Fruhauf
Pollyanna Brewing Company

My first Pollyanna beer -- didn't realize. The Trib's favorite Chicago Oktoberfest... let's see.

Canned 8-16-22. Poured into my tall Becher.

L -- Hazy amber-gold with a sudsy, off-white head that settles fast and leaves decent lacing.

S -- Light spicy-herbal hops and caramel. Faint doughiness and earthiness.

T -- Lightly sweet toffee up front -- spicy, herbal hops follow. Mild stone fruit notes in the middle. Sweetish caramel malts in the finish. Some breadiness in the aftertaste, but outdone by herbal, bitter hops. Some light diacetyl in the aftertaste. Not quite Oktoberfest-like.

F -- Mouthfeel is soft to crisp or dry with a medium body.

O -- A drinkable beer, but another Amber Ale masquerading as an Oktoberfest.

 

 

 

Draft at st. Charles brewpub!

Canned 8/1/23; drank 9/8/23 @ the Yarchives.

See-through dull, dark orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a huge khaki head; strong, frothy lacing remained.

Autumn leaves, burnt oak & mild brown sugar notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Burnt oak, acorn & faint caramel flavors.

A heavier Marzen flavor that doesn't really coalesce. It's drinkable.

 

 

Pours a nearly crystal clear amber color. Thick four finger buff head forms on the beer and then quickly begins to recede leaving just a thin layer of sudsy foam on top of the beer.

Aroma has notes of grain, bready malt, and some sweet toffee notes. Its a bit too light - I want more from the nose, or at least a stronger aroma from what is already there.

Taste has notes of sweet bread, a light toasted quality with some subtle grainy notes. Light toffee or caramel sweetness is present, but its not a strong note. Some light spicy herbal hops peep through on the back end. Beer is moderately sweet dancing up to the line of too sweet for me without being too sweet.

Feel is medium bodied but still quite drinkable. Moderate carbonation.

Overall a solid American leaning märzen. I felt that it avoided being too sweet. Would drink this one again.

16oz can
date stamped 08/12/20
Prost! to Ken for giving me a can to add to my ultimate Oktoberfest tasting
L: hazy amber body with effervescent carbonation sustaining a thick foamy ivory head
S: toasty grain, caramel, bread crust, spicy hops
T: bread crust, caramelized grain, spicy/herbal/floral hops
F: fuller body, well balanced, semi-dry finish with lingering earthiness from the hops
O: good Märzen, but could be smoother and easier drinking

 

This is Pollyanna's most rated lager by twice as many BA ratings over its #2, a dunkel. Now I'm guessing that few brewers have their top lagers as seasonal styles. I'm not sure what that means about Pollyanna, but they sure are cheerful about being different.

As for Fruhauf, it Looks slightly above average; decent amber, but the foam doesn't stick around long. Smells are mostly sweet malt. Tastes follow and only in the finish do the hops make it semi-dry. Above average bubbles.

I experimented and had Fruhauf with Indian leftovers. Not respectful of the beer. But after I ate and my mouth cooled enough, I restarted Fruhauf and it accelerated the cooling off period. I discovered yet one more way to drink an O-fest. Pollyanna's was decent and I like a brewer who has opened three taprooms in six years. I just hope they survive the U.S. not having a coherent Covid response.

Bought this beer with high expectations. Poured from a 16oz. can, a beautiful color. The foam was a bit disappointing, very coarse, large bubbles, and disappeared quickly without lacing. The smells is very nice, caramelly and malty. Good sweetness, but not overwhelmingly sweet. Initial taste is nice, but not very complex. After the first 16oz., I did not feel the urge open another one. Is it possible this beer did not lager long enough? For some reason I got the impression this beer is too young, was not mature enough when put into the can. Lagers are tricky, takes extreme care and the most important ingredient is time. Possible that a shortcut was taken in one area.

 

Had this on 2019-09-23 in Bolingbrook, IL on tap

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Joe for this one. I have been itching to try a beer from these guys.
Deep copper body, boardering on mahogany. Clear, with a one finger beige head that dissipates to a pencil thin line around the glass.
Bready, grainy aroma. A nice big wiff of caramel. Hints of ripe red apple and Ricola.
Toasted malts and caramel up front in the taste. A nice bite of apple and medicinal hops mingle around.
Medium bodied with good carbonation. Soft, smooth mouth feel. Wonderful dry finish.

All around a great marzen. On the heavier side for the style but it by no means crosses a line. The closest thing to the balance and complexity of Paulaner that one would find here in the States.