Headwaters Pale Ale - Victory Brewing Company

Halcyondays

California

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

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a light amber with a mild soapy white head, good retention, spotty lace.

S: Nice grassy and herbal aroma. Lawn clippings for sure, some biscuity maltiness.

T: Very grassy and green, bitter hopping well to the finish. Light maltiness, good flavour in the style.

M: Frothy, soapy, light-bodied. Crisp, fairly smooth.

D: Really nice pale ale. Classic flavours, a winner from Victory. Very much a mini Hop Wallop, they both have very similar hop profiles.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 02:22:56 | More by Halcyondays

BigMike

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a nice orange tangerine color. Very clear with a thin soapy off white colored head.

S: A very nice amount of candied orange and grapefruit. Light but right on for the style. Smells very clean.

T: This is a delicious Pale ale. And thats exactly what it is, a Pale Ale. Definitely doesn't cross over into IPA territory but its extremely refreshing and drinkable.

M: Light bodied but not watery by any means. Maybe a new summer time go to beer.

Overall: A solid PA from victory. After the last two sub par beers i had from them(ie Dark Intrigue and Victory Village) it's good to get a winner. Nothing earth shattering but well made.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 23:06:01 | More by BigMike

pburland23

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Harpoon IPA glass.

I was pretty excited to hear that Victory was coming out with a new year round beer. When it was announced, it was an APA, I was actually quite pleased. In an era marked by hop bombs and wood barrelled ABV monsters, I was glad to see Victory going in a simpler direction.

Beer pours a light coppery amber with about a finger of soapy, real ale-ish looking head which quickly receded and left no discernible lacing.

Aroma is hoppy. Sharp, crisp and clean. An inviting aroma. Taste is similarly hoppy and citrusy. It's a well balanced APA. Mouthfeel leans to the lighter side which increases the drinkability. All in all, I find Headwaters Pale Ale to be a really nice, well rounded and balanced APA.

It's not going to blow anyone away, but it's a solid drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2011 00:02:21 | More by pburland23

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear amber with a soapy off-white cap, some spotty lacing, decent head retention. Intense hop aroma, fruity grapefruit rind, citrus zest, a bit spicy, with just a little toasty malt in the background. Hop bitterness was sharp, maybe due to the light body and mild malt sweetness. A little spicy, lots of fruity citrus, a bit earthy. Medium-light body with moderate carbonation, off-dry, decent texture. Overall I liked it, but it did tread very close to being overly aggressive in hop character.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 20:50:22 | More by DrJay

lovindahops

New York

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

really excited to try one of my favorite brewery's APA. I am hoping this will be one of the most drinkable brews on the market. I would to have this line up with prima as two of my go to brews in the summer time

A- pours a stunning light copper body with a massive marshmallow head of foam. Exactly how I would want an american pale ale to look

S- crisp citrus with a great balance of some malt and hops. Definitely not overwhelming, but no question about the consistency

T- another good blend of slight caramel and earthy flavors with some pine and citrus. Again, not overpowering, but balanced. Very bitter at the end as well

M- crisp and good with flavor. Headwaters has good carbonation and flavor that stays around

D- While Headwaters won't be the highest APA according to the masses... it still is a very delicious and refreshing APA. IMO, Victory should cut this into the variety pack with the other three brews and really push out a winning 12pk. I will definitely enjoy having Headwaters with some Prima this spring and summer. Cheers Victory!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 17:33:39 | More by lovindahops

bsp77

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into tall glass. "Enjoy by" date of July 8, 2011.

Appearance: Bright amber with nice off-white head and some lacing rings.

Smell: Mostly citrus (orange and grapefruit), with some spiciness, pine and a hint of metal. Light dried malts underneath.

Taste: Mix of dry hops and dry malts. Grapefruit, spice, herbs, pine, caramel and biscuit all play a role, and are so heavily integrated that it is hard for anything to stand out - this is both a strength and a weakness. Herbal and slightly bitter & metallic on the finish.

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium body, dry finish (actually dry throughout).

Drinkability: Very drinkable and refreshing APA - not surprisingly coming from the always solid (and often great) Victory. However, I have to admit that when a 15 year old respected craft brewery releases their first APA, I expect a little more. Maybe it is just a wee bit too herbal for me.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 20:41:35 | More by bsp77

inlimbo77

Delaware

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at Victory Brewing Co. on 2/19/11. Served in a Victory bubble pint glass.

A: Pours a nice deep orange color. Good carbonation. Nice one finger head. Solid lacing.

S: Good hoppy nose for a Pale. Not overpowering at all, but solid. A little malt is present as well.

T: Delicious! Crisp, light, and just the right amount of hoppiness. I compared while drinking as a Hop Devil Light. Really enjoyed from the tap.

M: Watery and non coating mouth feel on this one. Easy going down.

D: This is WAY to easy to drink! Guzzlable. I bought a case and it is nearly gone already.

Overall, a very strong first OFFICIAL release of a pale for Victory. Always a fan of their products and this did not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 02:26:44 | More by inlimbo77

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Real excited to get a hold of this...heading to the brewery this weekend, and wanted to try it before that.

A- pours a clear shade of orange with a three finger beautiful white head. The head is very puffy, but the lacing is only alright. The lacing stops it from getting the full monty, but it is really an impressive looking beer

S- earthy. A little bit of fruitiness in there too. A little mild for my tastes

T- earthy really is a good word to describe this. Lots of earthy flavors coming out of this, with a little bit of sweetness too. Pretty tasty

M- a little thin actually, but remember the style. Anyway, it is what it is. Not watery, at least

D- I really like this. Not as good as Prima Pils, but a solid example of the style. I'll be buying this a lot

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 23:55:00 | More by bigfnjoe

dsa7783

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Single, twelve-ounce copped from Total Wine & More in West Orange. Superb depiction of the style; pours a ruddy, copper, amber-hue with slight carbonation visible. Aromatic, floral notes depicted on the palate and in the nose. Excellent, highly-drinkable brew with hints of tangerine and orange peel. A refreshing, medium-bodied pale ale with a noticeable hop presence. One of the better examples of the style I've come across in a long time. Great stuff. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 16:50:03 | More by dsa7783

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottled Feb 8, 2011.

Pours clear amber with a one finger white head that leaves webs of lacing and holds a small cap.

Aroma is lemon citrus, some orange and grapefruit, grassy and floral hops, bread & biscuit malt. Good to very good strength.

Flavor is lemon, orange, grapefruit hops, some grass, hint of pine, caramel and bready malt, good bitterness for an APA, touch of sweetness in the middle but finishes dry.

Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, slick, medium carbonation.

Crisp, hoppy, refreshing APA. Very nicely done, Victory!

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 01:32:11 | More by elgiacomo

wollybugger

Pennsylvania

2.6/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The first time I try a new beer I get so excited....after the first sip I was somewhat disappointed. Vicory is usually either hit or miss. I love their Lager & Prima Pils. I'm not a fan of the Golden Monkey or the Hop Devil.

I was drinking Samuel Adam's Noble pils on tap prior to drinking the bottle of Headwaters Pale Ale. The first sip threw me a curve ball. Maybe it was the sudden change from one beer to another, but the next few sips were the same. I thought I was drinking a flower. Yard's does a great job with their Pale Ale where they underbrew the hops for a more aromatic taste. Victory appears to have stopped way to early, and all of the taste is coming from aroma hops.

I'm glad I was a given a bottle for free and didn't spend $38 bucks on the case. Others appear to enjoy this beer, but my taste buds say no.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 22:04:56 | More by wollybugger

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle into a glass.

A- A very clear looking olympic gold with some honey color and a bright white and firm inch of ivory colored foam. Very small amounts of stick. I get Citra right off the bat, a nice pale malting and a herbal/earthy scent, not grassy. don't pick up any alcohol. This smells great and the beer is super fresh. Taste really shines from the citra giving off citrus in a pale aleish amount, not shocking like a IPA. Some mango, pale malt, biscuit and just fresh ingredients. Feel is light and comes and goes on the tounge leaving just the lightest aftertaste, that keeps me coming back quicker. This is easy drinking beer and one I can drink a lot of. I won't go crazy over it, but a 6 pack on a hot day will do. This blows hopdevil out of the water, just a more balanced beer alltogether, showing the true skill coming out of Victory. It's harder to make simple beer and pull it off.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 02:28:48 | More by onix1agr

hosehead83

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Bright copper/gold in color with a moderate head of off-white foam
Aroma-A big whiff of citrussy, piney hops
Taste-Toasted malt, mineral stone, citrus hops, spicy yeast. Very tasty and flavorfull, a nice "go-to" fridge beer. A great match for a burger or a round of spicy appetizers.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 20:51:23 | More by hosehead83

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I bought a case at McBroom's today, thank god my sister is living a block away. So I always have a good excuse, to get up to D'z and McBroom's. Fresh cases of Headwaters Pale Ale. Appears a pale copper, full thicket of light beige head with fine even lacing. Light speckled lacing, with aromatics have a pungent citric/floral aspect no pine or earthiness. Hints of sugar coated biscuit malts in the nose, very nice malt base with sturdy citric hops standing up to the malts. I believe they're using Citra hops with a combo of other hops for this brew, I tried the Dorado version of Pursuit of Pale Ale. Flavors just work with this brew, herbal/citric hops blended effortlessly with a nice biscuit sugar coated malt profile that matches perfectly, low alcohol by volume makes for a very sessionable brew, right at the time when America really needs this style of beer Victory is there for us old school craft beer drinkers that would rather have an accessible pale ale versus the next big beer that is released by the thimbleful to the line of people camping out to drink it. Mouthfeel is medium bodied slight oily texture from the hop resins with ample carbonation, I can't complain. Drinkability, excellente low alcohol meant for consuming with friends over many a conversation and celabratory song. In all reality it's quite tasty with enough booze and flavor to keep you interested great beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 04:17:07 | More by WVbeergeek

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

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

A- a inch or so of bright white head that has so decent staying power and leaves a good smattering of spots on the glass and a solid ring. Crystal clear golden orange yellow in color.

S- grassy and herbal with a bright citrus fruit hit. Lemons and grapefruits come to mind. Light biscuity malts.

T- opens up with a sweet citrusy and to a lesser extent grassy hopping that rolls slowly into bone dry pale malt.

M- a few steps below medium in body with a nice mid level carb that keeps thing light and refreshing.

D- I like it. Its super easy going and full on flavor. I'm all about hoppy sessionable beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 22:25:25 | More by oglmcdgl

goindownsouth

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle consumed on 02.19.11, purchased from The Community Tap in Greenville, SC.

Clear and light copper in hue, heady with a stiff white pillow atop. Sticky, luscious head retention. Aromas glorious with spicy, citrusy hops. Clean, unadulterated.

Flavors follow with that clean citrusy hoppy goodness with some balance added by the malty, biscuity character. I am a light malt guy when it comes this style, and Headwaters does NOT disappoint. Amazingly clean and un-heavy on the finish, it leaves you wanting more.

Amazingly fresh in the nose and on the palate, this is a classic, without question. It went extremely well with spicy pulled chicken quesedillas.

This is what craft beer in the US needs more of... It is easy to "over-anything" a beer, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a simple styled beer well, over and over again.

Looking forward to trying this one from a keg, by way of growler. SOON.

Egesegedre!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 17:29:50 | More by goindownsouth

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Poured from a brown 12 ounce bottle into a New Belgium balloon glass.

A: Headwaters pours almost crystal clear with an orange-amber hue. Head is somewhat thin but retains fairly well. Some lacing, but not real sticky.

S: Nice caramel malt aromas and some spicy hop character, but not as intense as I would like it to be.

T: Sweet at first, with notes of caramel and toast, followed by a spicy, floral hop bite. Some citrus and pine, followed by a dry finish.

Notes. Moderate to medium bodied, and quite flavorful. The creamy mouthfeel makes this beer quite sessionable. Another solid effort from Bill and Ron.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 06:21:40 | More by WYVYRN527

victory4me

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard shaker. Best by date of July 8, 2011.

Pours a clear golden that is darker than expected for a pale ale. Big two to three finger head that leaves a light lacing on the side of the glass. Aroma is really nice. Citrus and piney hops with a sweet malt backbone.

Taste mirrors the smell. Pineapple and citrus in the taste with an underlying apricot sweetness. I would suspect centennial and amarillo in the hop bill. Slightly piney and bitter. A very tasty pale ale with enough hop character to push the boundaries toward an IPA. Typical mouthfeel for the style, I could easily put back several of these with no problem. Lots of flavor for 5.1%.

Recommended. Best comparison would be a lighter version of Ithaca Flower Power.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 03:30:14 | More by victory4me

Blanco

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

light orange color and transparent with sizeable white head. lots of apparent carbonation.

smell is very clean and fresh with just a hint of hops.

taste is similar while heavier on the malt side. I was expecting a bit more bite from the hops but it seems Victory chose to keep that muted.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly creamy.

This is a very sessionable beer. Drinkability is high due to the fact it seems designed to not push any boundaries and hover in a very neutral place. Not bad if you can't figure out what you are in the mood for. A little disappointing as I've had better Pale Ales from Victory and when I heard they were making one as a flagship I thought they would taste similarly.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 01:55:17 | More by Blanco

champ103

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a bright and clear copper/orange color. A two finger, rocky, white head forms with good retention. The foam gently recedes and leaves some lace behind.
S: Big grassy and floral hops hit the nose at first. A light spicy zest of citrus the quickly fades. Plenty of malt that is great. Bread and biscuit. Some sweetness and finishes with more fresh cut grassy and hay aromas. Excellent.
T: Follows the nose. Fresh cut grass right up front. A zest spice of citrus and lots of malt. Toasted grains, bread and biscuit. Very dry as well. I love it.
M/D: A medium body that is just a bit watery. Though clean, dry, and very smooth. So easy to drink. I will be buying many more six packs.

An excellent pale ale that is really enjoyable. A perfect everyday drinker with lots of flavor. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 01:22:36 | More by champ103

yourchoice

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours to a clear light golden amber with a quickly dissipating white head. Some lacing, but minimal. Attractive in the glass.
S- A sweet toffee or caramel malty aroma. Some pine as well. Not much of citrus aroma...if any fruit, it something much more subtle.
T- A very neutral pale ale. I prefer something a bit more robust with the hops shining through. Some of the piney characteristic, but not much. More malty than anything else. Neutral in a non-complex kind of way.
M- Rather carbonated, with a thin feel.
D- Could you drink a lot of these? I would say, yes. The lack of complexity makes this an easy drinking beer, but that is not what I was anticipaing from it.

I think this beer may be Victory's attempt to be a little more mainstream, where people who aren't typically craft beer drinkers will venture out and drink this as a bridge to craft beers. I wasn't that impressed. I can see myself having this before a Phillies game when I want to have a beer or two with friends before heading into the game. That thought may seem random, but it gives me a setting I could see this beer being okay.

EDIT: Just read jeffthechef's review posted just prior to mine. "Generic" sums it up perfectly.

Serving type: growler

02-19-2011 03:05:47 | More by yourchoice

jeffthecheff

Germany

3.35/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, goldish amber color. Average off-white head.

Aroma is grassy and fruity with some slight citrus tones. Seems like a good volume of fresh hops. There seems to be a bit of sulfur in the nose, until it warms and becomes undetectable.

Flavor is simple and gentle with very light bitterness for a pale ale. The overall hop flavor is gentle and balanced with the malts. The malt flavor is gentle with caramel and toast. It seems like it could use a bit more of a sharp, hop bite in bitterness and flavor. Carbonation is average, with the mouthfeel not bringing much to the table. Overall, a bit generic.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 01:59:11 | More by jeffthecheff

dlmccabe1

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just saw this and picked it up in a 12oz bottle. Has a drink by date of July 8th, so it seems pretty fresh.

It's a golden color, deeper than many pale ales I've come across. It has crisp straw aromas and an interesting barnyard-y aroma. Kind of smells like hay...and malt. You can tell its going to be a malty pale ale.

The taste is malty, clean and crisp. I didn't get the citrusy notes that the other reviewers have talked about. It feels like a maltier pilsner to me, balanced with american hops. Not a lot of hop bitterness, but its well balanced. Nice hop flavors on the finish.

An interesting take on a pale ale. Not as hoppy as I had expected, more reminiscent of a Stone pale ale than a Sierra Nevada pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 04:17:16 | More by dlmccabe1

wwhomeww

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a growler into an imperial pint. 1.5 fingers of off white head. It's beautiful copper color is bright and clear. Right away I get a good citrus hop presence with a hint of minerality. Body is medium with slightly oily mouthfeel not a bad thing. Finish has just the right amount of malty/bready characteristic and I'm left with a bit of metallic/mineral aftertaste. It's quenching and definitely sessionable. Fills a gap in the year round victory line up very well. All around a very good brew.

Serving type: growler

02-16-2011 23:28:59 | More by wwhomeww