Oktoberfest (2018)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

My very good friend Jon Passow sent this a bottle of this to me in a birthday beer package, so I've had a bottle of this sitting in my fridge for awhile now. This one came from the brewery in California for sure. Poured out of a 12 oz. bottle into one of my mugs, this beer pours a clear, medium amber/copper color with a more than a few streams of little bubbles fairly rapidly and continuously rising to the beer's surface. Has a white head that's initially an inch thick when first poured that eventually settles to a very thick ring lining the inside of the glass and a nice, thick surface coating of foam. Aromas of some bready, slighted toasted malts with some caramel sweetness, lager yeast, some herbal and light fruit notes, and a slight earthy hop notes. The taste is pretty much the same, with somewhat bready, slightly toasted caramel malt sweetness that's followed by some yeastyness along with some herbal notes and just a bit of fruit such as plum and banana, and just a hint of peppery spice that's rounded out with a slight touch of earthy hops that adds just a hint of bitterness. Not the most complex flavor profile I've had in a beer by any means, but just so damn tasty. Everything is excellently balanced here. Has a slightly crisp, mainly smooth and frothy, slightly creamy, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with light to moderate carbonation. Has a clean finish and aftertaste. A very excellent beer here.

Eric

RB transfer

 

(review from August 2018) Excellently well balanced but lighter & less caramely Ofest that's exceptionally clean on the palate but still has just enuf heft to satisfy

This is a Great Tasting German beer that is not too heavy or filling. Very good flavor with a hint of spice and bread/cereal malt base. Hops are mild, the way they should be in a German beer. A friend gave me a bottle to try, and I think I'm going to see if I can find some to buy my own. 20 IBUs Rated 11-17-2018

This is from my notes from before. We always get the Sierra Nevada annual Oktoberfests when they're available since they're always excellent.

Gold, creamy off white head, some lace. Aroma is richly bready with some herb. Taste simiar, nice sweetness an bitterness, balanced, with a full feel. Perhaps more bready and malty than other years' versions.

Bottle from Brewers Haven. Deep, rich golden color, one finger foamy head, fades to nothing. Deep grainy aroma, hints of butterscotch. Taste is full, bready, minor yeast notes, caramel, coupled with a creamy feel. Lingering sweetness at the finish.

 

 

 

 

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours orange red with a tiny white head. Smells of sweet caramelized grain, inviting. Tastes of sweet caramel malt with some vanilla notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.