Following on the heels of Lakefront Brewing’s “Pumpkin Lager” is their other fall lager offering – “Oktoberfest”.
Commercial Description:
This traditional lager is brewed with generous amounts of Munich malt, giving it a wonderful orange hue with a rocky, off-white head. Light Continue Reading →
Tapping Friday , October 1st is Terrapin’s newest seasonal – Pumpkinfest.
Quick Description:
Brewed with a mix of Vienna and Munich malts, and Vanguard and Hallertau hops. Spike Buckhowski (Head Brewer/ Co-founder) chose these particular hops, because they have a more bitter Continue Reading →
It’s marzen season. Fall is technically here, and thus it’s malty lagers follow with it. There is an oktoberfest/marzen beer that is a stands out each year. It’s a big one, which is nothing new to Avery Continue Reading →
Fashionably late to the party is Harpoon Octoberfest. First brewed by the Boston, Massachusetts brewer in 1990, this fall lager has been brewed for 20 years this year.
Commerical Description:
The character and complexity of Harpoon Octoberfest comes from the malt and hops. Continue Reading →
Making it’s seasonal fall return is Victory Brewing’s Festbier (Downingtown, PA). Festbier an all German ingredient fall lager that won a gold medal at GABF in 2007.
Commercial Description:
Seductively smooth, this medium-bodied amber beauty is akin to the great Oktoberfest Continue Reading →
So many hit at once, I thought I would just combine them into a post. Fall seasonals are hitting the stores almost daily. Over the past week a some of the more well known Oktoberfests have arrived.
Oktoberfest is also known as Marzen. Beer and refrigeration actually have an intimate history. Brewing of beer, and preserving of beer has greatly improved since refrigeration. Prior to the ability to refrigerate, brewing had to be suspended during the warmer months, because the beer would spoil in the heat. ( Cold inhibits bacterial growth.) More often than not, March was the last feasible month to brew (Marzen=March.) They were stored underground or in some form of cold storage until fall — Sept/October. Also, these versions had a higher alcohol content to keep over time. Fest beers are typically darker, malty, not as hoppy as IPA’s and some pales.
After a five year hiatus, Spoetzl Brewing based in Shiner, Texas has brought back Shiner Octoberfest. It has appeared once before as “Shiner 96th Anniversary” a one time release by Spoetzl to countdown to their 100th anniversary. Starting in 2010, Continue Reading →
Following on the heels of Lakefront Brewing’s “Pumpkin Lager” is their other fall lager offering – “Oktoberfest”.
Commercial Description: This traditional lager is brewed with generous amounts of Munich malt, giving it a wonderful orange hue with a rocky, off-white head. Light hop aromas balance out a slightly floral nose from the German lager yeast. Balanced hop bitterness offsets the substantial malt body, while the lager yeast adds a subtlety of flavor that makes this a great rendition of a German classic. Prost!
Taste Expectations: Malty of course – sweet caramel malts. You’ll also pick up a little bread & biscuit. A good solid American marzen.
Food Pairings: German food! Sausages and pretzels, buttery spaetzle or creamy soups.
Tapping Friday , October 1st is Terrapin’s newest seasonal – Pumpkinfest.
Quick Description:
Brewed with a mix of Vienna and Munich malts, and Vanguard and Hallertau hops. Spike Buckhowski (Head Brewer/ Co-founder) chose these particular hops, because they have a more bitter character and less aroma. In addition to these malts/hops, Spike whipped up a whirlpool of spices, including ginger, allspice, and ground clove. (Starting to sound like pumpkin pie?) The spices are heated, but not boiled. Boiling the spices raises the potential for unwanted flavors to enter into the brew. The coup de grace of this fest ale is the 1 lb of pumpkin used per barrel.
6.1% ABV
Taco Mac Metropolis – 10/1/10, 6pm
933 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
It’s marzen season. Fall is technically here, and thus it’s malty lagers follow with it. There is an oktoberfest/marzen beer that is a stands out each year. It’s a big one, which is nothing new to Avery Brewing (Boulder, Colorado). This aggressive beer bears the name “The Kaiser”. This is no 5% lager.
Commerical Description: The Kaiser sonce said, “Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world.” If the Kaiser and his significant other had tipped this bottle, we’d all be “sprechenden Deutsch!” We took all that is good in a traditional Oktoberfest – gorgeous, deep copper sheen, massive malty backbone and spicy, floral, pungent noble hops – then intensified each into this, an Imperial Oktoberfest.
Taste Expectations: Sweet toasty bready malts. Caramel malts, slight twinge of brown sugar. Nice and grainy too. Dark fruits, slight hint of raisin. It’s 10%, but the alcohol doesn’t make a star appearance.
Fashionably late to the party is Harpoon Octoberfest. First brewed by the Boston, Massachusetts brewer in 1990, this fall lager has been brewed for 20 years this year.
Commerical Description: The character and complexity of Harpoon Octoberfest comes from the malt and hops.When looking at a freshly poured Harpoon Octoberfest, you will notice the garnet-red color with a firm, creamy head.The beer’s color is from a blend of Munich, chocolate, and pale malt.The thick head results in part from wheat malt added to the grist.The hop aroma of this beer is not overpowering but it is present.Tettnang hops add a subtle spice nose that blends with the malt character.This beer is full-bodied, smooth, and malty.Willamettehops are used to provide a gentle bitterness and to balance any residual sweetness present from the malt.The finish is soft and malty with a mild bitterness.
Beer Rundown:
Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
Taste Expectations: Toasty malts. Caramel. Bread. Finishes with a nice hop bitter finish.
Making it’s seasonal fall return is Victory Brewing’s Festbier (Downingtown, PA). Festbier an all German ingredient fall lager that won a gold medal at GABF in 2007.
Commercial Description: Seductively smooth, this medium-bodied amber beauty is akin to the great Oktoberfest beers of Munich. All German malts and whole flower European hops make this lager true to style.
Beer Rundown: Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen Hops: German Whole Flower Malts: 2 Row German Pilsner, Munich, & Vienna
Availability: 12oz/6pks. Draft. Seasonal – Septemeber – November
So many hit at once, I thought I would just combine them into a post. Fall seasonals are hitting the stores almost daily. Over the past week a some of the more well known Oktoberfests have arrived. Oktoberfest is also known as Marzen. Beer and refrigeration actually have an intimate history. Brewing of beer, and preserving of beer has greatly improved since refrigeration. Prior to the ability to refrigerate, brewing had to be suspended during the warmer months, because the beer would spoil in the heat. ( Cold inhibits bacterial growth.) More often than not, March was the last feasible month to brew (Marzen=March.) They were stored underground or in some form of cold storage until fall — Sept/October. Also, these versions had a higher alcohol content to keep over time. Fest beers are typically darker, malty, not as hoppy as IPA’s and some pales.
Here’s a rundown of the new releases:
Red Brick – Octbeerfest. 5.7% ABV. 2010 marks first bottling run of this beer. Here’s my writeup on it. –> Red Brick Octobeerfest
Weihenstephaner – Festbier. 5.8% ABV, Bready, and sweet. Malty and light bodied. Very drinkable. Freising, Germany
Shiner – Oktoberfest. 2nd time this has been released by Spoetzl Brewing. First time under the label Shiner Oktoberfest. Here’s my earlier article on this beer. Shiner – Octoberfest
Ayinger – October Fest-Marzen. 5.8% ABV. Bready, malty German lager. Aying, Germany
Brooklyn – Octoberfest. 5.5% ABV. Slightly hoppy, slightly fruit. Coppery and malty. Brooklyn, NY
Bell’s Octoberfest – 5.5% ABV. Very clean, and light bodied. Caramel and light malts. Slightly sweet. Kalamazoo, MI
Left Hand – Oktoberfest. 6% ABV. Toffee, sweet malt. Hints of coffee and roasted malt. Longmont, CO
Leinenkugel’s – Oktoberfest. 5.1% ABV. Caramel & toffee. Hint of lemony hops. Chippewa Falls, WI
Sam Adams – Octoberfest. 5.4% ABV. Sweet and malty. Hint of caramel. Tastes like a maltier version of their lager. Boston, MA
After a five year hiatus, Spoetzl Brewing based in Shiner, Texas has brought back Shiner Octoberfest. It has appeared once before as “Shiner 96th Anniversary” a one time release by Spoetzl to countdown to their 100th anniversary. Starting in 2010, you will see Oktoberfest join the seasonal Shiner lineup.
Beer Rundown:
Hops: Hallertau, Hersbrucker
Malts: Caramel, German 2 Row, Munich
Taste Expectations The initial rich malty aroma and sweetness fades to a moderately dry, hoppy finish.
Food Pairings: meaty dishes like sausage and roasted chicken, fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta with white sauces and seafood.
Following on the heels of Lakefront Brewing’s “Pumpkin Lager” is their other fall lager offering – “Oktoberfest”.
