Of late I’ve been trying to fill in a few gaps in terms of notes and reviews for beers that I’ve drunk a lot of prior, but have never been recorded formally. This time of year there’s obviously great opportunities to do that with Oktoberfests and Festers.

12 oz bottle from a six pack.

Immediately the Festbier (rather than the Marzen) becomes apparent from the appearance. A golden body with a nice, two finger wispy white head. Looks well-carbonated and feels ‘crisp’ – Jesus how I hate that word applied to beer, I prefer ‘well-defined’ or ‘clean’ or ‘clean lines’. Anyway …

Nose has some light grain but not much else to speak of, probably a little too cold to have much impact initially.

Tastes are lightly hoppy with some residual bitterness that lingers, and the aftertaste is quite late to the party. The Noble bitterness is dry, and quite – for want of a better word – “harsh”. All well within parameters of course, with a heavy malt base that that that bitterness sits against. When I say ‘heavy’ that may be a bit of a misnomer since it suggests something less delicious than it actually is, and perhaps more viscous and cloying which most definitely is not.

Sweetness comes through more as it warms, and the beer is insanely drinkable.