Mad Bishop
DuClaw Brewing Company

Another great offering from DuClaw...

One of those brewers that I know rarely, if ever, disappoints, and wit this Oktoberfest offering they do not. Beautifully dark copper colored beer with frothy head and a tad bit of lacing, the smell was about the only thing I really didn't like. It's smell was very much subdued but I did note some cinnamon and a tad of sweetness. Anyway, this didn't necessarily translate to the taste, but it was a joy to drink. A full-bodied beer, though well carbonated, made for a very good experience and for an Oktoberfest I will keep an eye on moving forward.

 

Clear dark amber body, full cream colored head with great lacing. Nutty malt, toasted caramel, and toast nose. Taste is much the same but more surface level however aftertaste has metal, bummer. Feel is thin maltiness the whole way. Had potential

 

Not bad stuff the hops are a bit aggressive and spicy but it goes down smooth with toasted malt and some sweet bread. Can't really think of anything bad to say its kind of forgettable but the price was right at a couple of bucks a can. Worth picking up!

A- reddish orange not so much amber and a four finger head.

S- bready malts and nothing else

F- toasty bread malts and not much else but smooth

M- smooth and easy to put back

O- a decent lager and a nice session beer

From the can, it pours a clear reddish amber color with a modest off-white head that slowly reduces and leaves lacing. Light scent, with notes of bready malt. Taste is pleasant, with lightly roasted malt flavor and some caramel.

Clear copper appearance with a small off white head and hardly any lacing. Nose was not typical marzen-style; it was just too sweet. Chocolate notes at first, although that faded after a bit but toffee, caramel and nuts remained. Now that's not a bad combination, just not true to style. Flavor was sweet as well with only a little help from the hops to maintain balance. Mad Bishop has been around, locally, for a lot of years. In fact, I reviewed it on another site way back in 2003, and it has been an up and down relationship since then to the point of my not even seeking it out anymore. Bought it this year because it was dirt cheap at my regular retailer. So I got my moneys worth but I'll have to forgo a higher rating.

This one pours a clear orange-ish color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like toasty bread, honey, biscuits, and light hop character.

This was another big surprise in a recent tasting - I had basically zero expectations for it, and it was very tasty. It had that fresh and spicy hop character you want the style, but it doesn't overpower, as the real star is the fresh, toasty, and just slightly sweet hop character.

This is light bodied, clean, and super drinkable.

It's always fun to have something come completely out of left field and really impress me. I've never really cared for DuClaw, but this was very tasty.

 

A moderate pour from a 12-oz. can yielded a finger of beige foam with below average retention, no lasting lacing. Clear copper-amber color, Marzen looks.

Mild smell of grain and toasted bread with faint floral hops with a hint of potential sweetness

Neutral taste with average bitterness at first. Caramel sweetness is balked by baked and toasted bread (no longer grainy) with roasted nuts followed by rising floral and spicy hops. Sweetness never had a chance, as bitterness rises it becomes semi-dry. The finish is quick, crisp and clean, mild spicy hops linger briefly. Festbier like in taste.

Medium light bodied with slightly low carbonation, smooth and well balance. Alcohol is well hidden, malty and boldly flavored. Warms well, flavors improve. Overall a bit more Marzen than Festbier.

DATE: September 17, 2021... OCCASION: relaxing with Shan, 30 Rock, and an Oktoberfest I have yet to have... GLASSWARE: Orioles glass stein... pours a rambunctious, bubbly amber brown body whose head settles to an off-white ring... dark, roasted malts, thick toffee, caramel and tantalizing sugars elicit a sweet buzz... some apple and hard fruit, as well as nuttiness... its mouthfeel is smooth, medium-bodied, and patient in its finish... light impressions early, with a refreshing fullness late. that suggests some spiciness... the flavor profile is nutty, toffee-sweet and caramel-rich... a fest that is impactful, though slightly imbalanced.... overall, this is a bit more aggressive than its European predecessors, and it does engage in that way... it works in season for sure...

This smell and looks appetizing with a healthy cream colored head and proper malty, yeasty nose. There is a good deal of sweetness up front, with nutty and caramel tones. The texture could be a little thick, and some of the residual sweetness makes the aftertaste tend towards cloying. The carbonation is relatively high but you could do worse for the style.

 

 

-clear mahogany can pour with a thin beige foam cap and aroma of honey and malt.
The flavor includes toffee malt notes and nutty and woody aspects.
This is a pleasant brew and the best I’ve had from duClaw

I like the can artwork, great use of color. The pour is chestnut brown color with a moderate flow of carbonation. The taste is toasted pumpernickel, caramel, & a mild earthy herbal note. There is no date on the can, c'mon Duclaw Brewing y'all can do better than that. Duclaw is new to brewing Oktoberfest style beers so they need to work on their recipe if they want this beer to become a better seller come next fall season. All in all, the beer taste kind of flat. Cheers! C

 

12 ounce can poured into a dimpled mug.

Clear copper with a half inch fast fading off-white head. Leaves no lace. Weak nose of spicy hop and biscuit malt.
Taste follows suit with balanced mild sweetness and bitterness. Carbonation is fairly high, the medium body is crisp right through to a frothy finish. Decent but not outstanding.

 

 

 

Let warm for about 10 minutes, because...well..... I was reading some humorous reviews of bad beers, & got distracted. ;P
Slight hazy medium amber with quickly-dissipating two-finger light tan head.

Smell lightly sweet caramel, with a very slight tang at the end.

Taste is more-or-less the same as the aroma, with a tiny bit of fruitiness. Mild bitterness on the finish.

Feel is on the thin side of "medium", with light carbonation tingle. Leaves a thin sticky coating, while drying out the tip of the tongue. Odd combination. :)?

Overall, not a standout, but not bad. Maybe good for mixed company (BA-types & "Normal"s ;) ) .

12 oz can....canned "8/6/19"

Pours near clear dark honey amber, and supports a lasting light khaki cap. Leaves a thick low and ringed collar and some low sheeting.

Honey and some sweet malts on the nose.

Flavorful Oktoberfest with notes of honey, vanilla, sweet malts, smooth maple goodness....quality O'Fest,,,,go get some

Poured from can into Selins Grove Tulip.
Overall, not bad.
A bit of a metallic taste in the early finish, as with most DuClaw.
Head disappears immediately. A touch too dry finishing for the style.
Nothing in the end leaving me wanting more.
The metal and hops throw it off.
Not horrible, but there are many better American Märzen styles out there.
Will not seek out next year.

 

L: medium wheat/amber with a thin tan head that quickly dissolves into a thin ring
S: light malty caramel
T: mild malty caramel with a hint of lemon, less sweet than others
F: light carbonation, light up your tongue, on the thin side with a slightly sticky dry aftertaste
O: thin, light, mild, slightly - these sun up the DuClaw oktoberfest. Yet another average American version with nothing bad about it, but nothing great either.

 

12oz can with 1/30/18 on the bottom poured into a dimpled mug at fridge temp 6% ABV per label. The beer pours mostly bright orange amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and leaves no lacing. The aroma is sweet caramel malt and yeast. The taste is semisweet caramel with an earthy hop finish. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. There are no brewing defects, but it seems a bit oxidized. Overall, average American Oktoberfest.

 

 

 

 

 

**
11/13/15

Bottle to mug.

Aroma is non deScript. Very light. Color is Amber , medium white head. Taste is malt, hint of orange, light spice. Easy drinking, but nothing special.

**

 

 

This beer poured a medium copper with a thick, off-white head.

The aroma was malty, but sweet with some yeastyness to it.

The initial taste has some slight bitterness, but it is quickly replaced with an almost sugary sweetness. There is a slight maltiness to the finish.

The mouthfeel of this beer is crisp.

Overall, this is on the sweet side for an Oktoberfest, but it still held on to the qualities that one might expect from this style. If you are looking for a true Oktoberfest, this one will not quite measure up.

Average octoberfest. On tap 10-30-16