Headwaters Pale Ale
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Headwaters Pale AleHeadwaters Pale Ale
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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 11.28%
Reviews:
625
Ratings:
2,636
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 19, 2022
Added:
Feb 14, 2011
Wants:
  91
Gots:
  517
Crisp and aromatic, this boldly-hopped American ale balances notes of citrus and tea-like earthiness from American hops with a subtle German malt base.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I recently consulted with a brewery that was soon to be starting up and when they asked what beers I thought they should brew (which was really the LAST thing to consider given the many unanswered questions regarding just getting the brewery built!), I told them "forget doing a pale ale and just brew an IPA". My point was that hops are what's selling now; and that a lot of beer geeks just aren't interested in basic pale ales anymore - they want "WOW"! Besides, it's a very hard sell to get your pale ale on tap when they're already being squeezed out by different styles (Belgians, IPA's, ...). That said, I'd questioned why Victory, or any brewery would bring out a pale ale at this point. I didn't know what to expect of it, but now I do - it's got some "WOW"!

There are a lot of breweries making IPA's that are really just hopped up pale ales. That's not even an option for Victory given their IPA's. This is a pale ale. It's medium light in body and drinkable. The bitterness is at a reasonable level, somewhere around 36 IBU's; and it's got a nice, caramel-drizzled malt base to it (giving a nod to its English ancestors). The difference is they've used some new and different American hops. I'm not sure what they are, but there's a sharp edge in the nose, and at the front of the mouth in the flavor. It's pungent and somewhat citrusy (tangerine). That's the attention grabber! Unlike a lot of other breweries that would have just taken that and run with it (read as - hammered you over the head with it), Victory has decided to go for more balance. They've blended their hops so that it's not just one gleaming component that blinds you from the rest of the beer. It's right up there in front, yes, but then it settles down and you find more leafy, floral, earthy, and even somewhat piney hops across the middle. There's a lot of character, but the hops still don't overwhelm the malt. It just goes from sharp at the beginning, to wide and malty with more bitterness showing across the middle, and then it steadily reduces in a dwindling finish that's more earthy/piney than citrusy. Everything is kept in balance, which leaves it remarkably drinkable.

The only question is, are today's craft drinkers savvy enough to recognize that balance, or will they still be blinded by the next bigger and better (read as less-focused but brash or bold) thing? Headwaters is a great American pale ale that carves its own little niche; and hopefully will be rewarded rather than passed over.
Mar 09, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.93 by Wrigfen from South Carolina

Jan 19, 2022
Photo of 2market
Rated by 2market from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very good easy drinking brew
Jan 13, 2022
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.1%. Clear golden colour, moderate to low white head. Sweetish aroma with hints of orange marmalade, notes of earthy hops and wood, even a hint of smoke. Fairly hoppy and peppery flavour, with a distinct bitterness in the aftertaste.
May 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

Feb 17, 2020
Photo of GarrettB
Reviewed by GarrettB from Colorado

3.56/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
November 1st, 2015 - After rounds of excellent beers it is always nice to get back to some basic brews, and the Headwater Pale Ale is a nice entry back to the more terrestrial world of reliable and stolid beers. The scent is as generic as can be, with a nice ping of bitterness advertising its style, and absent any off-aromas. And the flavor is much the same. A mild hops up front, a long sweet aftertaste, and the impression that this is a solid beer for a local brewery. After discovering it is from Victory I am a little surprised since I find their beers to be on the stronger and bolder side, but it does explain why this Pale Ale is clean and free from anything untoward.
Jan 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.9 by NastyNorseman from New York

Nov 28, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by Jonnybgood from Massachusetts

Sep 29, 2019
Photo of JA_26
Reviewed by JA_26 from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Really good pale ale. Well-balanced, fruity and bready at the same time without being overwhelming. A nice Victory alternative to HopDevil and HopWallop, which are outstanding, but sometimes more than you want for an ale drinking session.
Jun 24, 2019
Photo of good_to_sea
Reviewed by good_to_sea from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: Clear, golden amber with a rapidly receding white head.
Smell: Sweet malt and piney, citrusy, earthy hop aroma.
Taste: Lemon citrus. Fruit and malt sweetness up front, blended with a great hop bitterness.
Feel: Medium-bodied and crisp, with effervescent carbonation.
Overall: Really nice, solid beer.
Jun 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.99 by JTuomi from Finland

Apr 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.43 by lastmango from Pennsylvania

Apr 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Dec 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by pvibeer from Colorado

Nov 25, 2018
 
Rated: 2.06 by Csjacko from Pennsylvania

Sep 16, 2018
Photo of ordybill
Reviewed by ordybill from Georgia

3.94/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass. The appearance is a clear ruby color with a small white head. The aroma is mostly hops with a bit of lemon tossed in. Nice flavor.
Apr 20, 2018
Photo of Spike
Reviewed by Spike from England

2.67/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
355ml can.
L: Amber, hazy, thin head, lots of lacing.
S: Earthy, old grass, compost.
T: Stewed tea, woody, earthy, dank, zero lemon notes, mouth-puckering bitterness.
F: Light body, hint of carbonation, very dry.
O: Lots of tea-like earthiness...but not my cup of tea.
Mar 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by DrewSnyc667 from Massachusetts

Mar 10, 2018
Headwaters Pale Ale from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 2636 ratings