Amsterdam Oktoberfest (2006)

on draft at Smokeless Joes, brown copper colour, smoked peat on the nose, decent brew, not as smokey as i would have liked but nice. could have drank a few more pints

Tap at Volo. Malty nose, slightly medicinal with hints of vanilla, darker roasted accents show up late. Brown appearance with neat ruby hue, bright white top contrasting neatly with darker base. I was surprised with smoked malts up front which were well balanced and leaving long lasting aftertaste. Late mineral touches. Smoked Okto?

Draught at Smokeless Joe. Pours a clear reddish-amber with a spare diminishing white head. Mild, sweet malty aroma with some faint smoke. Watery flavour of sweet malt, faint smoke and a very light bitterness. There’s an unpleasant hint of alcohol/metal in the flavour and I didn’t care much for the aftertaste. Light bodied. Another mediocre (at best) Amesterdam beer.

Draught. At Volo. Poured a deep clear copper with a decent white head. Aroma of roast malt, woodsmoke and peat, mild hops. When I tasted it I had to ask if they’d poured me a Church Key Holy Smoke instead - very smokey and earthy, tangy roast malt and mild herbal hops for a base - I really liked it, I didn’t get metal, I got a nice minerally peat character to it. Medium body but nice and sticky, lightly carbonated and astringent with a reasonably quick minerally finish - easily one of the best Amsterdams yet - almost a rauchbier.