Otto (Victory Brewing, Downingtown, PA)

Picked up a bottle of Otto at the Blue Max on the way home from getting my car worked on.  No idea what it was--my trust in Victory was enough to pick up something new.  There was a very detailed explanation on the bottle why it was named Otto, but I didn't write it down and didn't find it on the Victory site.  Victory calls the beer a smoked malt dubbel.

Brown ale swirled with amber highlights with a dirty tan head that falls to a film.  Significant but not overpowering smoke in the nose on top of caramel and sweet malt.  There's an earthy spice blended neatly with the smoke.  Assertive Aecht Schlenkerla-like smokiness in the taste, but more subtle.  Lager-like smooth for a bottle conditioned ale.  Earthy spice of the nose comes out more in the taste, but the mouthfeel thins out as it warms.  Very good rauchbier, especially if you want it a bit towards the lighter but still unmistakable range of smokiness. 

Overall, I thought it was a good bottle and a great introduction to a smoked beer.  BA reviews seem a bit lower than my experience, but the warmed thinness and off-centered style may have foiled expectations.

Headwater Pale Ale (Victory Brewing, Downingtown, PA)

Back lit, the beer is a clear, straw gold with a lingering white head. Biscuity malt with an earthy spice for the nose. A little research pulled up a note from Lew Bryson that it's Citra/Centennial hops as the American hops. Caramel and sweet on the tongue with a slight tang from the hop bite on the back of the tongue. Bitterness from the Citra lingers and builds further into the beer. I like the beer more as I go--better than the initial taste. Named for the local waters that supply the brewery, this is a good strong pale ale that is on par with all of Victory’s offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011