OctoberFest Ale
Old Ivy Brewery and Taproom

 

Had a taster of this today at the brewpub (2009)... C- from the last dude? Wtf? lol..

- Nice light orange/amber... clear.. and a nice large pillow of foamy white head.... down to a huge amount of lacing... very nice.

- Light robust malt.. thinned to perfection with nice grains.. light bitterness for a hop.. bit of pine, and not at all fruity or citrusy which I really like in the style.

- Very refreshing and zingy Okto with mild malt goodness and zest light bitter hopping... really great for the style, and not so bland and boring like many others out there... much closer to the correct style.

- Slightly dry, light oilyness... overall nice.

- A very underrated Okto brew in the local pub market.... Larry brewed up a great seasonal here, and it is worth many more words than I have from even those w/ more experience w/ this style.

The Oktoberfest style is traditionally brewed as a lager. Salmon Creek brews theirs as an ale then allows it to condition for over a month. Despite its relatively prolonged conditioning, the beer is marred by a generally unclean profile with little to speak of for dry toasted malts or crisp lagered refinement. The aroma and flavor corkscrew through a strained and agitated agenda driven home with harsh finality by a cloying finish. The head is impressive, as is the stadium lace. But the dark orange body with its sluggish carbonation lacks clarity and nothing about the beer distinguishes itself as either a lager or an amber ale. I've had worse, but ultimately this beer's recipe and execution cry out for thoughtful revisitation.