MacTarnahans Uncle Ottos Oktoberfest

MacTarnhan(Portland) Brewing is long standing, respected mico, that has produced rock solid beers over the years. Uncle Otto’s is a fantastic domestic example of marzen/Oktoberfest beer, that had me crying for more. The beer is brewed with six different malts, an authentic lager strain, hopped with Mt. Hood and Saaz hops, then cold lagered for a full two months. This makes for a very authentic, very malty, hearty, delicious beer. Uncle Otto’s Oktoberfest pours to a beautiful, deep amber to chestnut color with a thick and creamy white head and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer is wonderfully malty and aromatic with big sweet malty and nutty aromas balanced with some herbal hop aromas. The palate is full and soft on the tongue with lots of big nutty, sweet malty, and toasty malt flavors that glide over the tongue on a smooth, round, body. This beer is so hearty and flavorful but just so drinkable. Uncle Otto’s finishes with more big nutty/malty flavors up front, then ends with some vibrant herbal/grassy hop bitterness to balance out the sweet malty flavors of this beer. This hearty beer is the perfect match with hearty dishes, from stews, to roasts, to brats, take your pick.

pours a dark amber color. Aromas of rich caramel, nuts, and hops. Flavors of toffee, fruit, and a finish of subtle hops.

NOTE: These comments are on a bottle purchased in 2004, and aged until 1/2005. Strong malty aroma, some warming alcohol and fruity esters in the nose. No hop aroma. Deep, warm brown color in the glass, not much head, some belgian lace. The flavor is slightly warm and smooth, with malt dominant and negligible hops. Some raisiney esters in the flavor. Mouthfeel is full and soft, with moderate carbonation. Terrific beer for a cold day -- to make your beer-loving friends’ eyes pop (and release more of the malty aromas and some of the fruity esters in this lovely beer, pop it in the microwave for five to fifteen seconds and drink it slightly warmed.

red amber frothy hue. malty nose with hints of peaches....gives way to a chewy rich mouthfull, sweet goodness of roasted malted crunch. a good example, yeah! prost to your momma!!

Notes from last Thanksgiving. Rich deep copper pour, with aroma of caramel malt, toffee, some spices. Tastes as it smells, with some finishing hops and spice.

This beer is bipolar. It starts out a little tart and seems to like that, but suddenly switches to sweet. Normally this would be no big deal; plenty of beers do this. But given that it is an Oktoberfest, this puzzles me somewhat. I guess that’s what you get for let a Scot brew a German spezialty.

Bottled. Nut brown. Loads of caramel up front. Sweet big crystal malt character and clean mouthfeel. Low bitterness. Not bad, but lacks malt character, and is not even remotely in the style it states.

Bottle purchased in Montana. Who knows if it is fresh or last year’s batch. Malty, oily alcohol aroma. Dark reddish colour. No head excepting a light ring around the edge of the glass. Body is nice but perhaps a touch light for the style. Alcohol presence in the flavour. Nice roasted malt finish.