Headwaters Pale Ale - Victory Brewing Company

homebrew311

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a bright clear gold with plenty of bubbles. Thin white head upon pour, dissipates rather quickly. Not much lacing.

S: I get a whiff of Centennial hops up front with notes of pine and citrus, fairly big malt profile contributes bread and caramel character. Citra hops come through at the end with a lemon zest.

T: malty flavors come through first with notes of bread and caramel. Some sweetness sneaks in next with notes of honey. Bitter notes follow with a citrus/pine hop character. Finish is crisp and well balanced. Very refreshing.

MF: light body, high carbonation, crisp

O: This is a nice flavorful pale ale and is very well balanced. The drinkability is great. Based on the description, I was hoping for a bigger impact from the Citra hops.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 05:32:53 | More by homebrew311

merc7186

New York

3.23/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had this beer poured on tap at The Ruck in Troy NY, into a pint glass.

A: Golden Straw/Amber Hue, Passes Lots of Light, Almost No Head, No Lacing

S: Mild Malts, Mild Floral

T: Malty, Mild Piney

M: Poor Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter, Mildly Dry

Overall, this may not be a fault of the beer but this beer was under carbonated, which diminished the nose and taste. Would try again, somewhere else.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2012 02:28:59 | More by merc7186

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

$8.50 sixer from Liquor Outlet, Boonton.

Appearrance is just classic. Crystal clear bold gold body, topped by two fingers of snow white various sized bubbles.

Pleasant citrus aroma, not at all harsh, very inviting.

Firm semi-sweet caramel base coats the tongue. A good blast of bitterness follows with an undercoating of juicy fruit. Nice clean finish with just a slight malt/hop mix trading off in the afterglow. Extremely well balanced.

Overall, highly drinkable. Victory celebrates its anniversary by going to the style that built the craft beer movement and makes a dandy.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 23:41:53 | More by RonfromJersey

Florida9

Illinois

2.45/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Enjoy by Aug 22 2011

A: Clear darker amber. Forms a weak bubbly head with little retention. Head sort of just clings to the side of the glass. Little lacing.

S: An odd stink. Eggy. Flat out unappetizing. This has to be one of the worst smelling beers I've ever had.

T: Thankfully better than the aroma, but not by much. Earthy, grassy, and dirty with a moderate bitterness.

M: Medium in body with appropriate carbonation. A little syrupy, but otherwise fine.

O: I do not know what is going on with this beer. It is just wrong. It is well within the "enjoy by" date so it should be fresh enough not to be skunked. But the aroma was horrid while the flavor just wasn't much better. Really just not a very good beer and not one I enjoyed drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 02:51:27 | More by Florida9

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into pint glass

Pours a clear burnt orange color with a few brighter golden hues. A one finger high off white head bubbles up and retains well with a nice layer of bubbled film resting on top, leaving some webs of lacing on the glass.

Nice edge of citrusy hops backed with floral notes. Slight orange sweetness followed by biscuity malt with toasted grain.

Burst of juicy hop flavor right up front with citrus and orange. Nice floral dryness as well before more of the fruit sweetness cuts through. Biscuity malt, toasted grain, faint dollop of caramel as well in the backbone. Some lemon and grassy tones. Finishes with some dry hop bitterness, slightly lingering flavor.

Medium bodied, higher carbonation, dry and tingly on the palate. Drinks smooth and easy, refreshing and pleasant especially for the season. A quality pale ale, definitely something I'd drink again.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 23:46:51 | More by xnicknj

Brenden

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer is a clear dark amber in color. A soft and fluffy but dense head about one finger high retains itself moderately well and leaves a little thin lacing spotted down the glass.
The nose was strongly hoppy, more floral than anything but with some resin, complimented by a tangy lemon and citrus peel. There's a bit of dry malt balancing as well.
The taste follows suit. This is a very hop-forward pale that doesn't entirely throw out balance. This is a dry flavor given a lower sweetness and what seems like a dry malt base behind the floral, herbal and lightly citrus notes of the hops.
The mouthfeel is clean and crisp in a medium body. Fuller and more interesting than average, but missing something that would put it up there in my mind.
This is another very nice offering from Victory, who never disappoints.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2011 20:47:35 | More by Brenden

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.4/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a rocks glass at Mellow Mushroom. From notes. Reviewed 2 July 2011.

A: Light head. Very pale orange. Decent lacing. Not much to say.

S: Niceish hops, if a bit astringently citrusy. Some grapefruit. Good overall.

T: Mediocre pale ale, but pleasant. The aftertaste is full of drying, bitter hops. A bit better than originally suspected.

M: Mouthfeel is pretty great. A substantial malty dryness is excellent.

O: Pretty good. Nothing to go out of your way for, but I'd have another if not much else was on offer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 20:11:43 | More by AgentMunky

chinchill

South Carolina

3.49/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured clear, medium amber in color with a small, off-white, short-lived head that left spotty lacing on the glass.

S: Mainly hops, with piney, citrus, earthy and herbal notes. IPA strength of aroma.

T: Strong hop presence with a lingering grapefruit peel note. The bitter finish soon retreats to a more welcome malty/bitter hop mix.

M: Smooth for style; Medium bodied; Medium-high carbonation; semi-dry finish.

O: a nice APA that leans to the hoppy side.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 18:04:52 | More by chinchill

philbe311

Pennsylvania

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

A - A billowing pour that leaves to fingers worth of uber fluffy cloud like pure white head... The color is a caramelly amber... The carbonation doesn't rise as much as it sticks to the sides of the glass... Loads of lacing cling to the glass all the way around...

S - The aroma is very muted... Some caramel... Some bready malts... Some earthy hop aromas... Some citrus... Simple and straight forward...

T - The palette follows closely to the aroma... Nothing too surprising here... Just enough flavor to keep it interesting... Bready malts... Citrus... Some caramel...

M - Uber smooth... Light to medium bodied... A bit creamy... Delicate... Delectable... Very nice...

D - Very quaffable... Very sessionable... A very easy going accessible American Pale Ale for most with just enough flavor and character to keep it interesting for beer geeks... Will gladly welcome into the beer fridge in the future, but not more than 6-pack form...

Serving type: cask

06-17-2011 22:19:44 | More by philbe311

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A new victory bottle, like the 10th one I've seen in the past year, always worth a shot I suppose.

A- Light amber colored body with a white head that builds to about two fingers. A few nice patches of lace.

S- Slight tropical fruit, citrus and earthy pine hops balanced out nicely with light caramel malt and bread. Fades somewhat to pine heavy but holds a nice pale ale aroma.

T- Hops lend a good amount of pine and floral notes, a slight amount of citrus. The malt provides a light pale ale feel and some sweetness. A presence of bread hints from the yeast.

MF- Light overall substance, somewhat creamy. Hops lend a moderate bitterness. Smoothly carbonated.

DB- Pretty straight forward with a nice flavor. Maybe a bit big on the bitterness for a smaller pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2011 02:51:51 | More by cbutova

wedge

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoy By: Jul 15 2011

Golden orange hue with a solid frothy head atop. Hoppy aroma...herbal, floral, zesty grapefruit notes over a subtle sugar cookie base. Leafy, sweet, juicy, spicy hoppiness on the tongue. The hops have a nice, punchy, pungency to them all around, but it's not out of control. Oily, yet fairly dry. Only a hint of the toasted malts under all the fresh, dank zestiness.

Very crisp and refreshing. Another quality beverage from the fine people at Victory that will likely find it's way into my fridge regularly. I love a good sessionable beer...

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 02:33:04 | More by wedge

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 fl oz brown bottle, served in a tumbler.

Enjoy by August 17, 2011.

Light copper in color with nice clarity. Half-inch off-white, creamy head that fades to an intact sheet after a moment. A few patches of condensed lacing.

Fresh floral hops with notes of bright citrus. A touch of musty, perfume-like aroma. Clean wheat and grains with a sweetened toasted malt base.

Big floral hop presence that lasts throughout the sip. The fresh citrus hops brighten the floral hop flavors and keeps the perfume from overwhelming the other flavor components. The wheat and grains give a toasted, slightly buttery biscuit flavor. A nice balance between hops and malt, highlighted by a really nice hop profile.

A light medium bodied; active on the palate, but remarkably clean. For a Pale Ale that highlights floral hops, there is no trace of a musty film-like texture as you would expect. A well balanced mouthfeel.

A well crafted Pale Ale: balanced, flavorful, and drinkable. I would definitely recommend this Victory offering as a session Pale for the spring.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2011 00:48:43 | More by NEhophead

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a semi-transparent golden orange with bright honey highlights. Not very hazy at all. A thick head with a slight orange frothy hue is born from the pour. The head retains its crown masterfully. Unreliable lacing dots the glass. Looks quite attractive.

S-There is a pretty strong hop character in the nose. The hops remind me of a dulled-down version of Titan IPA from Great Divide. I have read a few reviews about this brew before, and the word earthy is commonly used in the nose. I agree. The malts balance out the hops well but in the nose, I would sway this beer a bit closer to the side of the hops. But balance is very close.

T-A unique flavor. The hops have a bunch of citrus, more lemony than orange. I also get a strong flavor of cereal, quite like Corn Flakes. The interesting scents in the nose are expressed in the flavor. A long, clean grassy finish rounds out the flavor. There are some awesome hop flavors, but they're not very bitter. The flavor is bright, and the malt backs up the other tastes well.

M-Medium bodied. A bit slick and creamy too. Light carbonation. Only mildly dry, but quite crisp in the end despite the initial creamy feel.

O/D-I have heard mixed reviews both on BA and by those I know who have tried it. I must say that I think Headwaters is a damn good Pale Ale. I only bought a single, but would not have been disappointed if I had bought a 6-pack. High drinkability. Hoppy enough to keep me interested but not too heavy, which makes this a great warm weather beer. I would absolutely love this beer in a can. Not your average APA. Worth a try? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 21:40:56 | More by VelvetExtract

Beaver13

Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, enjoy by 4/29/12. Pours a clear yellow gold with a smallish rocky white head that retains well and laces the glass some.

The aroma is sweet bready malts and piney hops.

The flavor is sweet, slightly vegetal, malts and a little fruit with a good sized resiny grassy hop finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with some prickly carbonation.

Overall, a decent pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 23:58:42 | More by Beaver13

HalfFull

California

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Brown twist off bottle served into a pint glass. Pours a copper golden with half an inch of white foam and a hint of haze. Decent retention and lacing with a steady boil of carbonation from the bottom of the glass.

Nose of citric hops and some balanced graininess along with some background earthy and floral aromas particularly with agitation. Offers some mildly odd aromas on occasion.

Taste is smooth with a citric finish and a light balancing bitterness. Finish is a bit tea like with citrus and flower notes, though a bit short and watery in the delivery, constraining the overall experience.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 06:49:29 | More by HalfFull

jera1350

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Certainly looks the part with a thick cap of foam and a golden body.

Kind of a soapy hop smell. Liquid dish soap with some earthy and citrus hop notes.

Not the biggest fan of the hop profile, but I do like the overall flavor of the beer. A nice biscuity sweet malt that puts the earthy hops in balance.

Smooth feeling with very soft carbonation. The body is light-medium. Lightly dry finishing as well.

Overall, this is a very solid pale ale. The hops stand out in this one, but in no way overwhelm the whole of the beer. That is the way a good pale ale should be. Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 23:20:04 | More by jera1350

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint

Pours a pure amber in color with a chunky two finger just off white head. Some mild lacing and a thin layer of foam left when everything settles.

Clean, bright citrus/floral aroma with a signature victory pale malt background.

Citrus up front (oranges/tangerines) with a clean, lightly toasted pale malt flavor through the middle. The finish is lightly bitter, where the floral, perfumey hops step up a bit.

Light to medium body with a dry, bitter finish.

For the style, I found this to hit all the major points pretty damn well. Not as hoppy as a Dale's or as caramel-laden as a sierra. A damn good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 01:42:01 | More by ColForbinBC

kbutler1

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle. Enjoy by Aug 17, 2011 but no idea when it was bottled. Poured into a DFH tulip glass a clear, darker than expected copper orange color with a 2 finger antique white head of both large and small bubbles. The aroma is not overly fruity or piney but has subtle hints of orange and grapefruit rind. Medium mouthfeel. The taste is more subtle than I thought it would be with a light sweetness up front with a light/medium amount of citrus bitterness that quickly fades. Mild lingering bitterness. Some lace. Overall, not bad but I was hoping for a wee bit more of a pop in flavor from this.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 22:41:01 | More by kbutler1

GilGarp

Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Freshcraft in Denver.

10oz. pour has great clarity. The color is an amber-orange and the head is creamy but short-lived.

Aroma is fresh and hoppy with some nice citrus notes.

Flavor is really pleasant with hoppiness and great fresh citrus. It's one of those pale ales that has IPA-like hops.

Mouthfeel is medium-light in body and nicely carbonated.

Overall a great American pale ale. I was excited to see this on tap but I would really like to see it in bottles here soon.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2011 05:15:14 | More by GilGarp

Kendo

New York

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

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is clear, light honey-amber in color with a small whitish head that settles fast.

S: Toasty, biscuity malt and herbal, leafy hops - maybe some grassiness as well. Pleasant.

T: Follows the nose: toasty and toasted grains with a spicy and leafy hop bitterness. Finishes fairly dry. Some citrus lingers (mainly lemon) in the aftertaste. Slight copper penny taste.

M: Light-to-medium in heft, carbonation is light to modest.

D: Goes down easily enough. Fairly flavorful for a lighter (5.1% ABV) ale. Kinda reminds me of a cross between an ESB or an Eglish Pale Ale and an American Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 02:04:20 | More by Kendo

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a pint glass.

Pours a light amber color with a small hire head. Nose is hoppy and fresh but a but subdued.

Taste is lightly hoppy but not killer, lightly grainy taste with a bit o caramel. Mouthfeel is sharp and creamy with a good bite on the end.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2011 01:24:59 | More by kingcrowing

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the pub, 3/6/10.

A-pour is a clear light orange with a thin pool of white head and a nice sheet of lacing.

S-Nice blast of pungent citrus hops with a lighter malt base.

T-biscuity malt in the front followed by a generous amount of grapefruit hops.

M-light bodied and nicely dry. Nice smooth finish.

D-one of the best hoppy pale ales out there. An all day drinker for hopheads.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 18:05:22 | More by sholland119

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at a beer festival poured into a sampler glass. From notes: Pours a deep golden with a small creamy white head. Aroma is balanced citric and piney hops with a very sweet honey and biscuity and caramel malt backbone. Flavor starts with the same sweet caramel and bready notes, picking up some light pine and citric hop notes before a smooth clean lightly bitter finish. Medium body and a sharp carbonation. A good pale ale, balanced and fresh, smooth and quaffable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2011 20:45:59 | More by CuriousMonk

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy Amber color, 2" head to start, the fine thin, layers dissipate quick, thin layer left-over.

A fruity and citric snappy hop aroma, dry earth, light and sweet smell. mostly hops.

A dry hop flavor hits first, then pineapple, earthy, semi-bitter bite with dark wheat, musty flavor and yummy fruity citrus bite, all in good balance. good depth with very dry flavor's, rye and wheat. The feel is crisp and sharp, then lush, finishing dry and earthy, grainy.

This is just a classic.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 22:52:02 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

yesyouam

New York

4.58/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale is a crystal clear, lightly sparkling golden ale with a dense, bubbly white head that has outstanding retention and lacing. It has a huge, fresh hoppy aroma of pine and flowers. It has a very smooth medium body with a solid, dry finish. It's a nice, simple, hoppy flavor with perfect bitterness and perfect balance. It tastes slightly dry and piny. This is a supreme example of an American pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 16:55:57 | More by yesyouam