Gordon Biersch Festbier

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Palo Alto, California USA

Draft at Virginia Beach. Pours clear amber in color with white head. Aroma of sweet malt and spicy. Taste of sweet malt and spice with clean finish. Good drinking beer, nothing very special.

The beer poured a slightly hazy amber color with a two finger creamy white head that slowly erodes leaving a fine coating of lace to conceal the glass. Nose has a sweet malt aroma; earthy, spicy, crisp and pleasant, start has a sweet malt profile, light hop bitterness at back, top medium in feel. Finish has a determined acidity, hops mild but pleasing in their bite, dry lingering aftertaste, a quite nice beer, well worth a sample
Earlier Rating: 10/22/2000 Total Score: 3.8
The beer poured a slightly hazy amber color with a two finger creamy white head that slowly erodes leaving a fine coating of lace to conceal the glass. Nose has a sweet malt aroma; earthy, spicy, crisp and pleasant, start has a sweet malt profile, light hop bitterness at back, top medium in feel. Finish has a determined acidity, hops mild but pleasing in their bite, dry lingering aftertaste, a quite nice beer, well worth a sample

Draft at the Virginia Beach location. Crystal clear amber with a beige head. Sweet caramel nose, a touch floral. Caramel and light biscuit flavors. Mild floral bite in the finish. A nice drinker, but unremarkable.

From the tap this poured a pale amber/gold body with a decent head that hung around for the duration. The nose held some sweet grainy malts, a touch of toast, and a glimmer of earthy hops. The flavor was bready and had some white bread toast with a mild hoppy bitterness to balance it out. Okay.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Bolingbrook, IL<font size=-1>

Pour was amber with little cream-colored head. Nose and taste were of strong sweet malt with minimal hops. Not my favorite marzen, very simple easy drinker.

Date: November 05, 2005
Mode: Draft
Source: Atlanta
Appearance: clear amber, thn beige head
Aroma: sweet carmel malt aroma
Flavor: sweet carmel malt aroma flavor
Overall: touch of bready biscuit character, good lingering sweetness

Date: October 25, 2008
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub atlanta
Score: 3.4 to 3.5
Appearance: hazy orange, creamy off white head
Aroma: dry malt aroma, nice bready character, touch of munich sweetness
Flavor: sweet caramel and munich malt flavor, nice bready character, light earthyness for balance

Date: October 14, 2009
Mode: draft
Source: brewpub buckhead
Score: 3.5 to 3.1
Appearance: hazy orange, lasting fine off white head, dripy lace
Aroma: dry malt aroma, lots of earthyness, hint of sweetness
Flavor: rich malt flavor, light breadyness, touch of sweetness is well balanced by a big earthyness, only upon warming does the rich munich character begin to emerge
Overall: much earthier this year with just a light sweetness, seams lighter overall as well

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: *4

Sampled at one of their brewhouses in San Jose. Has a pour like an IPA and orange brown. Had a smooth drink and a decent flavor. Overall one of the best from GB but not great.

Draft at Gordon Biersch in Virginia Beach. Got this in the one liter glass stein. Hazy copper. Nose is malty with some floral notes, some spicy hoppiness and light caramel. Taste is more chewy malts, caramel, spicy hops, light bready notes and dried fruits. Body is medium with a creamy carbonation feel. Ends with a bit more hops, light spice, fruit and sweet malts.