Christian Moerlein Fifth & Vine Oktoberfest Marzen - Christian Moerlein Brewing Company

fitrock2112

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fifth and Vine Oktoberfest from Moerlein

A- cloudy light orange to reddish hue

S- maltiness with a touch of hops

T- Smooth refreshing taste of lightly roasted malts, touch of toffee or carmel and a pinch of hops. I love the balance of this beer

M- medium body to this one, with medium carbonation, adds perfect smoothness

O- One of the best Octoberfest beers out there, If you like this style its worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 01:42:58 | More by fitrock2112

Rdc67

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-22-2013 19:22:10 | More by Rdc67

ChuckSchick

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

01-25-2013 13:52:34 | More by ChuckSchick

LJWalker

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-04-2012 01:12:42 | More by LJWalker

HeathernThistle

5/5  rDev +27.6%

09-26-2012 02:27:32 | More by HeathernThistle

weeheavy4950

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2%

09-23-2012 12:59:48 | More by weeheavy4950

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a New Belgium snifter for tasting purposes. For full enjoyment, this should be consumed from a mug. The beer pours a nice clear coppery-orange color with a slight golden tint. Head is a bit small though. Very traditional nose. You smell toasted malt and a little bit of peppery spice.

The flavor is pretty spot-on for this style. You get a medium to full body, a nice rich, chewy mouthfeel, and loads of sweet, bready, clean malt flavor. There is a bit of a lemony citrus hop note on the finish. Extremely smooth and drinkable.

Some things are not to be trifled with, and this style is one of them. This is an excellent example of a festival lager. It is rich and enjoyable, though I prefer those with a peppery note on the finish instead of a lemony note. Still a good choice for a celebration of the fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 16:48:04 | More by deadonhisfeet

Lee45102

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

09-16-2012 03:17:55 | More by Lee45102

barczar

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a brilliant copper caramel color with a solid half inch khaki head that slowly dissipates, leaving no lacing.

Aroma is fairly subtle, with lightly toasted, bready caramel malt dominating the profile. Hints of melanoidins and floral hops add character.

Flavor is sweeter than anticipated from the aroma, with caramel malt taking center stage. There's a bit of toasted breadcrust. The finish is slightly dry, reminiscent of pilsner malt cracker character. Floral hops are subtle. A hint of fruitiness is present and distracting.

Body is moderate to slightly heavy, with moderate carbonation. Alcohol warmth is obvious.

Overall, lacking in character for the style. There's just not a whole lot there. Very drinkable, but nothing to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 18:13:37 | More by barczar

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

09-14-2012 12:31:14 | More by JeffreyJDavis

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Christian Moerlein's dedication to traditional German ales and lagers keeps everything old new again. It's authentic flavor is desperately needed as the beers from this brewery arrives much fresher than those requiring import. This is especially true for this delicate and highly rewarding style.

As you'd expect from the Oktoberfest-style of beer, the lager displays a light copper, or strong gold hue with supple carbonaiton that calmly forms and retains solid foam character atop. Decorative lacing reaffirms the quality of the beer that's being enjoyed.

Appetizing aromas remain soft but pull from the rudementary pilsner malt scent and starting to borrow notes of bread crust, lightly baked grain, light starchy-sweet character, and an overall envelope that seems almost of caramel. Floral hops make a steady impact and give the modest sweet nose a lift with complements of herbal teas and light fragrant grasses.

Its flavor is squarely malt-focused but the sweetness is moderate, only seeming so because of restrained hop bitterness. The almost-caramel sweetness weaves into the starchier taste of Vienna-type malts with its taste of crusted bread, almost-biscuit, and softer pilsner flavor. Backed by the flavor of noble German hops, the beer opens up a flowery-herbal taste that reminds me of honeysuckle before developing a late arrival of hop bitterness that rides the higher end of balance.

With its medium-light body, the body is elegant and sly as it washes the mouth with mild malt richness and creamy carbonation. As the carbonation lifts, the grainy-sweet taste of malt remains which concludes in a bitter finish of lemon, minty warmth, and slight grain bite.

Where the beer is no standout in terms of complexity or power, its more finesse elements are greatly appreciated because of its attention to quality, freshness, and impeccable balance. It's a great way to start a session or wash down those brawtwurst of the upcomming Oktoberfest celebrations.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 16:44:58 | More by BEERchitect

Brenden

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a clear brew a bit darker than amber and lighter than copper, landing somewhere in between. A compact tan head forms on to and, while retention is good, not much lacing manages to stick to the glass despite the effort.
This beer is a good representation of the style, offering the breadiness and caramel notes of the malts along with the balance that comes with it, as light hops bitterness allows for a maltier beer overall. The hops take on almost a vinous character, but the dryness also balances very nicely with the sweetness as well as the breadiness. A touch of toast and a bit of toffee are drawn out of the malts as well. There is a light fruity sort of element underneath also.
The body is great, as the medium body holds it all together well and carbonation is just right, keeping it going without being overdone. Crispness never fades off, even as a creamy, even velvety smoothness manifests.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 14:44:30 | More by Brenden

BFC84

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%

07-08-2012 16:48:30 | More by BFC84

OtsegoHive

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-08-2012 16:55:54 | More by OtsegoHive

patrickmw

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -36.2%

04-16-2012 03:28:55 | More by patrickmw

meanmutt

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

02-05-2012 20:48:30 | More by meanmutt

beerme626

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2%

12-13-2011 05:42:33 | More by beerme626

Trancelogix

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2%

11-29-2011 21:59:51 | More by Trancelogix

mcorwin

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2%

11-21-2011 01:33:08 | More by mcorwin

Extrajoker00

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a 14 oz.Mug

A : hazy cooper with a thin creamy head

S : roasted malt and a hint of sweetness

T : yeast and malt, strong at first, hops and sweet carry to a medium finish

M : a bit of an assault, but mellows

D : It's character makes it a good taster, but not as drinkable as many festival beers

This is a good Oktoberfest and I would love to make the festival in cincy

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 06:46:53 | More by Extrajoker00

patpbr

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - dark copper color that looks even better held up in front of the sunlight washing thru my window. with a small head and good amount of carbonation bubbling up.

S - smells somewhat malty

T - hint of sweetness, cherry and chocolate

M - Medium body that finishes smooth with a little lingering after taste.

O - worth trying. Will seek this out on tap and see what its like.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 21:37:32 | More by patpbr

seeswo

Ohio

2.3/5  rDev -41.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

First keg tapped in Cincy, I'm told. Pours light orangey-brown with a small whitish head. Smell is mildly boozy and a touch nutty sweet. Not much going on there. The taste is overly sweet caramel malts and a touch watery. No balance. Barely recognizable as an Oktoberfest beer. I wanted to like this, but as someone who has enjoyed overly malt forward beers like Capital Autumnal Fire, this beer does not come together in a positive way. Medium-light body with medium carbonation. I would go with an OTR over this if offered another.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2011 23:24:11 | More by seeswo

rlshep

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Aroma: Toasty malty aroma.

Appearance: Dark amber, slight copper. Small but creamy head. Sticks to the side but doesn't linger. Very clear.

Flavor: Mild toast. Some caramel. A hint of sulfur. Medium-low bitterness. Little to no hop flavor. Clean

Mouthfeel: Soft and creamy. Medium carbonation. Alcohol not noticeable.

Overall: A good example of an Oktoberfest. A little on the boring side, I was expecting a little bit more flavor. Would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 01:44:53 | More by rlshep

Brent

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A solid example of the style, if perhaps a bit hoppier than average (which, as far as I am concerned, is not a bad thing). Poured an appropriately caramel brown. Up front a quick punch of hops, quickly backing off and letting a moderately sweet, caramel malt character emerge. Quite easy to drink, but perhaps a bit bigger in body than the average. Overall, nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 14:02:27 | More by Brent

Landfill21

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I drank this beer while watching Roy Halladay throw a no hitter against my reds.

Has a really nice dark brown appearance with a nice finger and a half head that laces down the glass as you drink it.

Smells of some berries, raspberries, cherries and malts.

Tastes of malts with a really nice finish.

Has a med/light mouthfeel.

This beer has a really nice drinkability, unfortunately Roy Halladay killed my spirits so I only had 12.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 01:34:56 | More by Landfill21