Helios
Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, United States 🇺🇸
Farmhouse - Saison Rotating|
Score
7.03
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(Re) Introducing Helios Ale. We’ve rebranded and repackaged the former V-Saison and now introduce Helios Ale. This bottle conditioned, Belgian-inspired ale remains the same refreshing ale that you enjoyed as V-Saison, however, in a more approachable, less expensive 22 oz capped bottle. Helios Ale has an earthy, aromatic hop start and shifts into aspects of lemon peel and black pepper. This is a quenching, invigorating ale, despite its substantial strength.
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6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
2009 bottle, 750 ml, as Victory V Saison. Luckily, not a gusher. Healthy pop of a cork, pours dark yellow, with lots of flakes in suspension. Smell is light malt, with those claimed notes of pepper and citrus peel. At five years old, the scent is still good, just not very "big." Taste is just a bit sweet, and there is some taste of dead yeast floating in it. Gets a little syrupy, but not overbearing. Alcohol is there, but creeps up slowly. It has held up its taste pretty well for the style.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Apr 2014
at 20:09
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes. Consumed May 10, 2013.
Pours a somewhat hazy yet clear yellow/golden color and leaves the same colored body with a two finger white foamy head that dies immediately. There is some moderate clingy foamy lacing.
The smell has some strong tones of coriander, black pepper, and grass appear are up front and some light maltiness comes in as more warming occurs with a super light funk.
The taste is spicy yet somewhat malty and funky at the same time - wow, I like this. There is a light lemon in the aftertaste that leads to a dry finish.
On the palate, it sits about a light to medium, comes across fairly sessionable - though I sipped it, one could really pound this if they wanted to. Its pretty smooth all around, big wow - never thought a saison could be this smooth. Carbonation seems spot for me but perhaps a bit under-carbonated for the style.
Overall, the price was $3.50 for a bomber wow, great stuff would definitely have again.
Pours a somewhat hazy yet clear yellow/golden color and leaves the same colored body with a two finger white foamy head that dies immediately. There is some moderate clingy foamy lacing.
The smell has some strong tones of coriander, black pepper, and grass appear are up front and some light maltiness comes in as more warming occurs with a super light funk.
The taste is spicy yet somewhat malty and funky at the same time - wow, I like this. There is a light lemon in the aftertaste that leads to a dry finish.
On the palate, it sits about a light to medium, comes across fairly sessionable - though I sipped it, one could really pound this if they wanted to. Its pretty smooth all around, big wow - never thought a saison could be this smooth. Carbonation seems spot for me but perhaps a bit under-carbonated for the style.
Overall, the price was $3.50 for a bomber wow, great stuff would definitely have again.
Tried
on 27 Feb 2014
at 11:16
8.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, best before 12/26/2013. Pours moderately hazy deep golden amber color with a 2-3 finger dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass. Aromas of big perfumy lemon peel, orange zest, pear, apple, wheat, black pepper, clove, floral, grass, herbal, bread, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big lemon peel, orange zest, pear, apple, wheat, clove, black pepper, herbal, grass, floral, bread, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of lemon zest, light fruits, wheat, pepper, clove, grass, herbal, bread, light funk, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and malt flavors; with a great malt/yeast balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a smooth, crisp, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent saison style! All around great complexity and balance of fruity/spicy yeast and malt flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Dec 2013
at 22:15
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Sample from 650 ml bottle. Clear, golden colour with a thin, white head. Fruity, slightly tart aroma with citrus, limes, yeasts, pale malts and a spicy note. Taste is light sweet. Medium body, average carbonation. Finishes sweet and spicy - coriander. Nice saison.
Tried
from Bottle
on 03 Jul 2013
at 05:10
6.5/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Imported from my RateBeer account as Victory Helios Ale (by Victory Brewing Company (ABV)):
Aroma: 6/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 7/10, Palate: 3/5, Overall: 14/20, MyTotalScore: 3.3/5
22/IV/13 - 1Pt. 6Fl. Oz. bottle @ Rampkrot (Deurne) - BB: n/a (2013-346) Thanks to Travlr for sharing the bottle!
Clear blond beer, irregular off-white head, little stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: yeasty, barnyard, banana, grains, stale bread, bit dusty. MF: ok carbon, light to medium body. Taste: bit sour, bitter, citrus, grapefruit, hay, bit off. Aftertaste: bitter and hoppy, hay, grassy, dry, bit chemical, barn.
Aroma: 6/10, Appearance: 3/5, Taste: 7/10, Palate: 3/5, Overall: 14/20, MyTotalScore: 3.3/5
22/IV/13 - 1Pt. 6Fl. Oz. bottle @ Rampkrot (Deurne) - BB: n/a (2013-346) Thanks to Travlr for sharing the bottle!
Clear blond beer, irregular off-white head, little stable, bit adhesive. Aroma: yeasty, barnyard, banana, grains, stale bread, bit dusty. MF: ok carbon, light to medium body. Taste: bit sour, bitter, citrus, grapefruit, hay, bit off. Aftertaste: bitter and hoppy, hay, grassy, dry, bit chemical, barn.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Apr 2013
at 11:02