Victory Old Horizontal

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

Not much different about this one over many other barleywines out there. Rather malty base that was balanced out by a strong hoppy presence. The flavor was accented by somewhat of a grapefruit touch, but the mouthfeel was slippery and thick (oily / syrupy). Not my cup of tea, but suprisingly not overhopped.

Bottle: Poured a clear light brown with a small head and very little carbonation. Aroma is very sweet with a subtle touch of alcohol. Taste is bit too sweet (candi sugar-like?) for my liking; I would have preferred a more subtle sweetness (plums). Alcohol gives you a nice warm feeling at the end that I did enjoy very much. Great balance with above average body. Nice one from Victory.

350 ml bottle from Bevmo. Hazy mahogany brown with a fizzy white head. Aroma of caramel and chocolate covered fruit. Interesting fruit, sugar, and pine taste transitioning to a good bitter bite, and finishing with a pleasant alcoholic warmth.

Bottled. Foggy deep amber colour with a thick, smooth and soft beige head. Sweet apricot and hop aroma, dense and generous. The bouquet really develops as the beer warms from its cellar temperature. The alcohol is forward on the palate and hits you in the back of the throat initially but then the rich sweet flavours take over. Silky/oily texture with lingering hops on the palate. Phenomenally dense flavour and fairly well proportioned as well, giving it the front running in its category.

Pours a clear, reddish-orange color. A rocky, spongy, cream colored head settles slowly to a wispy film. Random, spotty lacing marks the glass. Aromatics include a malty, yeasty base of caramel, toffee, toasted bread, dark raisons, and prunes. Hop scents come off as primarily faded citrus, with almost an orange marmalade sort of sweetness. Flavors are rich, with caramel and candy sugar being spiced with bittersweet orange peel, raisons, and vodka soaked prunes. There is not nearly as much hoppiness as I expected, but it is decently balanced by the bitter citrus notes. The mouthfeel is nearly full and smooth, but leaning towards the syrupy side of things. A touch of alcoholic heat leaves a tingle on the way down. Overall, its a really good beer, but its not world class by any means.

2003: Pour is cloudy light brown with a big tan head complete with big yeasty floaties...smell is beautiful complex malts with sweetness and some earth fruits...grapefruit wraps it up nicely...what a fantastic BW...taste is just wonderfully creamy with delicate malts and heavy hard ones too...fruity and sweet...very sweet...warming with lots of caramel...alcohol comes out a little in the finish...wow...

12oz bottle dated 12/04 (2 years old now). this was my first drink during the great blizzard of Colorado ’06. pours a light brown with sustaining head around the outside. looks lighter than most BW. aroma is rather unpleasant with weak malty sweetness with some citrus from the hops. flavor has that typical barleywine flavor, big malt presence with still a good amount of bitterness (even after 2 years). flavor also has a slight hint of a chocolate covered clementine (i swear!). hops also provide a nice grapefruit flavor. alcohol is very well hidden. in the end this BW doesn’t do anything to offend me and yet nothing to impress. enjoyable and easy to drink. I’ve had it fresh and at 4 years (12/02) and as of now i prefer it was 2 years on it.3.2.

12oz bottle dated 12/04 (aged for 3 years). nose of raisins, toffee, and dark fruits. flavors of sweet toffee, tobacco, and some dark fruits. some hop bitterness too. pretty dry and alcohol warmth finishes. a rather short and watery palate. i think i like this a little more than at 2 years but it really isn’t very complex. not sure if more age will help.6/4/7/3/14=3.4

12/18/07, 2005 vintage dated 12/9/05. cellared for 2 years. the citrusy hops haven’t blended well with the aged malts as everything seems hard to drink. not the worst aged BW but at 2 years this needs more time. much better at 3 years.3.3.

2/6/08, 2008 vintage, dated best before 1/15/13. bottled 3 weeks ago. on hearing the 08 vintage marks a resurrection for Old Ho I needed to pick up a 6er for myself. and wow. it’s back! pours dense reddish-bronze with creamy beige head. looks great. aroma is intensely fresh maltiness that will age out, caramel and piney grapefruit nose. flavor is pretty hoppy with floral grapefruit citrus notes combined with red and dark fruits getting hit big with caramel maltiness. a big slick body, long palate, and alcohol well hidden. a bit brash at times right now but really drinkable and somehow the soul of this beer found its way back into this vintage. 8/4/8/5/16=4.1

Reddish brown color w/ very little head, this is a strong one. It’s flavor is very rich w/ a slightly bitter finish. Loved it.