Das Kettlehead
Kettlehead Brewing Company

 

 

Well it's that time of the year and I was fortunate to try this on tap at the source. Being a fave style of mine I'm probably overly critical as this is a good beer. It tastes pretty much as it should with a decently light toasted quality and some caramel sweetness well-balanced. However, it's got a light/watery mouthfeel that detracts overall. Would try again in future batches.

From a 16oz can, canned pretty much yesterday, I think. Served in a Hill Farmstead-branded big-ass ol’ mug.

Pours an amber, unfiltered apple cider-sort-of-color with a finger or so of soft, putty colored foam. Retention is unremarkable but leaves a fizzy cap and an easily roused thin curtain of slippery lacing.

Smell is richly malty, thick and earthy, caramel, mushrooms and damp leaves. Nice.

Taste is earthy and malty, light toast, damp leaves, mildly sweet caramel-ly cigarette tobacco. A long-lasting earthy-smoky, bitter toast finish.

Feel is round, smooth and creamy, medium-hefty bodied with gentle but adequate carbonation.

Overall, pretty much spot on to the style - given a cheerfully heavy-handed American approach to ingredients and process. Terrific depth of flavour. I don’t know if this is the best Märzen I’ve ever had but it’s the one I’ve enjoyed the best.

Poured into an 8 oz at the source. Pours a very attractive bright orange, with a finger white head that leaves spotty lace throughout.

Smell caramel, toffee, biscuit grain, some dark fruit, and maybe a hint of vanilla.

Taste follows caramel and toffee, a hint dark fruit and vanilla, and a nice biscuit.

Mouthfeel is medium, plenty of life, not dry, and drinks very easy at 5.5%, but still more complex than most beers this size.

Overall not my style these day, but an excellent Octoberfest.