Victory Old Horizontal

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

i don't think i know her well enough to call her "my old hor", but this sweet vixen of a barleywine is strong enough to toss me on my ass anytime i get sassy. the cinnamon brown pour is a cloudy melding of plum reds and burnt oranges. with it's desert sand colored head-- just watch the dotty lace undulate downward like the distant streamers of spent fireworks. robust and earthy smell of a humidor with plump fresh cigars from the tropics and the cedar boxes that cradle them; plus cakes baking and their gurgling yield of gooey amber caramel. velvety texture with only a bristle of carbonation to signal it's vivaciousness, the flavor arrives on the dessert tray: a bread pudding with rum, raw cane sugar sap and the formidable bitterness of heavy citrus zest and pineapple cut close to the rind. after a couple of these, a serious buzz ensued in which i found myself on my knees reverently intoning my favorite passages from "ultimate beer" by michael jackson.

Deep clear dark amber-copper, small head with tight little bubbles, sweet smokey caremel fruity aroma. Sweet and malty, flavors of cotton candy and fruit , not much bitterness in the finish, very smooth and full bodied with a full and creamy mouthfeel, a warming sipping ale, very good for the style, not over hopped.

Evening: 10 p.m. - 12/24/02 - the skies of Northeast Ohio are clear. 12/25/02 - 7 a.m. - Our daughter’s awake, ready for daddy to assemble the toys that Santa brought, and there’s 8 inches of snow in the driveway. So begins our Christmas day - we travel and visit and eat and deliver presents and eat and visit and eat and drive and eat and, finally arrive home safe and sound. I immediately grab this Old Horizontal (thanks V) and assemble more toys. Burnt orange - very clear - but bottle conditioned. Sweet fruits, strong yet gentle hops. This is 11%, but I don’t taste any alcohol at all. There’s not much more to say, this is by far the smoothest, most seductive barley wine yet.

Damn good barleywine. I’d buy it again. Can taste the alcohol on the palate, although not overly so. Aroma is ric. Little to no lacing. Good flavor profile overall.

Pours very think and smooth with copper tints and small head. This barely wine quite possibly has the best aroma I’ve ever smelled on any beer. Upon the first taste, hints of chicory roasted barely and delicious hops. This is what a barley wine should taste like. I almost dont want to write anymore just so I can enjoy this beer while only focusing on how good it tastes.

200th rating. Bottled on Dec 3, 04. Received courtesy of csbosox. Maple is the overriding aroma. Spicey/earthy hops are along for the ride. I kind of screwed up pouring this and got the slurry from the bottom of the bottle. Not real worries though. This baby showcases a creamy off white head that shows no real signs of going away. Firey oranges, reds and browns. Inviting. Warming, but not the least bit harsh. Maple, pine, the typical caramel and toffee that we all love oh so much. Silky smooth all the way down. Pleasantly bitter. Thanks again Chris.

Best palate I have ever had in a beer -- balanced, complex, and full mouthfeel. Delicate finish of sweet, then toasty, barley with some bright alcohol notes. Back to how the beer looks in the glass -- deep copper and cloudy with some lacing from a diminished tan head. Aromas are light hops, some soapiness, and some apricot/peach fruit. Taste is a series of hops, fruit, barley, alcohol, and a toasted finish. An amazing brew.

In competition with Dogfish Head’s Olde School for my favorite barleywine. Not as hoppy as OS, but has a better malt character in my opinion. Borders on overly sweet, but it has enough hoppiness to keep it under wraps. Solid beer.