MacTarnahans Uncle Ottos Oktoberfest

Formerly brewed at Portland Brewing Company (Pyramid)
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Portland, Oregon USA

Easily the best domestic example of a Marzen that I’ve sampled. Very rich and creamy, with big, appetizing caramel flavors. Of course it goes down super-smooth, as all beers designed to be drank for days and days on end must be. Don’t let the awful bottle fool you; this beer is the real deal.

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.

Bought in the 12 oz brown bottle..with a rather cheery label. A very nice looking beer..nice darkish amber colour..with an absolutly gorgeous coffee and creme coloured head. A great fresh maltyaroma in this..sort of english toffee smell. Wow this is a malt lovers beer for sure, it dominates with its creamt goodness..its not too sweet though..slight chocolate tatse..with a hint of hops near the end. Exceptionally smooth and creamy on the palate. A very nice and extremely drinkable Marzen..recommended.

More or less textbook maerzen/oktoberfest style lager- darkish for the style(not a defect really, it's just that most German examples have become increasingly pale over the years) but perfect every other way. Wonderful caramelized malt sugar flavor drying out in the finish thanks to a perfect hop bittering level and the proper dextrin balance. I love this style beacause of beers like this, let's chicken dance in the cornmaze!

This brew poured a medium head of finely sized light brown slowly diminishing bubbles that left a slight lacing and a hazy transparent light brown uncarbonated body behind. THis brew also has a very nice aroma to it with notes of malted caramel and brown sugar sweetness to it. Oh my, the taste is also very fine with a nice combination of malt and roasted caramel notes to it. its mouthfeel is very smooth and plesant. A very nice brew indeed. My compliments to the brewmaster.

This beer had a medium sized tan head that consisted of fine-small sized bubbles that quickly diminished.The bodywas slightly cloudy and there was no carbonation.The hue reminded me of cider and there was very little lacing with this beer.The nose was sweet as sugar and malty.The flavor of this beer was malty and the mouthfeel was smooth, thin, tingly and light bodied.

Clear rufous. Dense, sticky white head. Soft gummy malt aroma surrounded by graham, mineral, and toast. Spicy hop, ester, and leathery hints. Tight, expansive carbonation. Medium-bodied. Malty sweetness up front, followed by a touch of juicy plums and rich, bready malts. Finishes powdery and dry with a touch of oxidation and acidity alongside a lengthy, slightly musty candied malt sweetness. Lovely balance between the strawish Pale malt and sweet, tangy Munich. It’s got a snazzy aroma packed with sweet, bready malts and spicy hops, a sturdy head, and a beautiful round body and soft esters from the careful lagering. Very solid version.

Dark orange colored beer with a fine white head. Malty aroma with a hint of toastness. Sweet and mildly toasty flavor in front with a balancing bitter finish.