Brewtopia Events
www.ClassicCityBrew.com

Oktoberfest Beer
Tasting Comments

Owen Ogletree (director of Brewtopia Events) gathered together some of his fellow beer lovers at Athens' Burntstone Brewhouse to sample and comment on several commercial beers.  This beer sampling was done as a blind tasting where no one was aware of the brand that was being served each time.  Beers were informally judged and ranked according to American Homebrewers Association (AHA) style guidelines.  This sampling was conducted in October of 1999.  Drop Owen an email to share your comments and opinions.

Beers provided by FIVE POINTS BOTTLE SHOP, 1655 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA, 706-543-6989.
Stop by FIVE POINTS BOTTLE soon to check out one of the best beer selections around!

Brewtopia Events

Commercial Beers -- Blind Tasting Comments...

More beer destinations on our Brewtopia Events webpage...

  
 
Behold the Oktoberfest tasting crew!  (LtoR):  Kerri Allen, Pasha Sovourin, Joanne Maki, Mark King, Owen Ogletree, and Lari Cowgill.  We'd like to thank Burntstone Brewhouse for hosting us!

Each beer was ranked with an informal score of 1-10.
(10 - a fresh, perfect beer for its style / 1 - a beer that is completely not to style)

Style Description

Marzen/Oktoberfest -- These lagers are characterized by a medium body and broad range of color.  Oktoberfests can range from golden to reddish brown.  Sweet or toasty maltiness should dominate slightly over a clean hop bitterness.  Malt character should be toasted rather than strongly caramel.  Hop aroma and flavor should be low but notable.  Fruity esters are minimal, if perceived at all.  Diacetyl (butterscotch flavors) and chill haze should not be perceived.

Smoked "Marzen" (Bamberg-style Rauchbier) -- Made with malt dried over a beechwood fire and has smoky characters (balanced with malt and hops) prevalent in aroma and flavor.

Ayinger
Score: 8.  Nice color / malty aroma / slightly fruity and buttery? / rich and malty flavor, but maybe too much caramel / well balanced with hops / could be more toasty / very clean / good mouthfeel / one judge gave it a personal "9" / a pleasant beer.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
Score: 9.  Clear, nice color / great German, malty, hoppy aroma / good thick mouthfeel / toasty and malty / good use of floral noble hops / slightly fruity? / well balanced / clean, full, rich, and wonderful.

Pete's Oktoberfest
Score: 5.  Aroma is somewhat lacking / nice color / fruity, overhopped / phenol, band-aid, plastic hints in flavor / medium to light in mouthfeel / one person said there was not enough hops / toasty / some slight "off" flavor.

Sam Adams October Fest
Score: 4.  Butter-like aroma / color is great / insipid caramel flavor / somewhat bland and winey / thin mouthfeel / corny aroma / a bit too fruity.

Schlenkerla Smoked Marzen
Score: 5.  Very dark color / very smoky / tastes like a Hickory Farms ham / woody, liquid smoke flavor / tasted over-smoked to some / one taster gave it a very high score / entire aroma is smoky / not too well balanced / flavor has hints of sesame and toast / would be great with smoked meats.

Spaten Octoberfest Ur-Marzen
Score: 5.  Smells malty, but a bit metallic / color is well within range / smells like a German lager / medium mouthfeel / somewhat thin and light / not very malty or toasty in flavors / hop bitterness is apparent / sulfur flavors / not rich enough / slightly sweet and fruity.

 


Beers provided by FIVE POINTS BOTTLE SHOP, 1655 S. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA, 706-543-6989.
Stop by FIVE POINTS BOTTLE soon to check out one of the best beer selections around!

 
© 1999 Brewtopia Events
www.ClassicCityBrew.com
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