This one fits the same category as the Saranac Octoberfest. It pours darker – a dark red/amber color, and it has a frothy head that dissipates quickly with minimal lacing. It has a malty smell with maybe a little fruit and a sort of toasty scent.
I’ve read some complaints that this beer is too malty, but I’ll give the opposite assessment: the hops jump right out and bite you, and the maltiness suffers a bit from the overbearing hops. Starts with a roasted grain, carries a slightly metallic flavor to it, and finishes with a bitter kick. It wasn’t a bad taste, just not as balanced as I’d like.
I wouldn’t call it an easy-to-drink beer; I never poured myself a second. It’s a little too crisp and overcarbonated. Medium-bodied.
This is my first experience with a Brooklyn Brewery beer. I probably won’t be rushing to try another. As far as Octoberfests go, Sam Adams is still the winner so far (well, except for Rohrbach’s, but that’s a local brewery that doesn’t ship its stuff around the country).
Not sure I’ll get to any new O’fests this year. Winter lagers and ales are coming next.
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I had a Spaten Oktoberfest over the weekend, and it was pretty good. I think I like the Sam Adams’ one a bit more, but that could just be due to a larger sample size.
Our local grocery store carries some Spaten beers, but I haven’t seen the Oktoberfest yet.