Summer Love - Victory Brewing Company

MrOH

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear yellow with a single finger of thick white head. Pretty good retention. Nice slippery rings of lace.

Citrusy american hops, some grass, pungent. A bit of nondescript malt underneath.

Light citrus hops, clean malt flavor, crisp finish. Absolutely perfect for a summer beer.

Light bodied, good carbonation.

I wish this was as cheap as Bud, I'd drink it all G-D summer long. The best commercial lawnmower beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 01:17:00 | More by MrOH

allboutbierge

Austria

4.58/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Absolutely spectacular. Only thing keeping it from 5's across the board is that its too hoppy for the style (to my understanding).

Pale golden color with ample fizzz white head and with considerable lacing. Nose is pungent and full of grassy aromas. Very crisp and earthy. Flavor is much the same with a faint citrus profile. Malt is thin but present and slightly straw like. Very very refreshing and the most enjoyable Blonde I have ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 18:51:42 | More by allboutbierge

undeadozzy

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought a sixer from the local beer store, never even heard of this beer before I bought it, and I usually keep up on this stuff! Now, I can't have a proper summer without this unique and refreshing beer in my life!

A - Pours a golden yellow with some deep bronze hues and a very nice foamy head on top that left lots of lacing on my pint glass. Lots of carbonation, but nothing overkill, it all goes great together.

S - Incredibly unique scent. Smells, well, like summer. Picking up some scents of peanuts and some salty buttery popcorn maybe, almost a cracker jack-y kinda scent. Don't forget the citrus, some pine, that relaxing grassy scent and of course THE HOPS! Oh boy, those noble hops smell great with the other scents. Wish they'd make a candle out of this smell so I could have it in my house.

T - Very deep and complex. Sharp bite from the hops and citrus, some buttery saltiness from what honestly tastes like peanuts and popcorn, and that nice refreshing almost IPA-like finish. Great beer for a hot summer day.

M - Nothing too impressive here, feels like a typical beer. Some frothiness, a little bit of velvety smoothness, but other than that it feels like a standard beer.

O - Victory's done it again! I've yet to have a bad beer from Victory, and this one keeps that streak going! Perfect for a hot summer day, it really does taste like they've bottled summer itself up into a bottle, and I don't feel as though I can officially have a "good" summer any longer until I grab a case of this to drink. Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 17:10:58 | More by undeadozzy

Nfl1991

4.53/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Overall a good beer. Pours a light golden color in a glass, with good visible carbonation. A good head, although it disappears in a matter of minutes. A bitter taste at first, but finishes with a good balance of malt, hops, and a hint of wheat and lemon rinds. Not the best out of Victory Brews, but definitely one of my favorite summer ales. Great for its class. Given that I prefer beers with a strong hop presence, I give it a 9/10.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 03:00:05 | More by Nfl1991

thebrood1987

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It smells pretty floral and a bit like grapefruit for a summer beer and has sweet grainy smells that I'm used to getting in good European beers. The taste is surprisingly really smooth and actually pretty sweet graininess up front and in the middle and then all of a sudden the bitterness of the hops evolves on the back of your tongue more and more as you drink it. The hops also give off a grapefruit almost lemon like flavor with a sharp fruity bitterness.

its not too bitter and like I said perfectly balanced with the delicious sweet grain malts. It's like their Headwaters Pale Ale but this is a bit sweeter, grainier and has a slightly different hop taste but not too different of one. At first I thought this beer would be boring or uneventful since its just a standard blonde ale but the hop flavors bitterness and that wonderful sweetness really round the beer out into a fantastic sessionable summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 22:45:42 | More by thebrood1987

Brenden

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer looks the part, a clear and even brilliant bright gold. Bubbling activity never really ceases. A dense, fluffy and creamy pillow of pure white head grows about three fingers high before settling but never dying. Plenty of patching is left clinging to the glass as the beer recedes.
While this style doesn't lemd itself to hoppiness. that actually makes this beer the hoppiest blonde I've ever had. It's floral and grassy with no astringency or harshness to the bitterness, fresh and green and just raw enough without being too leafy. It drinks like a lager but with a lot more flavor than is typical. As boasted, there's also lots of balance; a dryish malts presence that leans crackery but with a bit of biscuit lends great support. It's got a grassiness that I can only describe as summery. This beer was perfectly crafted to scream summer. Do I think this is the best style? No. Do I think this is the best American Blonde ale I've ever had? Yes. It's difficult to imagine what more one can do with the style.
The above translates to the feel as well; this is an extremely light style that drives brewers to make a beer that's just thin. This one, though, is light without giving anything up. Crispness never fades off, and it remains very smooth all the way as well. Not perfect, but perhaps perfect for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 19:37:25 | More by Brenden

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle, best by 01 Oct 2012. I missed out on this last year (and not for want of effort), and so, I made sure I got some this year.

A brilliantly clear golden yellow with a dense, fluffy, white head with excellent retention and lacing, this is a gorgeous beer. The nose is excellent. Bright, snappy lemony hops, resiny and moderately floral. Incredibly fresh, the hop character is awesome. With a light biscuit and cracker aroma.

The palate opens crisp, snappy, dry and cracker-like with a wonderful hop resin oiliness that brings forth flavors of lemon, jasmine, grass and a touch of soap. The malt character is very light, with drying flavors of water crackers, and just a hint of sweetness. Wonderful hop flavor here. Drying and resiny on the finish, this beer is light in body with a moderate carbonation. Incredibly drinkable, this comes with highest recommendations.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 02:59:04 | More by DefenCorps

Finn

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pale gold with a frothy, clean white head. Aroma is crisp citrus, grass, grains. Refreshing. A taste reveals a clean, crisp body of pilsner malts, giving way into a firm, but not heavy,bitterness. Nicely defined hop flavors,though not overwhelming. The light/medium body contributes to the refreshing characteristics, and the finish is fairly dry, with a a touch of lingering bitterness.

Overall, a fantastic, flavorful, and refined, refreshing blonde ale. An example of what the often overlooked style can really be.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 02:35:14 | More by Finn

lnashsig

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So, for my #BOTG 46 I decided to take a few steps back from the bigger stouts and barleywines I seem to have been drinking lately, to something a little more appropriate for this Texas heat! It's hot here in Houston (95+ right now), and all that appeals to me is a nice, cold refreshing beer right now. So, here goes "Summer Love".

Poured from bottle into Brooklyn tulip glass. Pours a clean, crisp yellow transparent color. Nice fluffy head fills the glass, leaves some lacing around the glass. Nice looking summer beer! Smell- herbal, floral hops. Almost a rosey aroma. Really nice. There is a grassy quality to it too. Taste- clean, crisp, hoppy, with a tiny bit of malt sweetness on the end. This is just so clean, crisp, refreshing. So incredibly drinkable- it has some german pilsner qualities to it, but also some really nice hop presence that you might find in a pale ale. This is just a perfect summer beer, I will be buying it all summer for sure. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 01:31:02 | More by lnashsig

plaid75

New York

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at The Blind Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium straw hue with a two finger frothy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured an upfront herbal hop and a bready malt.

The taste consisted of a full herbal hop spice, biscuity grain and touch of caramel at the finish.

The mouthfeel was crisp and dry.

Overall a very easy to drink APA with an excellent use of hops.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2010 14:07:28 | More by plaid75

GreenGrowler

New York

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Could this be the greatest summer beer? Quite possibly in my opinion. It seems as though it is dry hopped, I could be wrong but it has a nice cloudy look which is usually apparent in dry hopped beers. It is crisp, refreshing, a bit lemony. The thing with summer beers is a lot of time you lose the hops and just get the wheat. This is not a wheat beer but a summer ale. And it has a nice mellow hoppiness which is surprising. It must be the noble hops, I'm not sure but I could just stick my head mouth under the tap, open up and say ahhh! Especially on a hot humid summer night. If you ever see it, try it, you won't be disappointed!

Serving type: growler

09-01-2011 22:45:51 | More by GreenGrowler

JustinMann

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A light, white frothy head crowned the hazy golden brew, and a fruit smell wafted from the glass. I was impressed with the complexity of this 5.2%-ABV ale -- the lemon flavor mixed very well with the hoppy taste which yielded an extremely quaffable beer. The first sip and each subsequent taste was a delight. I love tasting the hops in a beer, and the mixture of hops and lemony-fruity-goodness in this particular libation was extremely satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 23:57:15 | More by JustinMann

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I had this at the Hulmeville Inn. Poured into a pint glass. Pours a nice slightly darker than yellow with a fizzy white heading that sticks around for a while.

Smell is very earthy with a nice subtle grassy aroma with a touch of spice.

Taste has gotten me by surprise a very smooth,crisp cracker like maltiness in the beginning which is quickly taken over by the grassy,piney like hoppiness.

Mouth is crisp,clean and goes down extremely smooth. Leaves a heavy linger in the mouth of those unmistakable green hops.

Very light and very tasty. This one caught me by surprise and I highly recommend if you find it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2010 01:09:43 | More by TheFightfan1

Gavage

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: golden yellow in color with a two finger head. Nice lace painted the glass too.

Smell: floral hops and some grassy tones are pleasant on the nose.

Taste: grass, light lemon zest, some earthiness, and a floral bitterness that seemed to enhance the flavors.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp from start to finish. Aftertaste was surprisingly long for the style.

Drinkability: this was a superb beer that was very easy to drink. Several could be has in a session without getting bored. Really nice beer worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 23:37:32 | More by Gavage

Kendo

New York

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A: Poured from the growler (Oliver's, $10.99) into a pint glass. Body is clear, light golden yellow with a fluffy, 1-finger white head. Good lace down the glass.

S: Florally hops and a bit of grassy-ness. Some basic grains too.

T: Cereal grains up front. Hint of fruitiness, but not much - just enough to remind you that this is an ale, not a lager. Finishes with a bit of grassy hops and a touch of lemon or lemon zest. A basic earthiness is there as well. Good long lingering aftertaste, mainly of grass but with a touch of lemon.

M: Light in heft. Fairly crisp finish after a slight slickness.

D: Flavorful yet light in body makes this one a quaffer. Nice beer, real flavorful for a light style. Reminds me at times of a pilsner, at other times it's more like a Helles Lager, but a touch of sweetness says "ale." All in all, it goes down real easy, without packing a big punch, ABV-wise.

Serving type: growler

09-03-2010 23:31:04 | More by Kendo

josefnewsong

New York

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I don't have time for a full fledged review but I feel this beer is underrated and needs someone to represent. This along with Sierra Nevada Summerfest has become my go-to summer beer. Clear and refreshing but still full of flavor. If you're looking for some details maybe I'll come back later and give a proper review. I don't often pick up cases but I'm contemplating...

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 19:08:01 | More by josefnewsong

BeTheBall

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a very pale color, similar to a pilsner in looks, very clear with nice lively head about one finger. Smelled herbal. Rosemary? Taste was also slightly herbal, but I think I also tasted some Rye in the mix. Very intriguing, and very delicious. Mouthfeel was nice, cleansing in a way. This one is very easy to drink and has great flavors, mild, but ever present. Will be looking for more.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 20:29:54 | More by BeTheBall

bubseymour

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Clear pale yellow with 1 finger head. Very pilsner-like in appearance.

Smell - Straw and lemon notes. Very nice!

Taste - Very excellent and refreshing. Definitely steals alot of the flavor from the Prima Pils but the hop bite isn't as pronounced. Superb flavor and very drinkable.

Mouthfeel - light and pilsner-like

Overall - I love this beer. Probably the first "summer ale" seasonal beer for summer that I really think is outstanding. Most others are blah, but this one is really well made in flavor, drinkability and great for warm weather consumption.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 01:01:32 | More by bubseymour

Star80

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a nice golden blonde color, with a frothy, white lacy head. Smells like some floral tropical fruits, some herbal hops, and vaguely sweet malts. Just from the smell it could be a DIPA, but it tastes different. I am getting some nice bitter orange zest, some puckering lemon and spicey, herbal hops with a touch of bitter aspirin too but not in an off putting way. Wow! This is a very bold flavorful beer for such a low abv brew. Malts are slightly sweet and give balance to all the hops, almost like a wheat beer in its crispness. The mouthfeel is nicely carbonated which is great for a hot Fourth of July Day. You know I was looking for ever elusive Gumballhead and decided to grab another six-pack of these and these have more than fit the bill for a refreshing, crisp, bold and hoppy low abv summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 21:26:49 | More by Star80

diamondc

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pale & golden, sticky lacing, a fingers worth of foam 'til the last gulp.

S: Earthy, lemon-y, grassy, and dirty.

T: Lot of lemon, spicy, dry aftertaste. Lite Prima Pils, almost. Light biscuit-y malts, but the hops were the highlight here. Wonderful.

M: Very refreshing on a hot day here. Hoppier than most American Blonde ales, though.

O: Worthy of multiple purchases, very quaffable and flat out great.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 20:46:58 | More by diamondc

mtoniatt

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I believe this beer is an excellent choice for those who enjoy some hoppiness in their beer, but are interested in a thirst quencher - crisp and refreshing. This is an excellent beer to enjoy on a warm summer night or kicking back at the beach!! I am not a huge fan of the color. The aroma is soothing and it had a nice lacing along the glass. I am sorry this is not offered through bottles!!

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2010 23:36:16 | More by mtoniatt

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a case at my local distributor. This beer pours a clear light gold with excellent carbonation and small white head. Smells of floral and faint citrus hops. A little lemon character is in there. Tastes crisp, light and refreshing with a kiss of bitterness at the end. Kind of has a Granny Smith apple taste to it (which I really dig). An awesome session beer. Takes a couple of beers to get accustomed to, but in no time I found myself flying through these. I think I just found my new go-to beer for the summer! Another great job by Victory.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 22:06:47 | More by jwhancher

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another fine victory draft in my authentic victory growler. Had this in the bottle version and was eager to try on draft.

Pours with a nice honey straw color with an abundance of fluffy white head. It's thick like a shake and is never ending.
Very clear but not very well carbonated.

A nicely aromatic beer with plenty of hop pop of the floral type. Malts are pale and sweet.

Pleasent tasting of balanced goodness.
Hops are sutle in flavor sportingclean floral notes perhaps noble.
Malts are sweet pale and good with a grainy or ceral finish.

Decent mouthfeel with a slight puckering at finish. Semi dry and bitter.

Think APA if deciding to buy.
There's alot of average to ... blondes but this babay kicks the pants off anything to date.
Like a Ryan Howard slam outta here.

Musically I'd pair this beer with second chance by Peter Bjorn and John

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2011 17:00:19 | More by micromaniac129

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - clear yellow color with a white head that thins to a light layer leaving just a few spots of lacing.

S - grass and citrus blend, you can tell this beer is fresh and hoppy.

T - the balance is perfect as the sweetness of malt is met with the bitterness of hops finishing a bit dry and tart.

F - medium bodied with good carbonation and a crisp, refreshing feel.

O - a very good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 01:27:20 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

dennarb

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've never had a beer that goes better with a good burger. Despite the silly name this is a remarkably well wrought beer. The pour is a bright yellow with a little cloudiness revealing the unfiltered yeast. The head is white and becomes lacy in a few minutes. The aroma is a pretty subtle combination of lemony and herbal notes. But the taste is where this beer excels. The fine hops that are so prominent in Victory's Hop Devil are beautifully rounded off with malt and bread and a little lemon combination that is really satisfying and refreshing. The only problem with this blonde ale is that you have a hard time not having another as soon as your glass is empty.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 00:57:12 | More by dennarb