Victory Festbier

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

From a 12oz Bottle. Mostly transparent, coppery amber colored pour with a two finger head of fine bubbled ivory. Nice munich malt aroma with a healthy dose of melanoidins. A whiff of herbal hops is there, but nearly imperceptible. Notes of baked bread crust; exceptionally clean. Medium light bodied, moderately carbonated mouthfeel with a smooth, malty texture. Flavors of baguette and lightly toasted nuts. An almost raisiny, melanoidin sweetness comes through mid-palate before a dry and refreshing finish. A light toasted note dominates the flavors a bit much; some more melanoidin complexity would be nice. Noticeable hop bitterness in the finish, but not in the flavors. Very clean, tasty, and accurate stylistic representation.

I expected a good deal more from Victory. As someone who looks forward, every year, to a new batch of marzens, this one sorely disappoints...especially coming from a very capable brewery. The appearance is the highlight of the brew, featuring a medium copper color and decent head. Nose is malty and sweet, with hints of dark fruit. But the flavor? Well, the mouthfell is fairly thin and short lived, the flavor is a little too sweet, though it hints at hops in the finish, and it’s altogether lacking in complexity. RE-RATE: I was too harsh in my first rating. Flavors aren’t that bad...they’re just too short lived.

Bottled. Beautiful orange body light head very nice lacing. True to form smells of a german lager, muted. Obvious munich malts and subtle german hop presence. Crisp and refreshing, but a little too carbonated for me. Still better than a budweiser.

On tap @ home. This is a great Oktoberfest. Amber pour w/ thin just off-white head. Light maltiness in the nose, and slightly sugary across the palate. Grainy and dry. Very good.

On tap at Jerry’s. Light amber with decent, creamy beige head / Burnt sugar nose / Light to medium body, sweet, syrupy malts, with a touch of dryness on the good finish / Flavors of burnt sugar, rice, honey, and flowers / Sweet, but good.

(Bottle). Malty aroma. Orange-copper body, white head. Spicy malt flavor, caramel, moderately sweet. Lengthy malt finish.

On tap at Stone brewing World Bistro and Gardens. Aroma: roasty toasty malt with a nice balanced hoppiness in the background. Pours clear amber/copper brown with nice semi-full off-white head. Flavor begins smooth and malty. Malt is fresh roasted and rich. Finishes with a nice flavor of almost fresh cut grass. Carbonation is nice and enjoyable, light to medium body. Drinkability is medium to high, One of the best Octoberfests out there. Really a good time of the year for this excellent beer!

Aroma is a light malty scent. Color is a bright clear amber with good carbonation and a thin head. Taste is malty and rich. Starting with a medium body it goes down crisp with a rich feel. Finish is a dry malt flavor. Not my favorite from Victory.