Victory V12

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

dark brown with nice white head. flavor of crystal malt that is not overwelming especially for the abv. nice hop balance. some nice alcoholic depth and some spiciness. very good

Sampled at Noogfest-2. Nice copper color with a very light haze. Sweet Belgian candy aroma with clove, marshmallow, and other spice. The flavor is similar with sweet Belgian spice (cinnamon and allspice), candy and bready yeast. Sticky, oily medium body. Fair.

Pours a dark amber with a nice off-white head. Big fruity/yeasty Belgian nose. Flavor is sweet: a very complex, fruity mixture ... maybe some raisins, a bit of peach and cherry, although mild. Dark fruitiness abounds. Big alcohol presence. Pleasantly warm and full. Very robust and flavorful. Excellent.

Rated 4/14/07: Bottled in August of 2006, this is a 12% abv beauty that I was recently able to get. Maximum strength allowed by law in oHIo this beer hid that fact really well. Aroma is a top notch replica of an authentic Belgian Strong, yeasty with a floral musty scent, thick sweet candy malt, and even some mild fruit. Sparkling amber-orange pour with a thick light tan head and nice lacing. Looks like golden honey very appealing. Eight months in the bottle and this is still a bit "hot", but I do like my high gravity brews so the mouthfeel was well received. Luscious and full of thick malt, the alcohol is noticed but it doesn’t burn. Very filling this bottle took time to enjoy. Flavor is initially earthy with some nice fruit esters. A sturdy malt content soon follows leading to the sugary taste, not overly sweet which was surprising. Mild bitterness, notes of raisins and honey are tasted. Outstanding in most regards, I’m surprised how well this beer came across considering it’s massive strength, never would have guessed it.

Today I felt like a having a world-class Belgian, and I think I picked a good one. Poured a clear orange/amber. The head is a perfectly uniform creamy white, like steamed 1/2 and 1/2 on a cafe breve. As this soft blanket slowly dissipates, it leaves remnants of itself in the form of perfect lacing dancing intricate patterns around the edges of the glass. Massive swirls of bubbles are erupting from the bottom of my chalice and churning their way to the top of the beer. Aroma is dry apple cider, while deeper reflection reveals small notes of candy sugar. Taste is very well layered, with vinous notes intermixed with apples and pears making themselves known first, interlacing with refreshing alcohol. As tasting continues, the mouthful slowly transitions to candy sweetness. A fairly sweet dry alcoholic finish remains in the palate after swallowing. Considering how this brew is not as dark as some other strong Belgians, the heaviness and creaminess of the mouthfeel catches you off guard. In my final analysis as I reflect on this gem of a find, is it the most balanced strong Belgian out there? No. Is it world class? With little doubt. Does it deserve more praise than it’s receiving? With no doubt whatsoever. If you can, pick one up today and challenge my observations. If it’s not immediately available to you, trade for it.

Bouteille 750ml, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur ambrée-cuivrée foncée et voilée. Nez de levures fruitées (agrumes sucrées, léger de pêches et de raisins, notes de bananes et de poires), malté de caramel assez sucré (notes de sucre bonbon et de sucre brun), moyennement épicé (clou de girofle, léger de poivre et de coriandre) et léger de houblon herbeux avec des notes d’alcool et boisées. Plutôt ronde-moyenne en bouche avec un pétillement moyen-fort et une texture crémeuse et légèrement liquoreuse. Goût de levures fruitées (agrumes sucrées, raisins vineux, léger de poires, notes de bananes, de cerises, de prunes, de pommes et de pêches) aux notes terreuses accompagné d’un goût épicé (clou de girofle, léger de coriandre, traces de cannelle), légèrement boisé et avec des traces de fumée de tabac lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût de malt du genre caramel assez sucré, léger de sucre brun avec des notes de pain et des traces de sucre bonbon parallèlement à un goût amer d’alcool moyen et assez réchauffant (notes vineuses et liquoreuses) puis en finale l’on retrouve un goût de houblon herbeux ainsi que de levures épicées (poivre). Post-goût long et aux notes sèches, amer d’alcool moyen avec un goût de levures fruitées (zest d’agrumes, moût de raisins et de cerises, pelures de bananes), léger de houblon herbeux ainsi qu’avec des notes boisées.

750ml bottle split with McBerko. Pours a perfect amber with no head. Slightly grainy aroma, some sweetness. Taste is caramel, sweet, spices, bubblegum some smoke. Alcohol very well worked. Wonderful.

Bottled March 2003. Body is a hazy orange with no head. Aroma of citrusy hops and bready yeast, with a little bit of alcohol too. Tastes very sweet, bordering on cloying, with a pretty significant alcohol presence. Quite spicy and peppery, with a hint of grapefruit as well. Alcohol warmth lasts into the finish, which is a bit tart but not dry at all. Good.