Why we picked it: This is a winter beer that we have not tried in past 24 DoB.
About Victory's Winter Cheers: Winter weather may drive us indoors but cannot dampen our spirits when hearth, home and hops meet in jubilation. Hoisted high in its golden glory, Winter Cheers lives up to its name, fueling festive times and chasing winter’s chill. Glowing and glimmering, frothy and shimmering, our celebratory wheat ale features luscious fruity and spicy notes, making it a perfect brew to brighten spirits even on the deepest of nights.
Light in body, this fruity and warming holiday brew delivers a crisp finish, with spicy hints of banana, clove and citrus.
Food Pairings: Cheese and seafood
Beer Advocate Score: 82
ABV: 6.7%
Malt: German wheat and barley malts, and oats
Hops: Whole flower Tettnang and Citra hops
Case Cost: $39
*website: http://www.victorybeer.com/beers/winter-cheers/
Only 24 comments for day 3, let's pick it up people. Signed - Katy
ReplyDeleteSanta will be good to those that blog.
DeleteBlue Moon with a new label on it....tastes exactly the same to me
ReplyDeleteDamn straight. I think it falls into the category of "bad wheat beer." There are very few good wheat beers in my opinion (Allagash, Dogfish Namaste, and Ommegang come to mind) and lots of bad ones.
DeleteAll Ommegang beers = fantastic
DeleteHad high hopes. Usually a fan of Victory beers (and victory in general). I guess most of my love of Victory comes from the many times I have ordered a highly unnecessary Golden Monkey at the end of the night and it tastes like the greatest beer ever. I should probably admit that on those nights, anything would taste like the greatest beer ever. But I do love me some Hop Devil. Anyway, on to this beer. I was pretty surprised how light it was when I poured it in a glass. Not even sure why I poured it in a glass but that was my first reaction. As I tilted the glass back I got a whiff of something. Surprising and not very pleasant. Tastes like an Allagash White that someone spilled a couple of ounces of Heineken Light in. Not a fan at all. I'm going to go eat a piece of cheese and a lobster and see if that improves the second half but so far, I rank this 4th. One winner, two generics, and one loser. Victory this is not.
ReplyDeletePoured this into a mug. It has a nice golden look to it and poured with a nice head. I'm not getting too much on the nose. I have not even taken my first sip yet and Katy has asked if she can have mine. First sip had me thinking, it's pretty good, nothing special though. Sips two-four = same thought. To me it's a normal wheat beer with a higher ABV. I had higher hopes for this, but seems to come in as average. I would drink this again and in the right setting, but the right setting might not come around too often for this beer. Giving the rest to Katy since she likes it so much. Grade 8 of 10, B-
ReplyDeleteThis is so good! Am I drunk yet? No, I'm just excited. Wheat beers are my favorite and always at the top of my list. I was looking forward to this all day and it did not disappoint. Smells good, looks good in a mug and tastes awesome. Thankful that my husband gave me half of his, and I wish I had another. To all of the other wheat beer haters out there, just bring me yours. Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate.
ReplyDeleteCheck plus plus++ Winter Cheers!
You know how you see a women across the bar and see her baggy clothes? This is the beer. I could not tell if she was skinny in baggy clothes or if she had to wear baggy clothes. As you introduce yourself to her i realize that she is like this beer. A hefer visen. Normally i love hefer's but this beer fell flat for me. All i could think of was the easy triple i got last nite. Craving that beer
ReplyDeleteHonestly not bad. I like wheat beers and although I think Blue Moon is better this wasn't bad for what it is. Its a little more bitter than Blue Moon and has a slight medicinal taste (to me). Sometimes you're just in the mood for a beer not to overwhelm you. Pleasant enough.
ReplyDeleteThey weren't kidding when they said "luscious fruity and spicy notes". I'm not sure that I could drink a lot of this, but it was probably the most interesting/flavorful wheat beer I have had in a while. Solid B.
ReplyDeleteI'm missing what makes up the "celebratory" aspect of this beer. To me it's just a plane ol' wheat beer. It's not bad - I’d drink more of it, but I don't think it's really that seasonal.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I think this was a great pick to be in the 24 DoB lineup - it just makes sense. Wheat beers are not my favorite style, but I do appreciate the execution of this one - I think it is was it's supposed to be and is above average for the style in my experience. Not sure how it's a "winter" or "celabratory" beer, though. And there is something oddly disturbing about the 2 beer glasses on the label - what is going on there?
ReplyDeleteWhen I came back from my run tonight, I thought, "Boy am I thirsty." Then I thought, "24 Days of Beer"--"victory!" Then I saw tonight's beer--another victory? Then I saw it was a wheat beer (I love me some gluten) and it was Downingtown (I grew up nearby). This night is going to kick ass, I surmised. I was giddy when the initial pour brought forth a crisp, clear, golden brew. Good wheat beer, good.
ReplyDeleteBut the victory quickly went sour--almost literally. While definitely a wheat beer this one did nothing to surprise me or leave me wanting to taste another victory. You might even say it gave me a case of the "Winter Blues." The only victory I got tonight was the fact that I don't have to drink another--unless I am abandoned in Downingtown and all the other beer has mysteriously vanished.
I enjoyed this beer. It seemed to have a little twist to it than a traditional wheat beer but it was not overly obvious. I think I would order another.
ReplyDeleteOk looks like I'm in minority but this brew is decent enough. Like yesterdays entry, its nothing flashy but it is a respectable example of what this style of beer is supposed to be. Reminded me more of a Allagash White since it had a but more bite than Blue Moon. My biggest gripe is this wasn't in any way a Winter beer AT ALL. This is the type of beer I'd be knocking back over the grill in 90 degree heat.
ReplyDeleteAnyway this gets a solid B. I'm not a huge fan of Wheat Beers so one of these was enough for me.
Victoryyyyyyyy! B+
ReplyDeleteI had already picked up a chipotle burrito before I saw the food pairing of cheese and seafood. Either way it went good with the burrito too. If I was given this beer without knowing what was, winter beer is not what I would think. It tasted more like a Snapshot from New Belgium that i drank over the summer. Despite not being a winter beer, I could drank a few more and will seek out in the future. A
ReplyDeleteTrying to play catch up on multiple sodas tonight. Kinda sounds like most of my college exp. Anyways - this one let me down. I like wheat beers (mainly in warmer weather) and I've been a big Vicitory fan. That said, this tasted like a crappier version of Hoegarden to me. I mean it was ok, but a little too much spice for my liking. The best part of this beer is the stupid look on LeBrons face as he is getting his poop hole pushed in by the Knicks at MSG. That pretty much has nothing to do with the beer. Screw LeBron
ReplyDeleteI typically am not a fan of wheat beers but I liked this one, at least at first. I liked the initial taste but the after taste was weird. May consider trying more wheat beer after this though.
ReplyDeleteHad very high hopes... love the victory hop devil... not so much this beer... maybe I just hate winter and it's beer
ReplyDeleteI liked it. Found it better than a Blue Moon. Loved the citrusy crispness of it. Wheat beers are not my favorite, but I would definitely have enjoyed a second.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I think all beer is celebratory.
ReplyDeleteThis a post-workout beer, which may help. All in all this is a quality beer with some subtle citrusy hops that works well.
I wouldn't put it in the Namaste or Ommegang category, but it's a very good wheat. Grade: 6.5/10.
Winter wheat...not what you normally think of as a winter brew. I would prefer a Dunkelweizen style for this application. ll that being said I found this beer quite interesting. German style with the lovely banana and clove esthers, pleasant up front, weak on the mid palate, and a nice sourness on the end. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI wont buy this if I see it at the store or at a bar, but I did enjoy drinking it
I like this beer. Nothing too special about it, but a solid Hefe. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get this beer (Hefeweizens aren't my first choice) but if I was at a place that only offered this and Miller/Bud/Coors I would gladly order the Winter Cheers. B+.
ReplyDeleteI liked this quite a bit. Not sure why. I can see the complaints "hefeweizen lite" but for me it's more like a saison lite. A hefeweizen with a bit of spice. My favorite so far.
ReplyDeleteIt is rare that I find a wheat beer that I like, but this was one of those occasions. While I would still rank this beer behind the first 3 beers we had, I would gladly drink this one again.
ReplyDeleteMy assumed I grabbed an olde hoegarden but came to realize this was in fact victory. Agree with the other posts about the seasonal aspect, fraudulent. I really don't like hoes or hefes so I'm glad this one is out of the way.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan - tasted like carbonated sugar. Though I don't think I gave this much of a chance. Went to the store last night - and sure enough there's DC Brau for $10/6pack.
ReplyDeleteDidn't care for it. I've always steered away from beers made with whole flour Tettnang hops. For some reason whenever I drink it my ears start ringing and I get double vision in my left eye. So I guess you can see why I steer away. I did my duty and finished the beer. Aw geez, there goes my ears.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed Victory's Winter Cheers. This beer resonates everything I enjoy about the holidays to include the cheery buzz. I'll sit this bottle aside to find again this month or look forward to it next year.
ReplyDelete