On NFL Fantasy Draft night, I reached for a cigar and a bottle of VB and headed out to the back porch. Despite the fact that my team is average at best, I managed to enjoy my night. VB, or more officially Victoria Bitter, is a tasty bitter lager from Melbourne, Australia. It is sold in awesome 375mL stubby bottles and checks in at 4.6%.
VB pours a clear, yellowish amber colour. There is a moderate amount of head and lace though not a lot of carbonation. It features a malty aroma that offers the promise of hops. The taste is fairly nicely balanced, if perhaps a touch sweet. The name suggests bitterness, and there is some, but it isn't the main focus. It has a coppery finish. The brew has almost a ginger ale quality and is a great sessionional-it is tasty and drinkable with only a moderate amount of alcohol.
I do have a problem with VB that bears mentioning. It is sold in a hateful soft plastic excuse for a six-pack--more like a garbage bag than a proper beer vessel. This brew comes in great, even iconic, stubby bottles and it has a great looking label. Why on earth would they insist on selling it in an inconvenient and unattractive sack?
Ridiculous packaging notwithstanding, this is a pretty good beer. It is definitely worth trying or, for those of you who have already tried it, worth revisiting. It isn't world class, but it is solid enough.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
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