Victory Variety 12Pk

Victory Variety 12Pk is a mixed 12-pack of Belgian-style ales from Victory Brewing Company, featuring Golden Monkey, Sour Monkey, and Berry Monkey at 9.5% ABV each. Golden Monkey alone holds a 95 rating on RateBeer, making this sampler a strong introduction to one of Pennsylvania's most respected craft breweries.

Quick Facts: ABV: 9.5% (all three varieties)  |  Origin: Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA  |  Style: Belgian-Style Ales  |  Brewery: Victory Brewing Company (est. 1996)

Production & Heritage

Victory Brewing Company was founded in 1996 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and brews on a 50-barrel ROLEC brewhouse — a German-manufactured automated system with energy recovery technology. The brewery maintains over 30 distinct yeast strains, each selected to impart specific character to individual styles, and uses a proprietary HopVic system designed to maximize extraction from whole-flower hops. The Monkey series showcases Victory's expertise with Belgian yeast strains, each variant pushing the same base concept in a different flavor direction while holding steady at a robust 9.5% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Golden Monkey: The nose opens with prominent Belgian yeast character — banana and clove lead, followed by hints of orange peel. On the palate, expect layered fruity sweetness: banana, citrus, and stone fruit give way to an underlying maltiness with touches of honey and caramel. The finish is warming and moderately dry, with lingering spice and a deceptive smoothness given the 9.5% ABV.

Sour Monkey: Bright acidity dominates the aroma, carrying green apple and lemon peel into the first sip. The palate balances sweet maltiness against sharp, citrus-laden tang with light tropical fruit undertones. The finish is tart and clean, refreshing despite the higher alcohol content.

Berry Monkey: This variant layers berry fruit onto the Belgian tripel framework, adding a jammy sweetness that rounds out the Monkey trio's range from malty to sour to fruited.

How to Drink the Victory Monkey Varieties

All three Monkey beers are best served chilled in a tulip glass or Belgian goblet, which concentrates the aromatic yeast esters and fruit character. Golden Monkey pairs well with the classic Belgian tradition of drinking tripels alongside rich dishes, while Sour Monkey's acidity makes it a natural standalone sipper on warm days. Berry Monkey's fruit-forward profile works as an approachable entry point for drinkers new to Belgian-style ales.

Best For

• Introducing friends to high-ABV Belgian-style craft ales
• Hosting a beer tasting flight at home with built-in variety
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian yeast character
• Stocking a cooler for a gathering where different palates need different options

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Victory Variety 12Pk taste like? The pack spans three distinct flavor profiles: Golden Monkey delivers banana, clove, and caramel sweetness typical of a Belgian tripel; Sour Monkey brings sharp green-apple and lemon-peel acidity; Berry Monkey adds a fruit-forward, jammy dimension to the Belgian base.

How does Golden Monkey compare to other Belgian-style tripels? Golden Monkey holds a 95 on RateBeer and an 82 on BeerAdvocate, positioning it as a well-regarded American-brewed tripel that leans into fruity yeast esters and malt sweetness rather than the drier, more hop-forward approach taken by some Belgian-style competitors.

Is the Victory Variety 12Pk good for beginners? The variety format works well for exploration, though all three beers sit at 9.5% ABV — significantly stronger than most mainstream lagers — so newcomers should pace accordingly and expect bold, complex flavors.

Where is the Victory Variety 12Pk made? All three Monkey beers are brewed by Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, approximately 35 miles west of Philadelphia, using a German-engineered 50-barrel ROLEC brewhouse.

What foods pair well with the Victory Monkey beers? Golden Monkey pairs naturally with mussels in cream sauce or aged Gouda, where the malty sweetness complements richness. Sour Monkey's acidity cuts through fatty charcuterie or fried chicken. Berry Monkey matches well with soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or with fruit-based desserts like berry tarts.

What sizes does the Victory Variety 12Pk come in? The standard format is a 12-pack containing a mix of Golden Monkey, Sour Monkey, and Berry Monkey.

Is the Victory Variety 12Pk worth the price? At 9.5% ABV across all three styles, the Monkey Mixer positions as a premium craft variety pack — each beer delivers complexity and strength well above standard mixed packs, and Golden Monkey's 95 RateBeer score reinforces the quality credentials of the lineup.

Why Victory Variety 12Pk?

Victory Brewing's Monkey series has earned genuine respect among craft beer drinkers for translating Belgian brewing traditions through an American lens, and this 12-pack distills that reputation into a single purchase. The brewery's use of over 30 proprietary yeast strains gives each variant an authentic Belgian character that mass-market "Belgian-style" labels rarely achieve. Golden Monkey's 95 RateBeer rating anchors the pack with a proven flagship, while Sour Monkey (89 on BeerAdvocate) and Berry Monkey extend the range into tart and fruited territory. For anyone looking to explore what a single American craft brewery can do with Belgian yeast at 9.5% ABV, this pack makes the case efficiently.