Oktoberfest
Payette Brewing

This wasn't a terrible Oktoberfest but among the lower end of the 20 or so I've tried for the first time this year. Definitely drinkable, don't complain if it's free.

Figured I’d give this one a try since Octoberfest festival is happening in Idaho. Pours a beautiful clear copper color. Overwhelming aroma of caramel and toffee. Feel is nice and smooth. Taste up front is heavy on the malt, caramel, bread, followed by a little astringent bite. Interesting offering from Payette.

good enough that i mowed down a couple of these today, on tap, fresh and good, slightly astringent as the style goes, a light finishing acidity on the swallow, but other than that an excellent example of the style and overall a malty beer made for drinking, high volume sessions are fully possible with this one. its a normal looking orange to amber color with a tall and lasting white head, looks good even in a shaker pint, if not fully clear. aroma of nutty german malts with a little crystal sweetness in the mix, toffee, caramel, fallen leaves and wet earth too, and some bittering noble hops, great balance. not sure why this acidity rises up on the finish, but it takes away from a pretty nice and robust brew, very autumnal to me though still, and fitting of the setting in of the season. i like the toasted layer, i like the body, and i like all the bubbles. i think the sweetness resolves itself, and this remains quite drinkable. i have been back and forth on the mainstream payette beers of late, but this is solid, and one of the better local takes i have had on the style so far this fall. im sure ill drink plenty more of this before its winter here...

edit: this seems to have improved some, cleaner on the ferment maybe, none of that astringency this year, still some sweetness and some structure, but overall this is pretty solid, better than i remember it. improving the overall score slightly, i like this one and am happy the season is here once again!

 

From the can this Oktoberfest pours rich golden with a thin head. Light malts, clean nose. Light-bodied, soft chewiness and a bit creamy. Faint toasty malt flavors with a touch of caramel and a splash lemony, rindy and floral hops. Some spice too. Slightly sweet, grainy and bread crusty in the finish.

Not bad, but it's missing the crispness found in most lagers and comes across as a pretty basic, more pedestrian version of an Oktoberfest. (Notes from December 24, 2016.)

 

Crowler fill tonight from the brewpub... Paid a decent $6... Clear orange brew with a nice enough white head... okay lacing and retention. Dry toast is light and some pale malt makes up the rest of the malt backbone... Could use more malty complexity across the board... Not exactly clean like a traditional märzen.. Not bad, but seems like it could use a little more distinction all around... That said, it still drinks pretty well, just doesn't really nail the style IMO.

4/3.25/3.25/3.75/3.5

A rather dull appearance with a flat look and non existent head. Aroma hints at the malt nature of this beer. Some cooked vegetable smell also. Medium weight and slick , sweet malt finish.