Summer Love - Victory Brewing Company

Hojaminbag

Colorado

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

Summer Love has a crisp, golden body with fairly active carbonation bubbles. The small white head is pretty solid looking and leaves some good lacing behind.

Lemony hops and cereal-like grains mix in the nose to create a pleasant aroma.

I liked Summer Love from the first sip, it is crisp and refreshing. Grainy, cereal-flavored malts mix with just a hint of fruitiness from the yeast. The hop profile adds a little bit of bitterness, and a lot of grass and lemon. The flavors are well-balanced, but skewed a little bit to the hoppy side.

Summer Love has just enough body to keep things together here.

Victory makes lots of great beer, and Summer Love is no exception.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2010 14:38:03 | More by Hojaminbag

mtnbikerpa

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I had this brew on draft. Poured a bright yellow/golden color crisp with a foamy white head. Lots of carbonated bubbles coming to the top. Smells of strong lemon zest and fresh cut grass. The flavor has some hay, grass, and lemon flavor, a hint of some grains more like cereal. Mouthfeel is pretty watery. The drinkable nature for me was hindered by the flavor. I did not really fully enjoy the flavor of the brew. I am glad I got to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2010 23:24:50 | More by mtnbikerpa

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Victory Brewing : Summer Love

LOOK: Appears a bright gold in color, hazy, with a decent sized white head and plenty of lacing.

SMELL: Aroma is full of grassy, citrusy, herbal hops.

TASTE: Flavor follows the nose with a nice herbal hop character. Lemon, grass, mild citrus and a bready pale malt backing. Light and refreshing, and very hop forward.

FEEL/OVERALL: Good overall feel, well carbonated. Easy to drink and something I would definately have again. A perfect summer beverage.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2010 17:46:18 | More by Stinkypuss

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

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

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

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Vicotry Summer Love was commissioned by the Philadelphia Tourism Bureau (called With Love, Philadelphia XOXO) for Philly Beer Week 2010. Their hope was to create a beer with mass appeal. Draft only, though they bottled it once for Philly Beer Scene magazine.

I had a pint served at Frontier Saloon. Even though almost every beer served up in this place looks like the head is MIA, you cannot refuse Summer Love its rightful head. Simply amazing! This beer is a beautiful golden color that is as clear as can be. The thick, rich white head shows off the endless carbonation. Not to mention, it sticks all over the glass, something you don't see too often in pubs.

Even a smoke-filled saloon such as Frontier cannot mask the scent of floral, lemony hops wafting off of Summer Love. It smells like a toned down Hop Wallop. The beer is an accentuation of the All-American Citra hop.

With a smell like that, and Victory's line-up of bitter beers, I am expecting an IBU bomb! Surprise! There is no serious bitterness here. Yes, there is some hop flavor up front, but the large majority of this drink is smooth and even. A very well balanced beer!! Gentle bitterness in the finish compliments the malty middle of this beer. Tastes extra fresh.

The carbonation is quite lively, and creates a very refreshing libation. The mouthfeel is smooth and finishes dry. I find this to be quite sessionable. I could drink this all night and all the next morning....

Try this if you can find it in your local tavern.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2010 20:34:48 | More by MusicaleMike

adkirkish

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: golden yellow and clear, wispy stark white head, slight persistance.

A: pale malts, clean herbal hop aroma, no esthers, no offs.

F: slight (sweet) blonde malt but then clean herbal hops round out the taste. Balance is toward the hops. Finish is slight hop bitterness, but clean and refreshing.

M: light med body and mouthfeel, medium high carbonation. No alcohol warmth.

O: this is a great clean and fresh summer beer. Not heavy on the palate, but with a good dose of hop bitterne ss, with a steady malt backing. Pairs perfectly with a cheesesteak? You betcha!! Cheers to the boys up in PA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2010 23:47:25 | More by adkirkish

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

Axic10

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the brewery after the Saison du Buff Brewmasters' Lunch. Served in a 16oz pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a light golden color with a thin layer of head on top.

Smell: Nose is slightly spicy with a distinct grassy aroma. Very clean smelling.

Taste: Malty, grass/hay taste and a slight yeast flavor comes through on this.

Mouthfeel: Light, crisp and clean.

Drinkability: This was a very enjoyable beer that helped almost cleanse my palate after the three course lunch with three different styles of beer. It was a refreshing on a day that was too hot for me (high 80's). I can see myself drinking this at cookouts through the summer. Nothing spectacular, but not bad at all.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2010 03:57:23 | More by Axic10

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

Soonami

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A special beer brewed in collaboration with Philadelphia "With Love" tourism board, is a pale ale made with german pale malt, and locally sourced water (duh). Summer Love was very pale in color almost blonde and had a nice tuft of foam on top. In appearance it could have passed for a pilsner, which is to say too pale for a pale ale. The smell is dominated mostly by grassy hops with a little tinge of lemon--there is a bit of sulfur in the aroma as the beer warms and a bit of cooked veggie. The taste was very nice and clean with light malt flavors, crisp hops and slightly citric finish. The beer was lighter in body than I would have liked, but was easy to drink and refreshing

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2010 02:59:45 | More by Soonami

lsummers

California

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bright clear and clean straw yellow with a own finger bright white head.

Smells of some grassy malty hay notes with a touch of mustiness. There's some bready sweetness in there.

Taste starts off with an herbal peppery subtle hop note mixed with a clean caramelized brown sugar malty sweetness. Touch of burnt caramel on the end.

Mouthfeel is fairly high in carbonation which helps give this beer it's initial bite feeling on the tongue. Fairly light with a touch of viscosity to give it somewhat of a thicker character than soda.

Overall, this is an ok beer but a good poolside offering. I would have this again at a BBQ on a hot day but otherwise it doesn't have the best blend of flavors for my taste. Still it's above an average beer by far.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 05:43:53 | More by lsummers

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bottle > Pint Glass

A - Pours a light completely clear straw/light gold color, shy of a finger head, minor lacing.
S - Some grains and light malt, a little yeast.
T - Tastes like a pilsner, I dont really get any of the Simcoe hops in here at all, just a little minor bite from the german hops.
M - Light, refreshing for summer.
O - Eh, could do without, but its not awful.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:56:40 | More by Omnium

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into tulip. Nice inch thick white foamy head sits on a golden color. Really fantastic hop grassy crisp grain aroma. Nice crisp malty flavor with great floral and fruity notes. Its very well balanced and a super easy drinker. One of my go to summer session brews. Wish they would make a double version...
You really never find this much flavor in a blonde too often.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:49:44 | More by DrinkSlurm

kojevergas

California

3.25/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard blue branded pressure cap acquired at a local SoCal beer store and served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average; I've really enjoyed some beers from this brewery in the past. No ABV listed on the label as far as I can tell.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 2-25 finger beige colour head of decent cream, decent thickness, and above average (~3-4 minute) retention. Body colour is a clear transparent pale yellow. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. No lacing at all. Standard fare for a blonde.

Sm: Grainy pale malts. Floral hops. Light nuts. Grassy. Dank. Lemongrass. Caramlts are dominant. A mild to moderate strength aroma. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable.

T: Grainy malts are dominant. A twinge of lemongrass. Floral hops. Grassy malts. Pale malts. A bit of biscuit malt, perhaps. Malted barley. Clean barley. A hint of straw/hay. Simply built. Balance is there, but the simplicity of the beer makes this unimpressive. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. A simple blonde with little to impress. Approachable and pleasant, but unimpressive.

Mf: Smooth. Wet. Overcarbonated. A bit too thick for its lack of diverse and/or deep flavour. Decent presence on the palate. Not soft. Suits the flavour profile decently.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable but unimpressive. It's just too generic overall. I'd bring a sixer of this to a barbecue, but otherwise I doubt I'd get it again - even if it is well priced. Very drinkable - just not exceptional. There are better beers in this style at an equal or better price point. Hides its modest ABV as well as could be expected. Another decent but not exemplary beer from Victory.

High C+

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 03:42:10 | More by kojevergas

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Clear golden color. White head with ok retention and some lace strings. Many many little rising carbonation bubbles.

S: Sweet fresh grains and citrus in the background. Smells juicy but not nessecarily with fruitiness. Very simple yet well done. Clean, crisp and super fresh.

T: Matching the smell very well, the taste is packed with fresh grains, some citrus and also peppery spice.

M: Nice smooth, swirly feeling beer. Body is on the medium side. Texture is a weee bit resinsy-dry feeling.

O: A solid choice for an outside pleasant weather beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 23:51:37 | More by tastybeer

BucannonXC5

California

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Stone pint glass
From: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, Calif., on Jan. 5, 2013
Price: $2.29
Misc.: N/A

Poured a golden hazy straw color with a finger of gray head that dissipated rather quickly. Minimal lacing, below average retention.

Smelled a surprising sharp whiff of hops up front. Seemed to be icy Cascade hops. Also some lemon grassy notes - a bit like lemon Jolly Ranchers - honey, caramel and lime. A bit like Sprit or Sierra Mist. Pretty good smell for a summer brew.

Taste wasn’t quite as good as the smell. Got those Cascade hops still and grassy hops with a bitter finish. In between was sweet alcohol, lime and pine. Later got some tangerine and slight grapefruit.

Light body. Thin texture. Lively (above average) carbonation. Bitter finish. Clean, crisp and refreshing, though.

A pretty good summer beer overall, which is saying something, because most taste the same. I’d have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 04:35:24 | More by BucannonXC5

mjtiernan

New York

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Can’t find a bottle date, but since it’s nearly November this one might be past its prime.

A: I can see why this is a blonde! Very pale hazy straw color. Nice white head with big bubbles and lots of lacing.

S: Some grassiness and tropical fruit...apricot and mango. Some spiciness. Really a nice smelling beer.

T: Well if it’s past its prime then I can’t really tell. Everything from the aroma comes into play in the flavor, plus there’s a good amount of bready grain added.

M: It’s nicely refreshing and makes you want to take another sip. Finish is a tad dry which I think is part of what draws me into wanting to immediately take another drink. On the watery side with some nice scrubbing bubbles.

O: I had this on draft over the summer with some oysters and was surprised by how much I liked it. I’ll be picking this up again when the warm weather returns.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 02:43:19 | More by mjtiernan

Vashtar

Texas

2.6/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

HOPS
The appearance is... Sadly, I drank it from a bottle.

The aroma is pleasant, but I couldn't detect anything special.

The taste was very hoppy. It was overpowering.

The mouthfeel was flat and thin after 8 sips

Overall, this beer was way too bitter for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 01:50:26 | More by Vashtar

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

While it's not quite summer anymore, it is 75 out and sunny and feels like it still is, so since the weather is giving me some summer love, I might as well drink the same.

Pours a light white fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades at a med pace, a little lacing slowly falling down the sides of the glass, over mostly clear straw golden yellow colored beer.

Nose is nice, some light malts, a little cracked straw, hint aromatic malt, and nice hops, noble hops, little grassy and hint fruity, just a touch tropical fruit too.

Taste starts with some bitter hops actually, a nice light spicy slightly earthy bitterness that ramps as it goes, and brings a light grassy flavor, little orange rind as well, and hint of tropical fruit. Malts add a nice backbone, blond malts for sure, with a light straw flavor pilsner malt like. Finish is big hops, fairly bitter, slight orange rind citrus and a bit more grassy hops lingering, a long bitter finish, quite bitter actually, and fairly dry.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, decent carb.

Overall pretty good. I was not expecting that hop kick, but it's a nice addition. As much as I like the hops, I personally would have liked a bit less hop in this and more malt forward, or at least more late addition hops and less bitterness. Otherwise a nice tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 20:57:34 | More by jlindros

claspada

New Jersey

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

Pours a light gold color with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

Aroma begin with citrus, light earthiness and pine with complementary grainy, a little sweet and caramelized malts.

The tastes begin with out with a pilsner, grainy, pale malt sweetness. Then a strong but not over-powering citric hop presence comes in. Some more toasty, bready and light candy malt sweetness emerges.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is farily dull, crisp and clean.

Overall this is a decent example of the style and one that is fine to consume on a warm summer afternoon. The flavor profile is not too outstanding and leaves me wanting a little more. There are much better sessionable ales out there that this one does not need to be in anyone's regular rotation.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 16:28:42 | More by claspada

mdfb79

New York

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From 09/01/12 notes, Had in LBI, poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pour a of hazy yellow color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, bready malts, grains, and some wheat. Citrus is light, but nice.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, fruity malts, bready malts, grains, wheat, floral hops, and some earthy notes. Some honey as well. A step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Body is very smooth.

o - Overall a pretty nice blonde ale that is smooth and easy to drink. Lots of citrus to it, especially in the taste. Would definitely have it again sometime; a good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 20:00:40 | More by mdfb79

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from bottle to pint glass with nice thick foamy head, which dissipates rather quick leaving behind some nice lace, color is a golden hue with nice clarity.

S: Aroma is of Hop ,Hop, Hop!<smiles>! Light Mild maltiness in back mostly fruity/piney notes.

T: First sip gives way to nice hop burst on tongue with fruity /piney hop characteristics much the same as the aroma but stronger ...more present.

M: Mouthfeel is medium bodied to full very nice almost a chewy feel to it.

O: Overall a great beer and like it a lot will enjoy this sixer and perhaps more before summer is over.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 21:52:15 | More by nukem5

buschbeer

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is golden colored with pale yellow highlights. Three fingers of off white head make a fleeting appearance.

S - The first thing that I get is lemon zest. I also get some bready malt and some floral hops.

T - The taste mirrors the smell. I get lemon, some malt and some hops. I get a slight metallic aftertaste.

M - Thin to moderate

O - I am not a fan of Victory, but this is one of the better beers that I have had from them.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 19:05:38 | More by buschbeer