Victory Brewing (2020)

Back in the day they were pretty popular. So many more “exciting” local places now but I remember 10-20 years ago being excited for many of their beers.

 

Victory Storm King Stout was one of the top rated beers on this site about 15 years ago. There weren't many other beers like it at the time. Drinking that beer was exciting and a revelation.

 

My brother in law still has a six pack of storm king in his basement couple years old now. I think I’m taking half of it next time I’m there. Pretty pumped since it has been so long since I’ve had it.

 

And now for can't buy it packaged (bottles).

Non-cheers to the demise of distributed Storm King!!

 

I believe Prima Pils has continued be the No. 1 rated Pilsner on BA.

 

Jack, you're right that it's not bottled and distributed right now, but its been brought back on draft as winter seasonal this year for the second year in a row. Moving the existing canning line from P'burg (a newer higher capacity line is going to be installed) to D'town bodes well for the likelihood that Stormy may be canned in the future. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

Me too!

FWIW I still have one lonely bottle of Storm King in my basement from a case I purchased 5 years ago. If Victory ever decides to bottle Storm King again I will buy another case of it.

Cheers!

 

@JackHorzempa we drank an almost 10 year old bottle last summer. It still tastes amazing, no oxidation (or at least detectable to me) or anything. Just tons of flavor.

 

Victory publishes a 5 year best by date for Storm King (on the top of my case box it states: "ENJOY BY 02 NOV 2020"). It was my intention to drink this last bottle in November but maybe I will age it longer (if I have the willpower)?

Cheers!

 

The times they are a-changin'. I think Storm King could be successful as a packaged winter seasonal, if Victory decides to go that route.

That reminds me, I still need to try the reformulated Prima. Although, in my opinion, their Braumeister Pils is a tier above.

 

It is the most rated Pilsner but it is sitting at number 8 on the ‘quality’ rankings:

“8 Prima Pils

Victory Brewing Company – Downingtown”

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/top-styles/41/

Cheers!

 

#8 still isn't too shabby for a beer that's been in fairly wide circulation for 20+ years. Braumeister is ranked #10, FWIW. Interesting that both Hill Farmstead and Suarez have 2 pilsners in the top 10.

As for Classic "Easy Drinkin'" Lager v. Helles Lager...last year Prima was tweaked a bit, as others have noted.

I suspect Ron and Bill (as if I'm on a first name basis with them!) decided to tweak Helles and rebrand it. Probably easier to rebrand Helles since it is nowhere near as popular as Prima (but no less beloved by many people). Can't say that's a horrible approach to rebrand it. Either way, I'm looking forward to trying Classic American Lager once it hits shelves near me.

 

I wish they had 12 pack cans of prima locally, or pints. We’ve been conditioned to think the standard size is 16 oz by now in terms of cans. I’m pretty fine with that for a drinking beer. All I ever find is six pack bottles. Maybe classic will be marketed more in that fashion.

 

I’m hoping Classic hits the 15 pack format

 

Not sure where in NJ you are, but last summer-ish Somervile Super Saver had 12pack cans of Prima Pils.

 

Agree with @JackHorzempa here, Sly Fox helles has always been my favorite local helles brewed, add to that the 360 can lid and it's a win win.

 

Victory was the brewery that got me into craft beer, but alas, I totally echo your sentiments. Ten years ago, it was my go-to brewery, and I got excited for almost every seasonal and special release. There were so many diverse styles that they executed so well (St. Victorious, St. Boisterous, and Baltic Thunder are three that come to mind). Under the radar styles that didn't generate buzz, but were just really well-done. Anyone remember Red Thunder (Baltic Thunder aged in Red Wine Barrels)? It really seemed like they didn't follow any trends back then. For instance, they never released a pumpkin ale when that style had its day in the sun.

I agree with another BA's comment that it is technically a different company now. Because it IS a different company, and it shows. It's very clear they have chased the hazy IPA and fruited sour trends, which is a shame because it's not really what they do well. Cloud Walker is a below average example of the style. I haven't been a fan of any new Victory beers since Dirtwolf and Hop Ranch.

 

It’s also a very different time in beer though. There really was no trend 10 years ago, there wasn’t style chasing like now. I feel like it was just let’s make good beer in a variety of styles. Then it wasn’t cool to drink victory and the likes cause they were big craft. So then you get them being forced to change it up to survive in this market. I long for the day when people get tired of adjuncted stouts and fruit tasting like ipas. It’ll happen at some point...right? And hey this victory thread is still going on so that’s a start.

 

Oh, yes. I shudder to think what I would spend if they brought that back.

 

I never got this “chasing styles” brand of marketing or, more importantly I guess, brewing. Shouldn’t setting the trend be more important than following it? Or, at the very least, bucking it? Instead you have 800 different breweries all brewing the same type of beer.