Scratch Beer 23 - 2009
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 23 - 2009Scratch Beer 23 - 2009
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Märzen
ABV:
5.1%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 10.81%
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
28
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 08, 2013
Added:
Sep 03, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
In honor of Oktoberfest, we give you Scratch #23-2009, Kellar Fest. This unfiltered lager features all German malts and noble hops. Fermented with the Augustinerbrau yeast strain, Kellar Fest is a blend of Bohemian Pils, Munich and Vienna malts. The Magnum hops provide a crisp bitterness and the Hallertau noble hops impart a slight earthy taste. Kellar Fest finishes crisp and dry with hints of fruit. Grab a lamb handle and savor this Kellar Fest.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Slatetank:
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
I picked this up at the Brewery in Harrisburg, poured chilled into a lager mug from the brown 12ozer.

A - A color slightly darker than honey w/ a 2 1/2 finger rocky light beige cap. A thick film is left on the glass by the lace

S - A creamy bready nose w/ mild hops which have an herbal tinge. The yeast is the main player here w/ german qualities like earthy and slightly mineral aromas

M - A mild body w/ moderate carbonation slick, and creamy w/ a hint of spice, but very mild bitterness. The finish is light toasted, grainy notes

T - A great mineral lager flavor w/ yeast flavor and gentle acid of German hops leads and is trailed by a light toasted biscuit and bready malt yeast mix w/ mild caramel sweetness as it finishes

D - A flavorful fest + very tasty lager it has the qualities of octoberfests made w/ great skill + I find this fest quaffable - 'a beers beer', as my friend JC said.
Sep 29, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Nov 08, 2013
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
First and foremost, this rating is based on how this one is drinking right now, not in the past.

Big thanks to whoever brought this one to Imminent Liquidation II. One of the last Scratch Beers I have been searching for, only eight more to go!

A - Pours clear amber orange with a decent one finger tall white head leaving no lace at all down the glass. Looked promising initially but it quickly dies out as it sits in the glass.

S - Smells of mildly toasted grains, a bit of sweet caramel malt and some very faint spicy hop bitterness. A touch of wet cardboard crept in at the end, this one really is getting old.

T - Starts off with a mix of caramel malt sweetness and some mildly toasted bread chewiness that never really leave the picture. Some very light spicy hop bitterness creeps in but it fades very quickly, being replaced by some mild oxidation. Finish is a jumbled mix of the aforementioned flavors.

M - Still pretty good. Toasty, slightly oxidized feel with dulled flavors and moderately carbonation. The feel of this beer seems to be holding up the best compared to the other parts.

O - This one is obviously well past its prime. If you still have one of these I suggest you drink it very soon before it goes completely off the cliff.
Mar 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by Khazadum from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
It was the scratch beer festival night! i had spent a good deal of time collecting these and finally tracked down the last of what i needed and put them all down in a massive tasting. Split with my brother in law and his buddy on 5/6, these were all split into 6 ounce samplers.

The pour was decent with a very clear amber color coming forward right away. Nice little puff of white up on top that settled down into nothing but left a touch of a broken crown on the sides and the bottom. Lots of carbonation here is becoming very evident as I look through it. The aroma though was rather plain. Light grain and hints of bready malts. Slight hop finish but everything was honestly too light to really make much of a difference. Crisp, clean flavor and a smooth and light body, but again nothing really jumping out at me to make this anything but average for the style. Very drinkable but nothing to write home about.
May 20, 2011
Photo of portia99
Reviewed by portia99 from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle poured into a Portsmouth tulip.

A - Pouring into the center of the glass yields a yeasty particulate hazed copper color with two thick fingers of dense cream colored foam. Head dies over the course of a minute or two and leaves some sticky lacing on the glass.

S - Malty, caramelly and fruity. Floral and perfumey hop presence.

T - Flavor follows the aroma closely with a solid malt base consisting of some breadiness, sugar sweetness and caramel. Mid level bitterness that mainly serves to balance the malt. A solid Oktoberfest beer.

M - Medium body and carbonation level. Overall malty impression with a slight sticky sweet coating effect on the mouth.

D - A good oktoberfest. I couldn't drink a lot of this though. Malt is a bit too sweet and sugary but still well within style...more of a personal preference issue for me. Overall, I'd say this is pretty sessionable for those with a taste for this style.
Dec 19, 2010
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes.

Pours a moderate orange copper color with a bit of browner darkness. A bit of an off white head with a bit of lace rings on the way down my pilsner glass. THe nose brings forward some moderate sweetness as well as some light hops. The dominant characteristics are definitely sweet caramel and a bit of bread. The taste is mild hops along with bread, caramel, and toffee. Good body and carbonation. Nothing terribly unique about this brew, just an average marzen. I prefer when they stretch styles with these brews.
Oct 24, 2010
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

2.93/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured into my Samuel Adams Glass at 42 degrees.

Appearance: Two finger creamy off white head that has pour retention, although there is a quarter finger ring left. The color of the beer is warm orange hue with red and yellow highlights. The clarity of the beer is hazy. There is a lot of yeast and effervescee visible.

Nose: Medium malt barley aroma with bread, yeast, lemons, phenols, and some fruity esters. There is a sublte sour note in the beer. This beer has been in my cellar for a while.

Taste: A mild barley flavor with yeast, lemons, fruity esters, floral, phenols, wtih a toasty note.

The mouth feel is slightly flat with some carbonation and sublte astringentness.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium light. The finish is mild. This is just an ok Marzen, there is no flavor or deepth. It is still drinkable nonetheless.
Oct 17, 2010
Photo of RedBrewer83
Reviewed by RedBrewer83 from Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Aggressive pour into pint glass...

A: Pours a burnt orange clear body with a three finger creamy white head that quickly falls to two fingers and then lingers leaving nice lacing.

S: Toasted bread malt, grassy floral hops, light fruit very faint grapes and just a hint of tart lemon.

T: Follows the nose for the most part, leading off with the tart lemon and floral hops and then the bready malt comes through mid-palate and the finish is grassy and dry.

M: Lighter body with active carbonation and a smooth dry finish that leaves you thirsty for more.

D: Balanced flavors and clean finish makes this extremely drinkable, very nice marzen!
Feb 16, 2010
Photo of ClockworkOrange
Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Deuane for throwing a bottle of this my way. Poured into my Tröegs shaker glass. Appears a hazy golden amber color with about a finger of lingering off white foam. Nose and flavors consist of lightly toasted bread, fruity white grapes, mild caramel notes, grains, could use a bit more malt sweetness. Medium in both body and carbonation with a slightly sour and bitter finish. Thanks again D!
Feb 05, 2010
Photo of BeerTruth
Reviewed by BeerTruth from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got this one from douche nozzle younger35, thanks man!

12 oz. bottle poured into a standard pint glass.

Pours a murky brown/orange with a one finger off-white head. Minimal webbing with sediment floating throughout the beer. Nose is pretty basic for the style; pale malt, biscuit, grains, and some honey. Taste is much of the same with the addition of earthy and faint citrus sweetness. The clean hops are there from start to finish making this a very solid lager. Medium body with a creamy soft feel and mild carbonation. I know this has a couple months on it, but I'm still pretty impressed. I really wish I got my hands on this fresh because even now it's a damn tasty lager. Here we go, another Scratch beer I wish they'd make again.
Jan 09, 2010
Photo of mikereaser
Reviewed by mikereaser from Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle on 11/30/09

A - pours a hazy amber color with just a bit of foam

S - light malt, some sweetness, bready

T - lemon, light malt, some corriander, bready with some light hops

M - light, crisp mouthfeel, good carbonation

D - very good flavor & light enough to drink many
Jan 07, 2010
Photo of rayjay
Reviewed by rayjay from Hawaii

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Definitely a solid Marzen, received via Secret Santa BIF 09, poured into a pint glass.

Lots of sulfury lager characteristics here, and more of that pronounced water component I get from this brewery. A pale and hazy beer with a thin head. Very nice noble hop aromas and a pronounced bitterness. I like these "double pilsner" type interpretations of Marzens like this. Perhaps not double the strength, but certainly double the body and flavor. Lots of Munich malt going on here, I like that too. Solid. Cheers!
Jan 06, 2010
Photo of younger35
Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Generosity received this brew from SkinnyElvis as he answered my call to help keep my Scratch brew run alive. I say before I drink every one of these brews that they seem to sort of be hit or miss but as long as they aren't 'Belgium inspired', they are usually quite good. Drank from my Surly nonic pint glass.

Appearance- Pours a fairly light golden yellowish with a bit of chill haze and a small half finger bright white head. A sort of weird looking randomly spotty cap and thin collar with little lacing.
Smell- Smells pretty much just like you'd expect a Märzen to smell with just a touch more hops than usual. Nicely malty with that raw grainy toast that just sort of smells like Fall. A citric kick from the hops are a bit more intense than a regular Oktoberfest as they're slightly lemony and nice.
Taste- The taste isn't quite as sharp as I was expecting. Sort of a muted toasted maltiness with a light Special K like flavor. Even a sort of corn/maize like sweetness before a light hoppiness steps in. Nothing over the top but just enough to balance everything.
Mouthfeel- Mediumish feel with a light crispness and sharp carbonation.
Drinkability- Overall nothing special but definitely tasty. It's probably slightly more hoppy than most Märzens and that's a good thing. Definitely glad I got to try this brew before it was too late! Thanks much Sam!
Jan 05, 2010
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
Bottle via trade thanks to KnightRider on BA.

Pours a hazy golden color with a one-finger white head and very good lacing.

Aroma is bread, pale malt, caramel, and some grain.

Flavor is similar - bready and slightly grainy with slight caramel and some sugary sweetness. Very mild grassy hops. Like a mix between a zwickel/kellerbier and an oktoberfest really, which is fairly interesting.

Palate is medium-light, smooth, and sweet. This is very refreshing, not terribly exciting, but good.

Drinkability is really off the charts. Goes down easier than water, and tastes a lot better too.
Dec 18, 2009
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle purchased at Capone's for $4.00 (tax included)

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy and fairly dull orange with honey folds. The head is 1 finger, white, shows a touch of retention and lace.

Smell: Smells like yeast, german hops, and urine soaked hay.

Taste: Faintly toasted sweet grain with herbal hops and a bready yeast. The finish is right btw sweet and dry.

Mouthfeel: Crisp yet creamy with a medium body.

Drinkability: Quite sessionable
Dec 06, 2009
Photo of jera1350
Reviewed by jera1350 from Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to krisandajt for this one.

Pours a cloudy orange color with thin layer of off-white head.

Wheaty, with some funky yeast and lightly roasted and sweet malt. Hints of orange and coriander.

Lager malt, hint of spice. Pretty heavy on orange peel and lemon zest. Tastes more of a pale lager than marzen.

Smooth, but kind of thin for this style.

Very drinkable beer, just not sure how well it fits this style. This would make a nice summer beer, but Oktoberfest, not so much. I will say, I think this Scratch Series is a very cool idea though.
Nov 28, 2009
Photo of cpetrone84
Reviewed by cpetrone84 from Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-nice golden amber color, very hazy, thick white head, leaves a light lace on the glass

S-very small aromas of a slight bready yeast and some caramel malt

T-light caramel malt, hints of doughy bread, taste of pale malt, touch of citrus

M-smooth and clean with a light carbonation

D-this is a pretty tasty oktoberfest, it tastes pretty light and is a nice american version of the beer.
Nov 20, 2009
Scratch Beer 23 - 2009 from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 28 ratings