Ramstein Oktoberfest

Brewed by High Point Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Butler, New Jersey USA

I live by the Ramstein Brewery, and have always been impressed by the care that goes into their beers. Although I am not a big wheat beer fan which is their specialty. I had a seasonal sampler at the Office Bar in Morristown, and the Ramstein Octoberfest was one of the beers. Simply put it ’blew the competition away" including Sam Adams Winter and Climax Octoberfest. This is the best Octoberfest beer I have had, import included. Clean crisp, malty it was just an exceptional lager. I had a few more before I left the bar that night thinking I would stop by the brewery for a growler or two the next day, but they were sold out. Guess I am not the only one impressed.

Deep amvber color, white head. Very malty on the nose. the flavor is sweet, malty, caramel, brown sugar. The finish is not particularly clean, mostly sweet, very slight nobel hops. Decent, not great.

(Draught) Reddish brown and clear. Small white head. Grassy aroma. Medium bodied palate with medium carbonation. Malts, bitterness, grass and caramell in taste. Malty and bitter aftertaste. Nice märzen and easy to drink as Oktoberfestbier should be,

Liter draft. Pours a hazy dark amber, lively bubbles send streams up to a small head that settles quickly. Thick caramel malt aroma with a hint of spice. Fantastic! Vanilla and caramel malt dominate, bread and floral hop bitterness coming through at the finish. One of the best American examples of the style that I’ve had.

Tap at Sunswick: Still deep copper/amber with no head. Some grainy amber malts and mild DMS. Slick body with some mild caramelized grainy amber malt and bready character. Some butter/mild diacetyl and lacking bitterness. A bit off.

Growler fill from New Beer - Ramstein must have poor quality control, because I’ve had many of their beers come across as quite sour and infected, but when they aren’t, they’re damn tasty - this is the case here - I think a lot of people have had infected batches, thus the low ratings - this particular keg contains a slightly hazy, fizzy copper beer - not much of a head on it - a little doughy in the aroma, with some light floral hop notes and a bit of honey-ish sweetness - quite smooth and light-bodied - a bit of a hop bite paves the way for bright fruity notes, moderate munich sweetness, and lingering doughy/bready notes - some brisk herbal character and light bitterness on the back end - quite drinkable - this reminds me of why I continue to try their beers, regardless of how often I have an off one.

Tap at Blind Tiger. Deep ruddy-amber beer with a thick creamy white head. Aroma is nicely malty initially with a light nuttiness as well. There is also a pronounced sourness that reminds me (unpleasantly) of their hefeweizen that I tried recently. The flavour is moderately sweet but there is a chemically/plasticy note. Lingering metallic flavour as well. I think this will be my last Ramstein beer for quite some time.

on tap-pours a light tan head and amber color. Aroma is malt-some sweet. Taste is malt-some sweet, secondary hops. OK carbonation.