Victory Hop Ranch

Yeah the Victory beers that disappeared make quite the list:
Hop Ranch
St. Boisterous
St. Victorious
Old Horizontal
Yakima Glory
Hop Wallop
Helios

sure I’m forgetting some

 

It is really crazy, my brother in law worked there when the buyout happened and I wonder how much the buyout contributed to where they are now or if it was inevitable with where the market was going…

He still has one oak horizontal left, and every holiday we say we’re gonna drink it then we back out. Maybe this year we won’t chicken out…

Oh and I’ll add Headwaters, anyone else want to play? Fortunately I think this one still gets brewed for the taproom but I’m not sure.

 

Yeah I forgot Headwaters. I liked that one. I think a store by me still has one Oak Horizontal on the singles/big bottles shelf. I almost bought it for the barleywine tasting last winter.

 

Such a shame. I remember when Victory came out with Dirt Wolf and Hop Ranch, which seems so long ago. HR was the definite winner between the 2, but I do remember the hops dropping off rather quickly.

Really dug Hop Wallop and then it was gone.

 

Do it...

Oh and remember last year they brought back storm king, I just put my last one in the fridge actually.

This year they didn't bring it back, or if they plan to it hasn't been shared yet, instead they brewed Dark Thunder Storm King; which now has coffee and coconut...and such is life.

 

Headwaters was really tasty and oddly enough I was just thinking about this one a few days ago.

How about Baltic Thunder?
That Red Thunder was pretty tasty too.

 

Still see plenty of Storm King around. I did get some last year. Love that beer.

 

Harvest Ale, Moonglow, do they still do Java Cask? I would take their discontinued list alone over the majority of brewers current portfolios today.

 

I don’t think I’ve seen Java cask in a while either. I remember harvest being quite tasty too. And on that last point 100%, I really wish more breweries would bring back old beers from time to time, as limited distribution beer. I know some do but it’s not nearly enough of them.

 

I loved both of those; Red Thunder seemed like a totally unique beer and I went through a few bottles.

There was a Harvest Pils which I believe was draft only, and it was a favorite of mine. Java Cask had a rye version. I think it was only offered once at the initial release, and I preferred it over the standard.

V-Twelve and V-Saison were two that are missed, especially the former, although I think its still offered on tap occasionally. Usually at Thanksgiving I'd have a bottle of it while watching football or movies.

Whirlwind Witbier. Is that still brewed?

Ages ago they made a dark lager that I recall enjoying.

As for Hop Ranch, I know I had it back then but just don't remember much. Weird considering the other stuff I do recall.

 

This is turning into quite the list, completely forgot about v-12

 

Gross

 

This list is a monument to average-ness, or maybe former greatness.

I see Whirlwind Witbier is currently on tap at Parkesburg.

 

I miss their bocks & Old Horizontal the most.
I'm a European Barleywine fan, but the OH was a yearly tradition.
I'd get hammered off the stuff, which usually took only 3 to catch a buzz.
I really miss the original Golden Monkey recipe when it was 11%.
It tasted so much better then.
I bought a half barrel and it lasted all winter.
Good times.

 

Maybe Victory is doing some distribution contraction like a lot of other regional and National brewers. I do see Prima occasionally but it’s much less common. Could just be the small handful of stores I frequent as well.

 

I really liked Home Grown, my favorite lager/pilsener--it disappeared rather quickly.

 

Harvest ale
Vital
Moonglow
Hop Wallop, original version
Helios, original with Brett
Swing session saison……I really enjoyed this one
Donneybrook
Mad kings , wish it came in 12oz
Wild Devil
Altbier
Brett Dixon was a nice draft only
Otto
Otto in oak
Moxie session, huge hoppy apricot IPA at under 5%
Midlands stout

A lot of these and many other D’Town beers came through Earth and Bread. So many winners these guys used to make. Prima is a new recipe now, still a good beer but almost never see it. Hop Devil is a shell of itself. Used to be a spicy earthy hop bomb. Last time I had it it was a thin and sweet.

These days I prefer a Yards offering over most Victory.

I keep seeing the Storm King from last year sitting. I hope to see a fresh batch soon.


Enjoy

 

I have to disagree with you here. A few weeks ago I purchased a six-pack of Hop Devil (Best By Jan 01 23) and those beers are very tasty; not the least bit "thin and sweet".

Storm King ages great. I purchased a case last year and I still have over half of those bottles left. I hope to drink the very last bottle four years from now.

Cheers!
.

 

Jack,

that’s good news. I will need to revisit Hop Devil. I last had one almost two years ago. It was from a can.

You are correct about Storm King. Just wanting to get a fresh case if possible. It’s a really nice beer.


Enjoy

 

I would very strongly advise you to check the dates and ideally the beer will be at least 3 months from the best by date. Hoppy beers like Hop Devil are best enjoyed fresh.

Do you know for a fact that Victory will re-brew distributed Storm King this year? I purposefully purchased a case last year (I rarely buy beer by the case anymore) since I figured it might be many years before Victory would produce Storm King again (if at all).

Cheers!