Festbier
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

FestbierFestbier
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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #278
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,035
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 12.81%
Reviews:
861
Ratings:
2,116
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 24, 2024
Added:
Sep 12, 2002
Wants:
  39
Gots:
  279
Gather with friends, grab a boot of Festbier, and with a slap of the foam, let the festivities begin. Crafted with an authentic German recipe, this Marzen-Style Lager is a perfect balance of subtly sweet and refreshingly smooth.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by rdrummer:
Photo of rdrummer
Reviewed by rdrummer from New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is not my favorite Victory brew, but it is very drinkable. It is light amber color with a small off-white head. The aroma is one of the barley malt and a kicker of hops. The taste is pretty much the same. By comparison with the good German Fest beers, this is not quite there. In contrast to the Spaten brews and the like, this is superior. It is a pretty thick feeling beer but is very drinkable. It goes down very smoothly leading to drinking more than one.
Mar 28, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of SheepWBY
Rated by SheepWBY

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
tasty
Jan 24, 2024
 
Rated: 3.65 by kraut6363 from Pennsylvania

Nov 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.3 by Jcreason569 from Washington

Nov 11, 2023
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.95/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
BOTTLE:

File this under the "bready and sweet" subsection of festbiere. Too sugary and hefty on the palate for one to desire to drink it by the litrekrüg at a festival, but it's not an undrinkable brew in its own right.

Not Victory's strongest work. Note to self: just buy Prima Pils next time.

High C / AVERAGE
Oct 16, 2023
Photo of edthehead
Reviewed by edthehead from Maryland

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber brown appearance with a fast fleeting fizzy white head and no lacing. Bread, caramel, brown sugar notes. Very light carbonation, light body, watery finish.
Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.43 by TheIPAHunter from California

Oct 13, 2023
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Living in Chicagoland for 50 of 70 years, I haven't paid enough attention to Victory. While not drinking only a few of their brews, their top innovation to me is Artisanal Ventures created to strengthen brand marketing in the Northeast for Victory, Southern Tier and Six Point. While brand and distribution are the key to growth for brewers over two decades old, Ventures also can be seen an alternative business strategy for micros and regionals to increase in value so they don't need to be bought by big brand managers who dominate distribution. Anyhow, I hope this model works out for Artisanal Ventures so independents can grow larger than mere micros. Hence, the considerable Overall Hugs for Victory and Artisanal, the sixth largest Independent.

As for Festbier, it follows a familiar O-Fest formula. No surprises here. Looks amber, Smells malty, Tastes balanced and makes for a medium Mouthfeel. Is Victory's marzen distinguished from the crowd? Probably not. I drank Festbier next to a top U.S. Marzen, Staghorn, and one regional definitely produces better lagers... but then, I'm biased. Prost !
Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.69 by Eychung from New York

Sep 21, 2023
 
Rated: 2.25 by bkwagie

Sep 05, 2023
Photo of lbfgs
Reviewed by lbfgs

1.68/5  rDev -54.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
This beer tastes markedly better when ice-cold. It is way too hoppy for a lager. It surprises me that the brewery considers it an “authentic German-style lager”.
Aug 30, 2023
Photo of TwilightBeerCareer
Reviewed by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

3.71/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Copper colored pour, with an off white head that dissipated rather quickly. Aroma of bread, caramel sweetness, and earthy hops. Tastes followed the nose, but less sweet than I thought it would be, which is a plus. Nice balance of malts and hops, easy drinking and smooth.
Aug 12, 2023
Photo of Braunmeister_1943
Rated by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania

3.56/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
On tap at a friend’s party. This was served too cold but once it warmed up it was quite pleasant.
Dec 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.6 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Dec 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.67 by alexsergio from New York

Nov 09, 2022
Photo of sjmalikjr
Rated by sjmalikjr from Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -45.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Tasted flat, can't compare to Hacker Pschorr
Oct 30, 2022
Photo of MarkieT
Rated by MarkieT from Kentucky

1.3/5  rDev -64.6%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1
Been looking for a really good Oktoberfest beer. This ain't it!!! My first sip and i thought someone farted in my mouth!!! Terrible!!!
Oct 13, 2022
Photo of ANIMOUL
Reviewed by ANIMOUL from Vermont

3.67/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle; no birth date. Pours beautiful caramel brown with intial one finger of head; rapidly recedes. Tastes of sweet caramel notes with subtle chocolate (?). A bit boozy tasting, especially given the lowish ABV. Not bad.
Sep 18, 2022
Photo of Blogjackets
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio

4.02/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A lovely copper orange body with a fluffy head. Despite light lacing, an attractive beer.

Nose is a wonderful nutty toasted malt with hints of caramel sweetness.

Taste substantially follows nose with a lesser malt nuttiness and a rise in sweetness. Nothing too sweet but just a toasted malt sweetness

Good mouth feel and carbonation makes this one, as intended, an easy drinker.
Sep 11, 2022
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As promised, I have updated my review after having a fresh sample. My ratings have markedly improved.

Consumed/Reviewed on: 27 Sep, 2022

1.5 x 12-oz Bottle
Best By: Jan, 2023
Glass: 0.5 L Fest Mug
Serving Temp: 53.1 F


Look:
Deep, dark, and rich copper that is nice and clear. Tons of bubbles rising to the surface. Initial head is 2-3 fingers of cream to light-tan foam that is quite creamy in appearance. This slowly shrinks to 1 finger, leaving very good lacing along the glass.

Smell:
All kinds of dark bread and toasted grains including some pumpernickel here and there. The hops provide a nice spicy note to the nose that complements the bready malts nicely, almost like baking spices. The nose has a sense of dryness about it as well. Some of what I smell does come across as faint cocoa powder.

Taste:
Pretty much the same as the nose. Tons of somewhat sweet bready malts start things off along with a touch of nuts. The some dry chocolate/cocoa drifts by followed by a fairly decent dose of spicy and earthy hops. The sip dries a bit and finishes slightly dry, malty (imagine!), and warmly spicy.

Feel:
Smooth, a bit soft, and almost creamy. The body is a solid medium.

Overall:
A pretty nice and a solid American Märzen. Very malty (and boldy so) but not too sweet. This is a good beer for a crisp fall day/evening. Or even a rainy one.


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Consumed/Reviewed on: 15 Aug, 2022

1.5 x 12-oz Bottle
Best By: 14-Jan-2022
Glass: 0.5 L Fest Mug
Serving Temp:


Look:
Cloudy/Murky dark burnished copper with a finger-and-a half off-beige colored head. The head slowly dissipates to a very thin cover. OK lacing. The beer is dark enough to pass for a light brown.

Smell:
Toasted grains and toasted wheat bread with a toffee or light caramel note. I swear that I can pick up light milk chocolate notes.

Taste:
Same as the nose with the addition of a very mild grassy hop note in the background. Definitely a malt-fest.

Feel:
Smooth and almost creamy. Body is medium with a lean to the full side.

Overall:
A nice fall or rainy-day beer. Uncomplicated and drinks well. It definitely leans to the maltier side of Märzens. The light (milk) chocolate notes are interesting and not expected for a Märzen but they are fine. In some respects this beer reminds me of a good but low ABV Bock or even Dopppelbock.

This sample is a year old and is 7 months past its best-by date. I will re-review with 2022 sample(s) when I obtain them.
Aug 16, 2022
Festbier from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 2116 ratings