Victory - Red Thunder

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I really liked this. There are definite traces of red wine left here, but they're not overpowering. Light cherry and wine flavors to go along with the roasted malt. Recommended. 

Victory - Dark Intrigue

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

The nose is full of vanilla and toasted wood.

It tastes pretty good. Still more bourbon presence. There is a weird hopiness to it, almost like the Sixpoint Diesel. Its fine, not the greatest barrel aged stout, but not terrible.

Victory - St Otto

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Mandy's tasting progression:
"It tastes like wine! Oh now I get the smoke. Its like grilled wine."
[10 seconds pass]
"It just tastes like an ashtray now."
[Takes another sip]
"Now it just tastes smoked."

Victory - Festbier

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was pretty enjoyable marzen. Fairly standard flavor-wise.



Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
[Takes a sip.] [Takes another sip.] [Takes yet another sip.] I think Mikey likes it.
For a non-IPA I like it.

Victory Summer Love

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

[Inoffensive, decent summer brew]

Victory Headwaters Pale Ale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I think I'm in love.

Nice level of bitterness. Slight grassy hop flavor. Finishes pretty clean.

Victory Storm King Stout

Mostly coffee bitterness. Good brew, but I liked the Stone Russian Imperial Stout better last night.

Victory Old Horizontal

Decent. Pretty bitter. Not a lot of interesting fruit flavors from the malt.

Victory Moonglow

Awesome beer. Slightly sweet, with a hint of banana and dark fruit.

Victory Prima Pils

When you want a pilsner that doesn't take like crap, drink this. Wonderfully hoppy.

Victory Twelve

Surprisingly good. I was a little hesitant after the last two belgian-style Victory offerings (Wild Devil & Helios). Slightly fruity and some caramel. I'd recommend it.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
Um. Yeah. Its okay. A little sweet. Tastes like disappointment.

Victory Helios Ale

Definitely smells of brett yeast (wet socks again, see Wild Devil). It doesn't really translate to the taste though. Tastes slightly lemony, a little bready. Not bad. Not great.

Mandy really didn't enjoy this one.

Saison du Buff

Hmm. It definitely smells herbaceous. Not sure I get any sage, but definitely rosemary and thyme.

It tastes better than it smells. It has a slight bitter aftertaste, a little peppery and a little "herby".

Still the closest beer (at least in taste) I might compare it to was the John John Juniper Ale. I guess its interesting enough to try once but its not worth more than one glass.



Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
It smells like plants but tastes alright.

Bonus Leah the Dog Thoughts:
In a scientific experiment*, Leah chose the Saison du Buff over other leading craft brews. Or something like that.

*Placing the unopened bottle of saison du buff on one side of the carpet; a bottle of Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA on the other.

Victory Wild Devil

Well this was a little difficult to drink. The carbonation was out of control, so I never bothered to take a picture.

Quite different from the other belgian ipas from Stone and Flying Dog. Brewed with wild yeast, and it definitely tastes like it. Has a taste of dirty socks.

Its interesting, but I'm not sure I'd buy it again.

Victory Hop Wallop

Pretty good. Very hoppy. Not really balanced. Pretty bitter. But enjoyable.

I think this may be my least eloquent review yet.

Victory Yakima Twilight

Lots of roasted caramel taste with a lot of carbonation. Hops provide a nice balance in this. Its not too sweet which I like. Solid brew.

Victory Baltic Thunder

I'd say this was pretty middle of the road. Pretty strong malt/toffee taste to it. Not really "complex".

I don't think I'd buy another.

Victory Golden Monkey

Hmm.

Not sure what to write about this one. Its a belgian tripel. It doesn't taste as strong as it actually is. It has a medium amount of carbonation. Slightly sweet/caramel flavor. Maybe its slightly... creamy? maybe a slight hint of banana, but not as much as some others out there.

Hmm.

I'm not sure I particularly like this one, especially since I can't come up with a good way to describe it.

Bonus Mandy Thoughts: "It smells and tastes like a Belgian. Not a person. A beer."