Free State Octoberfest

Brewed by Free State Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Lawrence, Kansas USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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Got to be one of the best Octoberfest’s I have ever had. Nice malty aroma carmel and a hint of spice. Nice dark golden color. Nice medium bodied brew.

I really enjoyed this O'fest, it is probably one of the best I've ever had. I think they must have beefed it up since Indra had it. Lots of aroma for a Free State beer...malt, raisin, toasted oats and a touch of cinnamon (?). Sticky side-clinging head. Same maltiness in my mouth with a touch of ginger and cinnamon. Filtered orange tan hue. Lasting and firm mouthfeel. True to style.

Growler from the brewpub. Pours a clear copper color with a nice white head. Good lacing. Aroma is sweet and malty, with a strong caramel presence. Flavor is a nice blend of sweet malt and hops. A solid offering in the Oktoberfest style. No wonder this is considered by many to be the best of the style in the country.

Draft: Glassy golden orange. Sticky, milky white head. Beautiful aroma of mineral, tangy malts, and sugared apple. Fresh spicy hop undertones along with some toasted malts. Restrained esters. Round, toffeeish mouthfeel. Starts with lovely bready malt flavors with soft earthy, leafy hop tones. Decadent spicy hop/toasted malt interplay. Finishes with a sublime biscuity malt quality with tracs of nuts, pale malts, and a touch of raw noble hops. They've nailed it.

Hand bottled via TAR - thanks so much, buddy! This is lovely! Slightly nutty, very earthy fresh from the hearth bread, with a tiny almost cinnamony hop presence. Delicious.

Growler acquired in trade with mreusch. Pour is an attractive amber covered in white creamy lace. Aroma is toasty caramel. Nice smooth flavor of sweet caramel and that very attractive toast re-appears. Just a touch of mild hops? This is what I picture when I think of an Oktoberfest. Beautiful.

From a growler, delivered the very day it was filled, by my friend Aaron. Thanks AJ! Nice honey colored pour, with a cap of fine off-white head. Some nice lace. Aromas of fresh cut hay, and a lively herbal green smell. Gentle sweet malt. The restrained character of the aroma makes the flavor all the more surprising. This is bursting with a rich, bright, toasty maltiness. The closest thing I’ve tasted in the beer world to a loaf of great French bread, right from the oven. Though the emphasis here is clearly on the malt, the hops make a nice showing in the finish, with a gently mouthcoating herbal quality. The palate is smooth, finely carbonated, and light. It seems like the traditionally, this style is more about quantity than quality. But this is a Märzen interesting enough to sip.

Growler courtesy of mreusch. Thanks again, Matt! Pours a sparkling clear amber-orange with a lasting, creamy, beige head that laces beautifully (especially for a lager). On the nose is bready malt, like fresh baked bread, and a light fruity hop backing. The palate is on the light side of medium-bodied and creamy-smooth (rare for a lager) finishing quite cleanly. The flavor is sweet fresh French bread and caramel malt with a nice light hop bitterness at the front sides of the tongue and a clean finish. Bready, sweet malt lingers in the aftertaste. This is easily the best lager, of any style, that I have sampled to date. If you find yourself in Lawrence for a Big 12 football game, do yourself a favor and swing by Free State for a pint or seven.

Tap @ FS. Pours a light amber with a moderate tan head, good lacing. Gentle aroma of caramel, nuts, bread,and light spice. Flavor is caramel nut, slightly bready, lightly spiced; malty and a touch sweet. Gentle and mild, very sessionable. A very tasty Octoberfest and nice way to celebrate the season.

UPDATED: FEB 24, 2006 On tap: Quite good. It was a deep brownish, redish, color. Had a malty, nutty, sweet aroma. The taste was quite good with malts, nuts, caramel, spicey (nutmeg, cinamon, clove, etc.), citrus/green apple and on and on. Lots of flavors playing around in the mouth, very good indeed.