I’ve got an ABNormal Homebrewers club meeting tonight, so I wanted something a little bit light before going to the meeting to try some barleywines. In all honesty, I didn’t have a while lot of hope for this one, it just happened to be one of the few Oktoberfest beers in the mix-a-six area, so I grabbed it.
It was crystal clear and amber in color when I poured it in the glass. The head was very thick and creamy with some pretty amazing retention. There was a malty aroma, as well as a little bit a malty-like plastic/stale smell.
It had a pretty light body, and the mouthfeel was initially creamy from thick head, but then it became a bit crisp, with a little bit of carbonation tingle up front. The finish had a bit of a lager-type flavor with a light sharpness to it, and there was a little bit of malty caramel in aftertaste.
As far as a food pairing goes, I would recommend some BBQ pork, as the caramel flavors would complement the sauce, and the pork wouldn’t necessarily a heavy bodied beer.
It was better than I was expecting, and was a crisp, drinkable version of the Marzen style. There was just the right amount of caramel maltiness to it. The creamy head definitely added to the enjoyment, but the lager-like sharpness and carbonation detracted from it slightly. While I certainly feel like I should be drinking a German Oktoberfest Marzen, overall, this was a decent version of the style.
My Rating: 
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