Review Date 7/7/2017
Try?
Re-buy?
Hey there, Victory Brewing Company of Downingtown, PA! What’s up with the new beers lately? As a longtime fan who visited your brewery in the mid-90s soon after you opened and smuggled cases of Hop Devil back to Rhode Island, I’m offering some constructive criticism in an open and positive way. First off, the Victory Kirsch Gose I imbibed not so long ago was less than impressive, to be blunt. What’s more it was served in an 11-ounce glass at Taco Mac rather than a full mug serving, which means you’re probably selling it in quarter barrels. Or smaller.
Anyway, here I am a few weeks later drinking Victory Blackboard Series #5 – Cream Ale with Cold Brew Coffee, again at Taco Mac and again in a 11-ounce glass. What’s up with that?
From your website:
We’re
excited to announce we’ll be bringing back the Blackboard Series for 2017!
First up for the year is Blackboard #5 – Cream Ale with Cold Brew Coffee.
Fragrant coffee aromas surface from this smooth cream ale. Cold-Brewed
coffee adds rich, roasty notes to this medium-bodied and effervescent brew.
Malt: Pilsner, CaraFoam
Hops: Tettnang Tettnang
Victory Blackboard Series #5 – Cream Ale with Cold Brew Coffee isn’t a particularly strong beer at 6.5% by volume. For my $5 I wanted a full mug, though, and it’s really high in bottles at $13.99 a six-pack.
Anyway, my glass of Victory Blackboard Series #5 – Cream Ale with Cold Brew Coffee arrived a hazy orange color with a thick creamy head and solid coffee grind aroma in the nose. Taking a sip, I got a smooth malty cream ale body, light and drinkable and infused with robust coffee flavor and aroma. The finish is balanced by the coffee I think, no hops are jumping out at me.
I think the coffee comes through OK here played against a soft malty cream Ale, but to be frank it did not bowl me over either. I would give this 3 ½ stars based on its own merits with a full star off for the short pour and high price in bottles.
Not a beer I would buy again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
