Yakima Glory - Victory Brewing Company

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

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

A: a medium brown hue. head is rich and almost stout-like. retention is reasonable and the lacing is thick and sticky. also stout-like. wouldnt say it is a 'black' IPA, but certainly a dark brown IPA.

S: a blast of upfront, in your face, american grown hops. there is a very grainy, very toasty aspect in there as well, but this one is all about the hops.

T: the flavors on this thing are so much closer to a big AIPA than an black IPA. the hops are very much at the forefront of the palate and while yes, there is some roasted grain in there, it is not nearly as intense as your average black IPA.

M: moderate carbonation on a brew that is dancing on the line of medium and full bodied.

D: like i said in appearance, i wouldnt classify this as an american black as much as i would call it a very hoppy american brown ale. the hops are so refreshing and drinkable and with the roasted backdrop there is a really nice added dimension that gives this brew some depth. well done victory.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:58:21 | More by Jimmys

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The fun is in the name with this one. I like this Vicotry product probably because its one of their highest ABVs. This sounds like a Japanese Kamakaze pilot beer.

I had this a few times but this particular review is out of a bottle. Nut brown in color. Hazelnut fragerance. A lot of head when poured.

A black ale but has hops and floral undertones in boquet. You can barely see through this beer when held to light. Not very bubbly. Bitter upon tasting with some chocolate taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 00:55:02 | More by Ryanm1

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Having on draft at the Union Brewhouse. Beer was poured into a goblet.

Appearance: Slight head, a deep mahogany crimson red with a little clarity and no signs of carbonation. Nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: mocha, sweet malts, and pine. Interesting mix. Hmmmm. Hoppy black ale. This explains things.

Taste: pine, mocha, and subtle bitterness. A little biscuit and sweet malts too.

Mouthfeel: smooth, medium bodied, medium carbonation, interestingly delicious.

Overall: Probably the most interesting hoppy black ale I have had yet. Will be getting mote of this in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 05:53:37 | More by Flounder57

jhartley

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a mug. Best by date: November 8, 2012.

A-Dark reddish brown with a light tan head. Almost looks like root beer. Dark and lovely.

S-Hops right away for me. Malty aroma.

T-Immediate hops up front. Perfect amount of aggressiveness. Grapefruit-citrus and something like dry fruits in the finish. Very nice for when the winter months come on.

M-Nice smooth malts then slam into overdrive with the hops. It's like a tennis match back and forth between the 2.

O-I love this beer. I can definitely go for more of this one! I think this is a big win for Victory.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 22:54:59 | More by jhartley

StJamesGate

New York

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Dark amber with beige lumpu head that holds, rims and leaves good lacey rings. Gooey resiny orange nose and maybe a hint of chocolate.
Milk chocolate and nectarine jam with fresh leaf hop, a bit of citrus, plus herbal and funkiness that cloys as it warms.
Compote end and cherry skin bitter linger. Medium to full, chewy, sticky, a bit of oil, slight burn.

Tastes like wet hop, and a funky one at that. But it degrades into something like bad homebrew – the dangers of over dry-hopping, I think. Too harsh, I don’t get the balance everyone else mentions and not dark enough to be a CDA.

A mess, and a surprise coming from Victory.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 12:45:16 | More by StJamesGate

phantomwyse

Massachusetts

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

A: Pours a brilliant and dense mahogany brown body with lighter reddish brown highlights. One finger tan head is rich and dense and fades to a thick crown.

S: Syrup sweet with intense pine notes followed by candied grapefruit , maple syrup, yams and brown sugar, even a little bit of roasted chestnut

T: Potent pine flavors interweave with an alcoholic bite up front. Pecan pie malts mesh with a flavor reminiscent of candied sugar. Not a lot going on, but what is going on, there is a lot of it.

M: Solid medium body with a dry finish.

O: This is a heavy winter malt bomb with West Coast hop warhead.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 23:57:13 | More by phantomwyse

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

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

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear brown with a hint of red hue, with a two-finger tan-white head that leaves nice lacing down the glass as I drink.

Smell: It's very hoppy, but there is also a distinct smell of malts, although the scent of these malts is light. I also smell some fruityness.

Taste: This is damn good. It starts with a very floral hops geared flavor, with citrus and fruity flavors mixed in, and a malty finish, and all-the-while there is a mild bitterness throughout, from start to finish. The bitterness is very nice and not cloying at all. My only qualm is that the backbone also has a bit of a soapy taste to it. Booze taste is minor.

Mouthfeel: Moderate to heavy body and light carbonation. It's smooth and a little bit creamy as well.

Overall: An awesome and complex beer that I will sample for winters to come.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 02:42:44 | More by CowsCanBark

2378GCGTG

Texas

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

12oz bottle poured into a tulip at 45 degrees, this as fresh as a bottle gets, literally off the delivery truck and into my glass at home.

Appearance- 2.5 inch pure white head, some big bubbles. Beautiful mahogany/blood red color with good retention and great lacing.

Smell- Malty nose full of citrus hops and a light grass note, followed by a caramel and brown sugar finish.

Taste: Citrus and aromatic hops on the front, with a light grassy/earthy malt and buttering hop finish. A bit light on the malt backbone, but a good taste all the same.

Mouth: Medium-body with light carbonation and a light feeling on the tongue.

Overall: I'm a bit conflicted on this one, it seems like it's a bit too hoppy for a black ale so I gave it a 3.5, but for what it is I'd give it a 4.0. This seems more like an IPA (and a good one at that) than a black ale. Still a great beer, and for $8 a 6er, I would definitely pick this up again.

*EDIT*: just looked at the brewery website and it says a dark IPA, so I will be changing my overall to a 4

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 14:13:53 | More by 2378GCGTG

laituegonflable

Australia

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

Dark red hue with a white head, nice and frothy and retaining well. Lace is pretty nice; not very sticky but creates cool patterns on the glass. Nice.

Smells tasty, but quite intense: very distinct peppermint notes with chocolate malt underlying. Hint of passionfruit maybe, but yeah a sharp, fresh yet rounded mint note mostly. Impressive, and I'm certainly not averse.

Taste is quite dark upfront with earthy, slightly roasted malt. Develops spicy notes midway with more mint, aniseed and some cocoa. Bit sharp, but the roasty malts come through late to soothe the palate. Maybe a bit too much pique in the middle but an impressive, refreshing, brooding dark beer.

Bit spicy and tickly on the front and quite dry. OK.

Intriguing beer with lots of mysterious personality, and a piquant spark of life that ignites, but also slightly overcooks.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 04:52:18 | More by laituegonflable

FanofHefe

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, dated best by Nov 23, 2012, so plenty of life in this bottle. Pours a clear mixture of brown and red in the body with a three-finger light tan head. The color could be described as a dark red ale or a light brown ale. Good retention and lacing.

Smells like an IPA to me. Citrus hops dominate the aroma with a bit of pine resin. Only a slight notice of the malt and, in the aroma, it does not smell roasted to me.

The flavor is still IPA-leaning, but not overly hoppy. The balance of malt and hops is good, and the hop notes tend more toward the bitter pine and grapefruit in the flavor. A slight earthy spiciness finishes the flavor nicely.

Light to medium mouthfeel and very little notice of the alcohol. Ususual and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 00:56:56 | More by FanofHefe

CrazyDavros

Australia

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

Pours brown with a large, lasting head.
Nose shows roasted malt alongside resinous, earthy and spicy hops. Also some chocolate and nutty notes.
The flavours are less roasty, more hop-focussed with big piney notes. Some nutty hints also show but not much malt otherwise. Subtle spicy hops too. Pretty nice stuff.
Could use more carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 01:02:19 | More by CrazyDavros

TangTKE402

New York

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a fresh growler into a 16oz. pint glass. Deep ruby brown with a 1-finger head the color of sun-faded beige wallpaper. A touch of lacing.

S: Sharp, bright, crisp and citrusy. Bitter grapefruit, lemon zest, some dried pine needles, and a small hint of roasted malts.

T: A vanilla-smooth front with a bone-dry and bitter finish. Chocolate malts and rounded hops in the mouth with a nice dry, grassy bite of hops (like biting freshly-grown hops!) in the aftertaste. Some robust maltiness in the overall flavor with a nice hint of citrus hops and some chewy nuttiness in there as well. Not what one would expect from this beer after smelling it, but it's delicious regardless!

M: Unexpectedly smooth up-front with a frothy, cloud-like texture in the mouth. A dry after-feel with some nicely inviting tannins sticking around.

O: A nice beer to be sure, but I wish it tasted a bit more like it smells! A good experiment with a great result!

Serving type: growler

01-03-2012 00:27:55 | More by TangTKE402

Aiptasia

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this one tonight from a pint glass with hummus and pita chips. The glor6y pours kinda weak, like flat soda. I had to adjust the angle to get any kind of a head on it, which faded fast. The smell screams citrus, clover and lemon. The taste is rich dark malts with hop assertive presence that tastes nicely hoppy and fun. Mouthfeel is smooth and crisp with some warming and phelonic aftertastes. Overall, quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 23:58:38 | More by Aiptasia

nitro0292

New York

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

Pours a very dark brown, not black. Ample tan head sits atop and leaves plenty of chunky lacing until the last sip.

Smell is of resinous piney hops with a strong and definite roasted malt aroma. Malts contribute to the aroma more this year than last (or my nose has gotten better).

Taste is bitter and resin hop oil which blends into a smooth onset of caramel and roasted malts. More balanced this year, as it is not puckering. Remains undeniably hop-forward. No taste of alcohol is evident. Dry finish with a strong, pleasantly bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is smooth and fairly creamy.

This year's recipe seems improved over last year's. This is one of the best BIPAs I've had and another "Victory." Keep it coming!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 18:04:17 | More by nitro0292

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on draft at Pizzeria Uno's. Poured into a pint glass, furnishes a 1" head that quickly dissolves leaving some thin, spotty lacing. A pretty dark, lager like brown that lets minimal ligh through. The nose is a great mix of hops and malt. The taste is quits unique. It's both hop and malt foward at the same time. This is quite refreshing. The mouthfeel is a bit bitter, and lingers for quite a while. Overall, a solid beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 23:29:21 | More by Retail1LO

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very dark brown with ruby translucence and beige head.

Smell is pine-forward with burnt brown sugar for balance. Pine is not overdone or artificial. Earthy and fresh.

Taste offers similar pine notes with more grapefruit citrus, caramel malt balance. Some roast comes through with a bit of smoke and oak where citrus bitterness takes over.

Well bodied with even carbonation and some stickiness.

Solid black IPA

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 18:32:38 | More by TheMultiYeast

mattsdenney

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into NB globe glass.

A: Dark, transparent, ruby red in color. Two fingers of bubbly off white head, good lacing.

S: Hoppy grapefruit, pine, and citrus with hints of toasty malt and dark cherries.

T: Heavy on the hops up front. Tastes very fresh and clean. Underlying tastes of bittersweet chocolate and toastiness. Hop tastes stays strong throughout with lingering grapefruit bitterness.

M: Surprisingly light bodied for the high abv. Medium carbonation. Nice consistency.

O: I will buy this every winter from now on.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 04:24:52 | More by mattsdenney

brewerburgundy

California

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

12oz bottle, Duvel tulip, best by 11/5/12. Thank you to Jayli via Secret Santa 2011.

Purple red like an heirloom tomato quickly denies the light near the center. A poofy dark khaki head does well in sticking to the glass, creating a screen on a third of it, well done.

I smelled pine initially, but this turns to what I can nicely describe as earthy. For the first time I seem to experience what some must describe as "cat pee" or "onions"; this mimics spiced sausage or earthy mushrooms. From the bottle conditioning yeast there is the aroma of the Chico strain yeast, neutral unless poured, it hangs like a cloud when it is. And oh yes, grapefruit and milk chocolate.

Piney, earthy bitterness with a bit of grapefruit. Dark toast, toast with melted cinnamon sugar, and cocoa show the slight differences between this and an IPA. That Chico yeast is still evident and hard to describe.

On medium carbonation is a slick medium body.

For me this is just one of those very nice beers where everything seems to work. This may be the best crafted Black IPA or whatever I've run across.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 01:59:01 | More by brewerburgundy

dcook11

California

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

A- Amber/blood red body. No visible carbonation. Two finger off white head with good lacing.

S- Pine, Citrus, Juniper, Dark berries, some roasted malt.

T- Excellent taste! Piney hops initially, followed by dark roasted malt and coffee. Leaves a lingering bitterness on the tongue, but backed up solidly by a strong malt backbone.

M- Medium verging on heavy bodied.

O- Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 00:15:48 | More by dcook11

titosupertramp

Tennessee

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

A: An attractive redish brown color. Thick off-white/tan head, dense. Lots of lacing and nice, foamy cap. A little darker and this would be a 5.0.

S: A good bit of citrus and pine hops. Not really getting much more than caramel malts.

T: Pretty balanced, but no doubt this is a BIPA. Tropical/citrus and resinous pine. Caramel, roasted malts. Big hop finish. This is a tasty beer. Given the high ABV, the alcohol manages to remain fairly hidden.

M: Creamy, full and smooth. No alcohol burn.

O: I like Yakima Glory a good bit. It's a hop forward, but balanced BIPA..another Victory, another solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 01:17:35 | More by titosupertramp

tobelerone

New Jersey

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

Dark brown beer with a reddish tinge, smallish tan head without a ton of retention. Lacing is solid. Tempting aroma of heavily citric hops, sweet malt, and bitter roasted notes.

Really a delicious beer, I’d have to put it clearly in the black IPA category. Very strong and vivid tropical fruit hoppiness, lots of grapefruit and pineapple, roasted flavors, char, medium bitterness, faintly boozy undercurrent. Also aspects of pine, flowers, bittersweet chocolate. Modest sweetness.

Medium body and carbonation with a lingering bitter and slightly boozy finish. Drinks like a DIPA in terms of power. The malty sweetness of that style is mostly supplanted in this beer by the burnt and roasted quality, one I really enjoyed. This is a top notch, big and tasty hop forward brew by Victory.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 04:44:12 | More by tobelerone

merc7186

New York

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer on tap in a pint mug at McGregors in Amherst NY.

A: Dark Brown Hue, Passes Little Light, Off Brown Head, Good Lacing

S: Dark Chocolate Malts, Bready, Mild Bitter Hops

T: Dark Chocolate Malts, Mld Caramel, Earthy

M: Good Carbonation, Medium to Full Bodied, Malty, Bitter

Overall, a good hearty winter beer with nice malt blend.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 23:55:37 | More by merc7186

secondtooth

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark, but clean amber in complexion. Very thick, rich head of tan bubbles. Lace is extraordinarily detailed, like a wonderful lingerie, enticing on the glass.

Nose says clean pine hops. But rather than being all hop-bomb, there's a sweet, caramel malt presence, too, taking the edge off the hops. Wonderful.

Taste is strong and rich, with tangy pine hops colliding with thick, sticky malts.

A potent, balanced, and all-around wonderful brew. Exquisite!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 14:20:10 | More by secondtooth

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle, marked on bottle “Enjoy by Nov 20 2012”, purchased 12/2011. This is this year’s release. Arrived locally about 3-4 weeks ago.

Poured into a British Imperial Nonic.

Pours a very nice, one finger head, which reduces rather rapidly to a thin cap. There is some nice lace though.
Very, very deep dark amber color, beautiful, perfect color. Ale to the max.

The aroma is a wonderful blend of yeast/malt/hops.
The smell is on the light side distinction wise.
The hops and yeast wax and wane as the temperature changes in your glass, but neither are the dominate smell. Good full mouthfeel.
The lack of a distinctive, piney or citrus, hop aroma is the weakest part of this ale. That being said the aroma is quite refined and enjoyable, with hints of vanilla, and nuts. Complex.

Wonderfully crisp, malty, hopped entry into the palate. Wow! Just flat out delicious! Sorry I digress.
The entry is followed by an extremely balanced attack of bitter hops and a malt flavor that is somewhat indescribable, though there is a noticeable chocolate component.
The malt is rich, yet this ale is rather dry compared to its peers.
Very refreshing!
The flavor begs one to have another and another! Drink on!

Long finish of hops and malt, balanced, neither one dominating.

I eagerly await this release every year. What incredibly delicious ale.
An almost perfect balance of hops, malt, and ale yeast.
Despite the relatively weak aroma this is one of my top ten in the black IPA category.
The 8.7% ABV is not noticeable in any meaningful way and for that reason this is a drinker for me.
Delicious!!!, and highly recommended!

NOTE:
Full disclosure: After posting this review I looked at the other reviews and was amazed at the lower ratings on the average. This did not influence my assessment, but I was truly surprised more BA members are not on board with this one. I feel that it is underrated.
Despite the drink by date on the bottle, I do not believe this is one to age, which could be a factor.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 04:18:59 | More by JTSbeerislife

Hoagie1973

New York

3.3/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours deep dark but clear amber with a nice two finger tan head. retention and lacing are excellent.
Smells like an average IPA.
Hop flavor is dominant with a mostly piney character. Some celery-like flavors present also. Dry bitterness lingers looong into the finish.
Not bad, but not really my cup of tea.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 22:26:59 | More by Hoagie1973