Altbier - Victory Brewing Company

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