Oaktoberfest
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

So dang, I really liked this more than I thought I would. Another beer on tap at Craft in Reno. Such a solid shop. Might be my favorite bottle shop, anywhere.

Pours a very pretty amber/auburn color, good clarity to it, sizeable 5/6" off white head. Neat mixture of lager yeast, caramel and oak in the aroma.

Taste had all the hallmarks of a marzen, but the light impression of oak was super cool. The caramel wasn't sticky nor heavy at all. The mouthfeel was super light on this. Drank as light as a pilsner despite the heavier maltiness and oak tank lagering. Smooth, yet well carbonated. Bitterness and hop quotient are minimal and appropriate to style. Seemed more dry than sweet to me, one of those middle of the road breadiness vibes. Like I said, drinks lighter than its appearance.

I think its a very well made beer. I should buy a 6 pack. And hope its as good as it was on tap. Might not be for peak summer, but spring and fall work just fine with it.

I'm really surprised I didn't give this a higher rating as I really like Marzen style beer, and a good Oktoberfest beer is really good. Don't remember where or when I tasted this beer. 20 IBUs

 

 

 

 

Intrigued with the oak aged concept, I grabbed me a sixer and proceded to chill.

The cold product certainly met my expectations for a beer in the marzen style with the name octoberfest (or close to it)

There's a solid tasty grain profile that's hopped just about right. Highly drinkable and refreshing, where you could easily have several of these at a German style festive occasion.

The oak is almost more of an afterthought now, and that's just fine. It's subtle, not pronounced, and that's a real nice touch on this delicious brew

 

 

 

 

 

Clear medium-gold color, with a small yet persistent head. Nose offers a pleasant malt scent with a bare hint of oakiness. Taste is solid, with malt that is lightly caramel, a little sweet but sufficient bittering hops to be well-balanced. Oak is faint here as well, just like the nose: it adds a subtle component to the flavor profile instead of dominating it. Good full mouthfeel. Solid beer from Firestone. Their beers are rarely flashy, but they're almost always solidly crafted.

Nice golden color, good head but fades quickly. Get some cracker on the nose. Taste buds get some bready flavor, a hint of oak. I Always look forward to these beers.

 

 

 

 

12oz can

Pours a little over a finger of white head into my can-style glass. Retention is solid, and after a few minutes most of the head is still intact. Lacing is ok. Body is a light copper, crystal clear, with a fair amount of nucleation. It’s on the lighter side of the Oktoberfest color scale, but it looks pretty nice.

Nose is very rich and biscuity. Don’t really get any oak. Smells appropriate.

Flavor is quite light, some notes of lightly baked bread.

Carbonation is medium, seems to be dropping somewhat quickly from the nucleation. Body has a little weight, maybe some proteins in here. Clean and well-attenuated, with a small perceived sweetness. Bitterness is low but present. Good mouthfeel, the weight is the main thing keeping this from straying into festbier territory.

Drinkability is high.

This starts to lean in the festbier direction with the color and malt profile, but it does just enough for me to say it’s still an Oktoberfest. Overall it’s decent.