Dominion Octoberfest! | Old Dominion Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Old Dominion Brewing Company
Delaware, United States | website
Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.90%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Autumn Seasonal beer is a traditional Maerzen style lager. We use eight types of imported German malts and four hop varieties to create this amber-colored fest beer.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 09-18-2002
Reviews: 132 | Ratings: 240
4.5/5 rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Crystal clear bright amber/orange hue. 1/2 inch of egg shell head. Pungent nose of noble european hops. Toasted buttered biscuit with an herbal and spicy scent.
Incredibly clean for such a rustic smelling nose. Sweet buttered roll up front followed by slightly overdone toast. Rolls in a spicy herbal hop bite which balances more than it betters. Clean, smooth mouthfeel, with slightly lower than average carbonation. Very very very damn good! Better put a 6 of this away before it all sells out!
★ 498 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Crystal clear bright amber/orange hue. 1/2 inch of egg shell head. Pungent nose of noble european hops. Toasted buttered biscuit with an herbal and spicy scent.
Incredibly clean for such a rustic smelling nose. Sweet buttered roll up front followed by slightly overdone toast. Rolls in a spicy herbal hop bite which balances more than it betters. Clean, smooth mouthfeel, with slightly lower than average carbonation. Very very very damn good! Better put a 6 of this away before it all sells out!
★ 498 characters
3.53/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - nice crystal clear amber color with a nice offwhite head
S - light caramel malts wiht a hint of fruit sweetness.
T - light bitter hops, caramel malts and a hint of fruit sweetness
M - medium light bodied, nicely carbonated, crisp clean finish with a light bitter hop aftertaste.
D - nice beer overall
It must only be me, it seems most oktoberfest / marzen's these days seem to have more of a hop note than I remember the style to be. This was nice but falls into the same vein of nice but hoppier than I expected.
★ 523 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - nice crystal clear amber color with a nice offwhite head
S - light caramel malts wiht a hint of fruit sweetness.
T - light bitter hops, caramel malts and a hint of fruit sweetness
M - medium light bodied, nicely carbonated, crisp clean finish with a light bitter hop aftertaste.
D - nice beer overall
It must only be me, it seems most oktoberfest / marzen's these days seem to have more of a hop note than I remember the style to be. This was nice but falls into the same vein of nice but hoppier than I expected.
★ 523 characters
4.17/5 rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely not my favorite style by any stretch but I had to try the local one at least. This pours out a deep amber body that is bubbling away with about a half-inch of white head. Not much head retention and no lace with here. Aroma is of sweet malt with a bit of spicy hops and earthy notes as well. Taste is similar with sweet caramel malt being the upfront flavor and a light earthy hop spiciness balancing it out. A bit of a bitter spicy aftertaste. Medium body with good carbonation and a clean taste. Drinkability is pretty good, since the sweetness is not overbearing. Definitely one of the beet O-fest beers I have had.
★ 629 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely not my favorite style by any stretch but I had to try the local one at least. This pours out a deep amber body that is bubbling away with about a half-inch of white head. Not much head retention and no lace with here. Aroma is of sweet malt with a bit of spicy hops and earthy notes as well. Taste is similar with sweet caramel malt being the upfront flavor and a light earthy hop spiciness balancing it out. A bit of a bitter spicy aftertaste. Medium body with good carbonation and a clean taste. Drinkability is pretty good, since the sweetness is not overbearing. Definitely one of the beet O-fest beers I have had.
★ 629 characters
2.8/5 rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz bottle
bottled 9/2/08 consumed 10/3/08
My first offering from the Old Dominion Brewing Co. The Oktoberfest pours a transparent orange brown color with a small but slightly sticky off white head. Very sweet caramel malts directly up front, as well as notes of corn syrup, candi sugar and cotton candy. Butterscotch and solid caramel malt backbone is most apparent while tasting although it is not a match for the fruity hop undertones through out. Odd spices begin to surface once the yeast character is picked up, cinnamon, brown sugar and a few earthy esters. Over all this beer is too sweet, for everything going on this beer remains dull and devoid of positive character. I never got that "fall" feeling while drinking this beer, nor could i drink it all day in the Oktoberfest setting. I'd say you should avoid this one.
★ 831 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz bottle
bottled 9/2/08 consumed 10/3/08
My first offering from the Old Dominion Brewing Co. The Oktoberfest pours a transparent orange brown color with a small but slightly sticky off white head. Very sweet caramel malts directly up front, as well as notes of corn syrup, candi sugar and cotton candy. Butterscotch and solid caramel malt backbone is most apparent while tasting although it is not a match for the fruity hop undertones through out. Odd spices begin to surface once the yeast character is picked up, cinnamon, brown sugar and a few earthy esters. Over all this beer is too sweet, for everything going on this beer remains dull and devoid of positive character. I never got that "fall" feeling while drinking this beer, nor could i drink it all day in the Oktoberfest setting. I'd say you should avoid this one.
★ 831 characters
3.42/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle.
Deep amber/reddish color with a creamy off-white head that diminishes after the pour. Good clarity.
Bready, toasted malt, and caramel aroma. Light herbal hops mixed in.
Flavor is balanced towards the malt, as it should be, but the finish is a little too sweet and bitter.
Medium bodied but slightly cloying and a little too rich.
The bottle description says eight types of malt and four types of hops were used to brew this beer. It’s probably a little too much of both. There are no off-flavors, but it could be improved by simplifying the ingredients and focusing more on being a clean lager instead of one with a complex malt profile.
★ 659 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
12 oz bottle.
Deep amber/reddish color with a creamy off-white head that diminishes after the pour. Good clarity.
Bready, toasted malt, and caramel aroma. Light herbal hops mixed in.
Flavor is balanced towards the malt, as it should be, but the finish is a little too sweet and bitter.
Medium bodied but slightly cloying and a little too rich.
The bottle description says eight types of malt and four types of hops were used to brew this beer. It’s probably a little too much of both. There are no off-flavors, but it could be improved by simplifying the ingredients and focusing more on being a clean lager instead of one with a complex malt profile.
★ 659 characters
3.57/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
a - poured a razor thin white head into a tumbler that was gone almost immediately. the body was reddish-amber.
s - lightly spiced with a hint grain.
t - caramel, nutty with that tastes of sweet bread.
m - medium thickness.
d - decent beer, had better and had worse.
★ 266 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
a - poured a razor thin white head into a tumbler that was gone almost immediately. the body was reddish-amber.
s - lightly spiced with a hint grain.
t - caramel, nutty with that tastes of sweet bread.
m - medium thickness.
d - decent beer, had better and had worse.
★ 266 characters
3.43/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
$2 16oz. pints at CAH last Sunday.
Clear slight orangish-tinted amber. Finger-thin layer of off-white lace. Nice rings as the glass was drained. Hints of roasted malt and some caramel, backed up by some spice. Same for the flavor. Nothing awe-inspiring. More hoppy and bitter-dry in the finish than expected. There's some spices mixed in, but not very assertive. Decent mouthfeel. Not too drinkable. Not sure what the off-flavor was, but it just didn't "feel" like an Oktoberfest beer.
★ 488 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
$2 16oz. pints at CAH last Sunday.
Clear slight orangish-tinted amber. Finger-thin layer of off-white lace. Nice rings as the glass was drained. Hints of roasted malt and some caramel, backed up by some spice. Same for the flavor. Nothing awe-inspiring. More hoppy and bitter-dry in the finish than expected. There's some spices mixed in, but not very assertive. Decent mouthfeel. Not too drinkable. Not sure what the off-flavor was, but it just didn't "feel" like an Oktoberfest beer.
★ 488 characters
2.02/5 rDev -43.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Bottled 8/2/06
Listed at 5.4% ABV
A: Pours a dark golden with a small fizzy head that quickly settles and disappears without leaving a wisp or hint of its brief existence.
S: Slightly malty with a corn-like vegetal smell.
T: Like the smell, but a bit more amplified. Sweet up front and quickly followed by a dull garden vegetable taste.
M: Light in body and slick with moderate-high carbonation.
D: This is not a good beer. Don't buy this.
★ 457 characters
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Bottled 8/2/06
Listed at 5.4% ABV
A: Pours a dark golden with a small fizzy head that quickly settles and disappears without leaving a wisp or hint of its brief existence.
S: Slightly malty with a corn-like vegetal smell.
T: Like the smell, but a bit more amplified. Sweet up front and quickly followed by a dull garden vegetable taste.
M: Light in body and slick with moderate-high carbonation.
D: This is not a good beer. Don't buy this.
★ 457 characters
3.5/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a perfectly clear copper-bronze color. A tall, foamy, tan head bubbles up. Retention is pretty nice, with patchy but widespread lacing.
S: Mostly straightforward toasted malt. Some caramel hints. Hops are spicy and leafy, with fleeting but fresh floral notes.
T: Nicely toasted graininess up front adds some sweetness. Mild caramel hints are fairly subdued. Rather hoppy for the style. Spicy floral and leafy flavors are quite prevalent. Bitterness is firm for an octoberfest.
M: Medium bodied. Carbonation is moderate. Rather dry overall, especially into the finish.
D: This is a pretty good lager, but as a true octoberfest it leaves something to be desired. It's a decidedly American version of the style - very hoppy without the sweet maltiness you'd expect. That knocks the score down a bit, but it's still not bad.
★ 837 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a perfectly clear copper-bronze color. A tall, foamy, tan head bubbles up. Retention is pretty nice, with patchy but widespread lacing.
S: Mostly straightforward toasted malt. Some caramel hints. Hops are spicy and leafy, with fleeting but fresh floral notes.
T: Nicely toasted graininess up front adds some sweetness. Mild caramel hints are fairly subdued. Rather hoppy for the style. Spicy floral and leafy flavors are quite prevalent. Bitterness is firm for an octoberfest.
M: Medium bodied. Carbonation is moderate. Rather dry overall, especially into the finish.
D: This is a pretty good lager, but as a true octoberfest it leaves something to be desired. It's a decidedly American version of the style - very hoppy without the sweet maltiness you'd expect. That knocks the score down a bit, but it's still not bad.
★ 837 characters
2.75/5 rDev -23%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A: seems dead: little head, no beads; copper color
S: thin, sweet malty smell
T: spiced, hoppy, hay flavor; not pronounced; personally, this was not exactly to my taste
M: a tad bit watery, but ok otherwise
D: not all that inviting for repeats
Of the regionally distributed October beers I've had this year, the Sam Adams has had most appeal.
★ 343 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
A: seems dead: little head, no beads; copper color
S: thin, sweet malty smell
T: spiced, hoppy, hay flavor; not pronounced; personally, this was not exactly to my taste
M: a tad bit watery, but ok otherwise
D: not all that inviting for repeats
Of the regionally distributed October beers I've had this year, the Sam Adams has had most appeal.
★ 343 characters
3.18/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from tap into a mug.
A: A medium to dark copper with a two finger white head.
S: Sweet caramel malts with some grainy bready notes.
T: Malts take the show here giving off a very sweet bready, caramel malt flavor. Some toffee and even some sugar sweetness. Slight grassy notes but not hop bitterness. I expected a bit more. Finish remains sweet and coating.
M: Coating but sticky sweet. No alcohol detected.
D: For me it was low, it needed some more balance.
Overall not a great Ofest in my opinion. In fact, OD had not produced any beer that has been memorable for me. Sorry.
★ 591 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from tap into a mug.
A: A medium to dark copper with a two finger white head.
S: Sweet caramel malts with some grainy bready notes.
T: Malts take the show here giving off a very sweet bready, caramel malt flavor. Some toffee and even some sugar sweetness. Slight grassy notes but not hop bitterness. I expected a bit more. Finish remains sweet and coating.
M: Coating but sticky sweet. No alcohol detected.
D: For me it was low, it needed some more balance.
Overall not a great Ofest in my opinion. In fact, OD had not produced any beer that has been memorable for me. Sorry.
★ 591 characters
3/5 rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I poured this very average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was cloudy but poured a pretty average head. The smell was nothing special, kinda smelled like beer.The taste however was really sweet and fact it was too sweet for me. I will not buy again.
★ 262 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I poured this very average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was cloudy but poured a pretty average head. The smell was nothing special, kinda smelled like beer.The taste however was really sweet and fact it was too sweet for me. I will not buy again.
★ 262 characters
3.68/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into Macado's branded hurricane glass.
Appearance: Pours a brown, slightly amber color with a small beige head that doesn't stay for very long and only leaves a bit of lace.
Smell: Very deep malt smell. Has hints of grain and slight flowery hop notes.
Taste: Starts very sweet and finishes with the same sweetness. Notes of apple and maybe a bit of grape.
Mouthfeel: Not a very heavy body, with balanced carbonation. Dry finish, which is different from most malty styles. I like that.
Drinkability: I like it and I'd definitely have it again. Not necessarily the best Octoberfest I have had, but it has a distinct flavor that sets it apart from others of the style. Definitely worth the try.
★ 720 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into Macado's branded hurricane glass.
Appearance: Pours a brown, slightly amber color with a small beige head that doesn't stay for very long and only leaves a bit of lace.
Smell: Very deep malt smell. Has hints of grain and slight flowery hop notes.
Taste: Starts very sweet and finishes with the same sweetness. Notes of apple and maybe a bit of grape.
Mouthfeel: Not a very heavy body, with balanced carbonation. Dry finish, which is different from most malty styles. I like that.
Drinkability: I like it and I'd definitely have it again. Not necessarily the best Octoberfest I have had, but it has a distinct flavor that sets it apart from others of the style. Definitely worth the try.
★ 720 characters
3.3/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper amber with a medium off white head. Aroma and taste has a sweet toasted barley malt character, grass and grains with some bitter notes on the end. Palate is medium body with good carbonation and crisp mouth feel. Gets slightly sweeter and flavorful as it warms up, needs a bit more malt. Overall a good drinking brew but could be better.
★ 352 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper amber with a medium off white head. Aroma and taste has a sweet toasted barley malt character, grass and grains with some bitter notes on the end. Palate is medium body with good carbonation and crisp mouth feel. Gets slightly sweeter and flavorful as it warms up, needs a bit more malt. Overall a good drinking brew but could be better.
★ 352 characters
3.78/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle in a nonic. (Reviewed from notes, drank this past Fall.)
Pours a clean and clear deep copper color with a massive creamy tan-colored head. Bubbly, moderate rings of lacing. Good looker.
Lots of caramelized malt and spicy hops. Bold and sweet.
Toasted and caramel coated malt flavors. Spicy and floral hops, buttery sweet.
Medium bodied with bite and some alcohol strength.
I like a Marzen with bite, this delivers.
★ 432 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle in a nonic. (Reviewed from notes, drank this past Fall.)
Pours a clean and clear deep copper color with a massive creamy tan-colored head. Bubbly, moderate rings of lacing. Good looker.
Lots of caramelized malt and spicy hops. Bold and sweet.
Toasted and caramel coated malt flavors. Spicy and floral hops, buttery sweet.
Medium bodied with bite and some alcohol strength.
I like a Marzen with bite, this delivers.
★ 432 characters
3.68/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a pint glass. Pours orange-red with little head. Smells of dark grain. Tastes of caramel, raisins, and a little bit of tartness. Beer is medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Overall, an above average beer.
★ 219 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a pint glass. Pours orange-red with little head. Smells of dark grain. Tastes of caramel, raisins, and a little bit of tartness. Beer is medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Overall, an above average beer.
★ 219 characters
3.75/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, poured into a pint glass
Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden-copper, amber color with a half of a finger of white head that quickly dissolved into a thin halo of foam that gripped the sides of the glass
Aroma: Very malty and very bready, like freshly baked sourdough or French baguettes. I get notes of black pepper, and caramel, as well as floral notes of clover and honey.
Taste: Very similar to the beer’s aroma. Very malty and bready up front, with notes of black pepper, caramel, salted butter, honey, all beautifully balanced with some hoppy bitterness at the finish. Delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium and creamy with some good carbonation to tickle the taste buds. With an ABV of 5.8%, there is no presence of alcohol on the palate.
Overall: This is an excellent American version of an Oktoberfest beer. Beautifully crafted, beautifully balanced, beautifully flavored, this is one of my favorite Oktoberfest beers. I love it!
★ 949 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle, poured into a pint glass
Appearance: Pours a beautiful golden-copper, amber color with a half of a finger of white head that quickly dissolved into a thin halo of foam that gripped the sides of the glass
Aroma: Very malty and very bready, like freshly baked sourdough or French baguettes. I get notes of black pepper, and caramel, as well as floral notes of clover and honey.
Taste: Very similar to the beer’s aroma. Very malty and bready up front, with notes of black pepper, caramel, salted butter, honey, all beautifully balanced with some hoppy bitterness at the finish. Delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium and creamy with some good carbonation to tickle the taste buds. With an ABV of 5.8%, there is no presence of alcohol on the palate.
Overall: This is an excellent American version of an Oktoberfest beer. Beautifully crafted, beautifully balanced, beautifully flavored, this is one of my favorite Oktoberfest beers. I love it!
★ 949 characters
3.35/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle into a pilsner - fridge - no bottling date - probably fall 2009
Appearance: Transparent, copper colored, with a fleeting off-white head. Plenty of rising bubbles and no lacing left behind.
Smell: Lager yeast, tutti frutti, melange of malts, and no hop aroma.
Taste: Sweet with sugar, cereal, cherry, strawberry and some lager yeast. A noble hop aftertaste balances the beer well.
Mouthfeel: Sweet, medium bodied, some alcohol and hops in the finish. A solid beer.
Drinkability: A little sweet for me, but it is great for a festbier of which can usually be quite mild. I will drink another!
★ 609 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle into a pilsner - fridge - no bottling date - probably fall 2009
Appearance: Transparent, copper colored, with a fleeting off-white head. Plenty of rising bubbles and no lacing left behind.
Smell: Lager yeast, tutti frutti, melange of malts, and no hop aroma.
Taste: Sweet with sugar, cereal, cherry, strawberry and some lager yeast. A noble hop aftertaste balances the beer well.
Mouthfeel: Sweet, medium bodied, some alcohol and hops in the finish. A solid beer.
Drinkability: A little sweet for me, but it is great for a festbier of which can usually be quite mild. I will drink another!
★ 609 characters
3.65/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Don't worry, timtim IS a rookie! No burnt anything in this one. Believe me, if you spent all your life shotgunning Dale's Pale Ale, Green Flash IPA, and 90 minute, then the first actual taste of malt just may blow you away as it did to poor old timtim. I've seen the guy in action, so take it from me. This beer is medium bodied, round and smooth with a lush malt character that yet somehow lacks depth or complexity. Here's a word to take the mystique out of Octoberfest beer: Amber Lager. Sam Adams regular Boston Lager shows more breadth and depth than your average Bavarian fest beer these days. Are you a D.C. metro area local? Than by all means buy a sixer of this stuff, and grill up some sausages already. That's what I did, and don't invite timtim over, because he will punch you.
★ 789 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Don't worry, timtim IS a rookie! No burnt anything in this one. Believe me, if you spent all your life shotgunning Dale's Pale Ale, Green Flash IPA, and 90 minute, then the first actual taste of malt just may blow you away as it did to poor old timtim. I've seen the guy in action, so take it from me. This beer is medium bodied, round and smooth with a lush malt character that yet somehow lacks depth or complexity. Here's a word to take the mystique out of Octoberfest beer: Amber Lager. Sam Adams regular Boston Lager shows more breadth and depth than your average Bavarian fest beer these days. Are you a D.C. metro area local? Than by all means buy a sixer of this stuff, and grill up some sausages already. That's what I did, and don't invite timtim over, because he will punch you.
★ 789 characters
3.61/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, reddish copper with one and a half fingers of craggy, light tan foam. Toasted lager aromas are a bit more subdued than those of many of its kin; a touch of earthiness walks in the background. The taste, on the other hand, is solidly consistent with the style. Tons of toastiness dominate the front palate, with a bit of woody hops entering the middle. Notes of whole wheat bread are quite strong. The finish resembles the taste of artificial coffee sweeteners, but is not so overpowering that it ruins the flavor. The overall impression of that of an interestingly toasty but overly sweet beer that needs more IBUs to find its balance.
★ 650 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, reddish copper with one and a half fingers of craggy, light tan foam. Toasted lager aromas are a bit more subdued than those of many of its kin; a touch of earthiness walks in the background. The taste, on the other hand, is solidly consistent with the style. Tons of toastiness dominate the front palate, with a bit of woody hops entering the middle. Notes of whole wheat bread are quite strong. The finish resembles the taste of artificial coffee sweeteners, but is not so overpowering that it ruins the flavor. The overall impression of that of an interestingly toasty but overly sweet beer that needs more IBUs to find its balance.
★ 650 characters
4.07/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The 2009 München Oktoberfest continues here in my home, tonight with a mug full of Old Dominion's take on the style.
Pours a brilliantly clear deep amber hue, raising a rather pathetic half-finger of off-white foam that shows poor retention and fails to leave any lacework on the glass.
The nose is at first whiff full of fragrant herbal-spicy hop notes, but is quickly followed by a toasty, mildly nutty malt aroma.
Body and mouthfeel are well-balanced, with a medium-full body being restrained in boldness by a prickly carbonation. Hops are not so restrained in this Oktoberfestbier: A quick introduction by slightly sweet, toasty malt moves swiftly into a very dry, bitter middle of grassy, herbal hops that carries itself through all the way into the long, dry finish, with just a bit of lightly sweet bready malt finding its way in underneath it all.
A bit of a departure from the traditional, but certainly fitting in with its brethren, though perhaps on the fringes. The dryness lends a bit more drinkability than some of the maltier variants, and that's a bit of a plus. Something like this might do well in Maß sessions like that going on in Munich.
★ 1,164 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The 2009 München Oktoberfest continues here in my home, tonight with a mug full of Old Dominion's take on the style.
Pours a brilliantly clear deep amber hue, raising a rather pathetic half-finger of off-white foam that shows poor retention and fails to leave any lacework on the glass.
The nose is at first whiff full of fragrant herbal-spicy hop notes, but is quickly followed by a toasty, mildly nutty malt aroma.
Body and mouthfeel are well-balanced, with a medium-full body being restrained in boldness by a prickly carbonation. Hops are not so restrained in this Oktoberfestbier: A quick introduction by slightly sweet, toasty malt moves swiftly into a very dry, bitter middle of grassy, herbal hops that carries itself through all the way into the long, dry finish, with just a bit of lightly sweet bready malt finding its way in underneath it all.
A bit of a departure from the traditional, but certainly fitting in with its brethren, though perhaps on the fringes. The dryness lends a bit more drinkability than some of the maltier variants, and that's a bit of a plus. Something like this might do well in Maß sessions like that going on in Munich.
★ 1,164 characters
3.08/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
poured from a 2007 batch bottled on 8/20/07. poured darker than expected. almost brown with orangy highlights. little head. little lace. maybe i'm a rookie, but the malt smell is overpowering and it seems like the malt is roasted to burnt. hops in the background. the cooked malt does give it a kind of interesting coffee tinge. descent body but i'm just not fond of the malt used in this one, which makes it a hard drink for me.
★ 429 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
poured from a 2007 batch bottled on 8/20/07. poured darker than expected. almost brown with orangy highlights. little head. little lace. maybe i'm a rookie, but the malt smell is overpowering and it seems like the malt is roasted to burnt. hops in the background. the cooked malt does give it a kind of interesting coffee tinge. descent body but i'm just not fond of the malt used in this one, which makes it a hard drink for me.
★ 429 characters
3.2/5 rDev -10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Anber colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma is faint caramel.Taste is sweet caramel and toasty malts.Overall a decent beer that I would drink again but not actively seek out.I think this is worth at least one try.Like I've said before there are way too many other beers to try!!
★ 286 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Anber colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma is faint caramel.Taste is sweet caramel and toasty malts.Overall a decent beer that I would drink again but not actively seek out.I think this is worth at least one try.Like I've said before there are way too many other beers to try!!
★ 286 characters
4.03/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampled on tap at Mahaffey's in Baltimore.
Pours a slightly hazy penny colo with a creamy light tan head. Dropped down to a nice spotty lacing.
Roast toasty malts and spicy malts on the nose,
Has a gentle sweet malt flavor, like thick chewy German bread. It has a slight bitterness in the spicy hops that combines very well. Both flavors mingle well in the mouth for the aftertaste.
Medium bodied and medium carbonated. Very creamy and pleasing. Worth having quite a few.
★ 484 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampled on tap at Mahaffey's in Baltimore.
Pours a slightly hazy penny colo with a creamy light tan head. Dropped down to a nice spotty lacing.
Roast toasty malts and spicy malts on the nose,
Has a gentle sweet malt flavor, like thick chewy German bread. It has a slight bitterness in the spicy hops that combines very well. Both flavors mingle well in the mouth for the aftertaste.
Medium bodied and medium carbonated. Very creamy and pleasing. Worth having quite a few.
★ 484 characters
Dominion Octoberfest! from Old Dominion Brewing Company
3.57
out of 5
based on 240 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
A: Amber pour with about a finger of white head.
S: Toffee, caramel malts, maybe a grassiness or water mixed in. Sort of strange.
T: The taste is not great. Tons of malts, caramel, the watery taste, dry finish.
MF: Light and carbonated well. Very dry and weird aftertaste that sticks around for a long time
O: One and done, this was no good.
★ 345 characters