Oktoberfest
Goodwood Brewing Co.

 

Single can from Party Source
Clear amber color with a copper hue. Finger thick foam with fair retention.
Mild toasted malts aroma and taste with a subtle sweet and bitter finish.
Could have a bit more malt character.

Touting authenticity, tradition and history, the brewers of Goodwood ring in the fall festival season with a German-styled fest beer with a toastier, nuttier edge.

Dark copper and perhaps on the bronze side of brown, the frothy Oktoberfest leads with a deeply savory, toasty and nutty scent that's void of any floral notions. Resembling the sweet and savory combination that's usually found in Cracker Jacks candy snacks, the taste opens up with the char of caramel and toffee.

The richness and toasted savory flavors intensify across the middle palate while opening up to the not-so-nuanced taste of toasted chestnut, charred woods and peanut brittle. Broad and woodsy late in taste, the bitterness is nearly that of coffee and cocoa while adding to the acidic char of grains.

Medium bodied but robust in taste, the beer is much stronger in its assertive toasted malt flavor than is typical for festbier, other German beer styles of Altbier, standard strength Bock beer and Dunkel all come to mind while sipping and savoring this one. Its certainly not the typical Oktoberfest beer but its quite tasty nonetheless.

12oz can PACKED ON 08-05-19 (1 month ago) poured into a 500mL krug at fridge temp 4.5% ABV 31.5 IBU per can. The beer pours mostly bright rusty copper in color with off white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and leaves a little lacing. The aroma is faint with rustic grain (rye, spelt etc.) and a little earthy hops. The taste is more of the same with an earthy hop and strong dark grain taste gently rolling into a moderately bitter finish. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, really good beer to my taste, but not exactly an Oktoberfest. ABV is low and IBUs are high, but this beer is very drinkable. No flaws or off flavors. No trace of American caramel malt, which, along with C hops are my two pet peeves among poser Oktoberfests. Goodwood's website doesn't list this beer yet, but it could be cedar aged. I would drink and buy again despite the numbers (rated to style).