Victory Otto Ale, a new bottled conditioned Belgian offering from the Downingtown, PA brewer has arrived. The idea to brew this beer was born out of a trip to Bamberg, Germany that Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet took. They combined a caramelly sweet dubbel with flavors of a smokey rauch beer and Otto was born.
“The complimentary flavors of smoked malt and Belgian yeast seemed like an obvious combination,” said Bill. “As far as we know, no one has bothered to put them together until now.”
Label:
In 1987, when we arrived in Bamberg, Germany for the first time, St. Otto was not there to greet two thirsty travelers in a rented Fiat. He’d been dead for 848 years but we were alive, and our recent visit to the Belgian brewery of Orval only fanned the flames of our desire for fermented pleasures. The smoked malt (‘rauch’) beers of this lovely town where St. Otto was once Bishop were our siren song, luring us into deep, exotic flavors that we never before imagined in beer. Three decades later we wondered what smoked malt might add to a Belgian-style dubbel ale. Here is it, an Otto revival of sorts. We hope it helps rejuvenate some of our brain cells that were martyred in Bamberg so long ago. — The Brewmasters of Victory
Style: Belgian dubbel
Hops: German
Malts: Munich, Caramel
Yeast: Trappist
Taste Expectations: Sweet malt followed by a smokey flavor. Fruit Belgian yeast shines in the finish. Caramel, raisins, dark fruits. Lots of flavors to sort out.
Availability: 750ml bottles, corked & caged. 1 time release. (For now)
8.1% ABV
As an Otto myself, I agree.