Oktoberfest
Sketchbook Brewing Company

Dark amber, off white head, no lacing. Nose gets some caramel. Flavor has that terrific bready taste. Probably my sixth Oktoberfest this year, probably the best one.

I’ve tried dozens of oktoberfests in the past two years and this is up there with ayinger and Great Lakes as best in class

Aroma is sweet fruit/mild citrus, malts and a hint of noble hops. The flavor is fruit/berries, malts/something about it reminds me of old school American Oktoberfests and a slightly dry/bitter noble hop finish.

 

Because they are among the most traditional styles, O-Fests should be reviewed for how close they are to the classics.... IMHO. Sketchbook's is not there yet. Call this a good effort, but not a sufficiently skilled one.

Sketchbook's rendition Looks like the real deal. As for Smells, not so much; because most of what my nose gets is modest malt. Nor do Tastes indicate subtlety; I'd like to find minor malt richness, some nuttiness (oak acorns for the Midwest!); but this O-fest entry has no rich overlays that good ones can pop out of a clean lager. Feel is light; rated average in my book.

However, I like Sketchbook. They brew in the town that HQs the Women's Christian Temperance Union... which requires some moxie. I've only drank three others from them and all Belgians, which is difficult tradition to find success here in the Midwest. But I will try others from Sketchbook, just not their marzen. All the same, Prost ! (And thanks for trying.)

 

 

 

Review written on 11-09-22 -- surprised to find some Sketchbook locally at a grocery. First sample for me from the brewery. No canning date to be found. 16 oz. can poured into my tall Becher.

L -- Clear, bright copper with a dense, cream-colored head that settles slowly, but never drops.

S -- Light doughy and caramel malts followed by herbal hops. Some solvent notes present.

T -- Nutty to doughy malts up front immediately followed by sharp herbal and bitter hops. Mid-palate is a blend of herbal hops and caramel. Finish is lightly bitter, but clean. Bitterness lingers through the aftertaste at the back of the throat -- more harshly than expected to-style.

F -- Mouthfeel is soft to syrupy with a medium body.

O -- More caramel and over-hopping leads to another old-fashioned, brew-pub Amber Lager. Not undrinkable, but not a great Okto Märzen.

lightly malty marzen smooth beer to driink but not uo to the german marzens

 

Mostly clear dark amber appearance, topped with a khaki foam head and lacing a plenty. Toffee, big nuts, bready yeast, and a earthy hop finish in the nose. Taste adds some acorn to the nuts, yeast rising with a hint of grain. Really clean and yeast is vibrant, smooth and medium bodied. One of the best this year I have tried. The wife liked it

 

 

16 oz can "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY LAURA AND MATT BB 01/25/23"

Poured into a ceramic mug shows a dark amber body and floats a 1" head of off-white mixed bubbles that falls to a persistent cap leaving random spots on the wall.

Aromas of fresh air, malty and bready with notes of caramel and citrus peel.

Flavor matches, but the oily feel hurts a little. Still a great drinker, though. I just wish it were a smidge dryer. Medium to full feel.

Overall a solid fall most-of-the-day drinker.

"Best by 1/25/23"; drank 9/18/22 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque dark orange appearance.

A rough pour yielded a nice off-white head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lace.

Acorn, caramel & mild orange peel notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium mouthfeel.

Acorn & caramel flavors up front, cream & mild orange peel notes on the finish.

A touch hoppy, perhaps, but overall quite enjoyable. I'd have another!