53. Bell's Octoberfest

Our second beer from Bell’s Brewery, which is still located in Kalamazoo, MI. As this beer indicates, Oktoberfest will soon be upon us, which means that seasonal beer season begins in earnest. And while I know that the reporting on this comes late, just recall the joys of Oktoberfest, and you’ll be transported back in time to the most wonderful time of the year. Which, regardless of Andy Williams’ sentiments, will always be in early fall for these two contrarians. So take that current holiday season.

Bell’s Octoberfest has a bready malt nose and a crystal clear orangish tan/amber color (seriously—check the clarity on that photo) with a lacy white head. It starts with a soft bready malt flavor, moving into light sweetness in the middle, and finishing with the light hop bitterness and lager-ish crispness indicative of the style; for me, that lager hop flavor is always has a slight soapy quality. The mouthfeel is smooth with light carbonation and something of a grainy taste that adds to the overall lager qualities of the beer. Like with all of the Bell’s products, this is a well-crafted and well-balanced beer—an enjoyable example of what an Oktoberfest beer should be.

From the Bell’s website: “A coppery amber lager that showcases a full bodied, malty flavor that is balanced by a refreshing bitterness derived from fine noble hops.”

ABV: 5.5%

OG: 1.056

P.S. It’s OK—go ahead and Google the Andy Williams reference.

(8/22/2009)