Swing Session Saison - Victory Brewing Company

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.01/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance:
The beer pours a fairly white frothy head that seems to last quite a while. The beer itself is a pale straw.

Smell:
I get earthy, grapefruit and citrus hops. I also detect some pepper in the smell and very little malt.

Taste:
Earthy and citrusy as well as a little bitter with a hint of pepper.

Mouthfeel:
Medium bodied, which is heavier than I'm used to with most Saisons.

Overall:
A pretty good session saison and definitely worth checking out. I definitely plan on picking another one up if I can find one.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 00:43:09 | More by HattedClassic

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

First had: on tap at Victory, Downingtown, PA

Hazy straw-yellow pour with a finger or so of foamy white head that retained as a ringlet; small amount of lacing. In the nose, pale malts, toasted grains, yeast, essence of citrus and grass. Pale/pils malts in the taste, grassy, slightly musty, saison-y spice notes, hints of lemon zest. Not bad, but as with most saisons made by the "big boys," this one just doesn't cut it with me. Light-medium body, crisp and drinkable, just not something I'd go for again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2013 01:30:47 | More by Rifugium

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle > Pint Glass
A - Pours a light straw color, very clear, 1 finger soapy white head. Decent Lacing.
S - Wheat, lemon peel, clove, a light yeast, and come mild citrus hop scents.
T - A little wheat, some tart dried fruit, some various spices.
M - Nice bitter and sour touch, refreshing and light bodied.
O - Good saison, not much to go into about this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:20:52 | More by Omnium

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

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

Finally had a chance to give this a go, as I bought the last one of these in stock up in Totowa last week. I hadn't had a Victory beer in quite some time but thankfully, this was just as good as all of the others that I've enjoyed over the years. It didn't quite measure up to one of these that I could try from overseas or even Ommegang but for this time of the year, it was a great choice as it went down easily and had a nice, crisp feel to it.

The pour was typical, with a blonde hue, slightly opaque body to it, a good head, and a small amount of lacing that fiercely stuck to the side of the glass after each sip. A good amount of pepper and lemon-zest could be found in the nose and those were repeated in the taste, along with a good amount of straw and a hint of orange citrus. To be fair, the spice wasn't that strong and there was a champagne-like lightness to this both in the body and the carbonation, which when combined with the "wetness" of the orange juice-like body, made this go down relatively easily.

The alcohol in this was light enough that if I wanted more in one session, it would be easy to take another and pop it open. Although it's night now, this would be great to have on a nice sunny day when a watered-down lawnmower beer won't do. It's not too spicy, sour, or funky and for someone looking for a light take on this style, this would be a great place to start. There's enough "swing" in this beer to please nearly everyone.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 08:41:05 | More by JerzDevl2000

Mitchster

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$1.79 for a 12oz at BevCo.. Brewed with Rye, oats and wheat. Hopped with "German and American hops". Spiced with peppercorns, orange peel and fresh lemon zest. Belgian saison yeasts.. 4.5% ABV.

Pours out to a light pale blonde, forming a tall foamy bone white head with awesome retention and lacing owing in part to it's brisk carbonation, ~3.75 carbs. The aroma is nice. Spicy phenolic belgian saison yeast strain with some sulfur notes and subtle citrus. No off flavors or aromas. The mouthfeel is very light bodied, crisp and clean with firm carbonation. The taste is great...opening with citrus and spice, a delicate pale saltine cracker malt and wheat body with a pleasantly medium firm bitterness which contrasts nicely with some orange lingering in the finish. Some good hop character in the middle, and a subtle hint of pepper, although I wouldn't have called it had I not known it was brewed with it.

A really nice easy drinking summer saison, low in ABV but complex and bitter enough to make the craft beer drinker happy. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:26:08 | More by Mitchster

Beaver13

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle. Pours hazy golden yellow with a big meringue white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is fruits and funk with some piney, floral hops and perfumey spices.

The flavor is sweet bready malts with a little funky fruit and some spices (corriander, pepper) and a good sized piney floral bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, I'm not sure I'd call it a saison. But I like it as a session beer with good bitterness and some funk.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 22:52:19 | More by Beaver13

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I'd make a Swing Kids reference, but no one saw that movie (and I don't fully remember it, myself). Anyway, this stuff pours a partly cloudy straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises lemon peel, coriander, sweet flowers, and light funky wheat. That lemon is rather strong, but luckily not artificial. The taste holds notes of old and musty lemon (both zest and rind) and a mild blend of vague spices, which are nearly out-shouted by the lemon. The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and a drying finish. Overall, this saison just didn't work. I'm assuming a lackluster yeast performance, but it was just a never-ending blast of bad citrus with occasional bits of muddled spices. Definitely not for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 07:45:43 | More by TMoney2591

rlee1390

Indiana

3.64/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear as day yellow, some carbonation, one finger head that doesn't leave any lacing.

S-Very herbal, lots of grass, spices. Similar to Saison Du Buff.

T-Some spices still the herbal notes, some citrus. No bitterness. Balance isn't quite there.

M-Lighter, nicely carbonated and easy drinking.

O-Too herbal and grass for my liking, more lemon and spice notes would have improved the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 18:57:00 | More by rlee1390

Jonada

New Jersey

3.36/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle. Best before July 2 2013. Served in a pint glass

Appearance: Pale golden yellow color with 3 fingers of a soapy white head. Body is hazy with lots of fine suspended sediment.

Smell: Grassy, herbal, lemon zest, pepper, with a tiny hint of funk.

Taste: Spices, herbs, lemongrass, bready malt, dry Belgian yeast, and floral hops.

Mouthfeel: Light/medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finishes dry with a mild lingering bitterness.

Overall: Not a bad beer, but if it's meant to be a session beer I'm not sure they succeeded. While it has a low ABV, I think they overdid it with the spices which makes it difficult to have more than 1 or 2.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 03:54:03 | More by Jonada

UCLABrewN84

California

3.49/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy yellow with a foamy off-white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, citrus zest, yeast, and spice aromas. Taste is much the same with strong citrus zest and spice flavors on the finish. There is a high amount of spice bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that is drinkable but the smell is much better than the taste in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:31:56 | More by UCLABrewN84

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Served up at Mad Mex pours with a gracious white capped head, eggshell white lovely and textured with effervescent carbonation the body is golden slightly hazed nice looking beer served into their house pint glasses. Aroma has citrus, floral and earthy spice, peppery with a yeast presence driven in this fine tasting session ale from Victory. Flavors were light palatable and complex. I got a lot of citrus fruit, spicy pepper, mango, guava tropical notes with a bready yeast appreciation that kept the beer flowing on the palate. Light herbal grassiness is I'm guessing the hop presence in this beer known as Swing Session Saison. I wish more beers out there had this much complexity in an under 5% alcohol by volume. Medium to light bodied carried by lively carbonation spices tend to sit on the palate between sips, but this was pure session ale. I doubt you will be able to have just one go forth and enjoy this type of beer with friends, I know I did.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2013 02:30:26 | More by WVbeergeek

Halcyondays

California

4.06/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a translucent light gold, almost a witbier like look, though not as cloudy. Soft white head, leaving some lace.

S: Yeasty notes, with a garden like aroma, meadowflowers.

T: Not bombastic, but a lovely flavour of pepper, honeysuckle and citrus. Complex, definitely saison like. I like the wealth of flavours I'm getting for the low ABV.

M: Crisp, quite clean, refreshing. Light-bodied and drinkable.

O: One of the better low ABV beers I've had in a while. A great late spring to summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 21:19:03 | More by Halcyondays

mactrail

California

3.86/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Golden color in the glass with a touch of amber. Plenty of foam and a pleasant pricly mouthfeel. Lovely nose of cloves without too much of it on the tongue. Spicy and very light bodied without a hint of fruitiness. Bitter aftertaste. Quite hoppy. Light but unmistakable barnyard funk.

Thoroughly interesting light beer, but it's the driest Saison I've ever tasted. Pleasant brett flavor. It reminds me of Green Flash Rayon Vert, with the dry funkiness. From the 12 oz bottle purchased at Bottleworks in San Diego.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:18:20 | More by mactrail

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.79/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazy pale golden yellow in color with some moderate amounts of active visible carbonation and some light lemon yellow highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy off-white head that slowly reduces to a thin film covering the entire surface of the beer with a couple of small slightly thicker patches and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of lemon/citrus with some lighter notes of grassy and herbal hops.

T: Upfront there are some light flavors of pale malt followed by some light to moderate flavors of lemon/citrus. There is a light presence of grassy hops followed by a slightly stronger flavor of herbal/spicy/lemongrass hops which impart a light amount of lingering bitterness. The spicy notes become a little more pronounced as the beer warms up.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Light amounts of dryness are noticeable in the finish.

O: Definitely an easy to drink beer with a low ABV which makes it sessionable, unfortunately it is not as complex as some other saisons but there is a nice light lemony freshness to it. Enjoyable but not anything special - somewhat pedestrian.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 23:36:40 | More by dbrauneis

Brenden

Ohio

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer is a very pale yellow but with a deeper gold hue to it, and quite hazy as well; even being so light, it's barely opaque. A nice white head itself to be shows creamy, thick and fluffy. It reaches about a full finger and retention is pretty good, as a good swirl will bring it back up though it's faded to foam. Lacing is left in moderation, mostly patching with some spottiness.
There's very much of an herbal quality on the nose, with the spices really coming through; this definitely goes more vegetal than sweet and fruity, though there's some citrus zest. Grassiness and a bite of black pepper finish it out, while more herbal notes come out.
My first impression is basil. Straight up, this basil flavor never leaves at any point. It may simply be how the spices combine with the herbal hops, but fresh basil leaf is a big component. Otherwise, it's got lots of fresh lemon and a light twang of hops bitterness. Grassy and peppery notes finish it.
Crisp and light and flowing nicely, it's pretty smooth all the way through. For a time, it seems to threaten to foam out of the mouth. It doesn't, though, and that's good.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:55:16 | More by Brenden

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard goblet. Comes out with a noticeable haze to it and a pale golden yellow body. Frothy head forms with a foamy texture, big bubbles and pretty nice retention. Thick ring leaves nice webbed rings of lace down the glass.

S- Citrus zest with a certain lemon rind note up front. Some grass, yeast spice, coriander, slight peppercorn and bread hints supporting the citrus.

T- Things that jump out immediately are lemon/citrus zest/rind in a big way and fresh cracked peppercorn notes. A quick Google search reveals that both of these are added to the beer and it shows in a large way. Spicy and floral hops add a refreshing buffer to the strong spice flavors. Light sweets, wheat bread, coriander, herbs and clove also comes to mind.

MF- Light, fairly dried out body is supported by a nice silky feel that must come from the wheat and oat additions. Slight bitterness lingers on the palate as well as some pepper spice.

I am a bit surprised by the amount of citrus and pepper that comes through in this beer. I can't say that it is way too much but it certainly dominates the flavor for me. I enjoy the flavors but I am not sure it lends to it being a great "session" Saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:48:58 | More by cbutova

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A - Minimal off-white head comprised of chunky medium-sized bubbles quickly fizzes away... What remains is a lopsided splotchy veil of lacing and a thin collar... The color is of pale golden straw with a glowing honey hue... Just a couple streak of sluggish to moderate paced carbonation... Very pedestrian...

S - Lemon grass... Loaded with an array of floral notes - Lavender being the most prominent... White pepper... A slight barnyard funkiness... Some minor melon notes... Perhaps even a slight bit of mint buried beneath the surface... A unique and fairly complex aroma that yields something slight different with each whiff...

T - Loads of lemon zest... A slight Belgian yeastiness... Honey dew... Floral notes... Some faint white pepper and assorted other spices... A very minor noble hop presence... Lots of strong flavors that don't necessarily meld well together nor compliment one another... A bit rough around the edges...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Dry and slightly astringent throughout... A moderate bit of fizzy slightly harsh carbonation...

D - I love the words "session" and "Saison..." So I needless to say, I was eager to give this one a try... I was unfortunately a bit let down... This isn't a bad beer by any stretch, but it pushes the style guidelines and not in a good way... There are both many session beers and Saisons that I would recommend over this offering...

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 01:40:05 | More by philbe311

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Hazy, light gold color. Small head that settles to thin layer of bubbles. Great ring lace with thin blanket trail between each sip line.

Mild aroma for a Saison. Notably missing--the earthiness and sour nose.

Quite dry, with a strong coriander and clove bite. Complex flavor with a low pale malt touch and a moderate white pepper hop finish. The aftertaste reminds me of fresh basil and oregano. The body is good if thin and highly carbonated. For me, the lack of earthy and sour flavors make this a more enjoyable, if slightly off style, Saison.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 16:34:50 | More by smcolw

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

this victory swing is a nice summertime beer. there is a lot of hops in this flavor- but also a good amount of citrus and i feel like even peach flavors here. all of these flavors come together nice and theyre not over bearing. makes for a clean drinkable brew. this is a good beer if you are a fan of flavorful beers..and you want to unwind on a warm evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 01:24:50 | More by mattkoon

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

As with the 21st A saison, before I drank it my expectations were low for an American saison. I was a little surprised at the 21st A, so hopefully I will with this one too, but I'm expecting a wit beer like thing.

Pours a nice 1 finger pasty white fizzy bubbly but pillowy head that fades at a med pace, tiny wifts of lacing, hazy lighter lemony colored beer.

Nose brings a bit of saison aromas, hint of lemon zest, light spices like coriander, orange peel, etc, hint peppery, and a bit yeasty, grassy, wheat, hay like, and a touch of funk, and light golden malt sweet base.

Taste starts light but crisp, a touch of farmhouse funk and a little yeasty but not a lot in either sense. Very juicy, a citrus lemon juice, with the spices blended in, orange peel, coriander, grassy hay, wheat, lemongrass, etc. The farmhouse saison funk comes through a bit more as it increases, a little grainy toasty like as well, and very light golden malt sweetness, as well as bitterness mostly from the orange peel and lemon zest flavors, but a little lemony hop kick as well. It also brings a light stem like green flavor and tannin feel, with tart lemony flavors. Finish is fairly dry, more bitterness, lemony bitterness and light spices lingering, and a touch of funk.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, nice fluffy carb.

Overall not bad, it surprised me a little too with some nice saison farmhouse funk and juicy flavors, I liked the citrus flavors, but they seem to lose the point of a good saison a bit if they brewed it WITH spices since that should already come from the yeast, and I think that brings a bit too much of the spices and that green stem tannic flavor. However, very drinkable and I would call this a session beer easily, and fairly tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:26:43 | More by jlindros

babaracas

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Well, it seems that much of BA does not understand the table saison. Bummer, as it's a much more interesting choice for a summer seasonal than the usual hoppy yeast-neutral wheat or overhopped czech pils beginning to crowd the shelves.

Pours a mostly clear gold with billowing dense white head. Leaves thick rings of lace down the glass and slowly settles to a meringue-like dollop. Smell: snappy graininess, coriander, pale malt + a little white grape sweetness, clove note. Taste: mildly grassy, coriander, juice orange, fleeting pale malt sweetness into pepper-centric spiciness. Slowly drying finish.

This is really quite good.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 04:29:36 | More by babaracas

KBomb

Minnesota

2.85/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Light golden color has almost a green tint to it. Nice nebulous lacing, but the color is as pale as you'd expect from the description of this "session" beer.

Smells strongly of grassy hops and phenols, some medicinal aromas as well. Something almost like anise; which returns in the aftertaste in something a bit like Chinese 5-spice powder. The smell straddles a line between funky and skunky; at moments its delectable, others its not.

And here we reach a problem. The aftertaste is so strong of black pepper and lemongrass, I really can't describe the flavor of the malt and grains at all. Their lightness is so overshadowed by the additions they become completely non-descript.

Mouthfeel is incredibly crisp and dry; certainly what I expect the brewers are going for.

Session Saison gets points for bravery in its bold additions of ingredients, but in its execution its resulted in flavors much out of balance.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 04:04:26 | More by KBomb

plaid75

New York

3.81/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On draft at TJ Finley's, Bayshore, NY.

Poured a bright straw hue with a three finger frothy white head. There was very Goid retention and excellent lacing.

The smell featured perfumy esters, light biscuity malts and herbal hops.

The taste consisted of clean crispy malts, grassy and herbal hops and a touch of sourness.

The mouthfeel was a touch light for the style.

Overall a pretty good saison.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 18:59:08 | More by plaid75

avalon07

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a pale yellow color and a slightly cloudy consistency. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Fair lacing.

S: A sweet, fruity aroma here. A nice smell, but doesn't seem much like a saison.

T: Tasted of light fruit (especially lemon), some malt, and a little hint of spices. Like the aroma, the flavor doesn't have much in common with a saison. The barnyard funk is nonexistent. A little thin in some spots.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a smooth finis.h. Light-bodied.

O: Not necessarily a bad beer, but certainly unfocused. Still, not undrinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 13:56:08 | More by avalon07

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a straw yellow color with some nice light golden tints and a soft white head that fizzles away to just a scrim, leaving some medium sheets of tight-bubbled lacing on the glass. As you sip the beer though, it tends to only leave thin and droopy tendrils of lacing on the glass. In the body, the beer is properly hazy, though some light does make its way through the beer. The beer also displays a nice torrent of bubbles working their way to the head. On the nose, the beer is nicely pungent from the moment it pours. It smells of funky straw and lemon grains with touches of banana and cloves with just a hint of uncharacterized spice in the nose. The yeast esters are very big and tangible on the nose, almost dripping off, which is lovely in a 4.5% beer. The overall mélange of smells does give a slightly skunked smell, but I think that is more from all of the spices and yeast esters mixing together into a strange potpourri, and less from light exposure. On the tongue, the beer tastes of grassy bitters, sweet spices, and funky yeast character that moves from bitter to sweet, to acidic, and leaves a nice bit of neutralizing saliva behind. In flavors, the beer begins with funky bitter grass, which opens into lovely banana esters with touches of cloves and some coriander as well. Lemon citrus runs on the lesser side of the flavors, and melds with some of the breadier characteristics of the yeast and the light clean malt flavors. The finish is big with coriander spice, slight orange peel, and some funky banana/clove esters, and the aftertaste continues this with the addition of slightly medicinal, grassy bitters that tingle on the tongue. Judging by the taste, I would not say this beer is 4.5% ABV. In the mouth, the beer feels medium to medium-light in body with a big fluffy carbonation that provides some tongue scrubbing to keep the sweeter yeast and spice characteristics from overpowering the bitters. The mouth is left slightly chalky and tingling with some saliva on the sides of the tongue. Overall, this is a great normal saison, and the fact that it is 4.5% and fully sessionable makes it all the better. Its flavor profile slightly reminded me of a less coriander-heavy Hennepin from Brewery Ommegang. It was phenomenally full of flavor, and comparable to my personal favorite session saison, Notch Sasion. My one complaint with this beer is that, in the belly, it seems to carry a little bit more weight than I normally like from a 4.5% beer, but it is not to such a degree that it ruins this beer. This beer is good, and great for a long drinking night. Try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 22:54:13 | More by Maxwell