Helios (V Saison) - Victory Brewing Company

Immortale25

Florida

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

Poured into a Dogfish Spiegelau glass. Bottleneck says Enjoy By FEB 14 2014.

A- Pours a clean light golden color with a full inch of white head that retains a bit before soon popping away to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a bubbly sheet of surface foam. Sudsy, semi-resilient lacing streaks down the glass.

S- Slightly funky aroma with some wild yeast detected but it's mainly just lemony and soapy.

T- Light flavor that's somewhat tangy with just the tiniest amount of funk. Though there's not much to go off of, I must say the 7.5% ABV is hardly noticeable. There's a mild bitterness but still doesn't do much to invigorate the drink as a whole.

M- Dry yet semi-spritzy and a bit tart with medium carbonation and a light body.

O- When I first had this, years ago, I straight up did not like it. And, now that my nose and palate are both more accustomed to saisons...it's still not amazing but I appreciate the nuances and drinkability. The more things change, the more they stay the same...kind of.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 23:30:43 | More by Immortale25

KTCamm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a perfect pint glass.

Pours brilliant gold, yellow bottom, orange top, white foam cap. Sunny. Malty nose, very modest. Yeasty taste, some funkiness. Pushy bitter that hangs around. Lemon peel. Very rindy. Lots going on in here. Beautiful looking with a very good taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 12:46:12 | More by KTCamm

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.96/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

for the price to abv and taste ratio, this beer cannot be beat. its an odd beer, a filtered saison, pouring pale straw in color with golden tones and a massive white head, fluffy, and rising well above the rim of the glass. the nose is surprisingly funky, especially after tasting their very lackluster swing saison. this one has som nice lemony tartness to it, mouthwatering. the flavor is very light, very summer. grassy notes, fresh, and way more farmy than I gave it initial credit for. some pepper in the yeast too, although also light. the grain bill is respectably simple, and the finish on this is nice and dry. one would never know its alcoholic strength either. but why 7.5% I wonder? it seems like itd make a great session summer beer at 5%, but with the alcohol amped up as high as it is, I cant quite figure out this beers true identity. clean finish and lighter body because its been filtered clear. carbonation could be a little stronger, but I have very little to complain about here, this is a lovely beer from victory, and full redemption for that sub par summer session saison they did this year. under 5 bucks a bomber is a steal for a beer this good.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 23:08:35 | More by StonedTrippin

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

4.39/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a pint glass and a tulip (basically the same in both):

A: somewhat hazy yet clear yellow/golden colored body with a two finger white foamy head that dies immediately, moderate clingy foamy lacing graces the pint glass but slides down in the tulip

S: strong tones of coriander, black pepper, and grass appear are up front and some light maltiness comes in as more warming occurs, super light funk

T: spicy yet somewhat malty and funky at the same time - wow, I like this, light lemon in the aftertaste, dry finish

M: light to medium, sessionable - though I'm sipping, one could really pound this if they wanted to, pretty smooth all around, big wow - never thought a saison could be this smooth, carbonation seems spot for me but perhaps a bit under-carbonated for the style

O: well, apparently I think I'm starting to get into saisons, not gonna go out on that limb just yet, but this one drinks very well for me, with the price once again - $3.50 for a bomber, this is a saison at least for me to come back to. Next time I have this, I hope to have it next to Hennepin just to compare.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 15:13:06 | More by kangarooAdam59

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a hazy straw color. The head is perhaps creamier than I'm used to in the style; nonetheless it's a beautiful three finger white shade. It retains fairly well and leaves moderate lacing on the glass.

S: Once the brew opens up after sitting for a spell, notes of coriander, black pepper, and fresh cut grass appear across a neutral malt canvas. Subtly funky, as well. Really pleasant and well executed, but fairly standard for the style.

T: Spice esters (such as coriander, black pepper, and pine) are the first thing I note on the palate, before the aforementioned subtle funk builds on the midtaste. Mild yet defined malt sweetness, lemon notes, and touches of hop earthiness finish this one off. The spiced qualities return on the aftertaste. I like the depth this provides in general; I wasn't sure what to think of the flavor profile initially, but it really grows on me after a while.

M: I find little to complain about the general feel; it's appropriately crisp and light, drying on the finish. It really comes across as being 'refreshing', too, without coming off overly carbonated.

O: This is the Hop Stoopid of saisons - why do I say that? Because it's a high-quality, no frills interpretation of the style fantastically priced by bomber standards. That, and Victory could really stand to put this in 6 packs. Still a really good saison regardless.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:34:12 | More by ThisWangsChung

rangerred

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Notice: Undefined variable: comment in /var/www/html/beeradvocate/beer/user_review.php on line 656
Poured into a tulip out of a 22oz bomber.

Pours a slightly hazy dark gold with a two finger whie fluffy head. This settles into a fairly thick cap over the beer and leaves decent lacing on the sides of the glass.

The aroma is quite peppery and has more barnyard funk than I was expecting out of a Saison. Some white grapes and honey too.

Tons of pepper on the flavor along with a quick shot of grape juice. Some funk midway through that lasts through the finish. Clove and banana are in the background along with honey. Very slick dry mouthfeel that makes the alcohol more noticeable. A decent amount of bitterness in the finish but it is dry.

Overall, this is a unique Saison although I cannot say that it is my favorite. The pepper gets to be a little too much and I am not crazy about the mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 21:46:44 | More by rangerred

sjverla

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Nose: Nice and tart and a little funky. Pleasant spicyness and faintly citric.

Appearance: Semi-hazy 14k gold color. Frothy white head rose high and left quickly but laced well.

Taste: Surprisingly funky. Good barnyardy quality. Just a hint of tartness on the sides. Subtle hint of lemongrass rides along the top. Finishes a little funky and a little bitter.

Overall: Really fantastic. At around $4 it's going to be a frequent get.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 21:58:58 | More by sjverla

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From the 22 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on April 1, 2013.

It pours pale yellow with a tremendous, long lasting soft, foamy head.

The aroma is mellow and inviting with Belgian pale malts, Belgian sugars, yeast, pear, and herbal hops.

The body is medium to bold and a little astringent.

The taste starts off with a pleasing malty character that is quickly overtaken and succeeded by a low but pungent citrus bitterness. I found this to be fairly easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 22:30:04 | More by puboflyons

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

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

A-light amber color with a nice white head and decent lacing

S-grain, lemon, yeast, herbal, pepper

T-yeasty bread, pepper, lemon, yeasty funk, herbal notes, slightly bitter finish

F-medium body with nice carbonation, crisp and clean

O-a nice Saison at a great price, great summer beer, very enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 19:27:17 | More by MDDMD

katan

Colorado

4.16/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz into a pint

A - Pours thick and hazy, lots of yeast. Strong white head formation, frothy, breaks down to a film fairly quickly.

S - Funky nose, white pepper, funky sour notes, a little bit of pilsner malts.

T - Starts off smooth and sweet, lightly malty. Turns a corner into more funkiness, some apple hints - generally a funky beer. Finishes with a light clean sweetness.

M - Higher carbonation, with a moderate creamy body. A little sticky on the tongue from the sugar and the carbonation.

O/D - A very good saison. I think I would enjoy this more in the summer. A rather funky one which I think is more true to the style vs. today's lab clean versions.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 00:07:32 | More by katan

UCLABrewN84

California

4.38/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Sunset Beer Company in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy off-white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Thin rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, yeast, spices, and Brett. Taste is much the same with a crisp Brett flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and dry mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with great aromas and flavors that make it super easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2013 23:49:14 | More by UCLABrewN84

CloudStrife

New York

3.94/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a clear light golden amber with a dense 3 finger white head. Lots of visible carbonation in the body. Decent amount of lacing sticks to the sides. Enough yeast on the bottom of the bottle to turn a full glass hazy.

S: Good aroma going on here. A bold yeast blends with some pale malts and a slight hop backing. Certainly get a decent an orange or lemony citrus from the yeast. Good Belgian qualities going on.

T: More mild of a flavor than I anticipated with that aroma. It is a well balanced blend though. You can get the farmhouse type yeast that blends with pale malts and decent amount of hop. Just a touch of booze at the end. Real fresh taste.

M: Light to medium body with average carbonation. Leaves a touch of stickiness in your mouth after you swallow. Very drinkable. Has a bit more full of a body once the yeast is poured in.

Overall a great American Saison, very refreshing and would be great in the summer. Great pickup to for $3.79, much less than the old corked V. Would buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 23:33:07 | More by CloudStrife

laituegonflable

Australia

3.73/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale golden colour, quite clear. Steady bubbling up to a white foamy head. Nice lacing. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit of cloud so I know it's all natural and farmhousey, but quite nice.

Belgian nose; fruity, sour and fresh. Organic funk with hints of phenols around the edge. Citrus and slight vanilla hiding at the back and a touch of fresh wood. Pleasant.

Taste is very Belgian. More bitter/phenolic with a mediciney edge towards the mid. Lightens off to a citric note, touch of herbs as well with basil and betel leaf. Generic Belgian, could use ramping up in the funky stakes for a saison.

Foamy and smooth in the mouth. A little dry at the end. Ideal for the style.

Decent saison but fairly generic.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 10:35:52 | More by laituegonflable

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

this ale from victory is a fresh one. the look is clear and golden with white head and a good bit of lacing. the smell is zesty, with citrus and i feel like i am detecting a honey sweet fragrance. the taste is fresh and crisp with citrus flavors. this helios has an oddness about it that is different from anything i have ever tasted. they nailed the summery fresh zesty beer thing, but there are some slight flavors in the background that i cant put my finger on. those flavors bring a uniqueness to this beer that i didnt expect, because of that i think you should pick one up if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 23:55:02 | More by mattkoon

AmitC

Indiana

4.21/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a large snifter.

Bottle opened with the beer overflowing out of it. A clear golden color with a lot of small bubbles rising up very vigorously. Over four fingers thick white colored head that has good retention and stays as a finger thick fluffy layer. Excellent lacing on the sides left by the receding head and by every sip along the way.

A good amount of fruity smell with some herb and spiciness. Not one of the strongest aroma. A little moderate strength. No alcohol. A slight hint of hops. A light malt backbone that seems nonexistent. Some dry fruit like smell and typical Belgian yeast strength.

A little sweet to a lot of spicy character. No alcohol presence. Overall finish is dry. Some bitterness but the feel is pretty much dominated by fruity and slightly peppery taste. A lot of creamy yeast taste typical of Belgian ales and especially saisons.

Light to slightly medium feel. A lot of apparent carbonation, but is not punching enough on the tongue. Effervescent and bubbly. Drinks pretty smooth with no astringency.

Style Rate: 4.25
Personal Rate: 3.75

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 02:10:53 | More by AmitC

ianmhall

Connecticut

4.68/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: golden with big fluffy head

S: Funky and chill inducing... loads of fruit and funk bright and complex notes of pepper, lemon and a fatty meat component

T: fruity lemon notes with a herbaceous notes dry and yet refreshing funky with a light sour kick... there is no notes of brett so i'd have to say it a beautiful strain of Belgian yeast that is doing some serious work here
M: Light, Dry, and Drinkable Slight Acidity

O: Incredibly funky fruity and refreshing... drinkable, dry, farmhouse ale that's one of the best readily available saisons at a tremendous value!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:10:08 | More by ianmhall

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

Thanks to Darrell for hipping me to this beer.

The beer is a bit of a gusher, with a formidable white head. The aroma offers citrus, hops, brett, etc, very nice. Flavor follows suit. Light to medium in body and highly drinkinable. Delicious. $4 per bomber?!? Alrighty then. Absolutely worth a try. I look forward to revisiting this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 04:58:52 | More by Huhzubendah

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden yellow in the glass with good carbonation. Carbonation is finer small bubbles and a layer remains on top of the beer through consumption. Good lacing. Nose is floral - like a fresh field of flowers. Taste is also fresh and refreshing - has body yet still light. Again very floral but also spices like Rosemarie and thyme. Floral flavor lingers well after the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 22:03:39 | More by Oakenator

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up as part of my normal restocking run, hard to argue with $3.79 for a bomber of what had potential to be a decent Saison. Poured from a bomber into a New Belgium snifter.

A: Relatively cloudy golden color which formed a couple of fingers of nice thick head. Residual bubbling from the bottom , head dissipated pretty quickly but laced out well. A good looking beer.

S: Nose for me was dominated by Brett with some slight hoppy fruitiness behind, banana and grapefruit. Aroma got me psyched for the potential for funkiness.

T: Basically in line with the nose. Pretty sharp lemony pepper taste with a barnyard funk to it. True to form for style but I would place it on the crisper / sharper end of flavor spectrum, with the grapefruit and citrus dominating. Misses some of the sweetness you may find in a truly classic Saison. But very refreshing and enjoyable.

MF: Crisp and very refreshing. The finish is peppery and slightly astringent. Light as is typical for style. This would go down well on a hot summer day.

O: A nice Saison, if a bit on the dry / crisp end of the curve. At $3.79 / bomber very sessionable, and I could imagine knocking back several of these on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 23:34:57 | More by JeffreyJDavis

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.98/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a chill-hazed straw yellow color with 2+ fingers worth of bubbly head

S: Lightly funky yeast, lemon, some peppery spice, and a hint of hops

T: Follows the nose. Lightly funky and slightly bitter with notes of lemon peel, black pepper, and earthy hops. Finishes with a lingering bitterness

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. Drying

O: A nice saison from Victory. Decently complex and highly drinkable (especially for 7.5%) at a great price point ($3.49). More-so recommended for the summer months, but even in the winter it's not bad

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 19:07:10 | More by BEERMILER12

StoutHunter

Michigan

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

I picked up a bottle of Victory's Helios a couple weeks ago for $6.49 at The Lager Mill. Victory has been hit or miss for me and I haven't had a beer from them that I have really liked, but I'm starting to get into beers with a little bit of brett in them so I decided to take a chance and give this beer a try, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date, but i'm pretty sure it's a 2012 vintage. Poured from a 22oz brown bottle into a tulip.

A- The label looks nice, it has a simple yet well done label that's a little eye catching. It poured a nice and hazy straw golden yellow color with two and a half fingers worth of white head that died down a thin ring that stayed till the end and left some patchy lacing. This is a good looking beer, I have no complaints since the color and head are very true to style.

S- The aroma starts off with a nice earthy and grassy aroma that quickly gives way to a high amount of sweetness followed by a medium barnyard and funky brett aroma to it. After that comes the fruits which are pretty nice, there some citrus fruits like lemon and a little bit of grapefruit, but there's also some banana and pear aromas that seem to stick out the most and give this beer a pretty unique aroma. This beer had a good aroma that was a little funky and pretty unique.

T- The taste seems be to somewhat similar to the aroma, it starts off with a wheaty and malty flavor followed by that signature peppery Saison flavor. After that comes some straw followed by a light lemon flavor and some more of that banana and pear that seem to be pretty light also. Up next comes a lightly acidic flavor followed by a little bit of earthy funk and a slight barnyard flavor. On the finish there's some lighter bitterness followed by a slight lemon, grainy and slightly funky aftertaste. This beer tasted pretty good it had some nice complexity to it and it was pretty true to style.

M- Pretty smooth, sharp, very crisp, on the lighter side of being medium bodied with a higher amount of prickly carbonation. The mouthfeel was good, it was pretty carbonated, as the style should be, but it was just a little too prickly for me, but still good overall.

Overall I thought this was a good beer and a good example of the style, it had all the qualitys that I look for in this style with some nice complexity while being very crisp and refreshing. This beer had good drinkability. it went down pretty smooth, was refreshing, and the flavors held my attention, I could see this being a great choice on a hot summer afternoon, I think a bomber would be the perfect amount for me. What I liked the most about this beer was how true to style it was, the brett gave it the earthy and slightly funky aspect that really tied everything together and doesn't overpower the beer as can happen easily. What I liked the least about this beer was that comes in bomber, this is the perfect candidate for 12oz bottles, a six pack would be great to have during those hot summer days. I would buy this beer again, but I'll probably wait till the summer to revisit it, it wasn't too expensive and it was a good example of the style, I recommend giving it a try and it might make for a good and easy introduction to brett beers. All in all this beer delivered just what I wanted from this style and I thought it was a very solid Saison. So far this is the best beer I have had from Victory and it's up there as one of the better Saisons I have tried, good job guys. I'll have to try a couple more of your beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 05:05:00 | More by StoutHunter

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Nice light orange color. Superb head.

S - Maybe not the most appealing for me. Citrusy but not not as balanced as I'd like. Perhaps I should have drunk this when it was fresher.

T - A quite refreshing beer at first. Lemony with a fair amount of hop character. After a while the hops become a bit much for me. Yeasty.

M - A bit lighter than I'd hoped.

O - A well-done beer for its style, but the hopiness and lemony taste made it less appealing for me. There are other saisons I'd prefer.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 22:15:52 | More by Beer-A-Lot

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a nice, potent 22oz bomber of Belgian yeasty yumminess.
A: Pretty light with some off-white head
S: Strong hoppy blast with some floral notes and strong German malts
T: The malts and hops together with this spicy yeast are killer
M: Definitely a pleasant strong brew, with intriguing yeasts that dance all over my mouth
O: Enjoyable, and strong enough that one bottle gets me there... Relatively affordable too!

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 12:41:26 | More by PatriotsRule

tcsparkx

Minnesota

2.8/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

It was light and had enough flavor. I picked it up on a whim. Brewing my own was going to work better with the bomber, and I found that trying out other the brews inspired me to make something better...or equal. I was inspired to try out a light brew next batch. Nice on all counts.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 03:13:49 | More by tcsparkx

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

Bottle shared with @tobeerornottobe and @LaitueGonflable.

Pours a clear, bright, spring-like golden colour, with a fine, frothy and pretty persistent head of pure white. Where the head doesn't persist as head proper, it persists as lace, forming solid, chunky sheets down the inside of the glass. Carbonation is high, and it streams through the relatively light body very quickly. Looks fresh and good.

Nose is clean and bright, but with a fresh funk to it, giving a little bit of fuggy sweetness, and a light vegetative character. It also has a touch of acidity to it, but this is tightly coupled with the sweetness, giving it the suggestion of sour lollies. Not bad.

Taste is brusquer, peppery, sharper and with a vegetative bitterness. And to be honest, it works well. The sweetness is still noticeable, but it is drawn back and balanced by the biting rawness of the bitterness and the earthy funk. Little true acidity here, but the rustic, primal nature of the other characters work well. And despite these flavours, it ends up being surprisingly crisp, and easy to drink. Lovely stuff.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It has some lovely rustic, earthy and dependable flavours to it, but manages to amalgamate them all into a clean, very drinkable beer. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 02:01:11 | More by lacqueredmouse