Yakima Glory - Victory Brewing Company

DAllspaw

Indiana

3.63/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep chestnut color, certainly not black, with a deep beige head. Smell is bready malts, and caramel/toffee then follows up with piney hop punch, I would guess chinook or simcoe. Also get some dark fruit in the aroma.

Taste is heavy on the bready malts, and frankly a bit boozy, more than I would like, but It is 8.7. taste smooths out a bit as it warms up. reminds me of a chewy pumpernickel. This one has characteristics of Belgian dark ales and dopplebocks. certainly Complex, but lacks a certain cohesiveness to hold it all together.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 01:17:58 | More by DAllspaw

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best By Oct 24 2013

A: Beautiful deep amber with shades of brown. A light brown, frothy, creamy head that leaves great lacing and retention. Head hangs around for a while. Very inviting.

S: Big aromas of fresh, resiny hops and sweet roasted malt. There's hints of delicious booze, brown sugar, molasses, and other roasted characteristics found in most Stouts and Porters.

T: Great roasted flavors hit the palate first, followed by hops, and finished with more robust, almost smoky qualities. In the middle of each sip the hops are quite juicy. They linger through the finish with the strength of the malt coming through as oak, smoke, char, and even dark chocolate. As the beer warms, the hops come through more, bringing fruity and piney flavors. But the malt always shows itself to remind you what kind of beer this is.

M: Massive amounts of flavor from the roasted malts and plenty of delicious hop oils to balance out the sweetness. Fairly bitter and dry finish but very smooth throughout. Carbonation is nearly spot on. The body is fantastic and fits the beer very well.

O: I think this truly stays to the style of ABA/Black IPA as originally intended. Most beers of this style end up being IPA's that have some roasted malt thrown in. Not this one. The hops complement the malt flavors but not overpower or take center stage, which I really enjoy. This is top quality stuff and met my high expectations as I have been waiting to drink this beer for nearly a year after just missing last years release. With the high ABV, you also feel pretty good at the end of a 12oz. bottle. Well done, Victory!

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 22:51:01 | More by Gatch

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a ruby/mahogany color with 2 fingers worth of tan head

S: Very hoppy, with some nice fruity, spicy, and floral hops. This mixes well with some dark roasted malts

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with a blast of fruity and floral hops which is then overtaken by the roasty malts. The hops then make a reappearance and mix with the malts, leaving a slightly dry and bitter finish

M: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Creamy and drying

O: A more than solid ABA. Surprisingly (very) hoppy with just enough roasted malts to make this one a black ale. Definitely recommended if you're a fan of the style and can find it fresh

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 07:21:32 | More by BEERMILER12

babaracas

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown-tinged red with one finger thick khaki colored head. Settles quickly to a thin ring, leaving a few splotches of lace behind. Smell: lots of pine, slightly herbal, then plum skin, light caramel sweetness and toasted bread with faint char as it warms. Taste: pine with mild caramel and plum-ish sweetness upfront, then exclusively a butt-ton of pine, plus a little booze. Some citrus rind and tannin-ness in the finish. Medium+ bodied with creamy carbonation into prickly, relentless pine and booze bombardment, finishing dry with some residual sugar stickiness. I'm not a fan of this hop profile when dialed up this high, but as a seasonal is a nice change of pace to mix in.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 04:50:22 | More by babaracas

scvance

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a dark ruby amber color with a thin tan head. Poor retention and minimal lacing. Smells very strongly of earth and pine hop notes, slight grass. There's also a faint caramel component to the aroma. Taste is sweet up front, fading to an alcoholic flavor, and finishing with a long lasting bitterness. Sweetness reminds me of dark fruits, cherries and plums. Bitterness is very pine like and has resin like qualities to it. Medium carbonation, full bodied, with a rather thick, resiny mouthfeel to it. Overall, very interesting beer. Well done, however not necessarily a classic example stylistically. I'm definitely glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 19:20:29 | More by scvance

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a good, consistent black ale. Nice resin tones to things. The thick pine that I expect. There is slight shift in the backend of this one that I find so many black ales have. Kind of mildly earthy and all.

This isn't really an ale that is overly showy or carrying a wide character. But it's consistent and full in flavor. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 22:17:54 | More by RblWthACoz

harrymel

Washington

2.98/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Best by 30NOV12

Pours a dark brown with a solid sheet of toasted cracker foam, the ale is surprisingly translucent. Lots of pine and resin in the nose with a bit of spruce character; the malts are toasted and like a brown ale: some tea character, a touch of spice and rye bread. Flavor is toasted malts, refined and soft bitterness and plenty of pine flavor. The malts are slightly spicy and a bit dry. Thin body with hi carb and a slick finish. This beer was worth trying, not sure I'd seek it out often.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 06:19:30 | More by harrymel

isaiahcutright

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Apperence- Red, Dark, amber color with a thick tan head. Very nice lacing.

Smell- Fruity floral hop notes, Piney, earthy, a sweet malt aroma, bready, carmel, roasty malt.

Taste- hop forward a bit out of season, but still a nice hop flavor, roasted malts, grapefruit, tobacco like roasty, bitter and well balanced, earthy hops piney.

Mouthfeel- Hoppy resin, leaving a sappy mouth a nice malt sweetness cleaning the palate and leaving a dry, lingering bitterness in the mouth.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 23:19:30 | More by isaiahcutright

57md

Pennsylvania

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

Appearance is a ruby colored brown with more than a finger of head, some of which is maintained for a decent period. There is also a nice amount of lacing left on the glass afterward. The nose has a distinct hoppiness to it. This offering has a terrific blend of malt and hops. It finishes bitter, but is certainly not a hop bomb.

Paired this with some rosemary chicken and stuffing for a delicious dinner.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 12:25:02 | More by 57md

palealemale

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is one my favorite beers from Victory. Unfortunately its only available fall-winter. I usually get my growlers filled after a pint or two at the Brewery.

One of the best dark IPAs around. Great flavors, color, and ABV.

Can't wait until November when it comes back.

Serving type: growler

08-17-2012 14:38:48 | More by palealemale

GeckoPunk

Connecticut

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Copied from DarkMagus82

For my personal opinion however: The head is more of a tan, I don't smell the lemon (but certainly smell the caramel/toffee/coffee/chocolate maltiness). I also don't smell the grapefruit. It is a sweet malt, almost "syruppy". I agree with the roasted creamy bitterness. The hops are a little bitey, and the alcohol is present in the aftertaste. It's certainly what I would consider a "Black IPA" blending a porter/stout with an IPA. If you like Pale Ale IPA's, this is not for you. If you like your IPA with a strong malt-backbone, I'd recommend it for the $3/6-pack that was paid for it. Other than that, I'd say it's slightly above average.
---
Poured from bottle into tulip glass

Appearance – Pours a brown color with some red highlights shining through. Upon pouring there is a big and thick off white head. The head had wonderful retention but eventually faded to give a very nice amount of lacing. Overall quite an impressive looking brew.

Smell – The smell was a nice blend of roasted malt and hop. The roasted aromas are big brown bread. The hop aroma is mainly composed of a sweet lemon aroma, almost hard lemon candy like with some other hop aromas of grapefruit as well. Overall the two blend very well together.

Taste – The taste begins with a nice smooth and roasty malt flavor. Big in chocolate and roasted malt that begin the taste are quickly meet by some of the hop flavors that were in the nose. Right after the initial roastiness, a strong grapefruit hop bitter meets the tongue. At first the roasty and bitter seem to battle out, with a not so smooth transition, but quickly they seem to settle their dispute to meld very well together; creating a roasty and creamy bitterness. A t this time a very light yet persistent alcohol flavor comes to the tongue. All these flavors last to the end where some pine hop tastes as well as a light amount of floral hop are also detected, mixing to leave a pleasant smooth (from the roasty malt) yet bitey (from the hop) flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer is creamy and smooth with the carbonation level being rather average but very fitting for the roasty flavors of the brew. The boozy flavor in the taste furthermore produces a nice warming flavor on the tongue. Overall the Mouthfeel is quite nice.

Overall – A tasty IPA with a wonderful roasty and hoppy flavor. It is relaxing with its slight alcohol booziness and roasty flavors, yet exciting at the same time due to its nice hop presence. Quite a good brew for either or.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 22:57:13 | More by GeckoPunk

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a dark, vibrant, ruby -chestnut coloring with a decent, thick, foamy, beige colored head of a solid inch. Decent head retention with great cling as you drink. Aromas of rich, roasted caramel balanced with wet, spicy hops. Some earthy and woody aromas blend in, also. Flavors are malty on the forward tongue, with resiny and bitter hops attaching to the mid and rear tongue once the sweet caramel and toffee lightens from its initial showing. Hops are peppery spiced, as well, and the malt backbone has some smokey and roasted qualities that highlight throughout. The aftertaste is slightly cloying sweet, but balanced well with a deep bitterness. The finish is rich and bitter, with a slight drying in the mouth. Decent brew, both tasty and unique. A little heavy to drink in quantity, but a good strong one to enjoy at leisure.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 22:52:12 | More by GarthDanielson

buschbeer

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is reddish brown with orangish amber highlights. It is topped with three inches of tan to mocha head.

S - It is a combination of caramel malt and some citrus.

T - The taste has some more roasted taste to it. I get some bitter coffee and grapefruit.

M - Full

O - It looks lighter colored than any beer that I have had in this style, but the taste is there. It has more of a mellow hops presence than others, but it was a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 21:42:24 | More by buschbeer

littlelorib

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark, almost black, with not quite a finger of head that quickly disappeared into lacing. The smell contains bread and roasted coffee and caramel as well as a hint of hops and alcohol. The taste contains a lot more hops than i expected based on the smell. It is probably more malty than bitter, though. I like the balance of the hops and malts, though in a perfect world i would want a little more hops.

Overall, another likeable beer from Victory. I'd get this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 00:43:49 | More by littlelorib

DCon

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bought a 12 FL. OZ. bottle of this from The Beer Shoppe in Yakima, WA for $2.40. Poured from the Yellow/Green/Purple/Orange and Semi-Tie Dyed label into 16oz Arcadia IPA Pint Glass. Has ENJOY BY: NOV 30 2012 on the front of the label in white.

Aroma- Has tons of hops and caramel blend from the beginning. Malts and sweetness shoots in towards the end of the nose. Well balanced!

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that has average retention. Has a deep brown, semi-hazy body. Leaves tons of suds behind.

Flavor- Sweet, hoppy, malty, and light sugars pop through. Medium-High Bitterness. Lacks a bit of character...

Mouthfeel- Medium-Full Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Sweet, and has a caramel finish.

Overall Impression- Very nicely done by Victory but almost a dull Black IPA in my books... Nonetheless, its still an above average brew and wondering who else besides Schlafly and Victory who brews their own "Yakima" brand labeled beer? Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 15:44:08 | More by DCon

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into NB Globe. Surprisingly, this is more brown than black..even has a bit of a reddish/caramel hue. Thick thick foamy head!
Very malty but very hoppy aromas, mixed with hoppy caramel.
Very hop forward flavors...caramel, amber like toffee. Something I cant really put my finger on here...I think its the caramel-like malts mixed with the intense hop and some citrus. Its pretty bitter. I would think it would balance with the darker malts, but its still pretty bitter. Overall, a good brew. Its not the almost 9% that keeps you from really drinking this brew, for me its the off-bitterness. Otherwise, nice unique brew and work a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 01:04:50 | More by DrinkSlurm

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into tulip glass

Appearance – Pours a brown color with some red highlights shining through. Upon pouring there is a big and thick off white head. The head had wonderful retention but eventually faded to give a very nice amount of lacing. Overall quite an impressive looking brew.

Smell – The smell was a nice blend of roasted malt and hop. The roasted aromas are big brown bread. The hop aroma is mainly composed of a sweet lemon aroma, almost hard lemon candy like with some other hop aromas of grapefruit as well. Overall the two blend very well together.

Taste – The taste begins with a nice smooth and roasty malt flavor. Big in chocolate and roasted malt that begin the taste are quickly meet by some of the hop flavors that were in the nose. Right after the initial roastiness, a strong grapefruit hop bitter meets the tongue. At first the roasty and bitter seem to battle out, with a not so smooth transition, but quickly they seem to settle their dispute to meld very well together; creating a roasty and creamy bitterness. A t this time a very light yet persistent alcohol flavor comes to the tongue. All these flavors last to the end where some pine hop tastes as well as a light amount of floral hop are also detected, mixing to leave a pleasant smooth (from the roasty malt) yet bitey (from the hop) flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer is creamy and smooth with the carbonation level being rather average but very fitting for the roasty flavors of the brew. The boozy flavor in the taste furthermore produces a nice warming flavor on the tongue. Overall the Mouthfeel is quite nice.

Overall – A tasty IPA with a wonderful roasty and hoppy flavor. It is relaxing with its slight alcohol booziness and roasty flavors, yet exciting at the same time due to its nice hop presence. Quite a good brew for either or.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 00:45:04 | More by Darkmagus82

mattcrill

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Aroma: Light pine resin notes with a bit of roast and sweet milk chocolate notes. Clean fermentation character and just a touch of citrus rind hop notes as it warms up.

Appearance: Dark ruby red pour with brick red highlights. A moderate off-white head retains well.

Flavor: More pine-like hop flavors up front with some chocolate sweetness to provide a smooth and understated foundation. Biscuity background malt notes appear but are quickly assaulted by pine resin and citrus rind-like hop flavors. Balance is to the hop bitterness. Finish is clean and dry.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation. No astringency or alcohol heat.

Overall impression: More like an American Brown Ale than an American Black Ale but it's all good. Probably won't have it again but glad I tried it once.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 22:15:07 | More by mattcrill

tony223366

California

3.73/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: First of all this head is really impressive. It's 3+ fingers and towering atleast another finger above the glass. Really hearty and fluffy. Nice lacing and retention. The color is a dark chestnut brown with red streaks. All around a gorgeous beer.

S: Tons of dark chocolate and roasty malts. I'm a little stuffy but I feel like the hops don't smell overly citrusy and fresh. There is actually more of a pine note to it. Not even close to the best aroma that I've seen in a Black Ale.

T: Hmm... this is pretty decent. It's different than other black ale's I've had. There are definitely hops and plenty of hops bitterness on the finish, but it doesn't taste bright at all. I guess that's what I miss. There is, however, tons of rich roasty chocolate and coffee notes that is of course awesome. So this definitely takes like 8 steps forward from the aroma. It's actually a really great nightcap.

M: Great medium mouthfeel and body.

O: There's definitely an off flavor that I can't put my finger on, but besides that I think it's really great. It's really bitter but you actually don't get a ton of clean hop flavors. So the malt notes really take the floor.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 06:30:58 | More by tony223366

muldersha

New York

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle with an Enjoy By date of Dec 10 2010

Drank Jun 6 2012, but the bottle was purchased from a store that keeps most of their beer in a giant walk-in cooler.

A: A deep ruddy brown color with a formidable creamy white head. A thin covering sticks around till the very end. Impressive for being 18 months past the drink by date.

S: Boisterous aromas of tootsie rolls, tobacco, and pine resin mask some more subtle malty and estery notes.

T: Full bodied, rich and malty. But not overbearing or cloying.

M: Impeccably balanced. Its richness and high alcohol content are ameliorated by a gentle purity and plenty of bitter hops and ample carbonation.

O: I hesitated opening this beer on a warm summer evening after a long workout. However, it was surprisingly refreshing. I wish more beers were this balanced and refined. Will definitely purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 05:57:09 | More by muldersha

Foamster

New York

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Rich dark coffee-brown with nice tan head that drops off gently but never disappears. Lace hangs in there nicely.

S - Starts out strong and appealing, but vanishes in mid-imbibe. Opens up with a comforting, solid smell though. This beer's weakest link, I'm afraid.

T - Mostly good from beginning to end, although there are moments when it seems to "go bland." Unsweetened chocolate and strong iced black coffee taste as well as some resiny hops rescue it.

M - Thick and creamy. Approaches whipped cream. Should I take a chance and say custard? Never went thin on this reviewer. Without a doubt, one of its two strongest qualities, the other being its Appearance.

O - Really 4.125. Drank this on an unseasonably cool June evening, half a world away from my loved one. It's a comfort beer, the ideal beverage for someone separated by business or other unwanted necessity from his/her partner. Yakima Glory is warm - evocative of winter, fireplaces, and a pleasantly light touch of loneliness and melancholy.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 02:22:42 | More by Foamster

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 2011 served in a nonical glass

A - Mostly clear ruby brown with 2 finger soapy tan head with good retention and lacing.

S - Robust malt, caramel and a bit of tobacco spice and herbal hops.

T - Follows the nose with a bit of sweet flavors to start then a climax of complex malts and herbal hops with a touch of citrus with a nice moderately bitter finish.

M - Full body, moderate carbonation, chewy finish.

O - Big malt character and herbal hop presence in this complex black ale. Great winter comfort beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 16:27:17 | More by williamjbauer

mattbk

New York

3.45/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Brown, not black, I suppose this is ok? Nice head on it. Appears sort of watery though.
S- Slight hoppiness, sweet, not much here though. Definitely not a full hop bouquet I was expecting from this style. The hops I get are sort of... soapy?
T- Bitterness, some malt/caramel sweetness, no roastiness present, alcohol drying in the finish. But not a whole lot of taste actually. I checked the date? Enjoy by Oct 26, 2012. This doesn't seem right.
M- Best part of this beer, medium full, creamy texture, just the right amount of carbonation.
O- Usually my complaint on black IPAs is that the malt doesn't add enough to the IPA dimension. In this case the hops were clearly muted, and what was left didn't have much taste. Disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:22:44 | More by mattbk

rlee1390

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear deep amber orange, two finger head with some lacing

S-Lots of citrus hops, caramel malts, grassy notes as well.

T-Caramel, more malt than I though there would be, some roasted malt, coffee, grassy and citrus hops, some bitterness.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation, somewhere between smooth and thick.

O-A good beer but like most Black IPAs the balance between the roasted malt and the hops is not where it should be.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 01:10:31 | More by rlee1390

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A - A reddish brown brew with a large frothy head and thick bands of lacing. They don't come too much prettier than this.

S - Grapefruit pith, soap and caramel. Simple, but nice.

T - Delicious hops, an untraceable citrus pith, white pepper, lilies, faint caramel, oatmeal. Very umami.

M - Smooth, medium bodied, mostly refreshing - a teensy bit gummy.

D - Damn good. I will have again for sure. I'm thrilled to still have two left from the six pack after this one. I'd say american black ale isn't really the style though. IPA is more like.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 04:27:50 | More by mrasskicktastic