Donnybrook Stout - Victory Brewing Company

CrellMoset

Virginia

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

Victory Donnybrook Stout, on tap at Rustico, Alexandria, VA. Served in a 6 oz. nonic.

Appearance: Served on nitro tap, best I could tell, and arrives a dark brown-bodied beer with ruby peripherals, complete with a two-finger, creamy, tan-colored head with impressive retention and nice lacing. Very nice lacing, in fact ... though I have to assume it's nitro-influenced.

Aroma: A little faint and mild, but what really comes through is the sweet, milky cocoa, backed up by other toasty malts. There are also, in true American fashion, a few hints of something hoppy, lightly spicy and grassy.

Taste: Similar to the nose, milky, sweet chocolate is the dominant notes here. It's surprisingly flavorful for the style but still mild and well blended. Hints of coffee and toast make themselves known, as well.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and even, though thin-to-medium bodied with faint carbonation.

Drinkability: Beats the pants off Guinness, low in abv%, and unusually flavorful for the style, a style I normally don't care too much for. This one's pretty dark sessionable though, mild and tasty. Not quite as "dry" as most IDSs, but that's alright with me - gives it character, I say.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-19-2009 21:27:06 | More by CrellMoset

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

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

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

Bung

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at Revolution Pizza. Almost black creamy pour. Excessively foamy pour due to the nitro, unless the intention was to present this like Guiness. After settling down it is a deep brown. Light roast malt, cocoa and peat aroma. Just a hint of lactose. Flavor was also mild roast, malt, some chocolate. Creamy mouthfeel, but light bodied. Not nearly as dry as say Guiness, clean finishing though. This goes down nearly like water and went great with the pizza. Not filling with drinkability through the roof.
I actually thought the nitro hurt this one, being so mild to begin with it would have been more flavorful on standard co2. An OUTSTANDING session beer, but not all that outstanding otherwise.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-20-2009 18:32:52 | More by Bung

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Served a gorgeous jet black color with a creamy light chocolate head and thick curtains of sticky lace paste over every inch of my glass. The head never receded. Magnificent!

Smell: Light roasted malt, dry stout aroma. It has hints of chocolate milky malt and coffee in the aroma. In the defense of the beer, the bar serves it too damn cold.

Taste: Irish Dry Stouts tend to be simple in nature simply by the style of the beer. As a Guinness fan in the past I reserve a special appreciation for a good sessionable stout. This one is apropos to style. Pleasant levels of roastedness and chocolaty malts with a delightfully long lingering burnt coffee aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Again my only complaint was that it was served *WAY* too cold. This affect the nose and mouth of what could have been even better. Also no growler fill means no chance to try it in a more controlled environment. If hadn't been in a hurry on my way to a tasting I would have waited for it to warm. Still it was creamy as creamy can be with all that nitro, and quite smooth with a pleasant residual dryness on the cheeks.

Drinkability: This is the epitome of a session beer. Easy approachable and each sip left me wanting more. I used to pound sixers of Guinness, I could easily do the same with this 3.7% treat, once I can get it in growler form that is ;-)

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: nitro-tap

03-09-2007 10:22:50 | More by Phatz

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

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

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

on tap at the brewery (from notes)

Arrived at my stool a thick, ink black, with a solid two finger head. Tinges of ruby red around the bottom of the glass.

Smells very well-balanced. Roasted chocolate malts and slight caramel. Slightly more pungent than the typical dry stout smell.

Very smooth an drinkable. Tastes of chocolate malt and sweetness.

Finish is very dry and palatable. Light but creamy on the tongue and leaves a faint chewy malt aftertaste.

A very well done irish dry stout, almost like guinness done right.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-03-2008 06:13:43 | More by ColForbinBC

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

CampusCrew

Florida

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance: pitch black with some good head rentention and lacing

smell: roasted malt, coffee/chocolate

taste: a solid stout. dry and on par with Guinness extra.

mouthfeel: medium bodied and on the light side for a stout. a few nothces above guinness

drinkability: probably the best irish stout I have had.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2010 02:56:47 | More by CampusCrew

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

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on-tap at Victory Brewing Co. on 2/19/11. Poured into a Victory bubble pint glass.

A: Dark, black color. No light gets through. Nice tan, creamy head. Tight tiny bubbles. The head sticks around a while. Nice lacing.

S: The smells aren't that aggressive. I smell rich malts. Roasted and toasted, but mild and don't overpower the beer.

T: I taste the mild roasted malts. Really weak, as the ABV would suggest. Sort of tastes like a cream stout? Hard to place what is similar.

M: This is not a mouth coater. Kind of watery stout like a Guiness draft.

D: This is an easy drinking brew. Especially with that low 3.7 ABV. I drank this while walking the tour. I could have this for breakfast on a Monday :)

Overall, good but not great. Victory Storm (obviously a different brew) is much better to me. Solid, easy drinkng stout. Entry level if you will.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 15:19:54 | More by inlimbo77

AltBock

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This was on nitro tap at Teresa's Next Door on 12/6/2008. They served it to me in a standard Victory Hop Devil pint glass.

Teresa's little info sheet said that it poured a pitch black color, but if you hold this beer into the light, it was actually more of a really dark crimson red color. Since it was a nitro tap, the head of foam on this beer was very creamy, at least 1 1/2 inches in height, and tan in color. This creamy head had nice retention that left behind a string of foamy tan rings and a tan film around the glass. Great appearance!

The aroma was mildly roasted with dark roasted malts, a hint of roasted nuts, a quick splash of sweet caramel, and a hint of roasted coffee beans at the end. It had almost everything that I look for in a Irish Dry Stout, but it was a bit on the mild side.

The taste was dry and roasted like it should be, but it was also lightly sour too. I should probably chalk that up to all the dark roasted malts in here. Behind the dark roasted malts was a hint of roasted coffee beans, a subtle touch of sweet caramel, and some roasted nuts here and there.

This was clearly a dry roasted light bodied beer with a dry roasted aftertaste of dark roasted malts, and roasted coffee beans. I couldn't get any of the sweetness in the aftertaste. It could have helped out a little bit. This dry roasted aftertaste will stick around for a few seconds.

In the end, it was another nice light, dry, and roasted Irish Dry stout. It wasn't too dry or too roasted. It was just good. If I saw this again on nitro tap, I might order it again.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-07-2008 18:42:51 | More by AltBock

beer2day

North Carolina

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

Intensely black in color. Big thick 2-finger deep cream-colored head. Nice retention mid-way through and good lacing.

Roast chocolate nose. Faint anise and light oats round out the profile.

Milder roast flavor than suggested by the aroma. Decent hop bite towards the back end.

Feel is nearly perfect for the style.

Easy, easy drinker. Didn't realize it was so light in ABV when I had it. Tastes a bit stronger than 4%.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2009 15:46:23 | More by beer2day

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

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

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

kimcgolf

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

This one didn't do much for me. Poured from the tap to a dark brown with medium tan head that lingered awhile and left okay lacing. Nose and taste were botrh a faint chocolate malt and the mouthfeel was fairly flat and watery. At only 3.7% abv, there was no noticeable alcohol, and the finish was short and non-descript.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2009 02:13:34 | More by kimcgolf

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

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

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

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

A: Brown/black body which is kind of transparent considering the coloration.. off white head which quick disappeared.

S: Standard roasted malt aroma.. caramel, coffee and chocolate

T: A solid balance of classic flavors... good chocolate bitterness and caramel sweetness... hints of coffee and breadyness

M: Medium bodied.. not as hearty as others in this style..

D: A good all around stout... i'd take it over a Guinness for a change in scenery...

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2008 02:43:22 | More by callmemickey

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Poured a jet black with a nice creamy mocha head. Not too much lacing but none was expected.

S: not a whole lot but burnt grain notes and some herbal hop notes.

T: Lots of chocolate and coffee in front of the burnt, acrid graininess. Great taste for the style.

M: Smooth, creamy, well carbonated.

D: Awesome at 3 is percent.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 00:06:22 | More by Patrick

Stimack

New York

3.28/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This brew came in a standard Nonic glass. Poured to a deep black color with a frothy Guinness like head that broke down slowly and did leave a nice sheen on lacing down the side of the glass, nice looking brew to say the least. The aromas seemed to be more on the burnt side than toasted, some coffee like scents and a slight hop. The taste seemed to resemble the aromas quite closely. The malt seemed to have a slight astringent flavoring but to me this brew tasted like it was missing something, not overly robust. Slight hop finish was good but just think that I have had better dry stouts. The feel was very creamy and again to its style had a dry finish. All in All, I was let down by this brew, but again I am viewing a single persons view. Let me just finish by saying that my expectations where high and was a little let down and this is probably why I have been as harsh, it is a fair brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2007 14:05:09 | More by Stimack

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

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