Victory V12

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Pours hazy dark reddish-brown with a foamy and fizzy tan head. Pleasant doughy aroma of caramel, a bit of brown sugar, some musty yeast, a nice light hint of citrus, a fruitiness that hints at apricot, and even an odd woody overtone in there. Flavor is also quite doughy, with the fruity aspects more reserved but present. Light spicy overtone throughout as well as that odd woody note, and a slight bit of hops that sneak up towards the finish along with some alcoholic sweetness. Palate is full and dry with only a slight fruity sweetness remaining. Some bitterness remains as well, though alcohol dominates the finish. Though fairly balanced as well as complex, alcohol is kind of a hard hitter in this one making it harder to enjoy once the palate is saturated. Will give the next few some rest before trying again, seems this will certainly benefit from some time in the bottle.

750 mL bottle. Pours bold copper with beige head. The aroma is richly fruit with peach and banana, maybe some zest; some interesting spicy aromas bounce around, too, over some caramelly malt and alcohol. The flavor is quite spicy at first along with a quick, sharp acidic bite. Then some peach, caramel and yeast come out. The finish has a bit of a grainy element about it, and some alcohol burn. The alcohol still doesn’t seem like 12%, but it’s certainly evident. Very straightforward, but reasonably well executed.

Possibly one of the finest beers I’ve ever tasted. Tastes like heaven, plain and simple.

Picked up a bottle in Seattle, WA. A lot of malt, spices and fruitiness. Has a slight smoky aroma. Have been holding this bottle for some time and opened up with great anticipation. It is a very good beer to be drank slowly and apreciated, new flavors with every swallow.

Bottle. Big, sweet fruity aroma flows into the room with Belgianish Saison yeast, lots of spice and just-a-touch-too-much alcohol. Gradient amber body with an absolutely lovely beige-cream head, lacing and rocky and lovely. Taste dry and heavily spcied, light-medium bitterness, loads of thick malt and fruitiness, with yeast and caramel and alcohol. Berry and raisin and candy sugar and molasses, fainter touches of peach and cherry. Full-bodied with a boozy finish. Needs to be toned down - subtlety doesn’t really come into play here - but certainly a good one!

Tasted 7/6/2007. 750ml bottle. Relatively clear with a dull amber hue. Floral aromas with a mild touch of red berries. Good fruity nose. Medium to full bodied with a nice burn. Cookie malt notes. Lively yet bitter effervescence. Nice citrus zest mixed with caramel malts. Subtle smokiness. Deep malt profile. Touch of graham crackers somewhere in the middle. Honey notes come out as it warms. Sticky finish with a lingering alcohol note. Subtle fruits. Apples and honetdews. But the burn is dominant. Big beer, big flavors.

Rich, amber drink heavy on fruited malt and yeast. Lots of tart pear, cherry and plum fruit that is spiced up front. Sour with a strange banana peel finish. Very thick and sticky - should not have drank on a 100 degree day but Ive been staring at it too long in my fridge.

Bottled April 19, 2007. Slightly murky, darkish copper body with a small, struggling-to-survive lacing above. Vinous aroma with brown sugar, raisins, bubblegum, and peppery spices. Flavor is brandywine, bubblegum and prickly hops and spices. Palate is medium-bodied; tends towards syrupy-thickness and creaminess, with lots of tingly alcohol warming on the end. Nice winter warmer that could probably be improved with a year or so of bottle aging, I just couldn’t wait that long.