Oaktoberfest
Mother Earth Brew Co.

this concept remains a good one, even though the name has been used a few dozen times or more. the thing is, their oktoberfest is just okay for me in the grand scheme of the style, and the oak is subtle enough in this that it doesnt radically transform the base beer the way i kind of hoped it would, tasty, and some needed nuance, but the wood part is minimal to me, just an accent, albeit a good one. no real color change from the original, still rather clear, caramel colored, and frothy headed from the tap. the nose is maybe a touch sweeter, some honey and toffee coming out, the oak adds a vanilla whisper thats kind of like salt on meat in that regard, richness is more apparent, but its not woody per se, and thats true in the flavor too where maybe the perceived sweetness is higher than in the base beer but it doesnt come across as particularly oak forward. it is however well lagered, pretty clean, and still with some minerality to it, the light wood leaves me wanting more, and i drink this fast to find it, i think perhaps slightly more complex and thus more compelling than the original, but its not as different as i hoped it would be, even if im into it. drinkable for a wood aged beer, probably spirals or chunks rather than a barrel treatment, no sign of wine or spirits or anything. solid, if underwhelming at the same time, nice subtle vanilla accent from the wood, but i am left wanting more from that element...

Draft at Mother Earth Downtown. Copper pour, wispy head, streaky lacing. Sweet malty aroma, toffee. Taste brings out the oak, woody flavors, minor sweetness.