Victory Festbier

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

This beer is fantastic. It is Octoberfest season, and this is the time of year that I buy, the literally dozens, of German and domestic examples of this style, Octoberfest/Marzen. This very well may be the best domestic example I have sampled so far. Victory uses the decoction method in brewing this beer, and that is key in making this beer so authentic and delicious. This beer rivals German examples that I have had, and that is saying a lot. Decoction is a brewing technique where a portion of the mash is removed to another vessel, heated to a higher temperature, and then returned to the mash. This step in the process, really brings out that "toasty" and nutty malt character that really defines this style. The Germans swear by it, and I must agree, the German examples are still my favorite. But I am happy to say, there are a few really great domestic examples that come really close, Victory Festbier is for certain one of them. This beer pours to a bright, amber color, with a nice white head, and a good carbonation. The nose on this beer? Welcome to Germany. What fantastic, malty, toasty, nutty aromas. The palate is even better. More wonderful toasty, nutty, malt flavors. Such a great depth of maltiness, a touch sweet, but the toast and nut character which defines this style is here in such a big way. Really nice body, a good malt backbone, this is a hearty, beefy beer. This beer finishes with more great malt character. Hop presence is there, but just to balance. This is a fantastic example of Octoberfest/Marzen. Very, very authentic, as stated, probably the most stylistically accurate domestic example I have sampled so far. I’m really impressed with this beer. Would you expect anything less from Victory? Match this beer with German fare, or any hearty dish. This beer would go great with roasted pork or turkey. Prost!!

This is a super smooth beer,very clean and a definet buy again.

This was an outstanding Oktoberfest and one of the best in the style that I have ever had. Nice clean aroma and taste, and a wonderful finish. The guys at Victory sure know how to brew a great beer. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this full-bodied smooth beer. It had an excellent aroma as soon as it was poured. The head was a condensed pillow of tan fluff that was long lasting and dense. After the head dissapated I realized that I was drinking an amber lager that was almost as pretty to look at as their Hop Devil brew. The taste was not as near complex as some of their other beers, but this was a very easy lager to drink. Smooth delicious and beautiful to look at as well. I really enjoyed this beer.

Beautiful clear brownish-golden, with a medium off-white head. Aroma is mainly malty with spice hints, mainly cloves. Flavor is rich, malty, spicy (again cloves), with some hop bitterness. Zingy, tingly, the hop component dances on the tongue. Prosit!

I drank this beer at the Oktoberfest at the Village of Shirlington in Arlington, VA in 2001and it was just great.

better than most all imported brands

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a big mug. There is a freshness date on the front label but I can not read it. Appearance: The body has a deep orange amber color with very good clarity. Its head has a good two finger thickness and is just off white in color. It has very good retention and hangs on well making nice slick lacing on the glass as I drink it down. Smell: Its nose is full off floral and spicy Pilsener like saaz hops along with some sweet bready maltiness. Taste/Palate: There is a good bready malty base flavor with nice sweetness and mild caramel and nutty notes. Hop flavor quickly moves in with very tasty spicy/floral and grassy flavor notes. Hop bitterness is very bright and clean on the finish and well balanced to the malt. The body has a solid medium feel with smooth yet active carbonation. Notes: This beer was very interesting and surprising. The malt was Octoberfest all the way but the hops were crisp snappy German Pilsner and they made for a very tasty combination.