Victory Brewing Company

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +18.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

I have debated on these ratings for over a week now and it seems as though I have gotten a double-dog dare to post them, so without further ado and lack of compunction, here goes ...

Situated at the far end of a former Pepperidge Farm bakery, the somewhat nondescript front is arrested by the beautiful mural of the Festbier label. This place makes me: a) proud to be a Pennsylvanian, since it is an excellent reuse of a once defunct building, where in SoCal, it would have been razed and paved over by now and b) overjoyed that it exists a mere forty (40) miles from my house, meaning that it is but a short train trip and a brisk walk away.

The interior is done in muted tones of matte brick red, mustard yellow, and depending on the light, royal or navy blue. They utilize a huge L-shaped bar which wraps around a corner of the building. Sitting at the bar, just inside the entrance, puts you in front of a set of viewing windows that overlook the fermentation/finishing tanks. Above the windows is a long gold, stencilled quote on red by Teddy Roosevelt regarding the idea of victory (with a lower case "v").

If you turn right from the entryway, you pass a cigar case on the end of the bar, the six-pack (to go) cooler, several video games, a cigarette machine, and an English-style dartboard mounted against some burlap malt bags. You then come to a long corridor. A word of caution - the Men's is the FIRST door on the right, not the last one, as I was chagrined to be reminded of following a Pitt/Villanova men's basketball game in late February. Opposite the Women's room, and at the end of the hall is the Retail Shop, with cases and kegs available, along with shirts, t-shirts, et al. They went out of their way recently to get me a size L fleece when they were out of stock and I ws going to be visiting on successive weekends, BTW.

To the left of the bar are a couple of pool tables and another window, this time overlooking the kitchen. Be sure to take in the brick oven and the firewood being stored nearby. As a gourmand and a chef in arrested development, the kitchen is where it happens for me. The retaurant area is behind both the kitchen and the extension of the bar. It is a carpeted area (the only one in the place) with several American flags and a Bavarian flag in the overhead. There is an eye-catching neon "V" and numerous victory-related WWII posters and some old photos of the Pepperidge Farm plant on the walls. There is another set of windows looking into the finishing room and finally, the current beer list, which is part permanent display, part chalkboard, just to keep the curiosos on track.

I should also mention the murals - the Hop Devil logo, Saint Boistrous & Saint Victorious, the toiling and moiling worker, and a joyous bottle proclaiming "Beer to Go!" are all painted in the overheads.

Further, Bill & Ron have (happily, in my industrial eyes) retained the open high ceilings, the exposed piping and air ducts that I am sure abounded in the building's original incarnation.

Finally, a note on the food: I live for their brick oven-baked pizzas. If that, along with any of their huge selections of beers, doesn't get your pulse racing, it's time for a check-up, Freddie! On the beer front - I really can't color your judgement on the UKPA vs. USPA challenge, but I have a clear-cut favorite. I also really dig the Uncle Teddy's Bitter on cask. Hop Devil is also on cask, say no more. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. On and on. 5.0!

04-13-2005 01:15:34 | More by woodychandler

Katahdin

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +18.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

A truly unique experience albeit a rather difficult place to find. Your approach is through an industrial park to an old warehouse once used by Pepperidge Fram. Not sure what to expect as you walk through the doors, you are greeted by a beautiful microbrewery/brewpub with large brick ovens that are wood fired and used for cooking. Most of Victory's beers are available on tap and the staff is very knowledgeable and quite able to assist you. The food is to die for and very reasonable priced. Lots of entertainment and a fun place to visit or to hang out.

12-07-2009 20:38:26 | More by Katahdin

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +18.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Amazing place, went for dark intrigue day, and had an absolutely amazing time. Very clean and nice food area, very nice bar with excellent selection, and the growler fillers were excellent. I went through the main bar and restaurant on my way to the retail store. Everyone there was really nice and helpful, and never hesitated in answering a question, even if we were asking them for the third time. I did not end up getting the dark intrigue (i didn't know it would be distributed once we found out we got out of line and decided to wait for it) Amazing beer, Amazing people.

11-25-2011 03:32:51 | More by vicsju1991

ElGuapo

New Jersey

4.95/5  rDev +17.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

Wow! This place is amazing. Great selection of their finest brews on draught, in bottles, cask-conditioned, and workhouse porter out of the firkin. All served at great temperatures by very friendly people.

The food was great. It was the PA BA Gathering, and we had a buffet lunch with pizza, wings, and bratwurst. All were excellent, and I would definitely be very happy with the same if I returned, although I will say that I would have to try some new stuff. After taking the tour, I was absolutely amazed at how large this place is. They have some very impressive equipment, and if you take the tour, they will tell you all about it. I will be back to this wonderful establishment.

04-09-2003 07:03:19 | More by ElGuapo

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +17.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Downingtown may be more depressed in many ways than my own hometown of Weirton, WV. However they have something that West Virginia just isn't ready for, and that my friends is Victory Brewing Co. located in a former Pepperidge Farms facility pretty industrial area on 420 Acorn Lane. Once you see the Victory over hang you know your in the right place, drove out during the 10th Anniversary weekend and could not have been more happier to have made the pilgramage. Busy as all hell (which is great), celebratory folks mingling, drinking fine beers, and eating the good eats this brewpub has to offer. The only beers flowing that I had never had in bottles and drafts were the doppelalt sticke, Braumeister Pils, and that's it. However they also had some of my favorites flowing including Hop Devil (draft and cask), Prima Pils, Storm King, Old Ho, Mad King's Weisse, Dark and Helles Lagers, Golden Monkey, Festbier, V12 and VSaison bottles. Anyways that was the great selection all gems in their own right, no onto the Victory festivities enjoyed watching the female competitions but mainly I was graced with the presence of fellow BAs who couldn't have been warmer. After speaking to Bill and Ron and telling them about how my friends and I drove out to D-town for the festivities he asked us if we had eaten, of course with the 3 plus hour wait to be seated Ron insisted that we sit at an empty table near where we were standing and that servers would be with us to fill our glasses and take our orders. So thank you Bill and Ron for showing us the hospitality the food was all good ate a big ol' burger topped with gorgonzola, spinach, and roasted peppers...yum!!!

02-24-2006 22:31:06 | More by WVbeergeek

TylerAddisonJ13

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +17.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

Obviously, this place has a lot of hype that comes with the name. I was really excited to be able to visit, and so I had high expectations.

The building is really nice! Very clean, and well-maintained. It's a very very large brew pub, with a bar that can sit a LOT of people.

Me and my friends sat down at a table near the bar area, and ordered our appetizers. I got an order of hot wings. They were out very fast, and they were particularly good.

I got a Prima Pils Draft. Excellent when it's fresh from the source.

For my actual meal I got BBQ Beef Brisket sandwich with fries and cole slaw. All were good, but I couldn't finish it (the appetizer was a meal in itself!)

Next, beer sampling! Tried Donnybrook Stout, Hop Wallop, HopDevil, Uncle Teddy's Bitter, Festbier, CBC Tradition, and Whirlwind. Out of those my favorite was the Uncle Teddy's!

I came, I ate, I drank, and I went home happy. This place didn't just meet my high expectations, but it SURPASSED them. I was very impressed. Over 20 beers on tap, a good food menu, and good service. Victory is definitely deserving of all the hype.

06-04-2009 01:24:51 | More by TylerAddisonJ13

barknee

New York

4.9/5  rDev +16.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

What a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day. The brews are diverse and fresh as could be...The food is very decent, with a great range of chow to accommodate anyone. The service is super good, with two different servers during our stay going way out of the way to make our time enjoyable; it was greatly appreciated and rewarded. The feeling...to be one to occupy this place was like walking on hallowed ground...This is one brewery that deserves the rite to succeed and flourish! You’ll love it big time!! Additional kudos’ to Bill & Ron for their support of numerous organizations; from children's hospitals to local school districts..The list on Victory’s website of those fortunate to receive the support of this brewery is impressive. These two guys are a couple of mench's. EVERYTHING is good about this company!!

11-28-2005 01:39:33 | More by barknee

ajr24

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +16.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

If the numbers I've jotted down above don't say anything then please allow my words to do so.

Victory beer has held a special place in my heart (and in my fridge!) for some time now. Visiting the brewery was like visiting Mecca for me. Over the summer I was in West Chester for my brother's wedding and I actually felt a magnetic pull from the brewery and luckily we had time to stop by. Upon entering I think I uttered the words "I'm home..."

Upon entering through the far left door you will immediately notice the ample space- tables and the jumbo bar. Each time I've gone they've had a different amount of people. Yesterday we went for the tour and stayed around after for some obvious beer drinking and a bite to eat. Friday afternoons really raked in a crowd. With all the people there sitting and standing the place really was not that loud. A decent and jovial atmosphere is easily maintained.

I don't know where the quaffs over poor service come from or maybe it's just cause I'm not the pickiest person over service. But that said, I have had some seriously outstanding service. The bartenders seem to be more knowledgeable than the waitstaff about the beer, but they also appear to be over 21 whereas the waitstaff appears to be underage. I sympathized deeply with our server Elizabeth the other day as she explained to our friends and I that she was allowed to smell their beers and then work off that information while serving. What a tease! Either way, each server I and friends have had has been exceptionally friendly and helpful.

As for their beer? Well, their brewers are honestly wizards. The beer from the brewery and beyond has been magical. Their German beer prowess is unmatched, and their English beer styles do not lurk in the shadows. Uncle Teddy's Bitter on cask for example. And their American beers are phenomenal... They use 33 different strains of yeast so you can taste the creativity in their beers pretty easily. Hop Wallop on cask and I jizzed in my pants. Lol you knew that was coming...

Now I can't claim to be an expert on their food but we did manage to knock down a chunk of their appetizer menu and the Wings of Victory with Honey BBQ sauce are pretty delish. Trice Fries with spicy mayo are also tasty. Their appetizers are also pretty substantial so easy to share with your friends.

It's bargain city here, lemme tell you... the price of pints is noticeably cheaper than you would pay at an outside place. The most apparent deal is their growlers. Just seeing their growler fill station is a treat in itself. But for about 25-26 dollars you will get a 64 oz German style growler and a fill. Obviously cheaper for those of you already with growlers so it would be around 9 for lower abv beers and 11 for bigger beers. Plus they serve their beer as proper as it can get- using imperial pint glasses (20 oz) that vary according to beer style. Also they offer smaller sizes.

Overall Victory Brewing Co. has been an enchanting and victorious experience! I recommend their beer, brewery and drinkery to all! Let's just say I could keep typing sweet words but I'll have to digress... VBC is an A plus.

01-11-2009 06:08:49 | More by ajr24

djeffbee

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +15.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

Wow.

I have been to Victory about 50 times, but today was my first time since the renovations.

I loved it before and was skeptical that the renos were going to change the place, and they did - for the much better.

Before a dark, warehouse with a bar and some tables is now a very modern, yet classy layout complete with sexy wood trimmings and the feel of sitting inside a real copper brew kettle.

Food - wife and I split wings and a couple of the sandwiches - BBQ (Pastrami) and the Jerk chicken - wow. Usually wifey and I order a couple apps and beers, get the kids lunch and that's about it. The food was outstanding - to the point where we usually focus on the beer, but our focus was changed.

Service - ya know, I don't know where they recruit the young staff, but the way I look at it most Gen Y's (or Millennial's) don't want to work. I never see that here. Our waitress Amanda was fantastic.

Selection - reminded me of the real old days where you could walk into Victory and taste even some of the most obscure beers. 4 hand pumps, sample sizes available for $1- No complaints here.

Value? huh? I don't think there is anything really over $10-12 on the menu, along with the beers averaging $3.50 - $4.50. Our family of four walked out of there for less than $50 with a couple tall beers and multiple samples for each of the parents.

Entertainment - yep entertainment. Today was an open mike collaboration in the 'beer room'. A few acts showed up and they all were fabulous. The setting is unique, but very appealing.

All in all, a fantastic experience. Keep up the good work..

Cheers!

07-21-2008 01:32:58 | More by djeffbee

stingo

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +13.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5

An excellent brewpub with a varied menu and of course Victory Brews. Service and quality were outstanding, including the desserts which seem to be an afterthought at many places. Very highly recommended, if a bit short on atmosphere.

08-05-2002 10:39:27 | More by stingo