Blackstone Oktoberfest

Brewed by Blackstone Restaurant & Brewery
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Nashville, Tennessee USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

Tasted on 10/4/11 on draft at Blackstone, I just happened by for the 2011 tapping event. Pours a fiery auburn red with an average off-white head that slowly recedes to thin lace. The nose is a nice blend of caramel malt, spicy hops, and a hint of earthy yeast. The flavor is the same with the caramel malt up front, moving to the spicy hops and earthy yeast. The body is medium with lively, stinging carbonation, and a long spicy and lightly bitter finish.

Pale red-orange, off white cover. Weird fruity caramel aroma, almost a fusel alcohol note. Taste is again fruity, caramel, less harsh, toast.

On tap at the brewery. Poured a clear amber color with a one finger off white head. Aroma of caramel and a note of hops. Flavor was caramel malt.

Growler from brewpub. Pours a transparent shade of red. Aroma is quite floral and just a little dry. The faintest of bitter hops is noticeable. Pretty smooth flavor on this one. The brew is mainly sweet with a banana-like taste. The hops are very present, but not spicy or bitter really, they add an almost smoky quality to the brew. This is just a tad too thin, but certainly drinkable.

This beer seemed weak and watery. It was almost as though it was flat. I don’t know if that was just a bad batch or what.

Draft at the 2005 Knoxville Brewer’s Jam. Poured an amber color with a small off-white head that lasted and left light lacing in the glass. The aroma was of light malts and a hint of spice. The flavor was of sweet malts. Light body.

2005 Knoxville Brewer’s Jam Poured a clear light amber with virtually no head. Light malt aroma that was echoed in the flavor. A bit thin but quite drinkable. A bit more maltiness would really improve this one.