Queen Victoria's Secret IPA
Valkyrie Brewing

Queen Victoria's Secret IPAQueen Victoria's Secret IPA
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From:
Valkyrie Brewing
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
English IPA
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
70
Avg:
2.69 | pDev: 22.3%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
27
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 25, 2023
Added:
Jul 19, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.59/5  rDev +33.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
From the tap at the brewery.

Somewhere between clear and murky pouring. Golden in color, looks somewhat like a hefe. The head is a frothy 1 finger white color. Beautiful lacing on the glass.
Nose is very minimal. Just a very faint hop aroma.
Taste is more malty. Lots of biscuit and honey in the beer. Slightly earthy flavor. There's a faint hop presence on the back that has a slight bitterness.
Full and smooth body
Not a typical American IPA, but it's not supposed to be. This is very old school and I like it.
Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 2.75 by harpus from Alabama

Aug 25, 2015
Photo of Wisconsin
Reviewed by Wisconsin from Wisconsin

2.73/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
12 ounce bottle into a pint glass

A - An aggressive pour delivers a hazy, golden, straw yellow body with a white, half finger head that fades to thin lace after a minute or two. Slight amounts of carbonation are rising up to the top as well as some being present on the side of the glass.

S - Only a deep, strong whiff will even provide the slightest hint of hops. Simply put, this beer is seems flat on the nose. Some faint citrus notes are there but are as strong as the hop notes. Nothing about the smell of this IPA has me salivating to try this beer. Overall, probably the weakest smelling IPA I have ever had.

T - Faint hops with a light citrus body that you would expect in an IPA. Overall, though, very weak profile and is almost a pale ale in my book. Some caramel notes are present as well but nothing much beyond that. The flavors are not terrible but nothing that grabs you in any sort of way.

M - Light bodied with a poor amount of carbonation. The lack of carbonation really is evident in this beer. Everything seems to be thrown together instead of coming together in smooth, crisp beer and what you are left with is nothing too desirable.

D - I like the style (English IPA) and think this beer could be better with some more carbonation and more balanced profile but until then, I won't be purchasing too many of these. Quite honestly, it's probably one of Viking's worst offerings.

For the most part, Viking has a lot of beers that need slight tweaking in order to be great. I wish I could say the same for this beer because I really appreciate the style. However, this one needs quite a bit of work.
Dec 03, 2009
Photo of gatornation
Reviewed by gatornation from Arizona

2.06/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
this poured a bad looking yellow /gold color ..it had a small head and little lacing ..it just got worse the smell was mettalic with no hop or malt or anything ..the taste was bitter mettalic no citrus no hops no malts just terrible ..i drained this one
Nov 01, 2009
Photo of dfillius
Reviewed by dfillius from Iowa

3.64/5  rDev +35.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a pint glass
A: Moderate pour yields 1/2 finger of head with poor retention - more please. Chill hazy copper liquid is pretty.
S: Strong caramel and toffee malt aromas. Great spicy hop behind it all. Yum!
T: Malt forward with a twinge of aspirin, then hops rush forward with bitterness. Unfortunately, aspirin/medicine sticks around overall. It's the only negative, but it is very distracting. Overall a just better than average EIPA
M: Bad aspirin bite :-( Sweet and chewy.
D: I don't want another and I wouldn't buy a 4-pack. It's okay though.
Oct 18, 2009
Photo of jera1350
Reviewed by jera1350 from Minnesota

2.57/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance is a foggy copper orange. You honestly cannot see through this beer. Minimal head that dissapears quickly, minimal lacing. Faint smell of wheat, that's it. Taste is balanced with malt and hops, but both are very faint. Pretty smooth in the mouth, lightly carbonated. I could drink several of these in one night, but I could think of 50 other beers I would choose first.

Not impressed with this beer. For this style, there should definitely be some more hops. The beer just lacks in any flavor.
Feb 23, 2009
Photo of morimech
Reviewed by morimech from Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +40.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear copper color with two inches of off-white head that has good retention. Sheets of lacing is left on the glass surface throughout consumption.

The aroma consists of a caramel and biscuit malt smells. Just a light fragrance of grassy hops.

Mellow flavors. Mostly malt upfront with the hops joining in near the finish. Citrus and grassy hop flavor. Bitterness is a bit low.

Really great mouthfeel. The body is a bit light but it does have a nice creamy texture. Soft and delicate feel.

The Viking website describes this as an English IPA and with a name like Queen Victoria it should of been a giveaway. So I judged it as one. Very nice all around.
Oct 13, 2008
Photo of beerkittycat
Reviewed by beerkittycat from Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance is slightly hazy orange with a decent off-white head. Aroma has faint grassy and piney hops with malt notes of apricot and graham cracker. Taste has below moderate hop bitterness and a decent malt backbone with similar flavors as described in the aroma. Medium mouthfeel and bitterness has a good balance but would be considered thin for an American IPA. This tastes much more like an English IPA which fits the more restrained hop and malt profile that this beer exhibits. I thought this was a very tasty beer and I would definately give it higher marks if it were placed in the English IPA category.
Jul 29, 2008
Photo of BeerBelcher
Reviewed by BeerBelcher from Ohio

1.7/5  rDev -36.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
I didn't have a good feeling about this beer from the pour. It seemed rather...flat. There was very little head to accompany a rather faint amber color. Aroma was similarly disconcerting...sometimes you can tell a thin mouthfeel just from the smell, and this was one of those times. Aroma itself was lightly cereal-y, and more grainy than hoppy. The hop presence that I could detect was faintly floral (geraniol) but didn't have much else to it. Flavor was thin, lightly floral but with a weird malty bitterness I did not care for. There was also some weird metallic bitterness that I couldn't get over. Mouthfeel was thin.

IMO, this is a drain pour. SurlySober gave me this bottle, for which I am grateful.
Dec 22, 2007
Photo of budgood1
Reviewed by budgood1 from Minnesota

1.78/5  rDev -33.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
pours out of the short and stubby 12oz. twist off bottle a hazy amber, with a small rocky head that leaves nice rings of sticky lace. nose is unassuming...some malty mustiness, and a bit of hops. the taste leans on the english side of the IPA world. i'm not sure how to describe the flavour profile...first of all it seems watery and a bit flat...followed by some slight sourness and some flowery and bitter hops. it's been awhile since i've had any viking offerings, and i recall they were a bit odd, also. but this is almost bordering on bad. thin, flat body; watery mouthfeel, and just overall not pleasant.

i tried two bottles just to make sure i didn't have a bad bottle...i guess i have two bad bottles of bad beer.

not recommended.
Dec 10, 2007
Photo of Tballz420
Reviewed by Tballz420 from Minnesota

3.07/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Running between the copper and gold, non-existent white head. The nose is mainly dominated by caramel malts, there's some bitter hop in there as well. Taste starts with the heavy caramel malt, some metallic notes, fruit tones, a bit of bitter hops. If you hear "IPA" and think hops and more hops, you might be a bit disappointed. Not a horrible beer, but it runs more into the english IPA category, not a hophead's delight.
Oct 30, 2007
Photo of demcorhip
Reviewed by demcorhip from Canada (ON)

3.63/5  rDev +34.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This is my second review for this beer, originally reviewed in August. It has more in common with English styled IPAs. Im coming back to this one again because it was so different this time around, mainly in its appearance. It was part of the same four pack that my original review was from, however this bottle sat out at room temp for a few months. While against the recommendations on the label to keep refrigerated, I feel the time spent at room temperature was quite beneficial to this brew.

Appearance
Huge 5 finger whipped white head formed on the gentlest of pours, quite similar to a duvel. The time at room temperature must have allowed for some bottle conditioning, while not vigorously carbonated, it was definately more persistently carbonated than the original bottle reviewed which was kept refrigerated. Incredibly clingy and clumpy lacings defied gravity and clung to the glass where they formed. The deep amber hued brew was slightly hazy and inviting.

Aroma
Pleasant aroma of citrus, orange and white grapefruit. Some yeast aroma, as well as some biscuity and bready malts with a hint of caramel.

Taste
A tasty brew, the malts taste as they smell, a touch of yeasty mustiness, and then the bitter citrusy hops take over with flavours of orange and more bitter white grapefruit.

Mouthfeel
A medium bodied well balanced IPA better classified as an English IPA. Theres a decent level of hop bite and bitterness, as well as an astrigent character to this brew. Nice persistent fine level of carbonation enhances all aspects of this brew.

Drinkabilty
Very drinkable, and certainly sessionable, although it would be annoying to continue drinking such a slow pourer. Definately approachable, and may serve as a good intro to hoppier brews. I didnt think id buy this one again after my first experience, but last night changed my mind, ill just let this one ferment for a month or so before imbibing.
Feb 07, 2007
Photo of objectivemonkey
Reviewed by objectivemonkey from Minnesota

2.49/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Let me preface this by saying, I've reviewed several Vikings lately, and none of them to my liking.

Into a pint glass, pours an odd dark yellow, with a massive head thats just sticks around for a long time, lacing sticking to the glass. Aroma is very lacking, almost not there, just a sliver of hops, and I'm already ready for disappointment. Taste felt funny at first, and didn't change. Where it should be bitter, its again sour, more sour Viking beer. There is a bittering hop, to be sure, some caramel malt, but also a puckering sour plum, wierd. To call this an IPA, just silly, no hops. Boo.

Body is decent, and it seems like there is carbonation, I can see the bubbles, but actually feels rather lifeless. Very odd. Overall, ... meh. Meh, meh, meh.
Nov 26, 2006
Photo of brewcrew76
Reviewed by brewcrew76 from Wisconsin

2.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
A - Pours a hazy golden orange with no head at all.

S - Green apple, buttery, hint of vegetables. Nothing at all in the way of hops or malt for that matter.

T - Pears, strong apple flavor. Slight dry, bitter taste but not not much in the way of hop flavor.

M - Medium body that is dry and chalky.

D - This beer is not horrible but it definitely does not taste like an American or English IPA in my opinion. I am starting to wish I would have read some reviews before I bought a bunch of Viking beers. At least they were all singles.
Oct 02, 2006
Photo of dirtylou
Reviewed by dirtylou from Oklahoma

3.2/5  rDev +19%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
12oz single, $1.39 at Riley's...I'm really getting desperate for new singles

appearance: pours into an imperial pint glass...first observation is that there is absolutely no head whatsoever, golden amber body, hazy from all the yeast in beer...odd, as one would expect from viking

smell: not much hops, very buttery, bready, sweet apple, caramel, a cheap woody aroma

taste: Yet another example of a beer not properly classified in my opinion...from the name down to the label and on through the taste, clearly a stab at english ipa, not american. Regardless, it fails at both but is still not a bad beer to me. light english hopping, buttery biscuit flavour is huge to me, sweet syrupy apple/pear.

mouthfeel: medium-light body, smooth, undercarbonated

drinkability: Its not the greatest ipa of any variety but I cant take off points for drinkability because it goes down easy
Aug 30, 2006
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

2.48/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
Bronzed ripe apricot with a blizzard of yeast and almost no head. The nearly absent escape of air on crown cracking is not a good sign. A thin film of beige bubbles can be seen on the surface of the beer and should be gone within the next minute. Needless to say, no lace.

Very little carbonation means very little aromatization means very little aroma. Meagerly malty and hideously underhopped. The hop bill of Vanguard, Fuggles and East Kent Goldings should make for a cracklin' good English IPA--and maybe it will be one on the palate--but there's virtually nothing that makes its way out of the glass. The low score is for lack of aroma, not unpleasantness.

Better on the palate. It's obvious that something went awry with the carbonation in this bottle and probably in the whole damn batch. There's enough left, however, for me to get a pretty good idea of the beer that Viking intended to brew. It's actually a pretty decent effort, all in all.

Sweet caramel malt is present in a greater quantity than in most IPAs, English or otherwise, and there are enough hops to keep it comfortably out of pale ale territory. I don't know if the rest of their line-up shares this characteristic or not, but I can appreciate a fair amount of diacetyl that comes across as butterscotch more than butter. My tolerance for it is on the high side, so I'm really not complaining.

I'd love to taste this beer with a sufficient number of bubbles. As is, the English hoppiness has no spark, no life. It's hard for my taste buds to wrap themselves around the flavors that I know Fuggles and EKGs are capable of delivering. Enough flavor and enough bitterness remain for me to see it through to the bottom of the bottle though.

Mouthfeel is obviously the place where the lack of carbonation will be felt most acutely. The body favors light over medium, but feels like it might favor medium over light if it was sparking on all cylinders. I hope someday to drink this beer as it was intended.

If you have any interest in Queen Victoria's Secret IPA, I'd suggest waiting until the next batch is released. This may not be the world's best, and probably isn't even the state's best, version of an English IPA, but it's bound to be better than the beer sitting before me at the moment. Hey Viking, the name is clever, but I'd prefer to see a Victoria's Secret lingerie model (say... Alessandra Ambrosio) on the label rather than the actual Queen.
Jun 29, 2006
Photo of Skidz
Reviewed by Skidz from Wisconsin

1.55/5  rDev -42.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Pours out pale gold and sits golden amber in the glass with no head whatsover, none, flat as a pancake.

Aroma is musty apples and pears with some leafy hops impressions and mild lemon zest.

Tastes rather malty up front, with lots of estery flavors producing pears, golden raisins and apples. Mild hops bitterness, faint grassy tones. Awkwardly resin-ish finish.

Faintest of carbonation, medium in body and slightly chalky.

Yikes, this beer took a wrong turn towards dumpsville. Can't say much else.
Apr 28, 2006
Photo of alexgash
Reviewed by alexgash from Connecticut

2.04/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Ruddy, muddy, copper-amber with the faintest of carbonation. Almost zero head, just a tiny ring around the rim. Soapy malts mingle with sugar packets and a trace of spicy hops. Trace? IPA? Hmmm… Cinnamon bun malts: minimally so, however. Not sweet with a hint of apples. Hop bitterness increases gradually. Not very tasty—just slightly bitter. Some sappy hop resin in the finish. Very homebrewish, as in “I’m just learning to homebrew.” Soapy and flat. Another Viking classic.
Mar 05, 2006
Photo of spoots
Reviewed by spoots from Minnesota

2.06/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 1 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
This beer makes me kind of nervous.

Poured from a bottle without a freshness date (might explain some of what is to come) into a pint glass.

Appearance was grim. Cloudy, deep amber, with lots of particulate matter suspended in the beer. I can see several dark specks of something hanging in the glass--definitely not yeast particles--and I am somewhat grossed out. Looks like some foreign matter got into this and whatever it is is a little too large to make me feel warm and fuzzy about Viking's quality assurance process.

Smell was inferior. This beer doesn't smell hoppy, and it sure doesn't smell like one of the IPAs I consider the state of the art.

This beer does not taste good. There's an off flavor--sort of a combination of circus peanuts and soap that is pretty off-putting. I don't know what happened to this batch, but something went wrong.

Mouthfeel is about average for an IPA. Hard to separate from the taste, but I don't notice anything above or below average.

Again, I am somewhat nervous about finishing this beer. On the basis of the foreign matter in the brew, I have to rate drinkability very low.

I have not had very much success with Viking beers, but this specimen is really exceptionally poor. I will give the brewer the benefit of the doubt that something bad happened to this particular batch, but even so, that's not a good omen for future sampling.
Jan 19, 2006
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to hopdog for this...
Appears a light hazy orange with spotty lacing left behind by an average head.
Smell is tea like with some weak hops and biscuits coming through.
Taste is slightly sour with more earthy tastes and a mild tea like hopness.
Mouthfeel is of slight hops with the same mild sourness beating out the bitters and sweets.
Nov 23, 2005
Queen Victoria's Secret IPA from Valkyrie Brewing
Beer rating: 70 out of 100 with 27 ratings