O Zapft
4 By 4 Brewing Company

12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden amber color with a small, off-white head of foam. It left thin rings of lace. It smelled of caramel, toffee and bready malt. Sweet caramel and toffee taste with a touch of bitterness.

Its college football Saturday, its fairly cold outside and its Oktoberfest season, which means its a perfect time for a cold beer. Bought at a Pricecutter in Republic MO and poured into a small glass for color and smell purposes. I have never had 4 By 4 brewing even though I live about 5 miles from the brewery, so with that said lets get into it the review.

Look of the can: As I do with all of my reviews, I start out with the look of can. I like the dark green backdrop with the autumn fall logo in front, followed by the 4 by 4 brewing font on top, can looks sleek.
Look of the beer: Light amber color, almost looks like honey, light carbonation and fades away quickly.
Smell of the beer: I have been dealing with major nasal congestion lately, so my smellers maybe off, but I get strong banana bready notes along with bold maltness,
Taste of the beer: Again I get the banana bread taste along with a bold maltness mixed with a bit of nuttyness, This taste really good for an Oktoberfest beer
feel: Its an oktoberfest beer, its going to be a bit bitter and this is no different.
Overall: its a solid beer for a cold autumn day! 4/5

 

Climbing down from our high hops of summer, a new flavor hits town and ushers in a closure to warmer weather as the palate takes a turn for the cold as well. It's Oktoberfest season and the 4 By 4 brewers ushering us into fall with malty glee.

Pouring with a burnish amber depth of color and cast in a rather clear gaze, O Zapft Is! hits the nose with a bolder than usual luxurious malt perfume. Caramelized, honey-like and nutty, the toasted grains capture the nose with a candied nuttiness just ahead of an equally elegant flavor of granola, graham cracker and toasted honey.

Though sweet, the beer isn't without balance or complexity. The toasted nuttiness extends onto the middle palate along with a light floral hint from hops that transition into a slightly citrusy, slightly minty and a playful bitter bite just to take an edge off of the sweetness.

Medium bodied and starting to share some aspects with Amber Ale, the O Zapft It! is heftier and more simplistic than more traditional Bavarian brewed versions of Marzen, but stopping shy of the deep caramelization of red ale keeps this brand finding favor among lovers of those malty German-styled lagers.