I will admit that the first beer from Shmaltz Brewing Co. that I purchased was because the label caught my eye. The second, third, and every one since was because behind the really cool labels are some really good beers. They got me hooked and it all started with a crazy smiling face. I am sure their marketing department loves to hear that!
Since you will be seeing more Shmaltz reviews along the way, I should explain that they have two lines (for lack of a better word at this moment) of beer . . . HE’BREW Beer and Coney Island Craft Lagers.
Brewery: Shmaltz Brewing Co. (Saratoga Springs, NY – based in San Francisco, CA)
Name: (Coney Island) Freaktoberfest
Style: European Amber Lager / Oktoberfest . . . I think
ABV: 6.66%
Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pilsner glass. 1 pint 6 oz for $4.99
Aroma: Moderate malt aroma with no real hop nose to speak of. Very clean, as I would expect from a lager.
Appearance: Red, I am talking red velvet cake red. I have never seen any beer close to that color (and haven’t since). It does have a hint of copper color when held to light. Has a two-finger, light red/pinkish head that dissipates slowly and leaves a pretty heavy trail. Quite clear with visible rising bubbles.
Flavor: Smooth malty flavor prominent . . . more complex malt flavor than expected. Slight sweetness with some hop flavor near the finish. Finishes slightly dry with a touch of hop bitterness. The balance leans to the malty side.
Mouthfeel: Medium body and medium level of carbonation. It is smooth and creamy (for a lager especially) and has no lingering aftertaste.
Overall Impressions: Wow it is red! An easy drinking, enjoyable beer and good value (another good thing about Shmaltz brews). Higher in alcohol than typical in the style category. Looking back, it’s not the best Shmaltz beer that I have tried, but still nice.
Grade: B (in that range)
Coney Island Freaktoberfest
Hey Lucas. This is Zak from Shmaltz Brewing Company. Thanks so much for all of the support. It’s great to hear that you like the marketing (what’s a marketing department?) but it’s even greater to hear that you like the beers. Freaktoberfest is our…uh…freakiest of all of our beers. It’s actually not an Oktoberfest style (much confusion on that last year). We release it right after Oktoberfest and it’s available through Halloween (which is why it’s 6.66% alcohol and blood-red). Imagine taking it to a Halloween party. Sweeeet. Cheers!
Thank you for making such excellent beer! It’s very satisfying to get some feedback from one of my favorite breweries when this blog is only a week old. I will do my best to be your unofficial marketing department here in Florida as I know that I have at least five more Shmaltz brews reviewed and ready to post . . . that should be a good start.
I also appreciate the style clarification. As you could see I was not at all certain where it belonged, but that is another interesting thing about the Coney Island Lagers . . . they are different, in a good way.
Thanks again for the great beer and cheers to Shmaltz!