Victory Brewing Company V Twelve
What the brewers say
“A sensation in subtlety. Heady with an aromatic fruity start and taste, this amber ale features hints of pear and apricot in its flavor. The initial impression of fruitiness concludes in a refreshing dryness.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Malt sweetness. Lots of spicy, earthy, slightly piney hops character. Slight spicy pepper phenolics but mostly hops. Fruit is orange, red apple, pear, pineapple, and apricot.”
Flavor: “Malt sweetness with lots fruit sweetness (apricot, pineapple, slight banana). Over-the-top flavor hops make it almost more like an imperial IPA or American barleywine than a Belgian-style quad. Slightly smoky phenolics. Hops linger well into the af- tertaste with grapefruit and bitterness. Deep layers of flavors from the hops, malt, and yeast.”
Overall: “A decidedly different take on a quad—the most unique example in this style. Lots of hops character (unexpected for this category) and prominent alcohol as well as lots of fruit. Sweet and tasty—the fruit goes in lots of directions. Crosses style lines, but in an intensely creative and delicious way.”
