The Brewery: Victory Brewing Co. (Downington, PA)
The Brew: Old Horizontal (American Barleywine)
Availability: Bottles & Draft
ABV: 11.0%
Rating: 9.3/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center
The Story? After a couple years off, Victory's Old Horizontal has returned to much acclaim. This was one of my gateway barleywines towards the end of my overzealousness with IPAs. Last year, I was lucky enough to get a half-growler of their 2009 batch from our friends at Fingerlakes Beverage Center, which was literally one of the best beers I'd ever enjoyed up to that point. Let's see how this fresh new batch measures up.
The Beer? Old Horizontal pours out with a plentiful, lively manila head over a deep, reddish-amber body. Surprisingly lively for an 11%. Firm hop aromas follow up.
Burly, powerful, and hardy, this sipper is packed full of boozy goodness, but goes down silky smooth. Creamy flavors of dark fruit, caramel, and toffee are immediately apparent, with subtler notes of bitter hops, chocolate, and a touch of spice heat arrive on the follow through. A bit chewy further through. Tougher than the elegance I remember from the aged version, but still very delectable.
Overall, a solid, mediu-body barleywine with extra points for how well this one ages.
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