Oktoberfest
Blackfoot River Brewing Company

a real fine pint of oktoberfest here, one of my favorites from this season so far. a little darker than most, in the deep amber to almost light brown range in the glass, some light still coming in good clarity. the head is short, white, and fades slowly leaving some lace hanging on the edges of the glass. this smells remarkably deep, a touch sweet but it goes well beyond that, i get some roast to this, not common in the style, a heavily toasted thing maybe to the malt, toffee and maple notes, earthy wet soil, dry cereal character too, and a definite german vibe to the malts and the water profile. the yeast too is rightly german, maybe ever so slightly astringent in the nose, clean in the flavor through, bready and full right through the finish, and drying this out pretty well for how rich it tastes in the center. long boiled and concentrated tasting to me too, almost bock-esque in that way. i love the long flavor trajectory, this is the best kind of malt forward beer, and its nicely hopped at the end to help the finish crisp up a little. nicely put together, more complex than most but still very traditional overall. a definite winner. i wish i had more time when i was in here, the place is awesome and their list of beers was impressive. definitely get them on your list when in the area!