Victory Prima Pils Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. | Beer: Prima Pils
Style: German Pilsener | ABV: 5.3% | IBUs: ~35
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

So far on PintLog, I've tried three beers from the Victory Brewing Company out of Pennsylvania, and I've given them all grades in the "A" range. This makes Victory one of the highest rated breweries on the site, and puts a little pressure on Prima Pils, the next Victory brew up for review.

Prima Pils is a German Pilsener, a style that essentially represents a Czech Pilsener adapted for German brewing conditions. Victory is a little stingy with the specific ingredients, stating only that 2-row German pils malt and "German and Czech whole flowers" hops were used. Here's how they describe the beer:

Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. This refreshing combination of tastes makes Prima a classy quencher in the tradition of the great pilsners of Europe. Dry and delightful, this is an elegant beer.

Will Prima Pils be the fourth Victory brew in a row with an "A" on it's report card? Let's pop it open and see.

Appearance: Exceedingly pale lemony-yellow, hazy body under a generous white head that leaves gorgeous clumpy lacing. A rather pretty presentation.

Aroma: Lemony and earthy hops over a honey malt base. A unique and intriguing profile.

Taste: Crisp lemony hops in charge, with plenty of honey malt in the base. Not particularly bitter, but grassy and slightly minty at times. Well balanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body with crisp carbonation. Dries a little in the finish.

Drinkability: Nice and refreshing, this goes back rather quickly.

Verdict: Prima Pils is a very solid Pilsener and another very solid offering from Victory. Rather unique and quite sessionable, this is well worth a try if you're in the mood for something light. Victory is one of those breweries who can brew great beers from all parts of the spectrum, from this pale Pilsener to Storm King, their Russian Imperial Stout.

Grade: A-

Victory Storm King Imperial Stout Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. | Beer: Storm King Imperial Stout
Style: Russian Imperial Stout | ABV: 9.1% | IBUs: 75
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

Two Victory beers, HopDevil Ale and Hop Wallop, have been reviewed thus far on PintLog, and both garnered very high scores. Those brews were similar styles (India Pale Ale and Double India Pale Ale respectively), so it remains to be seen if the amazing quality they exhibited carries through the rest of the range. Hopes are high then for Storm King, their Russian Imperial Stout.

Storm King has become a heavyweight in the American beer scene, consistently showing up in "best beer" lists and winning the title of "Best American Beer of the Year" from the users of BeerAdvocate in 2003. The beer has a reputation for being more hop-focused than most Russian Imperial Stouts, and with how well the brewers handled hops in the beers I've tried already, that bodes very well.

Here's how Victory describe Storm King:

With a huge, Pacific Northwest hop aroma & character upfront, Storm King subsides into massive, roast malt complexity. More flavor than mere words can adequately describe. Rich and substantial, it will warm your heart.

Sounds pretty damn appetizing—let's see how it measures up, shall we?

Appearance: Just about solid black with a two finger tall caramel head that leaves great lacing. It certainly looks the part.

Aroma: Lots of roasty malt, as you'd expect. But unlike many stouts, there are definite hop notes to be found here.

Taste: Huge roasted malt body with lots of big semi-sweet chocolate and roasted coffee notes. Definite hop splashes at times, a very welcome addition. The alcohol is hidden rather well under the big malt body, but raises its head from time to time. Lots of coffee and some nice hop bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: A very thick body, almost reminiscent of a milkshake. Perhaps a little chalky at times, but it works. Medium carbonation with nice alcohol warmth in the mouth.

Drinkability: As you'd expect from a Russian Imperial Stout, this is firmly in sipper territory. A beer to be savored.

Verdict: A very solid Imperial Stout with a unique hop flourish that really sets it apart. Well worth the hype, this is a beer that delivers (especially at this price point). As hard as it is to not drink them now, I'm cellaring a few bottles to see how it ages and how the hops hold up.

Grade: A

Victory Hop Wallop Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. | Beer: Hop Wallop
Style: American Double India Pale Ale | ABV: 8.5%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into tulip glass

On my journey through the world of beer, I've gradually become more and more of a hophead. After developing a taste for Pale Ales, I moved on their hoppier counterparts, India Pale Ales. Luckily, there's one more step down the hop road: the Double India Pale Ale. As you can probably surmise from the name, a Double IPA is an IPA with the hop volume turned up even further, making it the hoppiest beer style out there (the malt also has to be turned up as well to keep balance). Also known as Imperial IPAs, these are high alcohol, hugely hoppy, massive beers.

After enjoying Victory's standard IPA, HopDevil Ale, I was quite excited to pick up a six-pack of Hop Wallop, their Double IPA. Hop Wallop is a limited release each year, available beginning in early November. Victory describe it as their "annual homage to the hop harvest, [so] expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty." The labeling features a cartoon character by the name of Horace 'Hop' Wallop, and a little legend about how he came up with Hop Wallop. His motto, "hoppiness is happiness," is something I can get behind.

Appearance: Hazy golden-orange body with a couple of fingers of bubbly off-white head. Good lacing.

Aroma: Aptly named, this beer smacks you right in the face with citrusy and piney hops. Underneath, good malt and lots of booze. This is terrific.

Taste: Flowery, juicy, and citrusy hops explode right off the bat. Towards the end, a solid malt backbone takes command. Assertively bitter, yet balanced and smooth - everything just meshes right. Some booze towards the end, but the bulk remains hidden well. The aftertaste is of fresh hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation and a long, dry finish.

Drinkability: Considering the style (and alcohol content), this has superb drinkability.

Verdict: If you're a hophead, Hop Wallop is simply a terrific experience. While it's no doubt a hop-bomb, I find it relatively balanced and quaffable. I've only had two Victory brews, this and HopDevil, and I must say I'm already quite enamored with this brewery.

Grade: A+

Victory HopDevil Ale Review

Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. | Beer: HopDevil Ale
Style: American India Pale Ale | ABV: 6.7%
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into pint glass

Victory Brewing, a brewery and brewpub out of Pennsylvania, was founded back in 1996 by Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski. In the meantime, they've grown to a production level of around 55,000 barrels a year, with their beers distributed in 23 states. The company is rather particular about using whole hop flowers, rather than the pellets or extracts many other brewery employ.

HopDevil Ale, an IPA, seems to be their flagship brew. Victory describe the brew as "menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts." The label features an distinctive little cartoon hop-devil character, who seems to be just a little too happy to be a considered a "devil." HopDevil has built quite a name for itself in the beer community as a very malty, yet balanced, American IPA.

Appearance: A somewhat hazy burnt-orange body with a solid finger of off-white and bubbly head. Good lacing.

Aroma: Floral, spicy, and citrusy hops balanced by a brown-sugary malt body. A bit of booze is lurking around the edges.

Taste: Spicy, grapefruity hops dominate at first and are decently bitter. There's a solid biscuity, sweet, and nutty malt backbone bringing up the rear, well up to the challenge put forth by the hops. The booze is there, but stays in its place. Everything meshes well and is perfectly balanced.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good carbonation and a somewhat dry finish.

Drinkability: Goes back easily enough given the style and alcohol content. A good session IPA.

Verdict: With a solid malt backbone balanced perfectly with brilliant hops, HopDevil is one of the best IPAs that I've tried yet. I'm very much looking forward to trying the other Victory offerings I can get my hands on here in Houston.

Grade: A