Victory Swing

Tags

beer, hops, seasonal beer, swing, victory, victory brewery

After taking this picture, I drank it.

This beer tastes way punchier than it actually is–only 4.5% ABV. I had two last night, thinking I’d write a review. The only problem was, it was kind of late, and I hadn’t slept well the night before, so I got sleepy. I passed out on the dog.

“Antoinette, Antoinette! ANTOINETTE!”

Snork. “What?”

“What are you doing down there?” my husband asks.

“Sleeping on the dog.”

So yeah, that’s how last night’s review attempt went.

Before we get into this though, I’d like to take a moment to talk about that fickle flavor, hops. At it’s best, it’s floral. I’ve had drafts that smelled like pot (and I should note the plants are related). It tasted like it smelled too (I don’t know if it tasted like pot, as I’ve never eaten any). Fresh hops can be amazing. It’s a taste that doesn’t last though, as it seems to mellow to a more malty flavor, and at its worst it can be bitter and metallic. And of course, anything that relies on the bitter portion of your palette can be very subjective. What tastes like flowers to me might taste like vomit to someone else. I’ve chosen “vomit” as someone once described a case of Stone’s Arrogant Bastard to me as tasting like vomit.

Bitter floral hops overwhelms the background notes of any Belgian taste. It’s not bad though–a cavalcade of brassy horns drowning out the bass line. You’d know if it wasn’t there thumping along, but if it fades into the background, that’s okay. Very tasty, will drink again. You’d do well to pick up a case.

I should note, my husband thinks this beer tastes very Belgian.

Why it misses the mark for me, is it doesn’t have that, almost yeasty taste I associate with summer wheats and beers like Hoegaarden. Victory’s Golden Monkey is a much more Belgian tasting beer to me. Swing reminds me more of Gulden Draak barley wine without the musk and immediate drunkenness. Of course, it’s been years since I’ve had Gulden Draak barley wine, so I could be wrong.

Review: Lancaster Sampler Pack

Tags

beer, IPA, lancaster brewing company, pale ale. lancaster, stout, wheat

I asked my husband, “Hey, how’s the Strawberry Wheat?”

“It’s good. You’ve had it. We took a case on vacation one year.”

“Really?”

He continues, “Yeah, don’t you remember? My brother R– drank half of it.”

“God your brothers are bastards about beer. I kept telling my sister to buy plenty of cases for the wedding. Although, in R–‘s defense, he does have high altitude training.”

We discussed the drinking habits of our families for minute before I wandered back inside (I can’t remember why, but this conversation took place between the house and the garage).

A day later, I had a Strawberry Wheat, and indeed, I did recall it’s pleasant flavor. It’s less… yeasty tasting that something like an Oberon, clean and fresh and strawberry. Not sweet either. Not saccharine or overbearing. It’s proportions are just right. Delicious, but really, only one of four tasty beer.

It was the Milk Stout, a strong smokey beer from which light does not escape, that attracted my husband’s eye. It was part of xmas beer exchange they’d done at work. It makes Guinness look like a lady.

The Amish Four Grain Pale Ale is tasty and caramel, tempered by the flavor of the hops. I think it might be my favorite. It has a little smokiness to it, some bitterness. Mm… I might need another to describe it properly (I like a beer around 11, maybe another if I feel like getting tipsy).

Oddly enough, as much as I, and your average beer snob, loves IPAs, the Hop Hog is the least impressive (although if memory serves me, this beer is spectacular on draft). It’s not that it’s a bad beer, it’s just that all the other beers are really good. Not that you’re going to neglect it while drinking the other three, trust me, it’s tasty.

Bonus: Lancaster Brewing Company uses these heavy ass brown bottles. If I was in a bar fight, I’d reach for a Lancaster before a Yuengling any day.