Victory Seasonal 6Pk

Victory Seasonal 6Pk is a rotating six-pack of 12 oz bottles from Victory Brewing Company, featuring Belgian-inspired seasonal ales that change throughout the year. The current winter release, Merry Monkey, is a 9.5% ABV Belgian-style holiday ale built on the brewery's acclaimed Golden Monkey tripel base and enhanced with cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Quick Facts: ABV: Varies by season (Merry Monkey: 9.5%)  |  Origin: Downingtown, Pennsylvania  |  Style: Rotating Belgian-Inspired Seasonal Ales  |  Brewery: Victory Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Victory Brewing Company was founded in 1996 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, by childhood friends Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet. The brewery has earned a trio of Great American Beer Festival medals, including two gold medals, establishing its credentials across multiple styles. Merry Monkey, the current seasonal release, starts with Victory's Golden Monkey tripel recipe — brewed with Pilsner and roasted malted barley, hopped with Cascade and Tettnang varieties to 35 IBU — then layers on holiday spices and fruit additions. The seasonal 6-pack program rotates different expressions throughout the year, each reflecting the character of its season while drawing on Victory's Belgian brewing expertise.

Tasting Notes (Merry Monkey — Winter Seasonal)

Aroma: Deep amber in the glass with creamy foam. The nose opens with Belgian yeast-driven clove and banana before giving way to bright orange zest and tart cranberry.

Taste: The entry is malt-forward with cracker-like grain sweetness that quickly meets a wave of holiday spice — cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove layered over the tripel's fruity core. Mid-palate transitions from cranberry tartness to warming cinnamon, with peachy and citrus undertones adding complexity. A mild residual sweetness keeps the 9.5% ABV from feeling heavy.

Finish: Moderately dry with a spicy, crisp close. Lingering bitterness balances the fruit and spice, leaving a clean, slightly warming impression.

How to Drink Victory Seasonal

Merry Monkey drinks best poured into a tulip glass or goblet at around 45–50°F, allowing the Belgian yeast character and spice aromatics to open up fully. Given its 9.5% ABV and layered spice profile, sipping it slowly and at a measured pace is recommended.

• Holiday Beer Cocktail (Spiced Shandy): Combine with ginger beer and a cinnamon stick — the ale's existing spice profile amplifies the ginger warmth.
• Belgian Beer Mimosa: A splash of fresh-squeezed orange juice bridges naturally with Merry Monkey's orange peel notes for a festive brunch serve.
• Hot Toddy Hybrid: Gently warm a few ounces and add a touch of honey — the cranberry and nutmeg character creates a warming winter sipper.

Best For

• Bringing to a holiday dinner party as a conversation-starting seasonal beer
• Belgian ale enthusiasts exploring spiced and seasonal variants
• Gifting to a craft beer fan during the winter months
• Pairing with a Thanksgiving or Christmas feast spread

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Victory Merry Monkey taste like? Merry Monkey delivers a Belgian tripel backbone of cracker malt and banana-clove yeast character, layered with cranberry tartness, orange zest, cinnamon, and nutmeg that finishes dry and moderately spicy.

How does Merry Monkey compare to Golden Monkey? Golden Monkey is Victory's year-round Belgian-style tripel, while Merry Monkey uses the same base beer and adds holiday-oriented ingredients — cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon, and nutmeg — making it spicier, fruitier, and more seasonally specific than its parent beer.

Is Victory Seasonal good for craft beer beginners? The rotating seasonals tend to be full-flavored and higher in alcohol (Merry Monkey sits at 9.5% ABV), so they lean toward experienced craft drinkers rather than those new to the category.

Where is Victory Seasonal made? Victory Seasonal beers are brewed by Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia in Chester County.

What foods pair well with Merry Monkey? Roasted turkey or glazed ham complements the ale's warming spices; sharp aged cheddar plays off its malty sweetness; cranberry sauce mirrors the beer's own cranberry addition; gingerbread or spice cake echoes the cinnamon-nutmeg profile; and roasted root vegetables like sweet potatoes balance its fruity-spicy complexity.

What sizes does Victory Seasonal come in? The standard format is a 6-pack of 12 oz bottles, which is the most widely available configuration for this rotating seasonal release.

Is Victory Seasonal worth the price? Victory Seasonal positions in the mid-range craft beer tier, and the rotating format delivers variety and seasonal relevance that justify a modest premium over Victory's year-round lineup — particularly for limited winter and holiday releases like Merry Monkey.

Why Victory Seasonal?

The Victory Seasonal 6Pk offers something increasingly rare in craft beer: a curated, rotating window into a respected brewery's creative range. With Merry Monkey as the current winter release, drinkers get the proven backbone of Golden Monkey — a GABF gold medal-winning tripel — reimagined with holiday spices and fruit. The 35 IBU bittering keeps the cranberry and cinnamon from veering into dessert territory, maintaining the drinkability that has earned Victory its strong reputation. For anyone who values seasonal intention and Belgian-rooted brewing skill, this six-pack delivers a focused, well-executed expression of the holiday season.