Review – Victory Old Horizontal

From Victory Brewing – A luxurious, warming barleywine rich with aromatic hops and dark, candied fruit character that hides its epic strength masterfully.

Victory Brewing – Victory Old Horizontal- Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a room temperature pilsner glass. – 10.5% abv

Appearance
Amber color with hints of reds, oranges and light browns. Tiny carbonation bubbles line the sides of the glass and form a thick crown of suds on top of the glass.
Aroma
Dried dark fruits and sweet bananas up front, typical of a quality barleywine. This is followed by a rich, nearly overwhelming flowery hop fragrance.

Taste
Fruits, nuts and sweet caramel or buttery toffee notes initially, with a bitter finish. Some savory yeasty bread characteristics are also present but are definitely overshadowed.

Mouthfeel
A little dry for your average barleywine with a good alcohol presence. Left my mouth feeling sticky and warm.

Overall
Being a big fan of barleywines, Victory did not disappoint. Old Horizontal, although I have had it a few times in the past, always makes for a very interesting and enjoyable brew. I love the fact that the high alcohol does not show itself too boldly, although in my opinion this is not a session beer. It always seems like just the right amount for me.