Humpback Oktoberfest
Blue Mountain Brewery

 

 

 

Was hoping for an SA Oktoberfest type marzen, but apparently everyone now thinks any beer from the late summer on must have pumpkin hints . . .

All things considered, it's pretty good though, don't let my pumpkin rant detour you from trying it. . .

However if the folks at Blue Mountain used more malts and no pumpkin, this would be outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass.

A: Beautiful soft copper-brown with thin light-tan head and trimmed with lace.

S: More caramel and herbal, leafy hops than in most marzen's but still within the style.

T: The taste is excellent and belies the generous maltload BM puts into their beers. Loads of caramel, Munich, and some crystal malt is balanced with herbal, earthy hops with extra sharpness. The sweetness does lend a bock-y character with some of the toffee-butter notes present.

M: Spritzy carbonation that's not overdone and soft feel that's pleasant enough with a sweetish aftertaste.

D: Yet another nice BM offering with nice unique touches on the marzen style. Get out and support this brewery -- they are producing some exceptional beers and are holding nothing back!

26 IBUs and 6.0% abv, you can buy a commemorative 24 oz. Humpbock stein from the brewery to drink your Humpbock in if you feel so inclined (and get a 24 oz. refill for the price of a 16 oz. pint whenever you come in and the beer's available). Cute. Served in a shaped pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a clear copper, orange amber, crisp-looking, exactly like what the leaves on the trees along Skyline Drive (a mere 3 miles up the road) would be looking at like at this point in the year if we weren't having such an unseasonably warm autumn. The foamy, milky white head has average to slightly above-average retention, carbonation is sparse but lively, and the lacing is streaky, splotchy, runny. Nice start.

Aroma: All in all rather mild. The dominant note is, of course, the bready, light-to-medium roast malt foundation, though a sizable number of spicy phenols come through, a sign of things to come in the mouth.

Taste: A devilishly spicy and phenolic Marzen, this is, and I like it a lot. First, there's plenty of your traditional malt notes - toast, caramel, faint chocolate in the finish. There's a mild hop bitterness, but what's most striking is the volume of spicy, leafy, herbal phenolic notes, which lend a unique, crisp, refreshing, and very fall-like presence.

Mouthfeel: A milky and creamy body, smooth and even, with a moderate level of crisp carbonation. Pleasant.

Drinkability: Another very good beer from Blue Mountain, and I've yet to be disappointed in anything they've put out. Abv% is well-hidden and spot-on for the style, and it hits all the right spots for the season - rich, toasty, warming, and crisp all that the same time. A fantastic way to celebrate the coming of fall.

A: A crisp, coppery-toned amber, topped with a nice, creamy head that's ever-so-slightly offwhite.

S: A sharp, toasted amlt aroma with a hop edge and spiciness that is not so common in others I have had of the style. Interesting.

T: Quite a full-flavoured märzen! A notable flavour of the Hallertau hops, imparting quite an herbal touch which isn't so much bitter, but strong enough to pair up with the malts quite sizeably. A spiciness to it that I would presume is just straight up freshness.

M: Sharp and crisp with a little zippy sting of carbonation on the tip of the tongue. A medium body with a little heft to it.

D: Goes down pretty easily, though that flavour can get a bit strong over the course of a glass. Good stuff, though, and something I truly wish were bottled. I'd like to have a few of these sitting around for later. Still another month of it, though, so that will have to do!