So I've had plenty of Oktoberfest beers but surprisingly, none from Germany. The country from which the style originates. Let's not beat around the bush for one more moment. Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen, 5.8% ABV. To the beer!
Ayinger's Oktober Fest pours a very pretty slightly hazed coppery amber with bright red gold highlights. It's capped by a finger of creamy off white head.
The aromas on this one are pretty terrific. Robust bready caramel/ toffee malt is joined by a biscuity character. Everything is nice and sweet but there is a balancing earthy, floral, peppery hoppiness going on as well.
The beer is medium in body with a wonderfully creamy yet kind of slick and smooth mouthfeel. The flavors lead with a bready sweet maltiness. A mild peppery herbal hop flavor comes out on the center. The hop bitterness is exceptionally balanced by a full sweet caramel toffee malt. It finishes with a mild crisp bitterness.
This beer is pretty tremendous. Simple, straighhtforward, with phenomenal flavors. You'd be hard pressed to find an Oktoberfest much better than this one.
HD
If your picture is of the actual bottle you got your beer from, then you were drinking last year's Oktoberfest. This years label has lost the 'gold' part for a green colored label.
ReplyDeletehttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Ayinger_Maerzen_2013.JPG/220px-Ayinger_Maerzen_2013.JPG
I got burned this year at PartySource, they held on to some bottles, and their distributor sent them more of the same 2012s. Jungle Jim's Fairfield had 2013s and it's a dollar cheaper.
Last year, the 2012 was wonderful but drinking 2012 this year has soured. I feel like the 2013 wasn't quite as good as the 2012. but still one of the best!
~john
Huh, interesting. Well, even if it was old it was still pretty damned tasty! Thanks for the heads up!
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