Abita Brewing Company – Amber

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Dec 172010
 

The decision process for this review basically boiled down to a choice between doing a review from the same brewery or going with one of the same beer style. The same brewery won out this time in a coin flip situation.

For the longest time (before I started studying beer like I do now) I thought this beer was an American Amber Ale really just because of the name. For that reason, among many others, I check my style assumptions in as many places as I can before I write down the final verdict.

For the final review of this week . . .

Brewery: Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA)

Name: Amber

Style: Oktoberfest / Märzen

ABV: 4.50%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.

Aroma: Full, sweet, malty aroma with some light toasted notes. Fairly light and clean overall.

Appearance: Golden orangey amber in color. One finger, off-white head that is frothy with good retention and leaving a nice trail. Crystal clear with rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Pretty light malty sweetness with some toasted and slightly nutty(?) notes. Very light bitterness with out any real hop flavor(s). Slight dryness at the finish. Clean overall flavor with the balance to malty.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a moderate level of carbonation. Slightly crisp and somewhat creamy on the palate (more so than expected via appearance).

Overall Impressions: Clean and very drinkable (could do many), but I am not really craving another. Flavor is rather blah overall though with pretty tame components that were tough to pick out. Best really cold.

Grade: C+

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Abita Brewing Company - Amber

4899992716 3d6c793a50 Abita Brewing Company Amber

The close up

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Flying Dog Brewery – Dogtoberfest Märzen

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Sep 282010
 

I cannot believe that October is coming up this weekend, but if that means the extreme heat is on the way out of town very soon I am all for it.  Maybe my mind is a bit confused since all of the fall seasonals have been out for what seems like forever now.

This past weekend I finally saw pumpkins in the grocery store which means that I need to get going on brewing my pumpkin ale for the second time.  What it also did was make me wonder how the craft beers out there that do use real pumpkin get it in time to brew and have it ready for release in what is now typically late August?  Maybe we here in Florida are just lagging way behind in our gourd supply, but I would like to know how that all works.

With that out of the way, here is the Tuesday review for the week . . .

Brewery: Flying Dog Brewery (Frederick, MD)

Name: Dogtoberfest Märzen

Style: Oktoberfest / Märzen

ABV: 5.30%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $1.49 for 12oz bottle.  Seasonal release.

Aroma: Full, malty aroma with some slightly toasted notes.  Clean and fairly mild overall.

Appearance: Dark golden to copper color.  One finger, cream color head that is thick with a moderate (or better) level of retention and leaving a slight trail.  Very clear with many tiny, rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Malty sweetness up front with some bitterness and a bit of toasted and caramel flavors toward finish.  Clean finish overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation.  Smooth with some creaminess on the palate.

Overall Impressions: A nice, full flavored lager that I certainly could drink many of.  Well balanced components.  Will look forward to the beer each fall as an Oktoberfest release.

Grade: B+

4303180867 069534c19d Flying Dog Brewery Dogtoberfest Märzen

Flying Dog Brewery - Dogtoberfest Märzen

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Warsteiner Brauerei – Oktoberfest

 Beer Reviews  No Responses »
Aug 312010
 

It is amazing how long ago this review was done, but it did not make much sense to post it during any of the other seasons.  Taking good notes when I do an evaluation does allow me to wait on posting when it makes sense to do so, as it did in this case.

August may even seem early for this one, but since I have started to see fall seasonals released recently and since Oktoberfest actually happens in September, this is probably the appropriate time to get this one out there.  It is still strange for me to see pumpkin beers and such in August, but then again I am in Florida where autumn does not exactly present itself in the same fashion as I remember it growing up.  I will just be glad to get my hands on a pumpkin for my home brewing purposes.

Now, soon to be (if not already) on the shelves . . .

Brewery: Warsteiner Brauerei (Germany)

Name: Oktoberfest

Style: Oktoberfest / Märzen

ABV: 5.90%

Tasting Notes: Stored in the fridge and served in a pint glass.  $11.99 for a 12-pack

Aroma: Full malty aroma with some sweetness.  Clean and lager-like overall (as it should be).

Appearance: Medium gold color.  Slight, off-white head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving no trail.  Very clear with many tiny rising bubbles visible.

Flavor: Light malty sweetness with no real hop flavor and an overall balance to malt.  Slight dryness at the finish with a clean (or non-existent) aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a medium to high level of carbonation that lends some bite.  Smooth, crisp, and slightly creamy.

Overall Impressions: Slightly high alcohol versus typical range for style (4.8-5.7%).  Not big on flavor, but a very easy drinking and refreshing beer.  Pretty good outdoor (or warmer weather) beer.

Grade: C+ to B-

4060395493 ee604b5867 Warsteiner Brauerei Oktoberfest

Warsteiner Brauerei - Oktoberfest

4060395305 86369373c9 Warsteiner Brauerei Oktoberfest

To gain entry

 Posted by Lucas at 7:00 pm  Tagged with: , ,
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