Pretzel Bier
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

 

 

Within a Spaten dimpled mug resides this gem clear, reddish copper beer (SRM 15-17). Drifting above is one and a half inches of creamy, light beige head. The head lingers for a while before settling to a thick blanket as it leaves a curtain of fine lace behind.

The aroma has strong caramelized malt, quickly followed by wheat bread, molasses, and sweet alcohol. Faint smoke from a smouldering campfire may or may not actually be present.

The flavor is dominated by malt up front. The malt has a light roast, while soft pretzel flavors come across later. The pretzel flavor is actually more similar to pretzel roll than actual pretzel. I was unable to detect any salt. The finish is long and malty.

The texture is creamy smooth and the body is full. Alcohol is significantly below expectations. The carbonation is soft and does nothing to relieve residual sugar that builds on the lips.

This is a pleasant, malty beer that is much like a high alcohol Marzen with notes of Dopplebock. I expect this one would be better with a snack or Charcuterie board.

Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a very dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of bready malts. Taste follows the aroma, there is a touch of salt present. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall it ain't bad, but I was expecting some pretzel element to it.

16oz can courtesy of @jzeilinger
Poured into a Crux willi becher

P pours a beautiful deep claret/garnet color; 2-3f light khaki head; good retention; heavy lace
N med nose of bready/grainy malt w/ a slight candied note, floral/earthy character, and some yeasty esters as well
T lots of toasted malt throughout, dotted with a sea salt tang; some dry earthy/herbal bitterness in the finish; marzen-esque; pleasant
Mf med to med-full bodied; satisfying; med carb level
O I dig this one- simple, yet well-executed, and satisfying; a nice drinker for sure

Review date: 10.26.25
Can date: not captured

Look: It pours brown and is clear with a tan head. it has excellent head retention.

Smell: It has strong doughy aromas with some dark bread notes. The are some very light salty notes.

Taste: There are strong doughy elements in the flavor with a touch of chocolate. There are also some carmel elements with some salt. There are other lightly spice elements in the backgrounds.

Feel: It has a medium body with a bitter and salty finish.

Overall: I don't know about being pretzel like, but it is a different drinking beer with plenty of flavors.

 

 

Pours a muddy brown color with honey edges and a finger of head. The nose has notes of salt and crusty bread. The most prominent falvor note is sourdough. There is a sweetness upfront followed by a nice bitterness

 

 

Poured from a 16oz can into a nonic pint glass. Color is mahogany with a slight red tint and a thin, tan head which dissipates rather quickly. Aroma is of dark bread, not so much pretzel. Taste follows nose with little to no sea salt flavoring. Light carbonation. Kind of reminds me of a Marzen Oktoberfest. Overall, not a bad beer, just doesn't deliver on either the pretzel or sea salt.

Pours a dark amber. Thin foam. Malty aroma. Beat make body. Sweeter than it should be. I don't taste the sea salt. It doesn't really taste very toasted. It's good but it's not as advertised.

Ass. Straight sugar water.

Nice dark amber appearance with a very thin but lasting head.
Medium light carbonation with about a medium body which added up to a nice feel.
Aroma is malty doughy bread with salty soft pretzel.
Taste is malt,malty doughy bread along with salty pretzel .
It delivers on flavor and was a flavorful interesting beer thats totally worth trying

 

Modest head which settles to rim bubbles. Some minor streaks and spots initially. The liquid is deep, brown (light does pass through the center).

All malt and no hop nose. Darker toast aroma with a semisweet molasses background.

Similar to a Doppelbock, alcohol is present and gives the body a bit of an oily feel. There's good carbonation, but this is a rich beer. Plenty of darker malt character. Ever so slightly sweet, there's no bitter counterbalance. This leads to a shorter (but boozy) aftertaste.

This is a great drinkable beer.

Tastes like a good malty oktoberfest full of caramel malt loaded with salty pretzel taste.

Body is light to midweight, low to medium carbonation and relatively smooth.

This is a great drinkable brew with well hidden alcohol.

(16 oz can, best by DEC 25 24; purchased cold 4 pack... poured into a Tubinger mug)

L: burgundy-colored liquid with a pinkish-tan foam, tight and creamy in its build... the head drops rather quick, but maintains a messy cap and thick collar

S: brown bread crust with a hint of toasty spice (like mustard seed), doppelbock-like dark caramel malt undertone... subtly smoky up through the backs of the nostrils after a long stretch between sips

T: dark caramely malt, roundness and redolence tamped down by earthy hop and toasted wood/flour flavors... aftertaste is decidedly dark hard pretzel (crust) with a subtle salinity and faint raisiny sweetness... later on: fairly dry, with vague Jager-like herbal bitterness and dark sugar tones

F: medium-bodied but with a softened, static attack from the robust roasty toast (char, acidity)... dry dry dry; virtually no residual oily/syrupy leavings

O: strange but satisfying beer drawing elements from Alt and Doppelbock... it's clearly more of an Alt (at its base) to me than an Amber/Red, but the soft saline tail is its defining difference... pretty nice on its own, won't overwhelm any foods (2384)