Victory V12

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Bottled April 19, 2007. Slightly murky, darkish copper body with a small, struggling-to-survive lacing above. Vinous aroma with brown sugar, raisins, bubblegum, and peppery spices. Flavor is brandywine, bubblegum and prickly hops and spices. Palate is medium-bodied; tends towards syrupy-thickness and creaminess, with lots of tingly alcohol warming on the end. Nice winter warmer that could probably be improved with a year or so of bottle aging, I just couldn’t wait that long.

Amber brown pour, small white head. Aroma candi sugars and dark fruits. Taste is the same very sugary, with dark fruits like plums and raisens coming through, almost barley-wine like with the dark fruitness. Very cloying syrupy mouthfeel and a big warming alcohol, this would be great for the winter.

Bottled. Pours a rich reddish-brown color, almost like a darkened cognac. Minimal head. Immediate aroma of spiced caramel, yeast and plenty of sugary warming alcohol. I thought the flavor was pretty straightforward, not very complex at all. Lots of fruity sweetness, loaded with banana and raisin flavor. Slightly bitter finish, with a big alcohol nose on it. This is definitely one you have to drink slow, due to the near-overwhelming alcohol content. Finishes warm and smooth.

22oz Bomber
A deep golden color with a thin head. This had a soft Belgium aroma. I expected more from this beer. One would think this ber will mellow with age if this mellows it will be lifeless in the future. Has some flavors butt hey where very light and not too the point of a strong. Semi sour and in my humble opinion will not age well.

Dark, cloudy copper pour with a thick and lasting tan head. Yeasty, dark fruit aroma with a big whiff of alcohol. Up front there is a yeasty creaminess which leads to a heavily spiced middle with some sweetness and banana. Cherry and plum towards the finish which was sweet and boozy. Warming to say the least. I think it’s well put together and the high abv almost forces you to take your time and enjoy it. Extra point for being my 500th!

Deep amber pour from the bottle. Tons of spices here. Nutmeg, clove, Belgian candy sugar, caramel flavors. Very sweet. Almost cloying, but nice. Give it some age I’d say.

750 ml bottle. Pours a rich amber color with little head that fades quickly. Color is very clear and free of any particulate. Aroma is of cherry, must, yeast, and notes of dark fruit. Taste is light cherry, sweet malt, notes of dark fruit and some yeast. Moderate carbonation and alcohol is well hidden. Good stuf

Pours a brown/amber color. Smells very yeasty and musty. I can noticably taste the alcohol but otherwise tastes yeasty and I do pick up a bit of those caramel tones. Pretty good for the style.