Victory Old Horizontal

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

Bottle. Ruby red color with a light head and solid lacing. Sweet fruity aroma with some hops. Heavy fruity/spicy flavors give way to citric hop finish. Very full-bodied mouthfeel and a biting finish.

Bouteille 12 oz, courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur rouge brune et légèrement voilée. Nez malté de caramel toffee aux notes terreuses et boisées, d’alcool moyen-doux, de houblon résineux aux notes herbeuses, légèrement fruité (abricots sucrées, léger d’agrumes, traces de prunes) et avec des traces de noix et de pain. Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture légèrement crémeuse et résineuse. Goût moyennement fruité (léger d’agrumes et d’abricots sucrés, notes de raisins) accompagné d’un goût moyennement amer de houblon résineux et légèrement herbeux (présent toute la gorgée) ainsi qu’un léger goût boisé lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute rapidement un goût malté de caramel toffee sucré (faibles notes terreuses et traces de sucre brun) avec un léger goût de pain et de biscuits. Parrallèlement, l’on retrouve un moyen goût d’alcool réchauffant présent jusqu’en finale et accompagné d’un léger regain d’amertume de houblon plus herbeux et asséchant ainsi que des traces de noix et de pin. Post-goût long et un peu sec, moyennement amer de houblon résineux et légèrement herbeux accompagné d’un goût d’alcool moyen et d’un léger goût fruité (moût de raisins, léger zest d’agrumes).

Bottle. Pours a ruby hued copper with a creamy light tan head, good lacing. A sweet hopy aroma with a bready body. Powerfully bitter upfrong, sweet cotton candy like taste that fills the mouth and develops into some more citric flavors. Full bodied and smooth, the flavor llingers.

01 Nov 07, BW Tasting. 2005 Vintage. 12oz bottle. Reddish brown. no head. Heavy aroma of toffee, malt, & alcohol. Big Hop presence. Big bitterness in the finish which covers most of the alcohol on the palate.

One of my favorites. I would describe it as almost thick without being syrupy. The alcohol content is not noticeable given how high it is. It’s sweet without being sugary. Flavors are caramely with a fruity undertone. Excellent.

Vintage 2000, cellared until 2004 at Monk’s Cafe, Philadelphia. Hazy amber color, good change in hue whether viewing from top or bottom portion of the tulip shaped glass. Silky white/grayish head retains well. Big aroma of malt and hops. Hops are tamed on the palate but still about the same on the nose. Standard victory character is apparent. On the palate there is an unexpected softness and gentleness to the beer. Amazing. The malt is just huge. Hops are there but only to help balance some. You don’t get a huge hop flavor. But it’s so soft and smooth on the palate. Weird. There’s a new toasted cracker with marshmallow like sweetness in this beer that I never see in the young, non-aged versions. Marshmallow might seem odd but the word does fit the taste quite well. Body seems fuller than usual, but maybe it’s just because the ale I had before this was light bodied. Aftertaste lingers and lingers. Malt is the focus yet again. Worth seeking out at Monk’s if you’re in the area. Menu indicates "Limit 2 per person" so enjoy it while you can.

(I’m being told this in an ’05 bottle.) Appearance: Pours a clearish, orangey-brown body with a medium, off-white head. Smell: Heavy caramel malt aroma with notes of brown sugar, honey, and a spiced tangerine fruitiness. Taste: Succulent sweet taste of caramel and honey. Hint of brown sugar. Bright tangerine marmalade flavor jumps in. Any hop bitterness has long since faded (now I’m being told it may be a bit older). Boozey, surprisingly fruity finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Med carbonation. Approaching syrupy. Drinkability: A lovely barleywine (regardless of how it may or may not be) with a luscious sweetness that only Wilford Brimley could hate.

Bottle from theisti. Amber brown color with no head. Caramel and candied orange aroma. Sweet bready nose as well. Wonderful mouthfeel with a great taste of honey, hops, light campfire smoke, figs and sweet malts. Very nice beer that I really enjoyed. Thanks T.