Donnybrook Stout - Victory Brewing Company

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.31/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Sampled at Tap and Handles in Fort Collins CO. Pours a chug achuga chuga chuga midnight black color with nitro legs. Good rocky head with great retention and legging around the glass.

The nose is soft due to the nitro. Some minor malt notes. Maybe a touch of roast and chocolate.

The taste is more expressive. Soft malt undertones with the velvet like texture from the nitro. The roast comes out nicely with a good chocolate presence. Minor biscuit and a touch of rose peddles (sensitive). Some earthy hop notes a bit much for style.

The body is on par for nitro. Finishes dry and helps that roasty black malt note that comes out. Silky feel. Overall not a big fan of nitro but this is pretty really good overall. Malt comes out despite the nitro. Would like a bit cleaner and more body/depth.

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-22-2013 02:40:28 | More by Oxymoron

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Nitro pour at the Warwick. Big bonus points to this establishment for serving this in a matching Donnybrook nonic. The brew pours dark brown with a khaki, silky finger of topping. Some ruby coloring is seen around the edges. The typical nitro look here with a head that lasts until the last sip and produces a webby pattern of lace all over the glass.

The aromatics are quite phenolic almost like burning plastic at first. As it settles, pete smoked malts emerge along with a faint roasty aspect. Some suggestions of coffee and plenty of earthy tones fill out the void. Overall, despite having that pete quality, it is a mild smelling brew.

The flavor has a minor smoked aspect like pete mixed with a mineral element almost like chlorine. A little bit of herbal hops character and hardly any roasted maltiness to be found which is a bit of a let down. However, overall it fits the style in that it is very mild flavored.

This is a super light bodied brew with a modest amount of that silky smooth nitro feel. But this is very watery in the feel even by irish stout standards. It is lacking quite a bit in body and character but was a pleasant unique offering that I would probably have again.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-22-2013 15:48:02 | More by stakem

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-dark brown with a creamy light tan tap.

S-smells like black coffee with some creamy chocolate. Great strong scent.

T-comes in with a really mellow taste of black coffee and some chocolate: it's a bit watery but it's an awesome taste. Somewhat faint though.

M-light carbonation. More watery than creamy.

O-a very nice easy drinking beer. Very watery. Sadly not better than Gunniess. Not bad though.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-27-2012 16:56:22 | More by AdamBear

GallowsThief

Florida

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

On tap at The House of Brews in Jensen Beach. Nitro.

A – Nice chocolate milk brown color with huge two fingers of creamy brown head courtesy of the nitro tap.

S – Light smell of roasted malts and chocolate. Faint coffee and vanilla.

T – Follows the nose with again a very faint roasted malt, chocolate and coffee flavor. Nothing stands out in this brew. Its just there. It’s not bad but no flavor makes it memorable. Just a light bit of sweetness to finish it off.

M – Creamy with a thin mouthfeel. Flavors slide on and off your palate quickly.

O – This is an average brew to me. It is very drinkable for sure but there is nothing in the taste that grabs me and wants me to drink more. Not bad but not memorable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-11-2012 23:03:35 | More by GallowsThief

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Came to me quite striking in it's black beauty and fairly tall beige head.
Since it's on nitro aromatics were quite light but i definitly could smell roasted malts and anise. taste was bold and smooth with a good creamy texture. A desent malt backbone greets you with a gentle puckering in the aftertaste. I've been jones for this brew quite a while and was worthy of the wait.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-11-2012 14:44:34 | More by micromaniac129

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: ?
I'm sure I've had this before, but this review is from a recent tasting on nitro at Victory, Downingtown, PA.

A little disappointing right from the start. Poured into an imperial pint, a weak little tan head that lacked the creaminess and cascading beauty of a typical nitro pour. Bad line? Otherwise, typical dark opaque brown-blackitude of an average stout. Aroma of dark malts, notes of coffee and a dab of solvent. Similar taste, roasty, dark malts, touches of coffee and chocolate. Mild and a bit thin in body. A decent stout, but nothing to write a review about. ... D'oh!

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-19-2012 14:24:37 | More by Rifugium

NWer

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap in a pint glass at Xfinity Center in Philly.
Almost didn't order it based on unenthusiastic reviews on BA.
Sure glad I did. I guess I'll be the outlier.
Deep brown in appearance adequate foam after repouring into pint glass from plastic cup.
Malty, sweet, incredibly smooth. So smooth it could have been on nitro but I don't know that.
An excellent representative of the Irish Dry Stout style and I'm very glad I tried it when I had the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 12:16:38 | More by NWer

merc7186

New York

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer on nitro tap at Remington Tavern in North Tonawanda NY, poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Thick Off White Head, Some Lacing

S: Dark Roasted Malts, Mild Chocolate, Mild Coffee, Mildly Grainy

T: Roasted Malts, Mild Coffee, Mild Chocolate

M: Great Carbonation, Dry, Mild Roasty

Overall, a nice subtle tasting Irish Dry Stout but taste is a little too subtle even for a dry stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-05-2012 02:58:53 | More by merc7186

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Not very dark for a stout. Color is a dark ruby amber with a 1/4 inch of opaque colored head.

S - Smell is of mild roasts, tingle of coffee, sugary chocolates, and mild smoke.

T - Well it's fairly balanced, kind of watery, but not bad. Flavors are a mix between chocolates and sweet coffee flavors and a touch of smoke. Like a better bodied Guinness.

M - Light to medium yet creamy.

Overall even though this was not on nitro I believe it was still quite a good session stout. Worth the 3 bucks.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 00:41:53 | More by DrDemento456

tobelerone

New Jersey

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

On nitro at the brewery. Pours a lovely deep and dark brown with a big cream colored head that has excellent retention. Lacing clings to the glass in sticky sheets. Great nitro appearance! Aroma is quite roasty, with bittersweet chocolate and a hint of smoke. Faint earthy and floral hops underneath.

Tastes of dark chocolate and bitter, earthy hops with a light roastiness. Charred malt and a surprisingly smoky flavor approaching a Rauch style; what was merely hinted at in the nose emerges prominently in the tasting. Finishes quite dryly. Moderately thin bodied with smooth carbonation. Very creamy, goes down extremely easily. Quite a good take on an Irish Dry Stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-13-2012 19:11:48 | More by tobelerone

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On nitro-tap 6/26/2012 at Doherty’s East Ave Irish Pub, in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large dense beige head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains milk chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and a very faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out very creamy with mildly sweet flavors of milk chocolate and coffee. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy. The hops presence is very mild as it should be in this type of beer and provides a good balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: A little crisp and very smooth, medium body, light-to-medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, very mild kick, very good representation of style, this is a nice sessionable stout to drink for a while.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-05-2012 01:45:35 | More by TheManiacalOne

jpro

South Carolina

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

On tap at Closed for Business...

A: Dark brown with mahogany highlights; velvety, one-finger, khaki head; good retention.

S: Roasted malts; charred vegetation; oatmeal.

T: “coffee-water;” has some oatmeal characteristics; a little thin on the taste, but it is 3.7%.

M: Thin; low (nitro) carbonation; not much.

O: A good session stout, but really not much else.

*from notes (5-25-12)

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-25-2012 02:24:32 | More by jpro

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served nitro tap in a pint glass at their brewery

A - Obsidian with 2 finger ecru foamy head with excellent retention and good lacing.

S - Coffee, spice, chocolate.

T - A more subtle stout characterized by many of the nitros with a smooth chocolate and coffee flavor at the front contrasted by a spicy tobacco smokey notes. Pretty subtle and some might say weak but this is an irish dry.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, smooth, a bit watery.

O - I have yet to fall in love with this style and this beer is yet another setback. I feel like the nitro version of these stout just come off as a little too subtle with a rather watery mouthfeel as well. I'll keep trying, but I wouldn't get this one again.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-13-2012 22:26:41 | More by williamjbauer

ummswimmin

New Jersey

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

I got to try this hard to find beer at Barcade in Jersey City, NJ. I like nitro beers, and I like Victory... so this should work out pretty well (surprise ending, it does. I'm doing the review from notes earlier in the day.).

You gotta love the cascading foam on the glass as the nitro settle. The good looking irish stout, where it is surprisingly dark for the low ABV.

I like this example of an irish stout. It is incredibly easy to drink. I like the complex flavors, but the drinkability is very easy. The texture is kind of velvety on the tongue.

This is far and away the best irish stout I have ever had. Much props to the great brewers at Victory.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-25-2012 21:52:05 | More by ummswimmin

Chickenhawk9932

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with red highlights. It has a creamy cream colored head with good retention that clings to the glass.

Not a lot in the nose, some licorice, but subdued.

Taste is smooth with some very nice tobacco and licorice notes. A very creamy mouthfeel somewhat watery and light, but true to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2012 02:00:27 | More by Chickenhawk9932

julian89

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Octane coffee in Atlanta

Appearance: Black, thick and creamy body with a head of 1 inch. Very good retention and nice lacing throughout.

Smell: Roasted grains and sweet brown sugar smell. Some residual chocolate as well.

Taste: Its a roasted malt and nutty taste with a slight smokey flavor on the back end. Seems like it would be a great cigar bar stout.

Mouthfeel: It's quite watery and weak-bodied for a creamy stout as is. Not a lot of points here.

Drinkability: It's decent for such a simple stout, but not something I'd return to on a regular basis.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2012 03:54:11 | More by julian89

tdm168

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Village Draft House.

Pours a dark black with a reddish hue when seen in the light. There is a thick, soft, off white head that sits atop the brew that has has great retention. The nose smells creamy and mildly roasty. The taste is very faint but has notes of chocolate, roasted malt, and yeast. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and smooth with little if any carbonation.

This is a nice Irish Dry Stout but overall it's underwhelming. If it were St. Patty's I could see me putting in work on this beer. Otherwise, I'll pass.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 02:18:42 | More by tdm168

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Tap at prezo

Big creamy nitro looking head 1.5 fingers fades slowly plenty of lacing, semi clear molasses reddish brown colored beer, more like brown ale or even darker reddish ale than stout.

Nose has a bit of nitro gas aroma, then toffee, caramel, toasty brown malts slight aged like, light nutty syrupy aroma, hint of cocoa, but pretty light and most of the nice aromas live in the shadow of the nitro.

Taste again starts with creamy nitro, then moves to light stout, very light, hint of brown malts, light caramel and toffee, light syrupy malt flavor, touch of nutty brown malts, slightest hint of chocolate, light bitterness from slight earthy hops and from light char. Finish is a bit more bitter, not dry but also sticky syrupy, hint of malt and nitro left.

Mouth is thinner, light nitro creaminess and light carb with little nitro bubbles.

Overall not great, way too light, very little malt or stout flavors at all, thin and watery, and what there is for flavor is overpowered by the nitro. at least I can drink this like chocolate milk and pound it.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-16-2012 12:31:49 | More by jlindros

kylehay2004

Florida

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

1.5 finger head with tons of circumferential lacing On a deep clear amber body.

S: roasted malt and dark chocolate.

T: roasted malt and very mild hops. Light chocolate note in the finish. Very good beer but not memorable for any one quality. Very drinkable and a good example of what I think an Irish dry stout should be.

M: full body and moderate carbonation. Relatively moist finish

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 03:16:12 | More by kylehay2004

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On nitro-tap at Rustico - Alexandria. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a very dark brown with a very impressive reverse-cascading mocha head and good retention. The nose carries some very light roast and a touch of chocolate. Nothing too complex, but I wasn't expecting too much. Flavor falls a bit flat after the nose, with just a bit of roast and not much else. Medium body with a nice nitro feel. Pretty good, though below Victory standards for me.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-17-2011 14:26:26 | More by Thorpe429

Offa

California

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on nitro-tap at La Jolla Public House in La Jolla, CA, and it is an excellent, characterful stout that packs in a lot of character for the low alcohol, making it a great session and food beer.

Black, it had a creamy, medium-big tan head slowly shrinking and leaving some nice lace.

Aroma was mild but nice, very toasty and lightly fruity with faint hint of dark chocolate.

Taste was great, a light roasted barley and charcoal with hint of dry dark chocolate, light woody bitterness to balance a very light sweetness. It had nice well-rounded body, and a great, solid feel, esp. for such low abv, etc.

Serving type: nitro-tap

11-27-2011 18:45:39 | More by Offa

dontspookthehors

New York

4.72/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Outstanding in every aspect. This dry stout coming in @ 3.7%ABV is everything I could ever want for this style. Very high whole hop flavor (EKG I assume) for style, without the typical roasted malt bitterness normally present. I can't say enough about this offering from Victory. They are my darling East Coast Brewery, and they should be yours too!

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-30-2011 03:19:06 | More by dontspookthehors

GreenJetta912

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance resembles the legendary Guiness. billowing milky carbonation bubbles liven up this beer. upon settling it is blacker that guiness. A finger of perfect tightly bubbled ivory head refuses to go away. perfect retention. not much carbonation left after the pour (accurate to the style).

smell is roasted malt, caremel, and some subtle coffee notes.

taste is smooth. like a guiness but way better (in my opinion). More flavor than guiness. This is the only beer Victory didn't hop the shit out of, which would ruin this style.

Great smooth carmely, roasty finish. Good drinkability that one would not guess from the sheer blackness (which is not pitch black but the darkest of dark brown)

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2011 23:33:39 | More by GreenJetta912

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The pour reminds me of Guiness, thick and viscout looking. Pours a deep dark brown almost black color with a thick off white foam head. There is some moderate lacing.

S: There is a mild amount of dark chocolate, lightly roasted coffee and toffee. Nothing overlly potent.

T: Starts off with ample amount of roasted coffee. In the middle there is some roasted coffee along with milk chocolate. On the back end, more of the same, not ovely complex but still tasty.

M: Leaves a really dry,creamy taste on the palate. Nicely carbonated.

O: One of the better Dry Stouts I have had. Not an ovely complext beer, but a great session beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-30-2011 23:52:08 | More by IronCitySteve

OutFox

New York

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at Barcade Jersey City, NJ 9/15/2011. Reviewed from memory

A - Dark, almost black, with a seriously thick and creamy head. Reminded me of Guinness (it is a Irish Dry Stout after all). Good retention since it was poured on nitro and lacing.

S - Truly not a lot of nose to this but you can pick up small tones of coffee and malt. It even smells dry.

T - Rich, smooth sort of toasted malts. Very thick and enjoyable. Dryish, I wouldnt really define it as all that dry but its a good expression of the style.

M - Fantastic. Once again stouts on nitro never seem to dissapoint. Thick, rich, creamy, just all over the palate.

O - Cant complain. Good Irish dry stout. Honestly havent had many but Guinness but this one doesnt dissapoint. I enjoy it more than Guinness. Well done Victory.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-16-2011 03:59:03 | More by OutFox