Victory Announces Two New Brands As Second Brewery Nears Completion
Things are looking up for Victory Brewing Company. Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet’s 1996-founded Pennsylvania operation is currently the 26th largest craft brewery in the nation, and expansion is underway. That’s good news for drinkers, because it means the introduction of new labels and the return of old favorites to the Victory lineup.
A second facility in Parkesburg, PA, about 15 miles west of the original Downingtown location, is nearing completion. The new brewery will have the capacity to produce 10 different 200-barrel batches each day and will also house a 50,000-sq-ft. distribution center. There’s a built-in catwalk for easy tours, in addition to a glass wall facing the street, so passersby and visitors can always take a peek inside. Check out a very cool video timelapse of the construction below.
This October, look for two new Victory beers on the shelf. DirtWolf Double IPA is an 8.7% ABV brew made with whole flower, American-grown hops — Citra, Chinook, Simcoe and Mosaic all make their way into the beer. It will replace Hop Wallop in the lineup, a beer Covaleski describes as having been developed 10 years ago “in response to the hop-bomb vogue of the time.” With a backbone from two-row German malt, the DirtWolf is described as “wildly assertive and intentionally untamed.” Look for it in 12-oz. four-packs and on draft.
Winter Cheers is the other new addition coming this fall. It’s a fruity and warming 6.7% ABV wheat ale, made with German wheat and barley, oats and torrified wheat (wheat that’s been heated to break its cell structure — it adds extra body and head). Whole flower hops are also used here, this time Tettnang and Citra, and the flavors of the brew are described as “spicy banana, clove and citrus.” Six-packs of 12-oz. bottles and kegs will begin showing up in October.
Barleywine fans will also herald the return of Old Horizontal, an 11% ABV brew that will easily put you into the position of its name. It’s been off the market since 2010, but this time will return in 22-oz. bomber. Look for it in November.
