Octoberfest
Northampton Brewery

 

 

basically what you have here is the generic octoberfest. a little too much lager yeast, a little too much body, and not quite enough carbonation. aside from that, everything is in place, a clearish copper to medium amber color, a thick white lace, a nose of fresh grains and old wood, compost and cut grass at once, the beginning and the end if you will. similarly, it is malt forward but balanced well by lush grassy german hops, and is clean on the back end, but soapy from a miscalculation on yeast cells. not much different than any other American brewpubs attempt really. more carbonation would make this a still generic but better beer, as it stands, its not my favorite, filling and dull, I suggest their alpha project stuff instead.

 

A light head with hazy auburn orange brown color.

Nose has toasty reddish malts, caramel, light earthy hops, a bit of sweet syrup but not much.

Taste starts with creamy reddish malts, light toasty, plenty of caramel, spicy floral hops with a bit of a bite but not big. Finishes a bit sweet still with more of the caramel and malt flavors.

Mouth is med bodied with decent carb.

Overall this is a decent beer but again more of the American style Oktoberfest I'm not a big fan of. More like an American red Lager than Oktoberfest, way too much for reddish crystal malts and caramel flavors and not enough pilsner and toasty straw malt flavors, and the lager flavor is not even there really.

Reddish copper colored with an off-white head of tight foam that settles out quickly and leaves a fine cap. Low aroma of subtle malt. Delicate flavors of bready malt, some cinnamon and tofee. Even mouthfeel, moderate carbonation. Very tasty and drinkable.

Draught: The beer pours a reddish-copper color. There was absolutely no head and no lacing from this brew. The nose was somewhat weak. There were some notes of malts and spices. The taste was almost full bodied: unexpected after the weaker nose. The taste was somewhat malty swet with a good bit of spices. Good.