Autumn Ale
Badger State Brewing Company

 

For the finale while sitting in Badger State's tasting room prior to the Colts @ Packers game, I decided to go with this beauty. This one especially struck me as interesting since the bartender described it as an Oktoberfest, although it is an ale (at least in name). This beer pours a reddish amber hue that has a bit of chill haze (another beer that was served quite cold) alongside a white head that is frothy and dissipates slowly to a thin lacing with a neck. 3.75/5 The aroma is quite subdued with light notes of caramel, malted grains, Grapenuts, and grassy & herbal hops coming through. Although I guess they don't really come through, rather they peek through. The aromas are nice and smell good, but they are tough to pull out. 3.25/5 The flavor is much more enticing than the aroma with the same notes of caramel, toasted bread, and Grapenuts coming though strongly this time. Dark stone fruit and red wine grapes add to the sweetness of the flavor profile before floral hops kick in, delivering a light bitterness that does not linger after swallowing. 4/5 This ale is a medium bodied beer that is creamy, wet and coating with a light carbonation tickle up front and no lingering dryness. 4/5 For this to be named an ale, and it may be, it comes across a lot like a Marzen/Oktoberfest (lager), just like the bartender said. Very good and flavorful flavor profile with a nice touch from the red wine grapes note. 3.75/5