Victory V12

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

Thanks to JohnC for bringing this to our bigfoot vertical tasting. Pours pink/orange in color. Flavor was malty with some smoke and an interesting earthy funk note. Nose had sugary notes, smelled like candy. Creamy body. Very yummy.

Acquired via a trade from BA Px2GrafX, this 750 ml. bomber had a bottled on date of March 29, 2005. The beer was protected by a cork and a wire cage, which made me wonder as usual about whether a flat oxidized beer was in the bottle as a result of carbonation loss. Well the cork pullers had extricated the top out halfway, when it blew clear out, and the beer started gushing out, so clearly the cork had held.

The body was clear reddish orange in color, with a very aggressive carbonation, and an easily formed, large, foamy off-white head. The head did not last at the original volume for a long time, but it never did fade away completely. The aroma was very distinctly Belgian, with a liberal dose orange peel, candy sugar, and white pepper, riding on wave after wave of perfumey alcohol. A restrained hop flavor was also evident via the nose.

The taste was just perfect for the style, with the overabundance of malt delivering a mélange of ripe fruit flavors. Oranges, Pears, Bananas, Cherries, and Apricots were the primary fruits, which were equally matched by a strong peppery and prickly alcohol. Also evident was a herbal hop bitterness proclaiming the American origins of the bottle. The mouthfeel was light and airy, and the aftertaste very warm in the mouth and belly.

Although this beer was a little hot, it was a surprisingly drinkable concoction. I am definitely going to sit on the second bomber for a while though. This will be even better when the flavors meld better.

Whew...this is a big beer. Clearish orange-brown body, thin buff-colored head. Caramely aroma, with notes of cinnamon, alcohol, pear, cherry, and even band-aids. Cidery body, bready, toasty, and spicy (pepper, etc.), and extremely estery, heavy on dark fruits. Big alcohol punch. Syrupy, heavy, thick, sweet, estery...you get the picture. This isn’t a beer to slay on one’s own. Thanks to hellomynameis (Zach) for a long ago trade!

750ml bottle: Murky deep amber, light red highlights, with a huge creamy beige head that just won’t quit. The aroma showcases the malts here: figs, orange, grapes, apple, raisin bread, light spice. Taste is sweet figs soaked in alcohol, apples soaked in cloved brandy, bready yeast, with hints of lime leaf, ginger, and mint. Finishes much more dry than I was expecting, such that it is easy to drink without being overwhelming. Medium bodied, feeling almost too light and watery at times. After more inspection (by which I mean finishing the bottle) it remains crisp without getting watery, making it refreshing without being overly syrupy and overwhelming.

reddish brown appearance with minimal off-white head....aroma of sweet cherry, sugary malts, spice, and alcohol...flavor is quite the same with added notes of apple cider (flavor is great, but a tad overwhelming...too much going on there and a bit overbearing)....nice palate...great beer but a tad intense; thanks to silphium

Deep golden amber with a short-lived head and plenty of light yeast particles, this has a sweet, juicy fruit nose with hot spices and plenty of alcohol. Very smooth in the mouth and generating lots of alcohol warmth, it has a sweet malt taste with candy sugar, yeast, pepper, light fruits, and, of course, alcohol. Not a bad ale.

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bottle. thanks for sharing Len. copper body with a medium white head that dissipates quickly leaving a fine white lace. aroma has some spice, dark fruit, lots of yeast, and chocolate malt. very sweet flavour, malty, musty, and with a fair share of spice. there is quite a bit of alcohol felt though and it seems to be overpowering at times. medium body. pretty good.

Pours brown-amber with a decent beige head, intricate aroma of candied fruit, spice, hops, yeast and alchohol. Flavor follows nose, with light fruit as well, good hops balance and very warming finish. An excellent, complex belgian style brew, definitely would have again.