Dominion Octoberfest

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

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.

Beautiful deep hazed/nearly opaque coppery color with a thin cream colored head that fades slowly, very minimal lace in spots. Nose is roasted grains, dry bread, crispy malts, pretty hefty in that dept., and super nice to wiff in. Reminds of a late autumn field of dried prairie and sedge grasses. Hops are dried and herbal giving some depth to its aroma as well. Great O'fest nose on this. Taste is mellower then expected. Thinking it was going to be crispy and dried, but comes across softer then what the smell portrayed. Malts are substantial and pretty thick and lends just the perfect favorable amount of roasted character that I like in a fest. Nice mellowing ease and creamyness in the malts. Some breadish qualities dance and mix with a light yeasty-like sourdough at the middle and goes into a creamy length of smoothness towards the finish. Hops detectable in small amounts, what comes through is mostly in the finish with a herbal light spice of dried flowers. Feel is nearly perfect, has lots of starting power that builds to the middle and smooths out into a delightfully easy creamy finish and keeping a super mellowness throughout the ride. One hell of an O'fest.

Very nice Okt. Copper with a nice head that slowly faded. Aroma focused on a roasty malt, with some floral underpinnings. Flavor also centered around a nice roastiness, with a hoppy finish that was floral and a touch herbal. Very well done, similar to the Legend Okt, but less malty and more hoppy.

A very nice looking beer and perfect for an autumn afternoon. Unfortunately the bottle itself was "skunky". I loved the caramel taste.

On draft at the brewpub, 9/1/05: Dark copper; interestingly hoppy nose ... solid caramel malt flavors without the candy caramel. Excellent.

Shrinking head, with nose of balanced hops and sweet malt. Medium body frames the hops and malt balance nicely. I would say that this is a near-replica of Victory’s version, but with a tiny bit more hop character. Excellent.

(Bottled 9/04/02) Big head that shrinks to a small one. Wonderful nose, lots of sweet malt and a touch of hops. The palate is medium in body. Good malt character. Very clean and well-rounded. A must try oktoberfest.

Quite balanced. As others have said, a bit hoppier than other versions, but very similar overall to Victory’s Festbier. A study in balance. A very very good American lager from a brewer who knows what they’re doing. Courtesy Urbnhaut.