Victory Sapphire Ale

Bottle from the CBC 2008: Pours a deep golden with a long lasting, whispy and clinging white head. Aroma is two fold. On one side there is a light biscuity maltiness, with notes of apple and spicy alcohols. On the other, the nuances of a minty, floral hop. Definitely a noble variety, yet very unique among them. The body is refreshingly and dangerously dry. The flavor is a mixture of sweet malt and alcohol, finished by huge spice and a dollop of bittering punch. Fervently drinkable, yet somehow missing that exceptionality that so many of my favorite belgian style ales possess. Don’t know if there is any denying that this is really good...Ok Joris did, but it is not an example of perfection in a glass.

Draft. Clear amber/orange color. Spicy light malty aroma. Nice roasted character and smoke in the flavor. Clean looking brew. Sweet and thick on the palate with clean toasted malt finish.

Bottle shared by the generous Bill K himself at MBAS. Golden color with a small ( if any) head. Flavor tastes like a banana that fell on a dirty floor. Nice maltiness.

Sampled at Dickinsonbeer’s Hoboken gathering - hazy strawberry color - smells of orange peel and coriander, light phenolics, strong spices - semi-dry, with some biscuity malt, moderate spicy character, and some wildflower - a lot of dried herb complexities - quite nice, actually.

First, this is spelled wrong. I have seen the beer logo and it is Saphire, with one "h". Interesting combination of a Hallertau hop with a Belgian yeast. Hazy amber, good white head. Sweet malty and fruity nose, taste of malts, Belgian yeast, alcohol, diacetyl bubble gum, combination of Barleywine and Belgian, with a little Belgian funk in the end, before the hops ... I have wanted Victory to make a more up-to-date and more complex Belgian, following Allagash and Lost Abbey. I don’t know if this is it or not, but I’’ have another one and rerate.