Victory Grand Cru

Formerly brewed at Victory Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

My first unbudgable cork in a long while, needed a pliers to get it twisted, once the twist was established, the cork popped out with ease. Lovely golden hued pour, settles more bronzed in body and slightly clouded with yeast and steady carbonation bubbles within. Firm and tight merange fluffed biege head just over a finger high, good lacing in big strings. Aroma is quite nice with a pleasing array of fruits and yeasty sour bread sweetness. Banana, pineapple, and pear esters, spicy overlay of hops and yeast bring out wood and white pepper notes. Really strong and fun to partake when first poured, it loses some zip as it warms. Taste is fruity and spicy, laden with a hop leaf backing thats not bittering, more spicy than anything, mixing in a balanced tone of spices that are brought in from the yeast. It starts out fruity with a good mild medley of tropical and citrusy things(mostly orange and lemon), but quickly turns to the spices and a alcoholic warmth pumps up the volume along the way down. Feel is about medium with a solid warmth and spice, with a complex finish of spice and hops with an even later left over of fruits and malts where it was once dry it begins anew with a light stickyness. A very nice drinker to behold, or even more so, a sipper, as the warming of the alcohol and spice has a bit of an edge to it. Nice display on the palate. Well crafted and delishiously spicy and fruity.

2003 vintage: Bottle pours a hazy orange amber with a monster head and lots of lace. The aroma is yeasty, malty, fruity, basically inviting... The flavor is very spicy, bitter finish, fruit and malt in the middle, and pretty good. Overall, this one is good.

Rating #600!!! Hazy copper/orange color wiht a thin creamy colored head. Bubbles rising to the top. Lovely aroma. Some alcohol but not much. Malty. Mild spice, citrusy, light fruit. Smooth taste. Impressive as well. Spice, fruity...somewhat sweet too. Hidden alcohol, impressed with that. Well balanced. A nice brew from Victory. Pleased to have tried this!!

Pours turbid orangish, with a great white head and tremendous thick lacing. Aroma of heavy malt, some alcohol, cognac, citrus (orange), and even peanut butter! Tastes malty, orangy, with a malt, orange, cognac finish. Dry finish (not much sweetness here), and slightly sour at the end. Also some fruity esters and bitter citrus at the finish. Very complex. Not my favorite style, but a very nice, complex beer.

2003: Pours a bright amber/gold color with a medium tan head. Very lively carbonation. Lacing is very good. Aroma is very belgiany with good yeasty notes and some light malt and hops going on. Flavor starts spicy then becomes sticky sweet with a moderately dry finish. Alcohol is very well masked.

750 mL bottle, snifter, bottle on 05/15/03. Caramel, light brown sugar malt (M), citric (orange) hops (L); cobweb yeast (L); some light fruit aromas also. Deep amber body with a creamy, tall, off-white head. Moderately sweet, lightly acidic flavor becomes a moderately sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic finish. Medium-full body, watery/creamy teture, lively carbonation. The bottom line is: nothing spectacular, but very solid.

2003: Slightly hazy orange amber hue with big creamy off-white head and very good lace. The aroma hints of grapefruit, apple, tangerine, banana, sweet spices, floral, and dusty yeast esters. The taste starts with large dose of Belgian sweetness with an yeasty tone. Good undertone of both sweet and caramel malts and finishes with a spicy and twangy grapefruit notes. The mouthfeel is quite lively and crisp for the style, a tad thin. Alcohol is only slightly noticeable, more towards warming well after finish of the drink. Overall, more than a solid effort, worthy of a try. Happy anniversary to me at RateBeer.

Bottle pours hazy caramel with a large fizzy off-white head.   Large amounts of carbonation can be observed.   Spices, Belgian candi sugar, yeast, and citrusy aromas.   I also get heavy floral aroma, as well as a light alcohol.   Taste confirms the aroma, distinct belgian yeast/sugar flavor, citrusy, flowery, and also a slight alcohol tinge.   Not has smooth as some others I've had, a slight biting mid-way through.   Finishes with a floral/alcohol aftertaste... while not bad its not as complex as I would have liked.   Definitely a great beer, but could stand to be smoother on the palate.   Thankes goes out to austinpowers for the trade.