Upland Oktoberfest

Brewed by Upland Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Bloomington, Indiana USA

12 oz bottle

Picked up to fill in the rest of a case at Keg Liquors this was a decent enough Oktoberfest. Apparently Upland can do more than just lambics. Next time I am in the area I will have to pick up some other releases. It also makes me want to track down another oktoberfest or two before they fade away for the year.

Aroma / Appearance - A fluffy stark white head settled into the bronze lively body. Sweet with a malty aspect like taffy it smelled almost like topioca pudding. A lemon base grounded things in the realm of the easy on the senses seasonal.

Flavor / Palate - A malty start yielded to a sweet transition. Wrapped up with a light bitterness it tasted more like tea imbued with a twist of lemon. Sessionable to the very end the glass was empty fairly quickly. Not complex in the least it still managed to leave a positive impression. I’m not sure why it is rated so low as it is.

Clear amber with a white head. Mild bready malt and spicy sweet aroma. Medium body. Flavors are mild and mirror the aroma with malty caramel sweetness and spices.

G.A.B.F. 2008: Deep orange pour with an off-white film. Has a nice fresh malt aroma with a Munich spiciness and bready/caramel notes. The flavor is sweet and spicy- rich malt notes of caramel, toasted bread/doughy hints and a solid peppery hoppy finish to balance. A solid Oktoberfest.

On draught at the brewpub in Bloomington, Indiana. Pours a clear orange amber colored brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that leaves behind some spotty lacing and a thin off-white ring. Aroma of fruity character, some multi-grain malt, and a touch of roasted nuts. Taste is medium bodied, with flavors of multi-grain caramel malts, some toffee and a touch of citrus. Finish has a short lived midl bitterness that quickly changes to a crisp aftertaste.

A clean and drinkable Oktoberfest despite the heavier than desirable sweetness.
I like: Clean palate with fresh breadiness and nutty hints. Soft texture and carbonation. Malt-oriented.
I dislike: Certainly, more hops would add some character and remove some focus from the malt sweetness. As it is, not the most drinkable lager. Soft mineral notes do not really disturb, but still are not a great fit.

Draft at the brewpub. Pours amber-orange with some off white head. Malty toffee nose with some toasted notes. Straight up malt flavor as well. Just the slightest bit of bitterness right at the very end. Full body with mild carbonation and a semisweet finish. Not bad. Not great.

Pours an orange-amber color that made me and my girl think of pumpkins. Strong on the malts, with some caramel touches and spice notes. Not to thick or too watery, with just enough hops for me to take notice. Touch of citrus as well (a theme to Upland). Pretty nice, I’d have this one again for sure, only loses points for the aroma, which seemed a little weak.

tap at Mad Anthony Oktoberfest - Pours light copper with a thin white head. It has a mild, malt rich aroma with a touch of hops. The flavor has some citrus accented hops, moreso than is usual for the style. Of course there’s the expected caramel malt too. It’s medium bodied and rather enjoyable.