Whirlwind
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Witbier
Ranked #155
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,510
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 12.74%
Reviews:
552
Ratings:
965
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 08, 2022
Added:
Aug 03, 2001
Wants:
  28
Gots:
  76
A steady calm meets a whirlwind of flavor with notes of grapefruit in this crisp citrus wit.

Malt: Pilsner, Wheat
Hops: Tettnang:
Notes: Grapefruit, Orange Peel and Coriander added
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mikesgroove:
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A nice, somewhat hazy, and very bright golden yellow then came out of over me. Very nice carbonation was visible, with the chains of bubbles really just reaching up toward the top throughout the session. There was a good three finger high head of white foam that only very slowly faded away, and even once it was gone there was tons of side glass lace present. Pretty much a very good look for the style, I really thought it looked very nice indeed.

The aroma was somewhat light, but once you let it warm up it started to come out at you a little bit better. Very nice light fruits, hints of banana and apricot, lots of cinnamon and nutmeg really far in the back, with a touch of a pepper like smell as well. The flavor followed suit just the same, with a very nice, light body ale. Tons of carbonation and a really crisp, clean feeling. The first flavor to come over was the light grain, and a touch of yeast, some banana poking around in there as well, with a sparkling quality to it. Nice touch of bitter grapes toward the finish, giving that little bit of a hoppy touch to dry out the finish and get you ready for another sip. Not a hint of alcohol in here what so ever, as this was really solidly put together. I could have kept drinking this one all day long, it was just that good. Really a very nice, high quality ale.
Mar 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.96 by taigor from New York

Sep 08, 2022
 
Rated: 2.99 by Beer_Goblin from New York

Jun 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.83 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Apr 11, 2022
Photo of MrsJenB
Reviewed by MrsJenB

4.99/5  rDev +35.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I bought a bottle that looks different from what is shown here but it was very good. I'm a fan of Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat and this beer is just a tad less brash than that.
Mar 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.12 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 21, 2022
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz brown bottle
Victory Whirlwind Ale poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. A cloudy light-yellow body with a 1-finger white head appeared. The head dissipated quickly. The nose is dominated by citrus [i.e., orange and lemons], wheat malts also noted. The taste is similar to the nose but stronger with very light spices, banana, coriander and yeast. Mouth feel is light to light-medium with a fizzy carbonation.

Whirlwind is easy drinking that is good for a hot summer’s day. I wish it had just a little more spiciness.
Feb 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Bigmoist from West Virginia

Jan 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.4 by Newtobeet345 from Georgia

Nov 10, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by bgillespie from New Jersey

Aug 20, 2021
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours cloudy orange-yellow with an off white head. Head retention is good.

Aroma: It has a flowery type aroma with coriander and orange. There is a hint of honey in the background.

Taste: It is grainy sweet with orange and coriander. The flowery elements are lighter the flavor with a very light tartness and earthly element.

Feel: It has a medium light body with high carbonation.

Overall: An easy drinking flavorable beer.
Jun 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.33 by Danzifer from Ohio

Jun 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.73 by khargro2 from Tennessee

Jun 05, 2021
Photo of BloodSoakedAleMug
Reviewed by BloodSoakedAleMug from New York

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: Pours a cloudy yellow color with a thick one finger head of white foam. Laces the glass well.

Aroma: Floral Coriander, peppery lemon peel, sweet orange sherbet and malted wheat.

Taste: Quite spicy with grapefruit peel and coriander upfront, transitions into a rich flavor of wheat and sweet orange midpalate featuring flavors of honey and nougat in the background. Ends on a clean, slightly spicy noble hop taste which fades out into more notes of sweet malted wheat.

Feel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation.

Overall: Very enjoyable. Coriander level may be abrasive to some.
May 27, 2021
Photo of Jaasoares
Reviewed by Jaasoares from Virginia

3.72/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy straw color with a foamy white head which turns to lacing after a little bit. Citrus on the nose, almost like a shandy. Taste is also shandy-like with big carbonated lemon zest, but also interestingly there's some spice in there, particularly cloves. Interesting and quite light and refreshing.
May 17, 2021
Photo of paddywaggon
Reviewed by paddywaggon from New Jersey

2.15/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Just posted because I didn't see any posts that tasted what I did: a strong aftertaste of cloves. Oops, now that I have read more reviews (not just the higher-rated ones), I see that some of my fellow beer drinkers got hit between the eyes with clove, too. Don't know what I am going to do with the rest of the 6 pack.
May 10, 2021
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Best by 5/1/21

Wits have never really been my thing, but after a few good experiences lately I've found myself wanting to keep on trying more examples of the style. While this one isn't really highly rated, it still seems like one of the "classic" examples of the style, a zone that Victory seems to exist in for the most part aside from their newer experimental releases. Let's dive in

Pours a cloudy pale gold with a finger of white head that quickly fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing

Right off the bat this is pleasing in the nose, giving more of a spicy yeast character than some others. I'm picking up on aromas of coriander, fresh baked bread, white pepper, clove, overripe banana, and orange rind

In taste, it seems a bit muted, even a bit stale on the back end unfortunately. On the front end of the sip I'm tasting fleshy grapefruit, coriander, orange rind, and bready malt. The swallow brings notes of banana, coriander, lemon peel, and a huge slow burn of stale cracker that kinda kills it

A medium body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a super crisp and drinkable beer. Finishes mostly dry despite the staleness

This one was interesting, the taste being the thing that weighs it down the most. I know it's not at the best by date yet, but I can safely say it's past it's freshness. I'll have to revisit it when I find it fresher
Apr 13, 2021
Photo of dkoehler42
Reviewed by dkoehler42 from New York

3.26/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
No hiding the citrus aroma on this Victory Whirlwind citrus wit. The citrus is front and present on the nose in this hazy orange colored ale. I'd prefer a little less tang in the taste, but it's not awful. I could see this being enjoyable in the spring or summer warmth.
Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Taenim from Maine

Mar 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3 by T66tah from Pennsylvania

Feb 15, 2021
Whirlwind from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 965 ratings