Hey Bartender

IN MY LAST post, I unraveled some of the mysteries surrounding Oktoberfest. This reminded me that it was time to do my annual unofficial Oktoberfest beer review. As unofficial assignments go, beer reviews are my favorite. When I do these kinds of reviews, I try to find beers that I've never had before, so that I can broaden my horizons while introducing new things to those interested in such things. This year I chose to adhere to the adage think globally, drink locally. To do so, I made my way to the downtown Richmond location of Capital Ale House. Not many places have their selection, so it was easy to find a few new beers to enjoy and discuss.

I found an interesting way to drink this year's batch of beers. I chose only those that I'd never had before and were brewed in the United States. I started with the most locally brewed beer and worked my way out of the city and then out of the state. Obviously, the first beer on the list was Legend's Oktoberfest. Legend uses the Märzen style for its Oktoberfest. Märzen literally means March. Before the advent of refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer during the summer months because of the hot temperatures and the possibility of bacterial infections. Märzens were brewed in March and kept in cold storage during the spring and summer months, so that they wouldn't spoil. This style tends to be full-bodied, rich, toasty and typically dark in color with medium to high alcohol content. Legend hits the target dead center with their Oktoberfest beer. It has a heavy caramel nose that tastes very sweet. It's definitely full-bodied and creamy, and at 5.4% ABV, you can have more than one.

Next, on my virtual crawl I tried St. George's Oktoberfest. For those unfamiliar with St. George Brewing Company, it's located in Hampton, VA. Their Oktoberfest is also done in the Märzen style. It's an amber liquid that has very little head when poured into a glass. The nose has hints of malt and hops. The palate is sweet with some hints of caramel. It's very light compared to Legend, but it's very drinkable.

Round three took me slightly north to Milton, DE, home of Dogfish Head. Punkin Ale is their seasonal beer that usually is released in time for Oktoberfest. It actually made its debut in 1994, nearly six months before Dogfish Head existed. It is a clear amber-colored liquid that screams pumpkin as soon as your olfactory senses kick in. You'll also get hints of cinnamon, brown sugar, allspice, and nutmeg. The taste gave me an idea of what it would be like to bite into the inside of a pumpkin. There may be some clove cleverly hidden in there, but it complements the pumpkin quite nicely. It is medium-bodied with high carbonation and I found it to be quite delicious. At 7.0% ABV, it packs a slight punch.

Continuing north, I discovered Saranac Octoberfest. If you're unfamiliar with the Saranac name, this fine beer is brewed by Matt Brewing Company, located in Utica, NY. Among other things, they claim to have sold the first beers after Prohibition. Their Octoberfest beer is definitely the Adirondack's finest. Like Legend and St. George, Saranac's Oktoberfest is a Märzen. It's a copper/amber color with a malty aroma that gives way to a slight sweetness. The taste was very well balanced with hints of malt and a slight sweetness. It's medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

To balance the east coast bias of this post, my next round hailed from Colorado. New Belgium Brewing's Hoptober Golden Ale is an American Blonde Ale and it's quite different from all the other Oktoberfest beers that I tried. It's golden in color with a big creamy head when poured into a glass. The nose has hints of sweet malt, hops and flowers. It's crisp and refreshing with a nice level of carbonation. It's sweet with light spices and a bit of hoppiness. I found it to be very interesting and the flavor profile was quite different compared to the other beers I tried. It's packaged in 22 ounce bottles and weighs in at 6.00% ABV and it's definitely worth trying.

In my last post, I mentioned that only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich can be designated Oktoberfest Beer and only those beers are served at the Munich festival. I was fortunate enough to find one at Capital Ale House. Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen is probably the prototypical Oktoberfest beer and it's what you should expect when you drink real German beer. It's clear with a slight orange-tinted golden color and an awesome frothy head. The nose is dominated by spicy yeast and pale malt. There were also hints of nuts and hops as well. The taste starts with some really prickly carbonation that yields to spices and yeast. The finish is really clean, but slightly dry. The medium body makes it very drinkable. If you're interested in drinking what is being consumed at the big festival in Munich, this is the best example I've come across in a while.

So, there you have it, the unofficial Octoberfest beer review -- untapped! For most, the fall season means cooler temperatures, shorter days, and colorful leaves on trees. For me, it means that richer, more robust beers will begin to hit the shelves. Oktoberfest signals the beginning of a season full of these great beers that I can enjoy. If you're like me, then this is an exciting time of year. As always, whether enjoying your favorite Oktoberfest beer alone or with friends, please do so responsibly. Until next time...prosit!!!