Kulmbacher Mönchshof Festbier

Brewed by Kulmbacher Brauerei (Schörghuber)
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Kulmbach, Germany

For those that prefer a kolsch over a pils this is the fest beer for you. This poured a nice gold color with a medium white head. Aroma is faintly sweet some bread with some grass. Taste is light very mildly sweet with a dry finish. The dry finish I found somewhat unusual in a fest beer but a quality I liked very much making this distinctive and very drinkable.

A: On-tap at Novare Res Bier Cafe. Poured with an average-sized, off-white head that had pretty good life to it. Body is completely clear and a dark, amber color. S: Aroma of moderate malt, with a slight sweetness to it. T: Nice, sweet flavor, without being cloying. The malt comes through to a point, but it’s mostly a sweet, almost fruity flavor. Very smooth and refreshing. M: Medium-bodied, slightly creamy, with average carbonation. D: Definitely drinkable... not sure how available this beer is, but I’d get it again if I had the chance. May not be an overly special marzen, but still a good beer nonetheless.

14 oz draft outdoors at the Oktoberfest outside of Huber Haus in Omaha, Nebraska. I am the 8th rating right now, I really had no idea I was trying something rare at the time. Nice bonus. Pour is clear golden with a one inch white head that is quite lasting. Aroma is sweet malt and honey. Some faint floral grassiness behind that. Taste is mostly the sweet grassiness. The sweetness is bright, but not lingering or cloying. Palate is thin to medium. Nice level of carbonation, drinkable and certainly inoffensive. I only had time for one before the drive home, though I could see this as a very quaffable beer for the festival. Fun event, by the way!

On tap at the 2009 Huber Haus Oktoberfest. This is touted to be the first time that this beer is served at the Huber Haus according to the Owner of the bar. I was at the festival last year and did not see this beer (attention theisti). Dark golden color with a medium frothy white head. This has a biot more graininess to the aroma, and a slight biscuit scent. Malt sweetness is present, but lighter than many of the fest beers of this ilk. Again, the finishing palate of the Monchshof beers is just slightly on the harsh side for me. Good beer, though.

(Bottle 50 cl) Clear, pilsener golden with a dense, white head. Clean, sweetish malt aroma. Quite full-bodied with a solid, clean and sweetish malt base with the bitterness being pretty much absent. Solid, German quality. 101207

(Tap) I had the pleasure of trying this beer on tap for my 1000th rating at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL. Pours a tawny golden color with a good amount of fluffy white head. Aroma of grains and biscuit. Taste is quite dry, with sweet grass and light grains. Light hopping eliminates the sweet light caramel notes for a dry and refreshing finish. Palate a little on the light side for the style. Still very drinkable, which is exactly what a good Festbier should be.

Golden coloured. Rather malty and hoppy. Soft mouthfeel. Very well balanced. I could drink lots of this.

The aroma is sweet malty with notes of hops. The color is golden and it has a small white disappearing head. The flavor is sweet and dominated by aroma hops. A very wellbalanced beer, and a good fest bier.