Upland Oktoberfest

Brewed by Upland Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Bloomington, Indiana USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

G.A.B.F. 2008: Deep orange pour with an off-white film. Has a nice fresh malt aroma with a Munich spiciness and bready/caramel notes. The flavor is sweet and spicy- rich malt notes of caramel, toasted bread/doughy hints and a solid peppery hoppy finish to balance. A solid Oktoberfest.

On draught at the brewpub in Bloomington, Indiana. Pours a clear orange amber colored brew with a fast dissolving off-white head that leaves behind some spotty lacing and a thin off-white ring. Aroma of fruity character, some multi-grain malt, and a touch of roasted nuts. Taste is medium bodied, with flavors of multi-grain caramel malts, some toffee and a touch of citrus. Finish has a short lived midl bitterness that quickly changes to a crisp aftertaste.

A clean and drinkable Oktoberfest despite the heavier than desirable sweetness.
I like: Clean palate with fresh breadiness and nutty hints. Soft texture and carbonation. Malt-oriented.
I dislike: Certainly, more hops would add some character and remove some focus from the malt sweetness. As it is, not the most drinkable lager. Soft mineral notes do not really disturb, but still are not a great fit.

Draft at the brewpub. Pours amber-orange with some off white head. Malty toffee nose with some toasted notes. Straight up malt flavor as well. Just the slightest bit of bitterness right at the very end. Full body with mild carbonation and a semisweet finish. Not bad. Not great.

Pours an orange-amber color that made me and my girl think of pumpkins. Strong on the malts, with some caramel touches and spice notes. Not to thick or too watery, with just enough hops for me to take notice. Touch of citrus as well (a theme to Upland). Pretty nice, I’d have this one again for sure, only loses points for the aroma, which seemed a little weak.

tap at Mad Anthony Oktoberfest - Pours light copper with a thin white head. It has a mild, malt rich aroma with a touch of hops. The flavor has some citrus accented hops, moreso than is usual for the style. Of course there’s the expected caramel malt too. It’s medium bodied and rather enjoyable.

12 oz bottle. Pours an amber copper with a thin off white head that left no lacing. Very light aroma of bread and malt. Flavor is dominated by an orange citrus then some lightly sweet malt, and a crisp malty aftertaste. Med to light body, light but lively carb, wet texture, and dry watery feel. Good brew, but not what I’m looking for in a Marzen.

On Tap at the Great Lakes Brewfest. Cloudy copper/amber with a thin off-white head. Aroma of sweet malt, toffee, mild citrus and caramel. Taste of mild caramel and toffee, fruit and mild citrus. Finish is mildly dry. Not as sweet as recent Oktoberfests I’ve had, so-so at best.