Dogwood Octoberfest

Formerly brewed at Dogwood Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Atlanta, Georgia USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

Date: 09/10/1998
Mode: Draft
Source: Wild Wing Cafe, Marietta

clear yellow, whispy head, light malt aroma, light malt flavor, hint of bitterness in the finish, not much to it, good but boaring
-------- /> Date: 10/12/2000

well balanced, but still not true to style - needs malty sweetness
-------- /> Date: 10/11/2001
Score: i to ii

opaque rust, thin fine beige head, light fruit aroma, rich body, fruity, lots of belgian character, light bitter finish, balanced, gets better every year, very good, but an octoberfest?
-------- /> Date: 09/19/2002

hazy light amber, thin fine off-white head, sweet fruity aroma, rich malty flavor, still more of a belgian than an octoberfest

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.7/5.0
Score: *4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Pale copper golden color with a thin head and mostly flat body. Bland macro-like aroma of stale hops and corn grains with some apple juice. Body really tastes like apple juice with some grainy maltiness and a sugary finish. Not much of an oktoberfest if you ask me. Probably closer to a cider.

On tap.. Poured a clear copper color with a small white head. Aroma is sweet with some roastedness. Flavor has some sweetness then finishes with some sour notes and bitterness. Light to medium body. This came in an imperial pint glass and I really didn’t want to finish it.

UPDATED: OCT 5, 2003 Rerate 10-5-2003: The change in the beer this year is surprising. The hops went wat down, from overpowering the lager to being barely noticeable (which from my tasting experience is where they belong in an Oktoberfest or Marzen). The malt is huge here, a bit nutty, good caramel. This is a tasty and drinkable Oktoberfest this time instead of the overhopped beer I wasn't too fond of last year. 9-16-2002: I wasn't impressed with Dogwood's interpretation of an Octoberfest. There was some of the standard maltiness of the style, but was unbalanced by an overabundance of hops that does not belong in an Octoberfest.

Thaks to kp for this one. This was surprisingly good for a two year old beer that is not from a style known for cellaring abilities. Pours with a large white head over a clear medium amber body. Malt dominated aroma that is bready and lightly toasted malt. A bit fruity (apple) for an O’fest/MArzen. Sweet well balanced flavor. Some oxidation present as expected, but not overpowering enough yet to disguise the fact that this was a fairly decent beer in it’s day. Good body and finish.

What a strange take on an Oktoberfest. Mine was a cloudy yellow color with a rather large head. Flavor was sour and slightly hoppy? This was like a watered down APA. I thought this style was supposed to be very malty? This may be the worst Dogwood I've had yet. And perhaps they should read up on what an Oktoberfest is suppose to taste like. An ok beer I guess.

12 oz bottle, goblet. Large, frothy, creamy head is white and diminishes slowly. The body is a hazy orange-peach color with little visible carbonation. Nurtty, caramel malt (mod); flowery hops (mod); corriander and date aromas. The aroma is very nutty and spicy; it reminds me of a brown ale. Moderately sweet, lightly bitter flavor becomes a lightly sweet, moderately bitter, lightly acidic finish. Lingering, bitter, nutty flavor. Medium body, watery texture, soft carbonation. The bottom line is: yeah it's hoppy for an O'fest so...think of it as a malty pilsner.

Heavily carbonated and it sure doesn't taste like any other octoberfest I've ever had. More fruity than malty. I don't think it's a good representation of the style... I'll take a sam adams or paulaner any day.