberfest beer that I would easily recommend autumnal malt fans.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 05:36:21 | More by Durge

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours a crystal clear very dark copper in color with light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dense beige head that reduces to a medium sized thin patch and a very thin ring around the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of caramel and toasted malts.

T: Lots of real malty flavors to the taste of this beer - toasted and caramel malts with a fair amount of sweetness. There is a touch of grassy hop bitterness in the finish and just a touch of spices.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth and clean with some very light amounts of dryness in the finish.

O: Enjoyable and very easy to drink - there is a nice balance between the malty sweetness and hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 23:23:48 | More by dbrauneis

lordofthewiens

Maine

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

To my mind, this is a really good Octoberfest beer.
In a pint glass the beer is an amber color with a rather small tan head.
Caramel aroma, very sweet.
Caramel taste, like licking a caramel apple. Very sweet.
Pretty robust. The sweetness is a positive, I think.
A great fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 19:39:13 | More by lordofthewiens

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out a really thin head, which evolved to a thin ring quickly. Color is an amber/copper that appropriately recalls the color of autumn.

Pleasing, earthy aroma, with plenty of caramel, breadiness, sweet spices. Also has that unmistakeable lager-y character: a little steely, a little corny, though hardly reminiscent of a macro.

Flavor nearly crosses over into Winter Warmer territory, with its sweet, dessert-like spices at the fore the sip. Maltiness come through in the form of caramel, while the finish is crisp, the mouthfeel slick and clean.

Nothing special, but certainly an enjoyable brew that does seem to hit the spot this time of year. Probably would've liked it more if it were "imperialized", ha!

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2007 22:01:57 | More by Metalmonk

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is basically a solid, well made Marzen style beer, but not up to Victory's usual standards. Carmel and mildly toasty sweetness dominate the brew. At times the sweetness boarders on syrupy. Not much of a head, and the aroma is understated. Still, it's a good beer, but not typical of Victory.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2002 12:57:49 | More by Suds

KarlHungus

Minnesota

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

This beer pours a clear golden amber color. The head is one inch in height, and recedes rather quickly into minimal lacing. The aroma is of biscuits and caramel with no real hop presence. The taste is like the aroma, but with the addition of a nice light hop bite in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a smooth texture and moderate carbonation. Overall, this is a really nice Oktoberfest. I would like to get some more life out of the aroma, but other than that it is really solid.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 19:11:35 | More by KarlHungus

superspak

Michigan

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

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 12/11/2012. Pours lightly hazy orange copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of pear, apple, caramel, biscuit, toast, toffee, earth, and herbal. Nice aromas with good balance and decent strength. Taste of big pear, toast, caramel, biscuit, toffee, apple, earth, herbal, and light nuttiness. Lingering notes of caramel, toast, toffee, biscuit, light fruit, earth, and herbal on the finish for a short bit. Nice balance and robustness of flavors; with no cloying sweetness at all. Medium carbonation and body; with a nice creamy and lightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good Oktoberfest lager. Nicely robust with good flavor balance; extremely smooth to drink. Enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 03:44:24 | More by superspak

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass.

4.0 A: Clear deep amber color. Thick frothy head with good retention. Moderate amounts of lacing.

3.5 S: A little bit fruity, a little bit grainy, a little bit spicy, but not a whole lot of aroma overall. Just a touch of herbal hops.

3.5 T: This has a unique taste. No other Oktoberfests are quite like this one. I admire that Victory would make a product that isn't just a clone of a generic Oktoberfest. However, the taste leaves something to be desired. Biscuity and caramel from malts. Spicy. Then there is something pungent. Maybe that is what makes it unique, but it is a bit off-putting. By no means is this a bad brew, but it isn't up to its potential.

3.5 M: Medium body, a bit under-carbonated. Otherwise smooth.

3.0 D: It's the pungency in the taste that lowers the drinkability by quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2008 01:13:12 | More by DavoleBomb

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

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

12oz Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a clear copper colour with an average size frothy/fizzy beige head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is just a little bit of lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for over 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - malts, an earthiness, toffee, hay/straw, cask wood?

Taste & Mouth - The beer doesn't have a whole lot or carbonation and it feels slightly watery. The beer has a very interesting taste consisting of malts, toffee, and lots of bread/grain flavour. It really has a lot of earthy notes as well.. even some hay/straw. It finishes with an earthy/malt aftertaste.

Drink - Another beer that falls in the category of 'not for me'. It's not an awful beer but not something I'd seek out again. It reminded me too much of a barnyard smell..

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 18:07:16 | More by spinrsx

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

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep copper color with a small sparse head over top. Nose is sweet and toasty, almost sugary sweet. I'd like a bit more of the bready and toastyness to come through. Flavor is pretty nice. Fairly toasty with just a touch of sweetness and a very very light noble hop finish. Very clean. Nice american example of the style. Feel is moderate with a moderate carbonation. Pretty solid brew here. Tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2005 20:16:34 | More by kmpitz2

Hojaminbag

Colorado

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

A golden brown colored body with a bunch of active carbonation bubbles. Two fingers of creamy off white head that has decent retention and leaves some nice lacing patterns behind.

The nose is equally expressive of crisp, cracker like malt and a spicy, earthy noble hop presence.

I'm not really sure which I would say I notice first here; the hops or the malts. Either way, I don't really care. The malt has cracker qualities with just a tiny touch of molasses flavor. The noble hops are very spicy, almost biting. I would definitely say this one is on the hoppy side of Oktoberfests, but not so hoppy that it disturbs the drinkability and great malt flavors of the style.

Crisp, highly carbonated. Moderate to slightly heavy body for the style.

I love good Oktoberfests and Victory's version is no exception. Very drinkable, but caution: a six pack may not be enough.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2009 16:50:49 | More by Hojaminbag

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.28/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the river road tavern.
Pours a deep golden amber color with a smallish off white head with minimal retention and lace. Smells of caramel and bread and a bit of toast with an earthy floral hop component to it. The flavor is bready pilsner malt with a bit of caramel and sweet sugary malt. A bit heavy on the hops for the style, lots of earthy herbal hops compete with an inadequate malt base. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and an earthy slick mouthfeel. Decent enough beer, but like a lot of American interpretations it just doesn't measure up to the German brewed versions.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2012 18:41:55 | More by johnnnniee

Overlord

California

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

Thanks MBA!

Pours a solid amber with a bit of a golden sheen. Large white foam head that died down to a respectably think white foam sheath. Looks festive!

Smells like caramel and toasted malts and ... earthy hops? Interesting.

Taste is mostly caramel and sweet, sticky malt, but there's a definite earthy, bitter current to it. Almost like what I consider a typically sweet Marzen mixed with a splash of ESB. Solid effort with what I consider to be a bland style. One of the best "Oktoberfest" style beers I can recall having.

Mouthfeel could use more carbonation, but decent.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 08:47:01 | More by Overlord

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a copper tinted amber, clear with little head and no retention. Scent is very pale with hints of light caramel and muddy, mineraly water. Thankfully taste is a bit better, light sweet malts, faint nuttyness and faint grassyness, still some mineral qualities. Lighter than expected, very few bubbles of carbonation. Slightly disapointing beer from a great brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2012 14:14:18 | More by rfgetz

grub

Ontario (Canada)

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

DrJay hooked me up with this one. thanks jay!

pours a nice copper colour, crystal clear, with a very fine white head. bit of lace.

aroma is good. nice and fresh. hint of smoke. bit of spice, maybe corriander.

taste is nice. bit of roast and smoke. spicy, almost peppery, but mostly in the mouthfeel. excellent malt base. rye bread. moderate bitterness.

mouthfeel is great. light with a good carbonation level. very smooth.

drinkability is great. really smooth and easy drinking. thanks jay!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2006 04:38:57 | More by grub

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

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a bright, slightly hazed, orange-amber coloring with a slow cadence of carbonation bubbling and a thin, sparse, off-white filmy coating on the surface. Aromas of roasted malt, both nutty and richly sweet, with a bready backbone and some old world fruit highlights. Flavors are rich and thick, with a roasted backbone supporting fresh and sweet flavors of pumpkin, nuts, and a spice blend of nutmeg, cumin, and cinnamon. Very forward and bold on the palate. Sweetness has a touch of brown sugar going into the aftertaste, which is tangy sweet and only lightly roasty/toasty. Good transition of the flavors as you drink. The finish is rich and smooth, with a tangy, slightly lingering sweetness. Very flavorful and very easy to drink. The light body keeps the sweet, rich flavors from overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 01:57:33 | More by GarthDanielson