Dominion Octoberfest

Brewed by Old Dominion Brewing Co.
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Dover, Delaware USA

Slightly hazy copper body with a small creamy off-white head. Sweet malty aroma with some light spice. Light malty flavor with some mild spice.

(Draught) Pours a clear copper body with a moderate off-white head. Aroma of caramel, earthiness, and nuts. Dominant caramel malt with little else for flavor.

Clear orange color with a slight bit of red hue. No head. No lacing (the glass was clean as a whistle after each sip). The aroma was somewhat bread like with caramel malts detectable (right on for the style). The finish was bitter and hoppy and there wasn’t enough spice going on for me for an Oktoberfest. Mouthfeel was flat. Medicore for the style, but as it warmed it got better (minus the flat mouthfeel).

Pours a Newcastle Ale color brown. Very flat head, with a musty citrusy scent.Sweetness to almost bitter, tending towards apple and sour. Light creamyness on the mouth, but still sips like water. Not getting much in the way of malts, hops, nor grains, maybe a bad bottle (2005 Edition - Poured 04/18/2006)

Pours dark orange with a fully receding white head. Aroma of toffee, butterscotch, and toasted malts. Taste is sweet with caramel malt and some grainy astringency. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with soft carbonation.

Here is an outstanding example of Octoberfest/Marzen from the Old Dominion Brewing Company, of Ashburn, VA. This is Dominion’s fall seasonal, and they pay tribute to Octoberfest with this exceptional beer. Dominion uses imported German malts and hops, and the decoction method in the brewing of this beer, and it definatley shows This is a very accurate example of Octoberfest/Marzen, and is quite delicious. It is a notch below the Germans in my opinion, but in the top tier of domestics. This beer pours to a bright amber color with a nice white head, and good carbonation. The nose is very malty. The "toasty" malt character is there, as well as nutty malt aromas. The palate displays more great toasty and nutty malt flavors. The body is firm, clean and round. This is a very good, hearty, drinkable beer. It might seem like I am repeating myself, doing reviews of other Octoberfests/Marzens, but in this case, that is a good thing. This is what Octoberfest/Marzen should taste like, and Dominion Octobfest delivers. This beer finishes malty, and has just the right amount of hop presence to balance this beer out. Octobefest/Marzen showcases malt, if you want to know what toasty, nutty malt flavors and aromas are, this beer is a great example to show you just what an American brewery’s take on Marzen is. A hearty, and delicious beer, this goes great with of course German fare, and roasted meats and fowl. I would also use this as an ingredient, and pair it with a hearty beef stew. Great fall seasonal, from a great brewery.

Bottled on 9/29. Poured a clear, sparkly orange with s short-lived off-white head. Nose picked up caramel malts, nuttiness, toffee, and crisp fallen leaves. Flavors of sticky caramel, floral/grassy hoppage, and other assorted half-roasty sweetness abound... certainly tasty for the style. Light-bodied, and only a decent balance between the malty smoothness and the bittering hops. Brown sugar adds sweetness to the caramel at the finish. Tasty brew.

Orange/amber/copper, with a white head. Aromas of sweet malt, hops, brown sugar, and a little fruit. Flavors are fruit, malt, and a little bit of hops. Body is way too light. Thanks to Jasonp for this bottle.