Dansting (222), Overland Park, Kansas, USA Nov 2, 2007 Can. Poured a clear copper color with a medium white head. Good lacing. Aroma is excellent, as it is hoppier than you’d imagine for an Oktoberfest (although for Surly, I guess it should be expected). As for that flavor, wow! I’m impressed. As a fan of the style, this is a much bolder flavor. It has the caramel and maltiness to it that I like, but it has a super hoppy finish to it.
I had my doubts from reading other reviews, but this is very nice. Thanks theisti!!! incutrav (505), Woodbury, Minnesota, USA Sep 12, 2007 Enjoyed at Stubs.For those who dont like hops, dont drink this beer, it is Surly for god sakes, so what do you expect? Easily the best octoberfest beer i have ever had. Ultra hoppy with a nice rye flavor in there for sure. This is certainlly like no other o fest around, and if your a style geek you probably wont like it as its brewed quite a bit outside the ol lines, just the way i like it. Another top notch surly craft! beermatrix (1497), Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA Oct 24, 2007 drank a ton of this stuff on tap last year and never got around to reviewing. Now that it’s canned, I may consume it within the comforts of home and the computer.
Brilliant orange color, very shiny with a halo of yellow nearer the bottom and edges. Firmly stacked foam of spongy looking consistancy lathers up to a decent height of nearly two inches. Dwindles down slowly to let loose a pattern of thin inky strings across the glass as its consumed.
Aroma is much like other O-fests with a nice firm realm of maltyness creating a sweet soft doughyness and a puff of dark grassyness and whole grains can be easily detected within. Very well-balanced aroma and well placed on the nose with good strength.
Taste is a broadly detailed malt brigade of heavy toasted malty sweetness, doughy, crisp with a spectacular grassy grab at the midway point which then goes all hoppy and drys off the palate with a subtle ease and tone that is incredibly delightful and inviting with grass, toast, and whole grain nuttyness. Quite complexingly subtle and straight up damn yummy.
Feel is about medium with a certain crispness to its malty body. For surely clean and easy. Has a creamy stained under carraige but stays mostly toasted and drys into the finish with a lushfully charming and soothing softness and cleanness with a willingness to venture more.
Drinkable and then some. Enough said. Damn solid O-fest by Surly! Grab your lederhosen, a big Ol’ mug, pour a bunch of this in, and sing yourself a song until you fall asleep and do it again.
Brewso (236), Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA Sep 25, 2006 Bryant Lake Bowl on tap. Out-frikkin-standing. The hops in this were alive and intensly aromatic. The malt body was true to style but thicker than your traditional marzen. I’m not a style stickler and have appreciated when brewers like FFF and Surly brew outside of the normal boundaries. I would much rather have this in my stein than anything they would serve in Munich. This is more balanced than the Furious and my favorite so far from these guys. jcwattsrugger (3862), Florida and, New Jersey, USA Apr 13, 2008 16oz can-pours an off white head and hazy amber color. Aroma is medium malt, then lots of sweet lemon/pine hops. Great out of the standard style (continental hops out, northwest in!) American interpretation. Taste is medium malt-caramel, then lots of sweet lemon/pine hops-slightly bitter, more aromatic. OK effervescence/soft carbonation. Nice. Thanks to Wasatch(BA).
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