City Festbier

Brewed by City Brewery (Melanie Brewing Co)
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
La Crosse, Wisconsin USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

UPDATED: APR 5, 2008 Wasn’t expecting much from this because I’ve been disappointed in other cheaper city products. 12 oz, twist off. Nice label. Almost clean, river or spring aroma. Lighter than expected in my steeler stein. Color of pale yellow American lager. A little bitter initially. OK, it is a little octoberfestive. Slight hint of hops on the finish and it lingers. Good, but not as good as others I’ve had, however, compared to other City products I’ve tasted, it excels.

Poured a clear copper color with a thin off-white head. Swwet caramel malty aroma. The flavor had more caramel but was a little light and some tartness on the finish.

Clear amber body with thin streams of bubbles that slowly drift upwards. Toasty crystal malt aroma with light bittering hops. A stronger hop presence in the flavor with their taking on a juicy-sweet stem and strawberry thing. Beyond that there’s the same dry toasty caramel. An enjoyable flavor, the hops do good for it.

clear golden look with minimal head. aroma is earthy with a quick, light bitter taste. not very impressed but maybe marzen isn’t my thing.

From Vinnie’s in the La Crosse airport. Bright amber color with a medium thin khaki colored head. Thin and spotty lacing. Earthy malt aroma with mild hops as well. Medium-bodied with hoppy bitterness at first, and more malt and caramel showing up later. It seems unbalanced all around though, veering from a generic Lager to a generic Oktoberfest. The finish is mildly bitter. Altogether avoidable.

Bottle. Poured a clear, sparkly lighter golden with a short layer of white head. Aroma of stale flowers, sweet caramel, leaves, and some autumn-type spices. Lighter-bodied with a caramel base and some spicy, slightly bitter floral hops. Tasted pretty good, but had a fairly medicinal feel around the edges and at the finish (finish also carried through the caramel and some spicage). Not too impressed with this one, but it was certainly drinkable.

Cloudier than 2, and amberier, too, in hue, with a lushier, taller head...is this the start of a trend, here? Soft in the nose, light and subtle, faint citrus and spice...beautiful, but indistinct. Bigger in the mouth than 2, too, heavier mouthfeel, more vibrant spice and fruit, hinting at a weizenbock, plenty complex. Rich, and delicious. Nicely texture, fuller bodied, ...this matches nicely with the better German weizens I’ve had, particularly the dunkels. I’ll be back for more of this one. But, I’m scratching my head wondering what comes next... Hooray, Bell’s!

Pours copper, not much head. Caramel malt and spice are the main flavors, with some toastiness. Body is thin, slightly syrupy and palate is fizzy. Not bad, but nothing special.