Victory Old Horizontal

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

Like many of the barleywines, the sweet malty aroma is abundant. However, the victory signature is apparent in the quality of the finish. Very smooth and a wonderful taste in a cool setting.

pours out light maroon with a tall beige head that was a sight to look at. the body is a beautiful maroon amber with an ever so light amount of bubbles rising up from the center of the glass. the aromas are spicy and fruity with a really nice malty backbone. i wish i had a candle that smells like this beer. there is some alcohol in the nose also, but it is really faint. it is pretty much full bodied with a really nice sweet bitterness to it. had notes of red onion, asparagus, and dark fruits. nicely balanced and not one flavor killing another flavor, its a symphany in my mouth and i taste every instrument playing. it has delicate lacing on the edges but they fade right back into the body. the aftertaste is also a another great taste. it is not in your face and leaves just the right amount of umph in your palate. cant wait for the next winter to enjoy this bad boy.

Bottle. This beer was very surprising. Burnt dark orange with a decent head that stays around. Tons of piney hops at first but then the second sip was a standard barley malt aroma. These went back and forth with every drink. Hops then malt, hops then malt. Very well balanced sweetness with bitterness. Gave this to bigmmartin blind and he guessed it as a hoppy barleywine which was right on. Very smooth. This has piqued my interested in Victory. Fantastic.

My very first barleywine was from Flying Dog and at the time I didn’t even realize what it was, much less what a barleywine was. That was then and this is now, and whenever possible, I seek out barleywines. They are often higher in the ABV and best savored in a goblet or chalice glass of sorts so as to breathe and acclimate just a bit to room temperature. They can also age well and are a treat both fresh and after a few years. After having experienced the wonder that was the Old Horizontal from Victory Brewing, I have no doubts that she can be savored both fresh and with a few years of wisdom under her cap.
Old Horizontal poured a thick cloudy brown with small hints of dark earth and burnt amber. A huge head of dark tan foam tops off my glass and almost flows over the sides. As she seeks refuge in her brew below, thin trails of brussels lace remain. Each swirl of my glass produces a soft head and produces a ripe nose of apples and apricot, lemon, nutty malts and a hint of sweet caramelized sugars with a flourish of warm spices. With such an impressive nose, I am even more eager to taste. Her body is thick, creamy and soft, with a hint of bubbly effervescence. A soft entrance to mask the onslaught of barleywine warmth and explosion of flavors lurking behind. Chewy, sweet and heavy with malts and caramelized sugars. Hints of spiced apples and ripe apricots which tingle on the top of my tongue. Her finish is clean and sweet with a growing aura of warmth. An alcohol warmth lingers during all of my dreamy quaffs, drawing out the spices and sweet malt profile while adding an extra kick to the lemon citric finish. Unfortunately, before I know it my glass is empty and I am left wanting more.
Old Horizontal from Victory Brewing is perfectly balanced with just enough warmth and bitter nip in the finish to balance our her sweet and dark malty profile. While I enjoy a more hoppy and hot barleywine just as much, there was something special about Old Horizontal which left me wanting another. If I had regular access, she would be a staple in my fridge.

12 oz. bottle, had "enjoy before 2013"on it I think.(hard to read) Poured a clear nut brown with a soapy cream head that slowly dissipates. Aroma is of grassy hops and slightly yeasty roasted malt. Something about the smell is a little dirty, not sure what exactly. Initial taste is sweet dark fruit quickly smothered by a rush of citric and bitter hops that fades gently with sweet malt. I detect a little spice in there too, which wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for victory. Finish is a bit boozy, but not strong. Overall I think this quite good. Considerably cheaper than most barley wines it rivals too.

12 oz. bottle. Colour... copper-amber with no head. Nose... pretty hoppy but the malt is there too. Palate... burst of carbonation and hops, light brown sugar, golden raisins, moderate booze, dark corn sirup, toffee and a creamy mouth feel. Nice! Another one of those, "Gee! Why didn’t I try this sooner!", beers.

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!

12 ounce bottle from Holiday Wine Cellar (Escondido, CA). Pours a dark reddish-brown with very little off-white head that disappears quickly. Aroma is nice -- sweet with some raisin and grape and notes of alcohol. Flavor is sweet maltiness with warming alcohol. The finish is sweet with some hoppy bitterness right at the end. Well-balanced and very smooth for a barley wine. Very drinkable.