Altbier - Victory Brewing Company

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Victory Altbier
(Listed ABV 5.0 %)

Pours a medium dark copper, with a slightly off white head and leaves lace down the pint. Aroma of herbal hops and caramel. In the flavor, surprisingly hop forward with a firm caramel\toasted malt backing. Resinous, spicy, fairly bitter leafy hops give a bit of oily balance. As the brew approaches room temperature, malty notes of chocolate and nut develop. Finishes with a more or less even balance. Medium to full bodied brew and well carbonated. Overall, this is one of the better altbiers I have come across . Without a doubt, a very good example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 17:34:40 | More by Stinkypuss

Immortale25

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Bell's pint at The Local Miami.

A- Pours a dark amber color with a 1/4 inch head that soon becomes a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a full sheet of bubbly surface foam. Non-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass.

S- Bready malt aroma with a mild hop smell and nearly no alcohol.

T- Well-balanced flavor of soft malt and moderate bitterness. Very easy to drink as it should be for only 4.5% ABV. Slightly sweet and refined, almost like a lager which isn't surprising. A bit toasty.

M- Pretty crisp with a small bite from the hops and a medium body. Medium-low carbonation.

O- A fine session beer with plenty of character. Could definitely see myself knocking back a few of these in an outdoor setting.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 22:11:37 | More by Immortale25

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.41/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Victory. Served in a sample glass. Pale caramel with some bread in the nose. A bit of earthy hops. Light body with a dry finish. Fairly bitter. Crisp.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 12:43:51 | More by Thorpe429

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ

A: Pours a clear very dark amber to an almost brown in color (slightly darker than I am used to seeing for the style) with some moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dense foamy off-white head that very slowly reduces to a thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a very thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate amounts of toasted malts with just a hint of toffee sweetness and a fairly strong aroma of herbal and spicy hops.

T: Similar to the smell, the taste of this beer has a the light to moderate body of the toasted malts with just a hint of toffee sweetness followed by even stronger presence of the hops. There is definitely a strong presence of herbal and spicy hops with moderate amounts of pine and citrus. Strangely, there was just a hint of something that reminded me of star anise in the background.

M: Medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Dry in the finish.

O: As someone that has visited Dusseldorf and tasted all of the Altbier available there, this beer has a slightly different twist and a much stronger presence of hops. Enjoyable but maybe not exactly true to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2012 14:26:21 | More by dbrauneis

wedge

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

@ Tyler's (Raleigh)

Clear, dark copper body under a fixed head of fluffy foam that leaves sheets of lace on the glass. Nutty sweet, toasty aromas...toffee, light brown sugar, and noble hops. Toasty malt flavor balanced by a solid bitterness. Spicy, noble hops, black tea, and slight minty notes. Medium-light bodied and very drinkable. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2012 17:57:24 | More by wedge

nickfl

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured with a small head of off white foam on a clear, amber brown body with good retention and lace.

S - Pungent and spicy hops with some lightly toasted malt.

T - Toasted grain up front with some spicy hop character. More dry toast in the middle and a bitter finish with a touch of citrus and lingering pine flavor.

M - Medium thick body, moderately high carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - A nice, flavorful alt overall.  The hops may be a bit more pungent than most examples, but they add a nice brightness to the beer and work pretty well with the malt.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 18:21:54 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed at the brewpub in Downingtown, PA

A: thin head on a clear straight copper body. Very thick lacing.

S: light candied orange, earthy hops, caramel malt sweetness and light breads.

T: breads cracker and grains up front moving to a metallic and earthy hop bitterness in the finish. Simple but transitions well. Mild sweet caramel late in the finish.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: hoppy for the style which can be boring at times. I liked this one a lot and would thing of this of a regular beer for me if it was available in my area.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 16:16:41 | More by kylehay2004

FickleBeast

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Growler purchased from the brewery. Poured into a nonic.

Pours a dark toffee brown color with great clarity and a nice head of foam on top. Aroma is malty, raisiny, with a touch of spicy hops.

First sip is substantially more bitter than expected. Nice munich malt body, but finishes pretty dry with a firm bitter aftertaste.

The dry finish combined with the strong bitter aftertaste knock it down a few points for me. I really like the flavor of the beer, for the split second before the bitters washes over my palate.

All in all, not too bad, but I sure wish I had brought home a growler of Hop Wallop instead :)

Serving type: growler

07-04-2012 00:18:53 | More by FickleBeast

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub. Gorgeous looking beer; very clear burnished copper color, small creamy head that settles to a thin band on top; clingy sheets of lace. Mild nutty toasted bread aroma with muted grassy hops poking through just a bit.

Extremely well balanced taste combines toasted bread maltiness and that nutty note with subtle but interesting hops that feature herbal, grassy, and floral flavors. Just a hint of alcohol. Dry all around; very little sweetness, just a trace of caramel to the malt. Lightly lingering bitter aftertaste.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Full, rounded, and very pleasing mouthfeel. A relatively subtle beer that nonetheless has a lot of depth of flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2012 13:34:38 | More by tobelerone

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

on-tap at 3Fs pub.
A: served in an imperial pint glass. chestnut/deep copper and clear. decent off-white head and lacing is somewhat diminishing.
S: muted. some nuttiness and caramel.
T: quite dry and almost a bit sourish. get some nuttiness and dark bread from the malts. hops bring decent smooth spicy and earthy bitterness.
M: light to medium, astringency damages this for me.
D: a little more malt sweetness and a lack of the astringent/slightly sour character would have helped this beer immensely for me.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-10-2010 22:40:38 | More by MrMcGibblets

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a glowing copper amber color wit good head retention and lacing. The nose is impressive, showing cereal, sweet malt and a bit of black pepper. Mouthfeel replicates the nose, and I'm impressed by the amount of flavor this low abv. beer delivers. The beer also has a slight fruity flavor, that blends in well with the light hoppy bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and drinkability is exceptional. Could easily drink a bunch of this, and at 4.5% abv., can't imagine what would stop me.

Impressive beer from Victory.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2010 23:24:03 | More by johnmichaelsen

organicbrewer

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

reviewed the day after purchasing the growler.
a-Dark Copper. Huge tan head with really tight bubbles. Head lingers for the entire glass leaving lacing behind. Brilliantly clear.

s-Light toasty malt aroma with a very low spicy hop aroma.

t-moderately malty. Lots of melandoidens. Moderatly bitter with a nice spicy hop flavor. Very low yeast esters. Very nice.

m-Fairly dry. Moderate carbonation. No alcohol heat.

d-Great altbier. Second to the ones I had fresh in dusseldorf.

Serving type: growler

05-17-2010 21:37:18 | More by organicbrewer

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Liberty St for $5/pint. My beer arrived a dark amber color with a short white head. The aroma and flavor began with smooth caramel malts with a touch of garden spice and then finished with a very grassy orange rind hop flavor. All in all, a finely made alt. I just found there to be a dead spot in the initial flavor that detracted from an otherwise great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2010 23:16:32 | More by tempest

david18

New York

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm a big fan of German Ales (i.e. Kolsh and Altbier) and this one is quite good. Victory is very good at emulating styles and this in no exception.

A light brown color with a lighter brown head. Good fresh aroma and very drinkable. I hope to see this a lot this summer because I'll drink it when i do.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2010 19:06:20 | More by david18

plaid75

New York

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Barcade, Brooklyn, New York.

Poured a clear amber hue with a one finger foy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The ell featured a crisp toasted malt with an herbal earthy hop.

The taste was very well balanced with earth tones a elements of clean sharp careless and spicy hops.

The mouthfeel was toward te cleaner and drier side of the style.

Overall a duperior alt.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2010 19:23:48 | More by plaid75

blackie

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: the color of dark maple syrup, off-white head with average retention and light lacing

s: crisp pilsner malt body with an underlying nutty/toasty note, bright floral/herbal noble hop nose, hoppier than most, good introduction

m: carbonation lively, somewhere along the medium-high border, with a light-medium body and a dryness that encourages frequent pulls from the glass

t: again the body carries nutty and toasty malt notes on a structure of snappy pilsner malt, superb noble hop presence - peppery and herbal, pulpy and pungent but balanced, with a cleansing bitterness, just a fine lager with a lot to offer in such a small package

d: very easy - a flavorful lager that's both satisfying and drinkable

the menu suggested comparisons to a dark Prima Pils, and I'll agree - it's got that same super-crisp pilsner structure and vivid noble hops that make both beers winners, 12 oz. serving at the brewpub

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2010 05:08:51 | More by blackie

Foxman

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It came to me crisp and clear, a golden amber with a nice bed of foam across the top. The lacing followed nicely down the side of the pint.

Hops and the tang of hops dueled nicely in the aroma, foretelling of a pleasant experience to come.


The malt and hops balanced very well, with the biscuity character of the malt well levened by the tangy bite of the hops.

Light-bodied, it came across the palate smoothly and left in the same way.

This is one emminently drinkable beer, a fine companion to most foods, or alone as a session beer. I found myself coming back to it as the evening wore on, and not because it was the only choice, but because it was the best choice.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2005 18:15:29 | More by Foxman

pezoids

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An attractive looking beer. Was expecting a bit more lively looking head on the beer, but that's not a big deal. Poured bright, clear and a nice copper color. Spicy sweet malt nose. Some pepper notes. The taste is light and slightly creamy. Slight pepper spice with an interesting tang. The finish was dry and clear and had a spicy smoothness. The body is medium light with a tinge of lingering sweet citrus in the aftertaste. Well, again no surprises from Victory – As with their Kolsch, most of the characteristics for the style that I'm familiar with are here. They are truly one of the best U.S. brewers at recreating distinctive and fiercely regional old world beer styles. Another winner here. Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2005 14:08:35 | More by pezoids

Erix

Vermont

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

Served from a growler to a pint glass.
Appearance: A clear amber gold beer, head rather quickly disappearing. No haze whatsoever.
Smell: Both malt and hops come through assertively, making a nice sweet and slightly spicey profile. Clean.
Taste: Wonderful. The initial peppery hop bite is followed with a full malt profile, sliding again into a lingering bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Sharp, cleansing feel of carbonation, but not everwhelming. A little astringent as well, but no more than I'd like.
Drinkability: Quite a refreshing, satisfying beer, and still one that makes me want another. Ever since this showed up at Victory, it has been my first choice every visit.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2004 02:26:51 | More by Erix

francisweizen

Australia

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

Quite the little altbier here. On-Tap at Victory this is a dark red/amber coloured brew with a nice white head that lasts and leaves nice lacing. The aromas scream fresh german hops, spices, and tea. The aromas of this altbier are quite subdued compared to the Sticke or even SPH Secret Ale. The taste is spicy hops up front with a lovely biscuity malt taste in the middle and a distinct finish of tea. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and lovely and the drinkability is awesome as well. Another winner from Victory!

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2004 23:22:21 | More by francisweizen