Victory V12

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

Distinct smell that hit me right away. reminded me of some type of wine. The taste only confirmed that with the taste of chardonnay or a reisling or something. while it has a higher alcohol (something i normally don't like in a beer) i really enjoyed this one. gwood stuff.

Medium copper with a fizzy, fading head. Aroma of brandy, heady alcohol, and some malts. Flavors initially fruity, peach, perhaps some pear, grape, fading into a big malt sweetness and a bit of bitter hops on the finish for balance. Probably my favorite of the Victory attempts at a big Belgian brew.

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.

[bottle - corked and caged 750 ml] Clear copper pour with a large and fizzy tan head. Very intense and fruity aroma. Lots of dark fruit notes and hints of cherry, figs, caramel, alcohol and spices. The taste is full of different flavors. Spice, cherries, caramel, yeast, alcohol and a slight bitter hop taste at the end. Very warming and very good.

Slighly hazy ruby amber with a thick diminishing white head. Floral aroma of citrus, caramel, butterscotch, and spice. Medium syrupy palate with lively carbonation. Flavor of caramel, grapefruit, raisin, clove, pepper and spice. Another great brew - thanks to Slikwily!

750 ml bottle, caged and corked - dated 8/10/06. Pours a golden copper with a big dense fluffy white head that retains well and laces the glass. Bottle conditioned with lots of yeasties at the bottom of the bottle.

The aroma is musty yeast, bready dough, pears, and some cola-like spices.

The flavor is sweet sugary malts, followed by some peppery yeasty spices, a little pear and apple and a bit of alcohol with a bitter almost tar-like finish. Normally I don’t care for the sweetness and alcohol, but this is well done and balanced well. The mouthfeel is medium to full and creamy with ample but not harsh carbonation. It’s a little on the syrupy side.

Overall, a well done Belgian ale.

750 ml corked and caged. Very pale golden beer. Aroma is very spicy with a Unibroue-like spiciness. Sweet and spicy with a hint of sweatiness, some peach, sweet coriander and light cinnamon. A touch of bready yeast, but the malts themselves are quite lean. Wheaty spiciness and some sweet peppery character. Flavour is quite spicy. Some lingering lemon citrus and a soft palate. Nice saison.

Bottled 8.27.04. The 750 ml corktop bottle spewed foam when opened. After a good bit of the neck of the beer foamed into the sink, I poured into a glass the cloudy, dark golden body. Needless to say, a huge foamy head topped this guy off. Aroma was fairly typical of the style: bananas, honey, and the like. Fruity flavors again present themselves upon tasting, followed by a very sweet, syrupy vanilla. Good, but alcohol is way too dominant. This may benefit from some time in your cellar, but is still very good young.