Thursday, December 31, 2009

Yakima Twilight Ale, Victory Brewing Co., Downington, PA

Victory Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania is a good brewery with a very solid lineup. Their harvest/winter seasonal, the Yakima Twilight Ale, is definitely worthy of discussion.

The brewers are using only hops from Yakima Valley in the state of Washington, which is one of the most productive areas for hops in the U.S. The theory is that they are using the very last of the hop harvest for the year. Cool concept...

Most hop-centric beers seem to go with an IPA or a pale ale style, as those types of beers can really showcase the hop flavors. Victory is instead making a strong ale with very prominent malt flavors including a very aggressive, high-alcohol sweetness. Can this combination of hops and extra-sugary, toasted malt turn into something special?

Sadly, not for me. The high ABV of 8.9% and the sticky, caramel-like sweetness failed to compliment the hop bitterness. There are definitely interesting flavors, including a very nice fresh citrus from the hops, but they all seem to exist as separate elements of the beer, rather than combining to make an overall positive experience.

Rating = 2.5

Great concept, and I was initially thrilled to try something that was highly hopped but not an IPA, but overall a so-so beer.

1 comment:

Sybraspace said...

Not really sweet tasting to me which is good. I like some bitterness in the higher apv ales. Twilight is outstanding IMO. In terms of sweet, Dog Fish Head 90 minute is too sweet but good in a different way