Day 497: Victory Otto

For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel. There are only 20 items left on my check list for the big gala on Thursday--down from maybe a few hundred on a 19 page document. The logistical ballet that supports this week of activities has been rehearsed, revised and rehearsed again. At sunrise on Monday, our banners will be hung on the building's facade. My private starter's gun. A sign that the greatest week of my work-year is here. A visual cue to the world to watch out...that we're ready to go and it is going to be amazing.

It seems apt to review a beer from Victory Brewing Company when feeling like this.

Otto is a combination of a caramel-sweet dubbel with flavors of a smokey rauchbier. This one has been lingering in our fridge for awhile. From the research that I did, it appears that Otto was a one-time release from Victory and that happened around July 2011. Has this beer been hanging in my fridge for that long? How is that even possible? 

Anyway, I digress. Otto poured a lovely mahogany color with a thin tan head. It smells like fireplace and malt. It has a smokey flavor with notes of dark, pitted fruit. It's a bit nutty as well and there are hints of caramel in there. The smokiness doesn't let go--even through the finish.

Beer stats

Style: Rauchbier

ABV: 8.1%

IBUs: Unknown

Rating: Great

Previously reviewed from Victory

Mr. Blog Named Brew's thoughts on Otto

Swing reviews by me and him

My review of Hundred Horse Ale and one from the Mr.

Gary's review of Hundred Horses, NATO IPA, and V-12

Here I attempt to drink ALL THE BEERS!

Beer 219: Abracadabra Abraxxxas

Today's beer is the Freigeist Abraxxxas from Gasthaus-Brauerei Braustelle. I'm pretty sure I just mumbled and pointed when I tried to order this one. Lucky for me our waitress was on top of her game and understood my intentions.


It poured a hazy shade of orange with a thick white head. It smelled smoky and of tart citrus. The taste was smoke...almost ash-like in flavor. It was also quite tart, mostly lemon. No funky barnyard and hay that I usually find in a favored berliner weisse.

This is definitely a unique beer...quite unlike anything I've tasted so far in this adventure. Big shout out to TJ's in Paoli for putting it on draught. It's a ballsy move and I like it.

I'll leave you with this thought on Freigeist Abraxxxas. It tastes as if a berliner weisse met a rauchbier and magic happened. Abracadabra indeed.

Cheers!