Oktoberhess
Mike Hess Brewing - Miramar

 

 

great marzen style lager malty and smooth

 

A small pour on tap at Barrel Republic. A decent beer in a style that is hard to excel. O-fest season is always eager to start and ready to end. Since I got Hess' contribution right before Thanksgiving, my O-fest memory/buds had already moved on and were getting ready for winter... So, it is possible my rating might below what I usually give to good O-fests.

Hess' Looks amber average but quickly gets better with mostly malt aromas and just enough hops to prevent sweetness. It sat fine in my mouth.

My first from Hess, I went on their website and see that they are the 11th largest in San Diego and there were 33 when they started 7 years ago. So that is progress. (There also are 130 today, so that is even more progress.) At any rate, that is too many micros for me to study. And I am glad that I got to have a Hess.

 

 

October 3rd, 2013 - Hess OktoberHess is a timely and very visible release for drinkers appreciating San Diego's gradual cool down from a somewhat sweaty summer. I enjoyed this one at a party, I believe, and found the light touch and refreshing body great for navigating a social setting. The aroma is more like a pilsner, crisp and mineral rich, as is the taste. A light malty character beckons the Fall season without letting it in, leaving the tongue to appreciate each sip as a clean, crisp bite into the brew. Outside of a side-by-side setting the flavor isn't special, but it's reserve is appreciated in the style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at the North Park brewery. Pours a handsome golden amber in the glass with a modest head. A nice whiff of caramel and roasted grain. The oddity is how thick this feels in the mouth. A touch of mucilage or just German malt power? the malt is just barely sweet with a grainy undertone.

The hops have a touch of fruit, like pear skins, and plenty of bitterness. There is a leafy, woody note. This is certainly the most robust Märzen I can remember. I can't quite figure out the sturdy, thick mouthfeel, but this is not what I'd call a refreshing quaff. Maybe it needs a dose of rye. Anyway, it's good to see local breweries trying out the German traditions.