Earth & Flame
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Earth & FlameEarth & Flame
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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
11.7%
Score:
93
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 8.39%
Reviews:
39
Ratings:
173
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 12, 2018
Added:
Nov 17, 2014
Wants:
  26
Gots:
  48
Earth & Flame was forged from the friendship of Victory Brewing Company and Earth – Bread + Brewery's Tom Baker. Together we collaborated on a Wee Heavy that was intended for aging in Heaven Hill used bourbon barrels. The beer was aged for ~6 months before extraction. Brewed to drink now or cellar for several years.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gutbuster:
Photo of gutbuster
Rated by gutbuster from Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Feb 24, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.45 by Csjacko from Pennsylvania

Sep 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by Nunya from Ohio

Dec 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Sep 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by archero from Texas

Sep 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by calcnerd from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by socon67 from New York

May 29, 2016
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

4.01/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
"Earth & Flame was forged from the friendship of Victory Brewing Company and Earth - Bread + Brewery. With our shared passion for dark flavorful ales, we saw a great opportunity to collaborate on a Scotch-style Ale. Savor the rich flavors that emerge from the dark depths of this limited edition brew. With hints of sweet winter desserts and dark fruits, peat smoked malts and fine bourbon barrel aging smooth the intensity of this complex ale." Brewed in the style of a Scotch Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels. Available in 750ml. bottles and on limited draft.

Poured from a 750ml. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a pale tan tone over a moderately hazy medium brown body with ample sediment and carbonation. Retention is good and lacing is light and spotty. 3.75

(Smell) Rich, caramelized bread malts, molasses and rich fruit syrups, lightly smoked with soft peat character. Dark, viscous fruits and red grapes with a touch of sourness. Delicate bourbon and oak overtones with soft vanilla and toasted oak. Very complex and enjoyable aroma. Potency is moderate. 4

(Taste) Toasted bread and lightly caramelized syrup malts met with fruit sugars, molasses for a rich malt profile, not overly sweet. More peat and smoke flavor than in the aroma, not overdone but ever-present, blends well with the bourbon barrel treatment, gentle vanilla and wet, delicate toasted oak tannins. Fruit subtleties of plum, fig and dark raisins with a gentle tartness. Finishes smooth with afterthoughts of roasted grain pairing nicely with the peat and smoked malt flavors. 4

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, smooth, lightly chewy, medium dry. Carbonation is modest, generating a medium frothiness and a lightly crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is nearly even sweet to smoky, toasted grain and tang. Alcohol presence is light and there are no off characters. 4.25

(Overall) Scotch Ales are always a personal treat as not too many breweries venture into this beer style, but the few who give it some extra love always are rewarded with rich and complex ales. Throw it in a bourbon barrel and the end result is always welcome by me. Very enjoyable beer, quite complex with a great balance of sweet malts with smoky, peat and bourbon characters. Very smooth throughout with nothing that would hamper drinkability. Deceptively drinkable whilst clocking in shy under 12% ABV, it would be hard to tell. It's a filling beer by style and a good one to share, but a rewarding experience. 4

Victory Brewing Company's
Earth & Flame Bourbon Barrel Aged Smoked Scotch Style Ale
4.01/5.00
May 06, 2016
 
Rated: 2.94 by BcOneSeven from Michigan

May 02, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by dsshuck from Delaware

Mar 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.7 by BigMike from Pennsylvania

Mar 02, 2016
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

2.77/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Scotchy soda.

That's what we got from this, straight up.

Fizzy caramel sweetness, with dark soda contributions that are not as spicy as Coke, but not quite as sweet as Pepsi. Following the soda is an enveloping scotch ale flavor, in addition to a Scotch whiskey undertone.
Feb 06, 2016
Photo of JJKBeerLvr
Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22oz bottle into pint glass in January 2016. Bottled date of November 2014 on the bottle, so it was drank about 14 months after bottling.

Appearance: Deep red with light tan head. Beer is clear and very carbonated. Head is thin, and leaves only a thin film/lacing on the glass.

Smell: Aroma filled with mix of roasted malt, sweet caramel, and some hops. Also typical Scotch Ale aromas. Nice variety and balance.

Taste: There is a nice mix of sweetness from the malt and bite from the alcohol. There is a very slight hops flavor. There is a nice soft caramel flavors, balancing the hops. There is a little alcohol bite as well. This was done in a nice combination with the other flavors. There is a nice variety of flavors in the aftertaste too.

Mouthfeel: Full-bodied. Strong alcohol level, which confirms the 11.7% on the bottle.

This is a smooth full-bodied Scotch Ale, and one of the best I have tasted. It is an interesting combination of flavors.
Jan 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.04 by BeerBeast from Florida

Jan 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by kwgduke from Pennsylvania

Jan 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Furley80 from Pennsylvania

Dec 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.58 by Anatole from Belgium

Dec 04, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by Silentasknight from Pennsylvania

Nov 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by oline73 from Maryland

Oct 31, 2015
 
Rated: 2.86 by rden4654 from Ohio

Oct 21, 2015
Earth & Flame from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 173 ratings