Victory V12

Sampled at Springslicker’s Fish Fry ’09. Hazy orange pour with a whitish pour. Malt aroma, candi sugar, and a fairly well masked abv. Huge residual sweetness.

Enjoyed via 750ml bottle in a tulip glass. I have enjoyed this beer on several occasions with other savy drinkers, and it truly never disappoints. I haven’t had some of the selections offered by Lost Abbey, AleSmith, or Russian River, but I think this is the best Quad/Belgian Strong Dark offered on the East Coast of the United States. The nose shows notes of toasted "Belgian style" grains, i.e., Special B and a heavy hand with Aromatic and CaraMunich. Absolutely delicious! This notes also come through in the flavor, which is full-bodied and complex without being cloying or muddy. There is a slight touch of alcohol in the finish, but realistically, that is acceptable for a beer of this abv. Overall, a steal at any price, and a wonderful addition to a flavorful meal on a chilly autumn evening.

Bomber, recommended by mondo vino staff. Pretty looking beer with a copper, banana and tropical fruit aroma. It has a slightly sweet banana, mango tropical fruit flavor with yeast and spice finish. I really enjoyed this one.

Bottle. Moderate roasted note for the malt, orangey/herby for the hops, beefy for the yeast, and date or raisin, and steak sauce in the background. Head is small, wispy, white with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is clear light copper. Flavor is moderately sweet and lightly acidic to start, then finishes lightly sweet and acidic. Palate is medium, creamy and has a soft carbonation. There is excellent balance in this Belgian Strong. All the flavors and aromas come together perfectly.

SpringsLicker’s Fish Fry. Sample from a bottle thanks to illinismitty. Dark caramel red-orange with an off white head. Taste is raisins, caramel, brown sugar, spices. Aroma was much the same with more emphasis on the spices. and alcohol.

Deep amber, white head. Aroma is yeast, corriander, peanut shells, alcohol, light malt. Taste is bubble gum, yeast, alcohol, fruit. Bubble gum dominates.

750 ml from John’s Market Place. Nose of toffee, candi sugar, light cloves, and yeast. Clear rust with a big galss lacing beige head. Falvor is Flavor is quite spicy (cloves and corriander) with some light bitterness, toffee sweetness, and background fruitiness. Finishes with spicy light alcohol warmth. Pretty damn good for an $8.99 750ml bottle!

I thought this beer was a relatively unsophisticated effort at a Belgian Strong Ale. It lacks the subtlety of a good Belgian. Sort of what I’d expect out of a Dogfish Head Quad. Has a huge alcoholic presence. Wouldn’t serve it to my beer geek friends, but will probably buy more for myself.