Victory Variety Pack Round-Up: PrimaPils

Brewed By: Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania 

Purchased: 12oz bottle from Victory's Variety Pack bought at Binny's in Chicago, IL; 2014

Style/ABV: American-style Pilsner, 5.3%
Reported IBUs: ?

I realize that reviewing Victory's heritage brews is like reviewing Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale or Anchor Brewing's Anchor Steam. Here's the thing. The four beers contained in this Variety Pack (PrimaPils, HopDevil, Headwaters Pale Ale, Golden Monkey) are classics in their own right. But the times, they've been a-changin'. So it reasons that what was once a classic might be viewed differently today than in retrospect. You know. Plus this is my blog/LiveJournal. If you don't like it, suck on deez nuts. But  About Victory: 

Victory Brewing Company is a brewery based out of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The brewery was founded by Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski, two avid brewers and lovers of beer. Although Victory opened on February 15, 1996, the duo were brewing brewing beer long before opening their own company. You can read more about their accomplishments on the brewery's about page. The brewery uses German malted barley and European and American whole flower hops (the use of whole flower hops is one unique aspect of Victory). Victory is currently working on expanding to Parkesburg. For more information about Victory, check out their website or their Facebook page. 

The PrimaPils is literally a classic, with the BeerAdvocate review dating back to 2002. This overly-hoppy American-style Pilsner is brewed with imported 2-row German malts, and a fuck load of whole flower German and Czech hops. 

Victory PrimaPils

This is an admittedly good looking beer, with a bright lemon-yellow body and a finger of nicely defined white head. Head retention and lacing both excel, courtesy of the hops.

The aroma is aggressively hoppy and floral, with overt flowers and grass smashing your nostrils like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. Embedded with the floral, Sweet Tart-candy-like aroma, are some serious malt characters. I'm getting cracker and biscuit on the nose for sure. There is also a suggestive minerality note in here. 

On the taste: a lot, actually. This is fairly complex, albeit overly hoppy to a fault. This beer drops a ton of floral, Sweet Tart hops. The hops are laid down with a solid backbone of deep biscuit and cracker, and some nice minerality. This beer is oddly familiar, but I can't place it...it is also incredibly unique. The grains do stand out, imparting fantastic aromas of a brewery making beer. 

In terms of depth, this is far-reaching and has a long duration. It's complex, and it also drinks well at 5.3%. I'd call this light-bodied, refreshing, and carbonated. I think as the style goes, this could tone the hops down a notch and ratchet up some of that complex malt base. Still, this is an effective delivery for floral hops up front, a mineral-driven biscuit and bready middle, and a back end that finishes clean, grassy, and dry. This beer has held up well over the years, and is still relevant in 2014. It's very much an American interpretation of the style.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this. This is actually not my favorite American Pilsner, but it is a good beer...this beer must have been quite the revolution 10 years ago, and I see why it is historically rated so highly. For me, this is almost too hoppy, which throws off some of the malts. But the malts still come through in here in a big way, so if you are looking for an aggressively hoppy American Pilsner, you really need not look further. Pair this beer with pizza, because that's the best thing to pair this style with.

Random Thought: And so begins the Chicago Bears meltdown of 2014. 

Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager

Brewed By: Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs, Louisiana   

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 6-pack bought at Jewel-Osco in Chicago, IL; 2014

Style/ABV: Fruit Beer, 4.2%
Reported IBUs: 14

And now for some strawberry beers. About Abita Brewing: 

Abita Brewing hails from the state where you can (and should) proposition your hot cousin. I'm talking about Louisiana. Abita was founded in 1986, 30 miles north of New Orleans. The brewery produced 1,500 barrels of beer during their first year, and by 1994, they outgrew their original location and moved to a larger facility. The brewery is privately owned, and operated by local shareholders. For more information, check out the brewery's website or their Wiki. 

The Abita Strawberry is a Lager brewed with Pilsner and Wheat malts, and Vanguard hops. Louisiana strawberry juice is added post-fermentation. Suggested food pairings here include desserts, salads, pastas, and a handful of milder and full-boded cheeses. 

Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager

This one pours out into a hazy and juicy body. It's the antithesis of most lagers, to be honest. The body has rich gold and yellow/orange tones, with tons of carbonation going up. This one kicks up two fingers of fluffy, white head; probably courtesy of the wheat and pilsner malts. It's a good looking beer, and the hazy and juicy qualities add a ton of intrigue to what could otherwise be filtered and boring.

On the aroma: big strawberry jam, strawberry fruit roll-ups, and fruit by the foot. The "cough drop" note that many reviewers drop is so cliche and overdone, but this one smells a lot like strawberry cough drops and those strawberry candies that come in the red and green foil wrapper. Actually, that strawberry candy note is spot on. REVIEW OVER. That's the aroma. Pack your bags and go home. Delete BeerAdvocate and Ratebeer. I guess you can pluck out some wheat notes in the back as well, but yeah.

The taste mirrors the nose, with a clean wheat and pilsner malt delivery that is upholstered with strawberry notes. This isn't quite as sweet in the taste, for better. I'm getting clean wheat, refreshing strawberry tea, strawberry currants, and hints of the strawberry candy that is so dominating in the aroma. This is somewhat creamy, with pleasant wheat notes on the finish.

This is a delicious fruit beer...maybe a little par the course, as this isn't overly complex and sort of succeeds at doing what it sets out to do without raising any eyebrows. At 4.2%, you can make a 6-pack of this disappear in one sitting. You could probably kill a 12-pack in an afternoon. I mean, you shouldn't, but you could. Palate depth is actually really nice...this is gentle, clean, and refreshing. It's light-bodied and works as a Summer beer. The only knock, again, would be the complexity. But for the style...ehhhh. This starts out nice with clean wheat and pilsner malts, with growing fruit and strawberry currants; the mids roll into strawberry tea, currants, and fruit salad, with some wheat; the back end rides the wheat and strawberry train to a clean finish, with some strawberry candy.

Rating: Above-Average (3.5/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Above-Average on this...I was gonna throw an average rating score at this, but this is lockstep with the beer's description and intention. What's commendable here is how refreshing and clean this is...they really nailed a nice balance between the wheat and pilsner malts, a clean Lager finish, and nuanced strawberry notes. I actually recommend checking this out if you want a fruit beer...this is much better than all the lazy malt beverages out there. Skip the Redd's Strawberry Ale and pick this up, you'll be much happier. I'd pair this with patio foods...a barbecue...this is a nice summer beer thing. 

Random Thought: I love strawberries, I couldn't pass up a strawberry beer. Even if it's just a strawberry lager.

Dogfish Head Piercing Pils

Brewed By: Dogfish Head Brewery in Milton, Delaware

Purchased: 12oz bottle from a 4-pack bought at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago, IL; 2014 

Style/ABV: American-style Pilsner/Fruit Beer, 6.0% 
Reported IBUs: 35

I love Pilsners. About Dogfish Head:

Dogfish Head is a craft brewery based out of Milton, Delaware. The brewery was founded by Sam Calagione back in 1995.The brewery began as a brewpub (the first in Delaware) called Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, and was originally located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The initial brewing setup included three kegs and propane burners. They brewed 12-gallon batches of beer three times a day, five days a week. In 1996 the brewery began bottling their beer, and by 1999 they had distribution to around a dozen different states. In 2002 the company outgrew their Rehoboth location, and moved to Milton, Delaware. More info can be found HERE.

The Piercing Pils has serious potential to carve a niche as a moderate-gravity, easy-drinking beer. This "Perry-Pils hybrid" is a "Czech Style Pilsner" that is brewed with white pear tea and pear juice. The juice and tea are added in the kettle during the whirlpool after the boil. This one also features Amarillo and Saaz hops. 

Dogfish Head Piercing Pils

The beer pours into a dark golden body, kicking up three fingers of thick, dense, white head. The head falls off slowly, leaving lots of lacing. The body is transparent, with moderate, mid-sized bubbles rising upwards. 

The aroma features huge floral notes, white tea, Saaz spice, Noble hop character, light citrus, peach, pears, apple slaw salad, wet rain, grass, white peach, kumquats, and big underlying biscuit/toast/cracker from the Pils malts and Pilsner base.

The taste follows the aroma appropriately, with big Saaz spice and floral notes, mild citrus from the Amarillo, and big peaches, white tea, kumquats, pears, and slaw salad from the tea. The back end of the beer drops giant Pils malts on your palate, with huge cracker and biscuit. The finish is bitter with lingering cracker/biscuit, mineral water, and lingering bitter/dry grassy hops.

This is light-bodied, refreshing, and crisp with lots of carbonation. I almost wish it was a bit lighter than 6.0%, because that's a hefty enough ABV that drinking a few of these will get you drunk. Palate depth is good, and complexity is good too: up front is big Saaz and Amarillo hops; the mids roll into peaches, pear, pear juice, white tea; the back end dials up big cracker and biscuit, lingering hop bitterness, Pils malts, and a dry Pilsner finish.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this. This is super quaffable and would make a great Spring or Summer brew. The Saaz and Amarillo hops play off the subtle white tea flavors, and the beer works. I think the base could stand out a little more, but I'm not sure how you'd go about integrating that....I don't get the hate for this beer. It's just a well-crafted, above-average Pilsner. Food pairings: meats with peanut sauces (think chicken satay with peanut sauce), grilled chicken, sushi, white fish, pizza, white pasta, fish tacos, pork tacos. Good stuff.

Random Thought: I hate Sunday nights.

New Glarus Two Women Lager

Brewed By: New Glarus Brewing Company in New Glarus, Wisconsin

Purchased: 12oz bottle bought at Woodman's in Kenosha, WI; 2013

Style/ABV: German Pilsener, 5.0% 

Reported IBUs: ?

More New Glarus? Yup. About New Glarus:

New Glarus is the rare, gorgeous "Midwest" brewery, founded in 1993 by Deborah Carey, the first woman to found and operate a brewery in the United States. She raised the capital for the start-up as a gift to her husband, Dan Carey, who is New Glarus' brewmaster and co-owner. Dan Carey has a long history working in the brewing industry, including an apprenticeship at a brewery near Munich, Germany and a job as the Production Supervisor for Anheuser-Busch. The brewery began as an abandoned warehouse using old brewpub equipment. In 1997, Dan Carey purchased coper kettles from a brewery in Germany. In May 2006, New Glarus opened their new (current) facility on a hilltop in the village of New Glarus. The facility looks like a Bavarian village, and is gorgeous. The expansion has allowed the brewery to continue to increase their production, and expand their operations. For more information, check out their brewery page or Wikipedia. 

The Two Women Lager is probably a nod to the kind-of-ugly but kind-of-hot women Packers fans you find all over the fabulous state of Wisconsin. Two might be even better than one, or maybe not. In the beer's description, New Glarus references women brewers of days gone by as this beer's inspiration, including Sumerian women, Viking Women, and European Ale Wives, but I'm still going with that conflicting cheese head threesome. I need to reinforce sexist e-stereotypes while alienating a potential woman audience. This collaboration brew (New Glarus Brewing and Weyermann Malting) is described as being a classic "country Lager" brewed with floor malted Bohemian malt (Google that shit) and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops. Some people would dub this beer a German Pilsner or Pilsener if you like Bohemian grammatical dick wizardry. 

New Glarus Two Women Lager

This beer pours darker than I was expecting. The body is a dark amber/caramel color, and the beer kicks up a finger or two of amber-tinted head. The body is transparent, and large carbonation bubbles stream upwards. In bright light, the beer takes on a dark gold/bronze color. Head retention is good, and there is some lacing. 

The aroma is reminiscent of a Pilsner, though I'm getting some additional hop kick and some Lager-yeast-spice. Maybe I'm just blinded by cognitive Christmas bias, but I'm getting some floral hops in here that remind me of pine, evergreen, and juniper. There's also a biscuit/grain character on the nose, and some Lager-yeast spice. Honey/sweet as well.

The taste mirrors the nose, with sweet malts, honey, and some nice evergreen/juniper hops. This is sweet, with the malts/honey almost hitting grape, apple, and saffron. The water has a little bite, and the beer is nicely attenuated.

So personal preference here...I like my Pilsners a bit more bready, dry, and less sweet. This is a rustic beer, and lives up to its "country lager" name. It's not bad, and the sweetness is not cloying. To me, it tastes about par the course. Palate depth is okay, complexity is okay. This is light-bodied with good carbonation, but for my preference it's a bit sweet. You get sweet malts up front with a crisp hop bite and some fruits; that rolls into some grain and more sweet malts, there's a kiss of hops/fruit; the back end trails off with some hops and sweet malts, and it finishes sweet and dry.

Rating: Average (3.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Light Average on this. Like the women of Wisconsin, there's an allure, but it's buried beneath a cheese head hat and an extra 45 pounds. Sure, it's cheap and easy, but the aftermath is a little too sweet and sticky. Also, fuck the Packers. Food pairings: a rustic beer calls for rustic chicken and potatoes, or any countryside dish. This beer also seems like it would pair well with all the Swiss food you can get in New Glarus. I don't hate this beer, but I'd only seek it out in a mix pack, and not as a solo venture.

Random Thought: I think that just about does it for tonight. Four down...many more to go.