Donnybrook Stout - Victory Brewing Company

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out like a Guinness. The surge took a little while to finish. The head is creamy and thick, the color of the beer is a deep brown. The smell is light, not much on the nose just a slight roasted aroma. The taste is very smooth and has a nice light chocolatey flavor to it. The mouthfeel is light and slick, nitro makes this brew very smooth. Oveall it's a good Dry Stout, typical for the style, really nice.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-12-2011 03:55:32 | More by Knapp85

Northsider

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at The Fountainhead Chicago. VERY drinkable stout here. I can hardly taste or feel the alcohol. Definitely my kind of drink!

A - Dark black, perfect head that lingers forever

S - I can't say the smell is all that great...that is there isn't much smell at all to me

T - Very creamy with little to no bite due to low alcohol content. Perfect for me who doesn't like high abv.

O - Great stout! I'm glad it's on tap 1/2 a block from my house. Very drinkable, very smooth...I could drink this all night long.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-06-2011 02:35:37 | More by Northsider

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - An absolute stunner of a pour... Cascading foam settles and provides a fingers worth of rich creamy light tan colored head... Excellent retention as this one never quite fades before finishing the glass... A deep dark brown that allows some light to leak in around the edges... An occasional carbonation streak can be seen climbing the sides of the glass...

S - Faint roasted malts... Subtle chocolate... Some distinct smoke notes...

T - Lightly roasted malts... Touches of chocolate... Caramel... Toffee... Butterscotch... A subtle nuttiness...

M - Light to medium bodied... Smooth... Sleek... Creamy... Goes down very easily... Very muted carbonation... Perhaps a tad thin...

D - This one is uber-sessionable as this one packs a lot of flavor into 3.7% ABV... Great appearance with nice flavor and aroma all while being able to drink several glasses... Another nice job by the folks at Victory... I'm shocked it took me so long to sample...

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-06-2011 02:13:03 | More by philbe311

jocosa

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nitro-tap at Taco Mac - Newnan, GA.

This is a session stout all the way. Nice to have such from Victory with out the usual extra hop profile. Dark, beautiful pour - settled into a classic creamy nitro head. Great aroma of roast grains, hint of coffee and cocoa. Taste of the same, slight sweetness, and all at 3.7%. Nice to have a stout with lunch and not feel wiped out afterwards. Very drinkable, wish I could find this more often.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-15-2011 18:38:28 | More by jocosa

philosobeer

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had at Binny's in the South Loop. Nitro-tap into a tulip pint. About 40-45° on serving, and warmed slightly (a very acceptable thing for this beer.)

A // Nice, bright frothy head that emerges over the cascading nitrogenated beer. A dark body with highlights of garnet at the edges, but overall looks dark enough brown-to-black where you won't see much of that

S // Mostly roasty, some malt sugar sweetness seems to be in the nose

M // Mostly dry roasted barley on the palate with those roasty notes reminiscent of coffee or, well, roasted grain, but has some balancing sweetness. British style hops (EKG a likely suspect) also hit the tongue (however lightly) and help to dry the finish.

M // Light, and very light at that. I find this acceptable for the style, but feel the body could be slightly more full. Slightly.

Drinkability & c. // I'd love to have a keg of this in my own home on nitro, I really would. Have two with lunch and three with dinner. I really wanted more after the first one. And this light alcohol, nice flavored beer brings to the table what so few American brewers ever manage to make. I hope to see plenty of session ales* follow the example it sets here.

*note for nitpickers, this is indeed less than 4% and I do mean I'd like to see more <4%abv beers like this.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-09-2011 03:35:05 | More by philosobeer

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nitro tap poure into a pint glass.

Pours a very dark black with a nice big super fine and creamy light brown head. Nose is tame and mellow, the nitro subdues it.

Taste is very creamy and smooth, the mouthfeel is phenomenal. Very toasty and a bit grainy. No hoppiness but perfect for the style. Surprising good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-07-2011 00:27:22 | More by kingcrowing

womencantsail

California

3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On nitro at Beachwood BBQ

A: Dark brown, almost black, in color with the anticipated creamy tan head to go with it.

S: Smells pretty off-putting at first--a lot of vegetal aromas. Once you get past those, there is some coffee and chicory with a good enough roasted malt character.

T: The flavor is disappointing as well in that it's highly watery. Coffee and coffee grounds, along with a touch of roast and dark chocolate, but a lot of water in there, too.

M: Thin and watery with a the usual low but smooth nitro carbonation.

O: Overall a real let down. The watery nature of it just ruined the beer for me.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-27-2011 05:17:33 | More by womencantsail

Halcyondays

California

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On nitro-tap at Beachwood BBQ, good to try another true session beer,

A: Pours black with a medium off-white to tan head, good lace and head retention. Has the great nitro look.

S: Roasted malt with a hint of smoke, intriguing.

T: Some roasted malt and coffee, dark chocolate, but a very light flavour overall. Tastes good but nothing to grab your attention.

M: Medium-bodied, still has a decent carbonation in the nitro serving type, frothy.

O: In the old drinkability category this would get a solid 4.5. Overall it's a good beer, I think the serving style is hampering the impact of the flavours, give me this on cask or even regular draft and allow the flavours to come out more. That being said it's still a very easy drinking pint, but there's not a lot to differentiate it from Guinness at this point.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-25-2011 00:12:35 | More by Halcyondays

oberon

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Milltown in Carrboro.Poured from the nitro tap jet black with a cascading beige head that settled into a creamy froth after awhile.Some dark roast coffee,unsweetened chocolate,and metallic aromas,pretty much spot on for the style.Creamy as suspected from the pour,flavors seem a bit light with dark roast flavors dominating,a tinge of iron in the finish.An easy quaffing nitrogen dispensed dry stout,creamy and good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-06-2011 01:18:23 | More by oberon

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a nitro tap into a nonic

A- pours jet black with a two finger light tan head. Sticks around for awhile, great lacing

S- faint aroma of roasted malts, but not much going on here as you'd expect from the style

T- tastes a little bit watery, but I'm getting some roast here.

M- really creamy. A little thick, but good god do I love that creaminess you can only get from this style

D- really drinkable. Not a lot of alcohol at all, and just the right amount of flavor too.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-27-2011 21:00:19 | More by bigfnjoe

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: Pretty close to black with a thick, sticky, typically nitro head.

s: Fairly mild overall, I found some faintly bitter roast and little else.

t: This is a very satisfying small stout. My experience with these is limited, but this might be my favorite. Dry roast that is somewhat chocolatey and some fairly strong bitterness at the end.

m: Creamy and delicious.

d: Very drinkable and quite flavorful.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-14-2011 11:44:53 | More by DIM

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.65/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On nitro-tap in a shaker pint. Near black with a thick cap of beige foam, Creamy sheets of lacing are left behind, but they mostly slide back in, leaving just scattered streaks.

Typical of nitro pours, the nose is somewhat blunted, but it's a pleasant mix of roasted and toasted malts nonetheless. Lacks the nice dry feel and robust roastiness of a top notch Irish stout, but it's still pretty decent. More tangy and slightly sweet than dry and roasted; kind of reminds me of a more flavorful and fuller bodied Guinness draft, actually. A quick nip of bitterness in the otherwise clean finish.

Overall impression: I love Irish stouts, but this one doesn't quite hit the spot.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-17-2010 15:38:56 | More by PDXHops

bonkers

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on nitro at the brew pub today. The pour is jet black with a full fluffy, tan head. The aroma had some chocolate and roasted notes. The flavor is roasted malts and has a light dry finish. The body is medium/light and well carbonated. Very easy drinking, I had no idea it was so low in ABV. I prefer other Irish stouts, but this is not bad.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-25-2010 01:36:41 | More by bonkers

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on nitro tap at the brewery

Pours a hazed mocha brown with a huge creamy off-white, tanned head. Settles similar to an English pup stout, resulting in a shrouded appearance, retaining well with plenty of ringed lacing.

Lots of toasted malt and grain in the nose with hints of chocolate and sweetness in the nose.

Light coffee beans with roasted malt and barley up front. Hints of coffee, caramel, and chocolate. Slight hop bitterness alongside tingly dry touches. Finishes with nuttiness, hops, and a bit of cream.

Ultra smooth feel with a much fuller body than you might expect, very pleasant on the tongue. Easy drinking and super low abv, making it extra sessionable. Instead of turning this into a watery, thin, boring beer, Victory preserved the body, feel, and flavor. Nice!

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-24-2010 23:33:40 | More by xnicknj

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Mostly black with ruby highlights, a tightly packed white head that has great retention and good lacing down the glass.

S/T - Nice combination of the typical roasted malt with touches of chocolate and coffee found in the style, with even some nuttiness to it.

M - Light body, nitro carbonation giving it a good creamy mouthfeel. Even though its light, it feels a bit more substantial to some of its counterparts, and never feels watery. Clean, dry finish.

D - Easily drinkable. A true session beer that I wish was more commonly found in area bars.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-19-2010 20:40:04 | More by garuda

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

DonnyBrook pours a cascading dark brown with a creamy head, Guinnesseque. Lacing, sure. Looks good.

Smell: Bready, and something smells slightly off.

Taste: Bland, thin watery beer with little in the way of roast, coffee or chocolate. Bitter and a bit dirty and not in a good way. Still nothing as bad as the smell would indicate, but Donnybrook is nothing but a Guinness imitator.

Mouthfeel: Thin and lightly creamy.

Drinkability: I like stouts, I like Irish Dry Stouts, but this one falls flat for me. Victory can brew much better beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-28-2010 18:11:09 | More by Stinkypuss

GJ40

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at the Caribou Cafe in Philly.

A - A deep black color with cascading bubbles. The large tan head lessens but lingers for quite some time. Great lacing as the glass empties.

S - Subtle notes of cocoa and oatmeal.

T - Very smooth and somewhat mild with little bitterness or roasted flavors. There's a hint of sweetness and a nutty flavor.

M - Very light and airy.

D - This is a very easy beer to drink. It's mild but still enjoyable and very refreshing.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-28-2010 19:46:32 | More by GJ40

mdfb79

New York

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From 09/14/10 notes. Had on nitro-tap at FireWorks in Arlington, VA.

a - Pours a dark brown color with one finger of cream colored head with great retention, and low carbonation.

s - Smells of coffee, roasted malts, vanilla, chocolate, and cream.

t - Tastes of light coffee, vanilla, roasted malts, and chocolate.

m - Medium body. Very smooth and creamy and insanely easy to drink. I know it's only 3.7% but it's one of the easiest to drink stouts I've ever had.

d - I enjoyed this irish dry stout a lot. I agree that it's a bit of a Guinness clone, though a little watered down version. Either way, I enjoy Guinness and I enjoyed this beer. Very easy to drink and I would definitely drink this again if I was looking for a session beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-18-2010 15:08:08 | More by mdfb79

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On nitro tap at Beverly Hills Tavern in Wyomissing.
Served to me with a big fluffy tan head and the cascading effect from the nitro was on full display. Color was black and beautiful. Smell was very heavy on the roasted side. Charred wood and subtle notes of coffee, hazelnut and chocolate. Alot of dry and bitter tannins are quickly evident on the tongue. Roasted coffee and woody flavors. Not very complex, but an enjoyable palate overall. Mouthfeel isn't as creamy as I expected and finishes very thin. Drinkability is hampered a little by the lack of complexity in the flavors, which actually got a bit tiresome. Not a terrible attempt at a dry session stout, but not a great one either.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-14-2010 00:52:15 | More by JunkYardJake

cdizinno

South Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Dark chocolate brown, almost black with a light tan head.

S: Chocolate, cream, and roasted malt smell. Some caramel and coffee as well.

T&M: Very creamy. It tastes dry and roasted just like it should. Dark coffee beans and a subtle touch of sweet caramel. Light to medium bodied but watery, if that is even possible. Creamy, but thin.

Much better than I had expected as I am not a typical stout drinker. This one's good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-25-2010 12:25:03 | More by cdizinno

thagr81us

South Carolina

2.73/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served from nitro-tap into a standard pint. Pours an almost black with a one finger light tan head. Maintains decent lacing throughout. The aroma is comprised of earthy and nutty notes. The flavor is of light malt and nutty notes. It had a medium feel on the palate with low carbonation. Overall I was not really a big fan of this one. It wasn't bad for a low ABV stout, but not good for being considered a stout. Basically everything needs to be a little more robust on this one and amplified.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-22-2010 23:46:33 | More by thagr81us

scottyshades

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap at Barley's Taproom for $4

A: Pours a pitch black color with that typical creamy-looking, dense nitro head.

S/T: Pretty much a Guinness clone...not my favorite style by any means, but enjoyable. Very light flavors, chocolate, cocoa, dark fruit, but no acidity.

MF/D: Creamy, smooth, carbonation was a tiny bit prickly, but otherwise enjoyable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-07-2010 20:18:25 | More by scottyshades

deapokid

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On the nitro-tap at Chris' Jazz Cafe:

Packs a firm brown head with amazing retention and deep black body. Noticeably calmer carbonation than expected. The cascading is a bit more subtle than Guinness' or its kindred spirits. This really doesn't detract from the visage and, overall, it's quite appealing.

Scents range from sweet chocolate and coffee beans to leather and mild fruity notes. Although it is a unique aroma, some of the pronounced notes you'd expect from this style seem to be a bit muted.

Flavor is extremely smooth and balanced, showing off a nuttiness at the forefront with a slight dried fruit character showing up at the back of the tongue. It's exceptionally smooth and the faint prune and plum notes are a nice touch.

I really like the fact that Victory took on the traditional Irish Dry Stout and puts its own twist on the formula. The dryness is still there, as is the drinkability, yet, a new hint of sweetness is a nice addition to the style.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-04-2010 17:54:46 | More by deapokid

maelgon

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

My go-to session beer whenever I visit Victory - Donnybrook never disappoints. Low ABV doesn't mean no taste - it has a roasty flavor that doesn't cross over into smokiness. Decent mouthfeel and consistently good flavor. Sadly, needs nitro so I can't take home my growler filled with this.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-19-2010 15:13:54 | More by maelgon

mondegreen

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On nitro tap at Trappeze in Athens.

Dark with a creamy head from the nitro tap. Smells of light roasted barley, it's the smell of St. Patty's Day to me. Taste is wonderful, very light bodied and clean roastiness. Obviously similar to Guinness, but a much better beer, IMO. Very light and drinkable, and at 3.7% it won't get you shit faced any time soon.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-06-2010 20:01:44 | More by mondegreen