Draft pint at the brewery.Unfiltered dark honey colored body with a white head. First taste is frothy, semi-sweet, heavy for the style but smooth and unabrasive. Fresh as well. Nose is a bit doughy, with heavy toast notes, but doesn’t have any of the squash notes that are more common in US-made marzen. There’s the heavy caramel malt, though, with some twangy corn and some stale malt flavors as well. Good overall, but pretty far from the true style, and only slightly as far from the US styled marzen beers. Over time there’s some chewy cherry and caramel flavors malts, very full on the palate, and the light bitterness in the finish from the Hallertau is nice.

Tap at Brewpub. Slightly hazy dark copper color with a small off-white head. Nice Munich malt nose, sweet with a light Hallertauer hop aroma. Caramel malt dominated flavor with a soft dry finish with moderate bitterness. Medium bodied with soft fine carbonation. Pretty nice example of a German Fest, true to style and not overly sweet.

Ok for an oktoberfest. Had a slight fruitiness to the aroma. Lightly hopped with nice light caramel sweetness, and some munich malts. Light toastiness in the middle and a crisp finish.

Tad pale for an O-fest. Minimal head. Smell mild-spicy-grassy hops and harder malt-caramel edge. Taste a caramel-nutty (peanut?) maltiness, medium sweet, semi-dry finish spicy-like finish with a hint of metal. Body is hard but a little thin. Nicely drinkable but middle of the road.