Avery "The Kaiser" Imperial Oktoberfest Lager

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Orange-red-copper. White head that rings the glass. Crisp and clear (as an Oktoberfest should be).

AROMA: 3.25/4
Clean–sweet cream, candy corn. Very little hop aroma.

TASTE: 8.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very little hop. Caramel apple, apple juice notes.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Very malty–sweet but not cloyingly so. Subtle bitterness at finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: There's some alcohol here–big, smooth, a full-mouth beer.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: Nice. A big, sweet beer. Dances on the edge of cloying, but pulls it back. I don't know why we overlook Avery, because they make good beer.

TOTAL: 16/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: The best Oktoberfest I had this year; a bit sweet for my taste (most Avery products we've tried tend to be), but very nice for the style.
Ben: Very clean, very sweet, very big. As Oktoberfests go, it's definitely worth a try (and get it while you can, there can't be too many more out there).

Shiner Marzen-Style Oktoberfest

Spoetzl Brewing Company
Shiner, Texas

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Nice white, creamy head. Light copper color. Very crisp and pretty.

AROMA: 3/4
Clean nose. Caramel notes. Little hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very malty with very little flavor hop. Cream corn - sweet. Caramel notes, brown sugar. Appropriate to style.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Crisp and clean. Fades to a subtle, bitter finish. Very dry.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Some tang at front. Effervescent. Dry.

OVERALL: 2/3: Very crisp, clean, and dry. Good showing for the style.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Nice and clean. Malty and dry. A very nice Fall beer.
Ben: A true Oktoberfest done well. Could use a bit more bittering hop.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Boston Brewing Company
Boston, Massachusetts

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Orange-copper color. Crisp and clean. Decent white head with fine bubbles. Pretty.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Clean, crisp, fruity nose. Slight citrus and pineapple. Apple juice notes. Sweet and malty. No hop aroma.

TASTE: 6.75/10

Hop/Malt Balance: 2.5/4: No hop, very malty. Sweet. Did they go with only one hop pellet?
Aftertaste: 2/3: Citrus sour, slightly nutty/woody. Slight bubble gum at close. Maybe pineapple.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Slightly bitter notes at end-very bright. Malty. A clean lager.

OVERALL: 2/3: A clean, bright, malty, crisp Fall beer. Like a bright Fall day.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: The best thing on tap at Houlihan's for what it's worth. Lacks the signature "Sam Adams spice" I hate so much. Not bad, but not great.
Ben: A "craft" beer for the masses. But for a Sam Adam's product, one of their better offerings.

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Gold/straw color. Crisp. White, fluffy head. Pours like a Pils.

AROMA: 3/4
Clean, sweet cream. Minimal aroma. Subtle hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Hop upfront. Malty off-sets. Nice balance. Bouncy, fruity.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Grassy notes, meadowy. Sweet. Bitterness lingers. Citrus and apple? notes in the middle.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Hoppy bitterness from the start. Full but fades quickly. Hop throughout, dry clean finish.

OVERALL: 2/3: Elusive fruity notes. Citrus, grassy, hopped throughout - a good beer.

TOTAL: 15/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A nice New Belgium offering. A little hoppy, refreshing. A good Oktoberfest.
Ben: A nice Fall beer. Hoppy, clean and crisp. Not the typical Octoberfest which is nice.

Boulevard Bob's '47 Oktoberfest

Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, Missouri

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Crisp red-brown/copper color. No appreciable head. Clear.

AROMA: 3/4
Raisin, grape-nut. Sweet, sugary. No hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Very malty, not too big. Maybe a little watery, but generally true to style. More hop flavor would be nice.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Nutty, woody. Sweet aftertaste, bittersweet finish. Some apple/cider notes.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Clean, crisp, light. Some sourness in the middle. Bitter, dry finish.

OVERALL: 2.25/3: A good Oktoberfest, perfect for a crisp September evening.

TOTAL: 15.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Always crisp and refreshing, a decent Boulevard seasonal and a break from the usual.
Ben: Great for a crisp fall evening–a good session beer. One of my preferred Boulevard beers.