Rich tan-headed golden fall fodder with aromatic yeast, creamy malt variance, citric hints, and watery texture lacks pizzazz when soft grain finish fades too quickly. Yet pleasant cider notes linger in the midst.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ABITA BREW. CO., ABITA SPRINGS, LA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Pedestrian nut-fueled copper-hazed brown ale tarnished by obtrusive skunked vegetal aroma, phenol caramel malting and indistinct barley-roasted pecan-almond peculiarity. Glutinous rye-wheat spine bridles buttery chestnut modesty refracting peanut-oiled marzipan zip and tart pomegranate quip.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AVERY BREW. CO., BOULDER, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Coppery marzen-styled autumnal coaxes toasted almond teaser from honey-dripped barley-roasted center, leaving Graham Cracker imprint to facilitate barren fig-date wink and bruised cherry slink.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRAUEREI-AYING FRANZ INSELKAMMER, AYING, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Deep golden hue, thick caramel aroma, and rich grain concentration hit the senses initially. Creamy malts and sweet doughy yeast underscore clean nut-abetted finish preserving taut off-dry lager even average Bud drinkers would enjoy.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BACK ROAD BREWERY, LA PORTE, IN.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Lively marzen-styled Octoberfest contrasts sharp hop bitterness against caramel malt creaminess and nestled ripe fruit backdrop, remaining mild and smooth.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BAMBERGER MAHR'S BRAU, BAMBERG, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Though a tad watery and soft-bodied for German festival ale, brown-bodied jubilation will overjoy brown ale and mild porter lovers with its smoked meat opening, coffee-dried walnut-cola-Brazil nut roast, and ashen chocolate seed/ vanilla bean confluence. Overall creaminess lacks, but softer palates may not care.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BECK'S BREWERY, BREMEN, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
More robust and zesty than Beck’s Pilsner, annually besting Sam Adams and Pete’s Wicked Octoberfests with its cavernous toasted grain mesh, caramelized malt tether, and cider hint. Beck’s-styled sour yeast pungency relegated to mere backdrop for moderate strength finish that won’t scare off amateurs.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: JOSEPH HUBER BREWERY, MONROE, WI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Indistinct creamy autumnal mediocrity bends wheat-oat toasting into dulled orange peel backdrop before seeping chocolate malt finish falters.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BOULDER BREW. CO., BOULDER, CO.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Inspired by nearby Denver’s autumnal beer celebration, buoyant limited edition single-batch high-gravity ale counters piney Saaz hop bittering with lingered butterscotch sweetness and tropical grapefruit-mango-kiwi-pineapple tang. Imminent orange ripeness brightens biscuit-y cracked wheat spine.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BROOKLYN BREWERY, BROOKLYN, N.Y.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Marzen-styled amber lager offers sweet barley-mocha aroma, dewy malt flow, and tinny aluminum-like finish. Grainy hop bitterness flattens faint caramel, butterscotch, and cocoa pleasantries for medium-bodied semblance. Lacks hearty richness of better Bavarian Oktoberfests; too watery by a droplet.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BROOKLYN BREWERY, BROOKLYN, N.Y.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Divergent copper-bronze autumnal brew retains appeasing honeyed caramel theme, toasted malt rim, and creamy flow as pumpkin, tangerine and red apple adjuncts hide mild astringency.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CAPITAL BREWERY, STEVENS POINT, WI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Dry orange mouthfeel and soft focus hop presence form front end of faded white-headed penny-hued autumnal brew. Raisin bread midst fades quickly. A bit staid and predictable yet easygoing, tart, frothy.