Ultimate Oktoberfest
Founders Brewing Company

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium to dark golden orange with a quarter finger white head that dissipates to a thin cap with nice lacing. Aroma of caramel and bready malt, light stone fruit, bourbon and some oaky vanilla. Flavor follows, with caramel malt, bourbon, light stone fruit, woody oak and vanilla; light bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Well, the idea of a turbo boosted marzen is a bit strange, being associated with session style drinking in Octoberfest, but it turned out OK. The profile really reminds me of a wheatwine, except the malt is clearly the more robust barley based. There is that fruity, vanilla character I associate with wheatwines. There is all good caramel marzen style flavors. The bourbon is a clear note, but not intrusive. An interesting envelope pushing take on the marzen; turned out much like I expected it to. I enjoyed it.

 

A: crystal clear; copper colored; 1 finger finely pored very light tan head that receded to a wispy cap with nice rings of lace;

S: malt first, then vanilla and bourbon;

T: vanilla and bourbon from start to finish;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation;moderately dry finish;

O: an interesting take on the style; the BBA is dominant and overwhelms the base beer;

 

From the bottle, it pours a clear amber color with a modest, short lasting light tan head that soon reduces to a thin layer and small ring. The nose gets bourbon scents and alcohol. The mouth follows with a bourbon flavored alcoholic malt flavored brew.

 

 

 

Don't really remember this beer and as good a rating as I gave it, I thought I should remember it. I love barrel-aged and Oktoberfest beers so this should be a no-brainer.

 

 

Poured into a mug from a six-month-old 12-oz bottle.

Look: Not quite crystal-clear amber with a massive off-white head showing good retention. Nice lacing.

Nose: Rich malt with slight alcohol.

Attack: Follows the nose very closely, with an increased emphasis on the alcohol.

Finish: The alcohol lingers; slight hop bitterness to balance.

Mouthfeel: Medium and smooth, adequate carbonation.

Overall: This is, I think, the first Märzen “sipper” I’ve ever tasted, and as such, comparing it sip for sip to other Oktoberfest beers is akin to bringing a bazooka to a knife fight (!). If I’m looking for a session Oktoberfest to pound one after another, this isn’t what I want. But if — as is often — I want an Oktoberfest sipper to slowly and gradually enjoy, … well, … nobody does this better than Founders!

 

Glad I've saved a number of these for colder weather, they fit the bill much more this way. Tons of vanilla and malt character with minor backing notes of bourbon and oak. This basically tastes like a vanilla bourbon caramel malt lager with some extra body. Missing some complexity for a BA beer, but what it does, it does well. Very nice addition amongst some big stouts on a cold day. It doesn't really fit into the Oktoberfest profile on its own, but now approaching December during a cold snap it is quite welcome

 

 

Poured into a goblet: color is amber, clear, head is light tan and presents fine bubbles, head dissipates quickly to thin ring.

Smell is light vanilla and bourbon, light toasted malt, aroma is light on first pour.

Taste is barrel and bourbon forward - vanilla, oak, bourbon, then light malt notes of toast and touch of caramel, any notable hoppiness is lost in the strength and barrel notes.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, lower bitterness.

Overall an interesting brew with moderate marzen like notes and stronger barrel character.

 

 

12 ounce bottle, bottled 07.10.24, thanks to Brutaltruth for this! Served in a dimpled mug, the beer pours a mostly clear amber color with about an inch off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. The brew smells like bready malt, vanilla, bourbon, and caramel. Taste is similar to the aroma, but with the addition of some oakiness. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's slick and smooth with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a good overall brew, worth a try if you like amped up Oktoberfest beers.