Baron Oktoberfest

05-Jan-08 (22-oz bottle: Purchased 04-Dec-07 for $3.92 from liquidsolutions.biz) Soured fruits is not a flavor that should be present in an Oktoberfest, but this is the principle flavor at work here. It’s also very toasty, dry and mildly acidic with light butteriness and a hint of citrusy hop bitterness. However, it’s that sour quality that stands out in sharp contrast and does so rather prominently. Identical aromas: soured fruit and buttered toast. Light-medium in body, dry and tart mouthfeel with low-medium carbonation. Hazy, amber in color, capped by a small, off-white head that fades away pretty quickly, leaving no lacing. Obviously a flawed bottle with an infection beginning to take hold, but not a necessary drain pour yet. It’s still drinkable if you’re desperate and it’s the only beer you have left.

[Bottle, thanks Skyview] Pours dark amber with a small off-white head. Aroma is sweet malt, musty, and overall not very good. Taste is is also sweet with a good deal of malt, but there is a hint of sourness in there too. Medium mouthfeel. Well, this was better than the Pils, but still not very good.

Bomber from Liquid Solutions. Aroma of caramel. Amber color and no head, just bubbles on a pond. Near medium body with mild creamy carbonation. The flavor is sweet malt with some balancing bitter. Something like a light note of sour apple pops up once in awhile. Finish is a slightly bitter remnant after the sugar drains away.

Brown color. Lots of hops for the style. Medium palate, and just a hint of malt. Drinkable enough, if forgettable.

Thanks to Skyview. Cloudy copper color with no head. Caramel aroma with plenty of Noble hop. A bit of sourness that carries to the flavor. More sweet caramel. Simple but good.