Oktoberfest
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Great lakes Oktoberfest 6.5% can from the refrigerator poured into a small glass. Nice Maerzen amber color with tan short-lived head. Aroma is fine. Flavor is a big mouthful. A full roasted malt body is eventually somehow overcome by the hop character, both flavor and bitter. It ends with the lingering hoppiness. For me,this one is just right. It delivers a malt body that few German style lagers do these days. It might be hoppier than a traditional Bavarian lager. But for me, those hops just add to the enjoyment.

Gorgeous burnt orange... Yellow orange head... Nothing really for the nose... but for this beauty the eyes have it.... I could feel the warm alcohol drawing off the head... Yes malt yes carmel... not much like bread... 6.5 ABV... Oh man... It's beyond amber... More orange but with a tan... Full body yes... but not too sweet... Carmel malt flavors this is a treat.... Subtle hops in the back...make it complete... Nicely balanced... an indulgent treat! I haven't seen a marzen in like this in a while... This here beer is 80's style...
It's the way oktobefest was back then.... This beer here is zen (fully present in a classic way)!

On draught.
A copper/amber pour with high clarity, a head that dissipates quickly and leaves no lacing. A little malt and floral on the nose.
Malt forward flavor with some fruit notes. The hops bitterness is fairly well balanced. A little carbonation tingle on the tongue compliments the bitterness at the finish. An enjoyable mild malt aftertaste.

 

One of my favorite US brewers. Unfortunately the higher alcohol content overpowers the taste of this beer.

 

 

 

heavier than cape may

 

Clear amber color with a big, nice-looking, white head. Caramel malt, toasted bread, and some dried fruits in the aroma. Malty taste with balancing hoppy bitterness,

 

12 oz can into a pint glass. Clear copper color with a lumpy off-white head. Pleasantly toasty caramel malt aroma. Taste is full of big caramel malt and toffee flavor, with just a faint hint of herbal hop bitterness. Medium feel. One of the best Oktoberfests.

 

Poured from a 12-oz can well within its date range into a mug.

Look: Just slightly cloudy amber gold, with a massive off-white head with excellent retention, and leaving some lacing.

Nose: Malt, and that’s all, and that’s all it needs!

Attack: Perfect malt, and ditto to the Nose notes.

Finish: Hop bitterness to balance.

Mouthfeel: Medium, perfect carbonation.

Overall: There are a lot of Märzens out there; I’d be hard pressed to identify a better all-around Märzen than this one. It’s deeply flavored, and almost perfectly balanced.

Had on just now on draft. This is the best festival/seasonal beer I’ve ever had. The drink is so unbelievable smooth creamy and balanced. It has all the toasty flavors I like.

Poured chilled from a can into a 16oz pint glass.
Appearance is clear copper. Brief 2-finger head receded quickly. Little to no lacing on the glass .
Aroma is rich malt.
Taste follows the nose in classic Marzen fashion....rich malt, some subtle hop bitterness on the back.
Mouthfeel is medium. Clean finish.
Overall this is a good Oktoberfest Marzen. Rich malt balanced by some bitter on the back end. Pretty good and enjoyable.

 

From a can - poured into a shaker glass.

Head dissipates quickly, lot of carbonation. Dark copper in color, feels smooth on the tongue taste is watery malt.