Victory Old Horizontal

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

12 ounce bottle thanks to kegbear. Poured into a snifter with a frothy head. Very good malt aroma and with some nice hop smell. The taste is malty with a bit of dark caramel. This is probably the best barley wine Ive ever had. I would love to have more of this.

2002 bottle.
Pours a caramel color with no head. Smell is rich an strong caramel, but in that aged sort of way, that is unappealing to me. Taste is smooth caramel as is common in old beers. Low carbonation and almost flat. Not great, but I’m sure I’ll like it better once I rate one of my fresher bottles.

12oz bottle: pours a hazy dark amber brown with small off white head, aroma filled with hops and a hint of malt, flavor has tons of citrus hops up front and a good malt backbone to follow. very good barly wine.

12oz bottle. clear amber-brown color with thin creamy head. aroma of spicy caramel, hops, alcohol and sweet malts. bitter citrus hop taste up front then roasted toffee/caramel then a lingering tingly bitter finish. really interesting and good balance. overall fantastic barley wine. K-7

’98 vintage 12 oz’r. Poured very dark and barely any head. Somewhat oxidized, but still drinkable. Nose is dark fruits, malt, and alcohol. Smooth drinker for the vintage. Chunky bottom from the aging, only got about a 8oz glass from this bad boy. Very good barley wine, highly recommend to others even with the age on it.

12 ounce bottle in Duvel glass. Slightly hazy garnet with lasting ring and a little lace. Complex aromas of earth, port, wood, brown sugar, cherry pie. Brown sugar toasted caramel sweetness, ripe fruit, medium bitter finish with lingering sweet fruitiness. Full body with a little carbo bite. Barleywines are usually love ’em or spit ’em out for me. This one’s pretty damn good. Complex and drinkable and in-your-face.

Dark amber with modest tan head, good amount of lacings. Aroma is roasted malt. Sweet rich roasted malts with some soysauce, molasses, brown sugar, prunes, and a nice bitter hop finish. Some citrus in the hop flavor. One strong beer that is entirely enjoyable. Go slow though, this one will sneak up on you. Label abv is 11%.

I’m not a big fan of Barley Wines, but this is very good. Perfect amount of warming alcohol presence. Sweet, dark fruit, caramel and hops. I’m glad they put this in 12oz. bottles, 22oz. might be too much. One of my favorite Barley Wines.