Victory Old Horizontal

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

It is a complete travesty that I have not rated this beer before. This was the first barleywine I ever tried years ago before I started rating beer. I have had the beer many time since then and must have been convinced that I had already rated it. This is still the barleywine I compare all others to. Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a hazy red-brown color with a huge creamy red-orange had that lingered. The aroma was sweet and had a strong fruity hop presence and undertones of candied ginger and caramel. The flavor was sweet and bitter with toasted caramel, fruity hops, light pine, nut, cocoa and rum. A touch harsh. The finish is long with fruit, pine and caramel lingering. Full bodied. Excellent - an American classic.

ruby red pour with quickly reducing head. aroma is mostly malt based with strong toffee notes. flavor is more well balanced with big, puckering pine finish. balance is evident behind giant syrupy burnt caramel notes throughout. mouthfeel is just a touch slow and seeping. big alcohol and bitterness end.

Pours somewhat cloudy orange with a thick beige head. Aroma is grapefruit, pine, honey, tangerine and earthy malt. Taste is a great balance of sweet thick malt and brutal bitterness. Medium thick body with smooth carbonation. Quite a bitter finish.

2007 version. Very nice, balanced aroma. Dark amber color with copper tapering off at the bottom. Nice appearance. Thick and oily mouthfeel Dark fruit and black cherry taste. Perhaps my favorite barley wine that I have tasted but I’m not a fan of barley wines.

An incredible example of a barleywine. Spot on for style with all the expected aromas and flavors, including bubblegum, raisin, caramel, and more. Packs a punch with little discernible alcohol burn, and nicely warming on a chilly night. I can only find fault in the palate which seems to me a little thinner than other barley wines I’ve had. And it’s expensive--17 bucks at my store. But well worth it.

mahogany in hue, similar to that of a doppelbock, but a thicker head. roasted molases, subtle salinity, subtle yeast, and maple syrup nail the aromas. lighter than expected on the nose. wow what a body! contrary to the nose, the flavor still hits the b’wine style, just in a lighter manner. more dominant madeira notes hit the palate, almost mirroring a simple tawny port with excess carbonation. toffee, heat, and maple sap shine through the fullest. I still stand by the aroma leading to a lighter style (less robust than most b’wines). Nonetheless, quite a tasty pour. *Note* - As the brew warms, the mellowness is achieved, and the anise begins to dominate. cellar temp may be a bit too chilly here.

Bottled. red with a yellow/orange head. aroma is sweet hoppy with notes of citrus and booze. true hopheads dream beer to end a night with. Total night cap brew. flavor is sweet hoppy, caramel malt, and citrus orange. Stinging big hop palate. I love it!

Awesome freaking orange red color. Very unique and pretty. Sour fruit and floral hop nose. Going well so far. Upon tasting: Long lasting flavors. So complex yet elegantly balanced. "It’s perfect" says Jabo. It would be hard to disagree with him. It’s truly a stunning beer. Just try it. If you’re reading this, you’ve got to try this beer. Quite an experience trying it for the first time. All tasters in our room impressed.