Summer Love - Victory Brewing Company

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a very german or czech pils style summer brew. pours clear honey colored with a one inch white head and very large bubbles slowly rising to the surface. smells like german malts and bittering hops. refreshing aroma. flavor is a little bready from the malts, perhaps making this not the most appropriate style of beer for the season, but its on the lighter side of the malt spectrum and doesnt weigh it down too much. crisp hops at the end, some floral yeast in the background. feel is good, medium carbonation and a medium body, not filling, but not that light either. overall not a bad beer, but certainly not my favorite new summer offering this season.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:14:51 | More by StonedTrippin

woosterbill

Connecticut

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

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: A fairly vigorous pour into the upright tulip results in an inch of marshmallow-like white foam atop a clear gold body; pretty good retention, but not as much lace as I'd like. Good looking Blonde.

S: Smells like a nice Pils without the lager yeast: clean, biscuity malt and moderate Noble hoppiness - very herbal, lightly earthy. Simple and good.

T: Much like the nose, I'm getting a pleasant balance of clean pilsner malt and fairly intense European hops. Quite noticeable bitterness on the finish - not quite enough to be astringent, but it's right on the borderline. Long, bitter, slightly fruity aftertaste. I'm a fan.

M: Fairly light-bodied and exploding with creamy carbonation. Lively and refreshing, if a bit over the top with the effervescence.

O: I like it, but it seems overdone for the style: the combination of extra-light malt and fairly aggressive hops makes it refreshing, but potentially too intense for someone trying to use Blondes as a stepping stone to more flavorful styles. If you want interesting flavor, this is the place to be in this style; if you want something that's just hugely drinkable without being boring, I'd recommend Narragansett Summer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 00:27:27 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

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

Pretty good summertime beer! Served with a nice white, medium sized, foamy head that settled down to a light cover and lots of lace. Color was a clear amber yellow with some bubble trails. Aroma was grain, malt, fresh cut grass, and a little fresh hop. Flavor was very similar to nose. Body is good and so is carbonation. Was a little sharp on the tongue. Finish is medium long and like flavor. Session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2011 19:04:25 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Leesville Tap Room.

A - copper gold with a thin white head that has no retention

S - piny, herbal hop notes

T - piny, herbal, spicy, citrusy hop character with some faint malts in the background

M - light to medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a decent beer for a summer offering. It has a solid hop character and great drinkinability. I'll definitely try this out again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2012 02:46:15 | More by tdm168

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

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

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

A - pure clear yellow with a half inch of sticky head with excellent sticking lacing on the sides of my glass

S - Smells pretty sweet with malts and a bit of orange peel like hops in the back round. I do get a bit of grain as well which might be from aggressive wheat backbone.

T - First sip was pretty grain forward with a mix of sweet malts then hit with a grapefruit like hop ness which is pretty sweet. It does blend pretty well and the spiciness from the wheat (or rye) is pretty constant. Very good beer.

M - A bit heavy for a season ale but it does work

Overall my favorite summer session ale hands down is the headwaters but this is a pretty good one two. Would not be offended to have a six pack in one sitting.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 19:59:06 | More by DrDemento456

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is a bit mild, some hops, some citrus notes. Taste is good, hops, citrus, some malts, very refreshing. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a very good summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 15:11:54 | More by tone77

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

Served on tap at Cork City Pub in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a slightly hazy pale yellow in color with some very light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall off-white head that reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of cracker and pils malts along with some floral hops.

T: Similar to the smell, the taste of this beer has flavors of crackery pils malts, hints of lemon, and floral hops. There is a light amount of bitterness and just a hint of pepper/spice in the finish.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation.

O: Very easy to drink, very enjoyable, and very sessionable. Nice and light and very enjoyable, goes down easy on a summer day (or evening).

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2012 16:14:43 | More by dbrauneis

KarlHungus

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a hazy blonde color. The head is half an inch in height, and recedes slowly into nice lacing. The aroma is of bready malt, and mild spicy hops. The taste has some nice light bready, toasty malt notes, with only a hint of hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, and a smooth texture. Overall, this is a nice blonde ale that I could drink again if in the mood for something light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 23:47:20 | More by KarlHungus

oline73

Maryland

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

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a finger of white head that fades quickly that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Smell: Not a lot going on here. A crisp mildly sweet malt smell.

Taste: Nice and crisp. Bready malt up front with a nice mild bitterness in the finish. A nice summer drinking beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a mildly dry finish.

Overall: This is a nice beer to drink in the warm weather. Not a lot going on, but I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 01:28:34 | More by oline73

billab914

Virginia

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

12oz bottle into my Southern Tier pint glass. It poured a light golden color with a modest bubbly head to it. Good head retention and great lacing as I drank it.

The aroma has a very nice hoppiness to it right off the bat. I get a floral, juicy, slightly citrusy flavor. A little bit of a light, grainy, malty flavor to it as well. The hoppiness was nice for the style.

The taste also has a very bright and floral hoppiness to it throughout the flavor. I get more of a juicy, tropical fruit flavor to the hops up front, while a little bit of a bitter, grapefruit like flavor comes out in the finish.

The mouthfeel is light with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a very enjoyable beer and one of the best I've had of the style. The hoppiness was very nice in it, especially for the lower abv. I was definitely impressed with this beer relative to it's style and abv.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 01:26:33 | More by billab914

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours hazy golden amber color with a nice 1-2 finger fairly dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Good spotty lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of grapefruit, orange peel, herbal, floral, lemon zest, grass, light pine, and slight bread. Very nice aromas with a great hop profile and good strength; fairly dank as well. Taste of grapefruit, orange rind, lemon zest, herbal, floral, pine, grass, and bready malts. Good amount of spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, floral, pine, grass, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a short bit. Great blend of hops flavor with good balance. Medium carbonation and body; with a very nice crisp and slightly sticky mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with pretty much no warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a really great and well hopped blonde ale. Great balance and hop flavor profile; extremely crisp and very easy to drink. I will be getting this again, great summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 03:50:29 | More by superspak

srandycarter

California

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light clear straw. White head is gone quick. Lots of cling hanging on.

S - First whiff cat pee. Malt and cat pee.

T - Nice solid malt front and the cat pee turns into a musky bitterness.

M - Thinner than I had hoped, good carb, balance is kinda crazy.

D - Easy drinker with low ABV. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 04:25:10 | More by srandycarter

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

rfgetz

New Jersey

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

Pours a very faintly clouded straw yellow, cap of fizzy white head gone quickly. Scent is clean and mild, notes of sweet malt, fresh dried grain, lemon, lightly floral and faintly herbal. Taste follows scent, clean and refreshing, faintly sweet and faintly lemony, touches of fresh grain, flowers and vague minty/herbal touch at the end. Lighter side of medium, moderately high carbonation. While neither bold nor standout in any one area, it is a great refreshing beer for the summer, if more widely available a case of this would be my regular tailgate/BBQ beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 15:02:59 | More by rfgetz

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a pale, slightly hazed, goldenrod coloring with a slow flow of small carbonation bubbles present throughout and a thin ring of film around the surface. Aromas of toasted grains, slight buttery sweetness, and a light hopping. Flavors are a bit more hopped, with a slightly bitter forward flavor followed by a solid, smooth toasted grain backbone. The buttery notes catch the tail end leading into the bitter and spiced hoppy aftertaste. The finish is crisp, clean, and slightly dry. Very easy to drink, very refreshing, and slightly hoppier than most brews in this style...tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 22:47:30 | More by GarthDanielson

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

A buddy brought over a selection of Victory last night. I am assuming it’s from a recent Victory Variety pack, but I can’t be sure. After looking over the label several times I do NOT see a best by date on the bottle.

Good looking beer. Perfect 2 finger head that is sudsy and bright white. The beer is a very bright and crystal clear gold color. Just a bubble or two escape. Some sudsy lace clings in clumps.

Aroma is light, fresh, grassy. Surprisingly floral.

My first impression is that this is hoppier than I imagined and is very fresh. A very light cracker/bready malt flavor that’s just lighty toasted. Very subtle. The citrus/floral hops are center stage and steal the show. If this had a touch more bready character it would be awesome. Almost a SN Summerfest. Just not quite.

Light, crisp and refreshing. Yep, that works for an American Blonde and a beer designed for Summer consumption.
For what this is meant to be, this pretty much nails the style. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 21:57:38 | More by Reagan1984

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: 1/3 inch head, light yellow in color, clear, high carbonation

Smell: piney and citrus hops

Taste: piney hops with some grassiness

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, light bodied, bitter, but not overly so with light sweetness in the back

Overall: Very drinkable, bitter beer that I see as a good lawnmower beer. I could have a couple or just as well pass. Decent, not great

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 13:40:51 | More by tigg924

prototypic

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Summer Love is light yellow or straw color. It’s very clear and looks light gold when held to light. A white head tops it, and rises to about a finger and a half in height. It recedes to a surface covering rather quickly, but leaves a moderate web of sticky lace behind.

The nose is good. It kicks off with grainy notes. They’re fairly prominent throughout. A whiff of sweet malt follows. Lemon is noted about midway through. Hops are more prominent than you might expect. They smell quite grassy and floral. There’s a bit of a spicy scent that I can’t quite put my finger on. Alcohol isn’t noticeable. It’s rather straight forward and simple, but it smells good.

The flavor is likewise good. It’s a little sweet and malty up front. Grainy, grassy, and earthy notes emerge and resonate throughout. In part, hops are responsible for some of those flavors. Noble hops are definitely in the mix. Their classic grassy, floral flavor is strong. They add a bit of a bitter kick, but it’s not overwhelming. It’s just enough to make things really buzz. Alcohol is buried. Finishes grassy, a little bitter, and dry.

Summer Love has a light-medium body. Carbonation is quite active, and is a little buzzy. It’s not quite smooth, but it does go down easily. I could gladly handle a few of these.

Victory Brewing seems to be heading in an interesting direction releasing beers such as Summer Love and Headwaters Pale Ale. Rather than going more extreme, they seem to be going for more mass market appeal with smaller, simpler, more drinkable beers. I’m good with that. Summer Love is good beer (as is Headwaters). Summer Love really is a nice, drinkable beer to kick back with this time of year. I’m enjoying it. Easy recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 03:05:15 | More by prototypic

Boto

Connecticut

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

12oz. bottle: This one pours a slightly hazy, straw yellow color. There was a very small white head on it that didn’t linger long. Nice aroma to this one. Floral, grassy, hint of lemon in the back ground. The taste is good. Slightly lighter body, just a faint whiff of bitterness and a slight dryness. Slight lemon flavor, with grassy a slight graininess. Very crisp and refreshing. An excellent summer choice!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 21:06:19 | More by Boto

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

garymuchow

Minnesota

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

Nice soft hop presence. Fresh and enjoyable. Firm pale malt backing.
Rather cloudy yellws with small white cap.
Nice creamy feel and more of a hop forward beer than most this style. Nonetheless, balanced nicely with a slightly bigger bitterness than typical leading to a long finish. Firm malt backing but also in the flavor.
This is a pretty bold beer for style. Bigger and richer than many and more flavorful than most.
Enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 21:49:31 | More by garymuchow

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Ok - this is the summer of Blonde love for me...
Consumed 7/1
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a hazy, light golden/deep straw yellow color with a two finger of foamy, white head. Head recedes at a moderate pace and leaves intermitent rings of wispy lacing.

S: Nose is nose is grainy, grassy and piney with a some fruity notes.

T: Taste starts starts slight grassy that builds to stronger grassy notes with a mild mango taste. Some slight caramel malts come through that really bring out the fruit notes. Finish is a hay, earthy hop profile with a good dose of grapefruit bitterness.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, slickly, oily rich feel.

O: Goes down very easily, very tasty, somewhat filling, low kick, nice representation of style. Blondes are starting to make presence in the northeast which I welcome - far too little attention has been given to this style. This is totally one that I'd drink of this style on the regular!

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 06:03:55 | More by Jayli

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presently #4 in the American Blonde Ale category here on BA. Can you dig it?

A: Mildly hazy, straw color with a wistful white foam that formed on top of the brew and stayed somewhat.

S: Puffs of yeast and Victory's hop profile. It's almost like Helios without the farmhouse funk.

T: The reason this one is so good is the same reason that Prima Pils so good: It literally lays on the palate impeccable for a summer brew! Perfect balance between the sweet bread quality, the mild citrus notes, and the semi-dry finish.

M: Subtle, yet glorious bitter lingering. The lacing that was left on the glass just fell back into it.

O: I may get some heat for this, but I've decided to rate this beer to style, and since that is the case, I don't feel this one deserves any less than an A.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 19:11:50 | More by Chaney

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

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

Pours medium gold with a decent white head. Some spotty lace.

I disagree with how this is categorized -- I think this is Kolsch. I'm getting the grapevine in the nose, faint as it is. Nice light malt, some green leaf, some mineral.

Light malt, with some grain and husk bitterness. Good balance for this one. Not too bitter, and nothing overbearing with sweetness or fruit. No boiled malt either. The grain, a touch of hops with some green bitterness and a pleasant malt/light bitter finish. My new summer beer.

Lighter bodied, but still something there. Good carbonation.

Wonderful summer brew, one of the better attempts out there. I'm a bit reluctant to give this a higher overall grade as I just bought a single. I'd want to see how this rolls after 2-3. Very worthy.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 23:43:04 | More by OtherShoe2