Laurie Piatkowski
Victory - noun:an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition. This is what most people think about when they hear the word, but for many others when they hear the work Victory they hear beer. I know I know just a few facts and or some history about the Brew Company but stick with me and I promise it gets better. Really, we get to the beer soon. The story of Victory Brewing Company starts on a school bus in 1973 when fifth-graders Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski stepped aboard, on their way to a new school. The two became fast friends and remained as such. Just months out of college, Bill’s appreciation of good beer and access to his father’s home brewing equipment inspired him to explore the hobby. Soon after, that same year (1985), Bill gave Ron a home brewing kit as a Christmas gift. With that, both Bill and Ron developed their love of the craft, and a friendly rivalry grew between the two. After much years and education Both Ron and Bill decided they were ready to open their own brewery near where they first met in Pennsylvania. BAM! Victory Brewing Company opened its doors to the public on Feb. 15, 1996. What was once a Pepperidge Farm factory became home to a 144-seat restaurant, 70-foot-long bar and a full-scale brewery. In its first year, Victory Brewing Company brewed 1,725 barrels of beer.
Now we come to the good part, the beer! I recently had an opportunity to sample a great deal of Victory brews and I made some notes for you my beer enthusiast friends.
Prima Pils German Pilsner features a pale golden color with a good carbonation, half inch white head that long lingers into a very nice lace. The taste on the Prima was a biscuit, bready and earthly everything you would expect from a pilsner which is why it has become a staple at most tables. At 5.3 ABV it’s a very drinkable beer and does well at parties. It is available year round so it’s not a hard beer to find unless you don’t know where to look.
21st Birthday IPA The Birthday IPA was a full bodied crisp golden well carbonated IPA it had a full inch head which fell into a nice lasting lace. A drinkable IPA for those spring time taste buds, the end of this beer had a floral back end but not over powering . Not a heavy beer and at 6.10% ABV it can be fun to have at a party or event.
Hop Devil IPA Looks beautiful, pours with clear copper Amber red color, full head nice light tan finger full lacing; the smell is of the Citrusy, grapefruit and orange kind with hints of pine. Taste is a touch bitter with pine resin and some citrus and toffee notes; finish maintains the light bitterness and resin. At 6.70% ABV I’d say it’s a keeper, you can acquire this beer Year-round so it’s not hard to find and if you like it well then bonus. What’s the really in it you ask well I would be happy to tell you, Imported 2 row German malts and whole flower American hops.
Jubilee Belgain Ale This beer poured very well with a golden blond look with a nice white head with massive amounts of carbonation. Aromas of pear, green apple, white grape, and spice with hints of a floral presence. Taste was a mouth full of lively and intense orange peel, spice, cloves and pear. It left me felling warm. Now what makes this particular beer special is it was made to look like champagne, to celebrate 21 years of victory’s brewing company. At 16% ABV this beer is not your average run of the mill drinkable on a regular day, this beer is really more for a toast during a celebration or between a pilsner and maybe a blueberry beer. The only thing I can say about its availability is it comes in in 750 ml bottles.
Dirt Wolf Double IPA Double India Pale Ale Poured a clearer golden color than most double IPA’s, it has an almost pillow light head to remind you that it is a beer and not wine, moderate to no carbonation with a very hoppy smell was rich with hops, grains and malts. There is also a rich sweetness with a floral on the back end like spicy herbs, a mix of tropical fruits, lemon citrus and a flavor of greenery or grass. Taste is very sound good amount of hop bite rich clean, also with a spicy, resinous, herbaceous quality that's very nice with moderate lingering pine resin bitterness. At just 8.70% ABV it may read like a heavy beer but looks and tastes more like a regular IPA, you can find it year-round so in my book I give it the thumbs up. Don’t worry for those who really want the nitty-gritty of the malts and hops
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