Penn Oktoberfest - Pennsylvania Brewing Company

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Rivertowne Pub and Grille
Poured a clear light brownish amber color. Minimal head.
Smelled of light roasty malts and a whiff of bubblegum. Got a little spicy and fruity as it warmed up a bit.
Rich and malty, lightly toasted.
Moderate body, low alcohol burn, was a bit more crisp feeling than I'd like.
Good but not great, solid middle of the road marzen.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 09:54:41 | More by JackTheRipper

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, earthy and biscuit like. In the taste, earthy, and a hint of sweet fruit. A smooth and light bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry maltiness in the aftertaste. Nice earthy presence, quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2010 14:42:21 | More by OWSLEY069

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Ortino's Northside for $5 a pint. This beer is a fest beer, like Weihenstephaner's and the beers they actually pour at Oktoberfast. It appears a brilliant gold with a short white head. The beer really tastes a lot like a dry export lager. The aroma is fruity with a mild cherry note, but the flavor is centered around dried white bread with a little crust. Meh, this is not the best I've had, but still not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2009 03:33:22 | More by tempest

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours a light copper color with a slight one finger head. The aroma is of roasted sweet malt with hints of caramel. The taste has a nice roasted sweet malt backbone with caramel and bread notes. The taste is a little smoother and not as biting as others in the style. The mouthfeel is of moderate to moderately low carbonation, but the feel is thin. You could drink alot of these beers, it is very smooth and is a good representation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2009 21:50:22 | More by goblue3509

clayrock81

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a orangey tawny color with good carbonation leading to a two-finger head that slowly receeds and leaves a ring of lace down the entire cup. Smell is more malty than hops, with some caramel and other sweet malts and maybe some dough coming through, along with an herbal scent. Taste is prickly on the tongue at first, with a little veg and leafiness coming through. Dryish hops, but not overbearing. Medium to almost full bodied as this is a robust Marzen with a heavy malt body but not overly sweet or dry; just balanced. A good, if not the best, Oktoberfest beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2008 23:58:56 | More by clayrock81

webmanspidey

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on tap at the Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh.

Appearance was caramel and carbonated. Smell and taste were bready and malty.. but nothing overwhelming. Mouthfeel slightly heavy.

This was a decent beer I enjoyed. Wasn't as overwhelmingly malty and heavy as its oktoberfest peers IMO, but that only made it more drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2008 03:09:07 | More by webmanspidey

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewery in the North Side of Pittsburgh, PA.

A dark golden body with a small ring of head.

Smells mostly of malts.

A tasty beer. Sweet malts up front that border on fruitiness. Finishes with just a touch of hops that makes it spicy and a little bitter. Tasty beer, medium bodied. Pretty refreshing.

I downed this beer at lunch faster than I realized, something that's easy and enjoyable to drink for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2008 23:22:48 | More by Hojaminbag

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Poured on tap into a pint glass. A decent white head forms but little to no lace. Copper body.

S. Malts and german hops. The malts are somewhat bready and bordering on sweet. The hops are herbal and earthy.

T. A wave of malts on the palate, more pronounced and smoother than the bottled version. The leafy herbal hops are very fresh tasting. Malt sweetness is balanced by the noble hop.

M. Smooth and fuller bodied than the bottled version.

D. At 5.6% this could be a staple session beer. Definately a much different animal on tap than in the bottle. I was able to drink more of this and enjoy it more. A win win situation.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2008 17:19:27 | More by Stinkypuss

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep amber hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a nice caramel aroma with a robust toasted grain element.

The taste consisted of a solid earthy grain with a nice hint of caramel sweetness. Some flowery hop flavors were detected as well.

The mouthfeel was full.

Overall a nice sessionable Octoberfest. A good interpretation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2006 19:15:49 | More by plaid75

jcdiflorio

West Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 22oz.pilsner glass.A nice creamy white about an inch,clings to the side of the glass all the way down.A medium coppery color. tiny bubbles wisk to the top of the glass.A clear looking beer,very inviting.Has a bisquity,nutty,slighty fruity aroma.Has a little grainy,caramelly taste,a complex taste.It has a medium-light mouthfeel with a pleasinglly bitter finish.A well balanced beer,refreshing a quite drinkable. A very good Octoberfest.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2006 02:45:00 | More by jcdiflorio

Foxman

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It pours a coppery deep amber, clear and quite carbonated. A finger of fluffy white head settles soon to cirrus swirls of surface froth. Arcs of lacing flare the inside of the glass.

The aroma delivers the expected, with biscuit malt carrying caramel and a general dark fruitiness. A grassy, peppery hop spice paired with a note of cinnamon, and a light bready yeast touch twists briefly.

Upon tasting, it's sweet malt first, with caramel, black cherry, and baked bread. Again cinnamon pops in , as well as a less distinct pepperiness, but this time a very mild citrus element is notable. The finish sees a progression from a muted malt reappearance to a gentle, lingering bitterness. It's typical of the style, but nicely filled out by some fun pieces.

Light bodied, I was surprised that it flowed away as quickly as it did, especially with the carbonation providing a zippy backdrop, but wash away it did, and too soon.

It's a fine marzen, one that does its lineage justice, in spite of showing a hint of American inventiveness. It goes down wonderfully smooth and easy, and is a pleasure to drink, from one to however many I might see fit to imbibe. I will be looking for this the rest of the autumn, and for years to come.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2006 17:54:05 | More by Foxman

Phatz

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a very typical Oktoberfest beer. I must admit I am a fan of the Märzen beers in general. While this is nothing special (with in the style) I love a typical Märzen so...

Appearance: served a dark amber copper color in typical form.

Smell & Taste: The taste and smell are both similarly laden with toasted caramel malts, bread, cinnamon, honey and hints of fruits. Clean and easy from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and malty.

Drinkability: Just buy a case. It's seasonal and you'll drink it!

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2006 07:31:26 | More by Phatz

ski271

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Mad Mex in State College. Pours a clear, dark amber with a very small, off-white head that quickly diminishes to a very thin partial film. The smell is typical of the style by being heavily malty with some very light fruit backing it up. The taste is again malt-dominant and sweet and rather one-dimensional. It has a pleasant mouthfeel and is wickedly sessionable though. Boy could I plow through some of these, but then maybe that’s because it’s a bit lighter than the average Oktoberfest. An enjoyable beer, just not a great representation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2005 20:27:20 | More by ski271

mattcrill

Ohio

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at the Penn Brewing Company.

Appearance: Served in a plastic cup (ouch!). Looks copper red with a nice, filmy white head.

Smell: Served too cold so it's hard to pick up much. Some malt sweetness and a yeasty background slowly woft out of the glass.

Taste: Bread-like and wheaty with a solid malt backbone.
There is a spicy, bitter finish to it. A little on the dry side. Some clove flavors peek through as the beer warms.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crispy.

Drinkability and overall: Highly! A very good and festive brew.
Even better served on-tap in the excellent atmosphere of the Penn Brewing Company.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2004 20:20:35 | More by mattcrill

OldFrothingSlosh

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capital Ale House.
Note: The tap list states that the ABV for this beer is 4.5%

Wonderful brightly-colored copper in appearance. Actively fizzy in the glass. Sticky lacing leaves distinct rings in the glass. A very "fall"-looking beer. Aromas remind me of the fall as well...spice and nutmeg. A spicy, hoppy flavor with hints of caramelized brown sugar poured over roasted nuts makes for a very different and very tasty flavor. Finish was slightly dry, with a dash of spice on the tongue to tease you, begging you to take another sip. Very smooth and extremely quaffable. I see myself drinking this all day while sitting outside watching a fall day go by. Everything with this beer is well-balanced, making it a seasonal I must find on tap next weekend when we head to Pennsylvania for the weekend.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2003 15:09:24 | More by OldFrothingSlosh

oberon

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

one of the better american variety not to sweet.Liked its color(not as dark as some american varieties.)Nice and malty one of the better American styles liked it alot.Really good on tap.A good anice like finish really makes this quite quaffable and makes you want more.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2002 12:24:53 | More by oberon

paulhargus

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: light orange, almost goldish in appearance. lighter than what i've seen in most other Marzens

S: floral/earthy smell with a faint caramel aroma

T: very similar to the smell. not as malty as other Marzens I've had and a touch on the hoppy side for the style. there is also a tinge of citrus at the end.

M: medium and well carbonated

O: although not as malty or caramel-heavy as I like in my Marzens, this was a very well crafted brew. well balanced and an easy drinker. would like to have this on draft. a nice offering from a brewery I hadn't heard of until today.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 00:01:28 | More by paulhargus

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

2.65/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a tall, narrow Ayinger Marzen glass.

A - Pours a golden yellow, leaving a two-finger head of eggshell-white fluffy foam. Beer is a slightly opaque goldenrod color.

S - Bubblegum in the front of nose, followed by grassy straw, and then floral hops. Hints of a very subtle banana bread.

T - Sugars haven't quite fully caramelized, so the bubblegum in the nose is present in the taste. Light caramel-toffee with just enough bittering hops to not be cloying, as those take over at the very end of the finish.

M - Good carbonation gives is a slightly fizzy, foamy mouthfeel. On the thin side with a loose structure and soft, moderate finish.

O - On the lighter side of the divide of Oktoberfest Marzens. Reminds me of a wheat-based beer that's oriented toward caramel sugars. Not bad, but with all the Oktoberfest options out there, and my personal preference for well-defined caramels and malts, this isn't one I'll be seeking out in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 01:31:24 | More by BuckeyeSlim

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Lagunitas Mason Jar. Half finger of off-white head over a light copper body. Not much lacing or retention to speak of.

Smells of esters and nondescript bready malt. Slightly metallic.

Banana, apple, and crisp breadiness on the taste. The aftertaste is a little sweet. The mouthfeel is a little overcarbonated for the style, in my opinion.

Not my favorite Oktoberfest, but decent. I mainly think the malt could be featured more prominently and have a more pronounced flavor to it.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:33:07 | More by troysoy2

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a very clear copper with a bit of a hazy orange tint. Small 1 finger, bright white head.

S - Good amount of bready malt, a tinge of caramel. Light spice notes in the background.

T - A bit spicier than most Octoberfests I've tried. Starts with a hint of ester and zest before fading into that rich breadiness. Finish is slightly "lager"-y.

M - Full mouthfeel, moderate to high carbonation. Clean and crisp.

Overall - Pretty good beer here. A little bit of a twist on the traditional Octoberfest, but perfect for the season. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 16:19:07 | More by BeerBuckeye

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A clear bright orange with a brown hue. Head is small and only gets a small lace ring.

S - Light biscuit malts, touch of toffee and bread and caramel.

T - Mild bit of hops mixed with sweet malts of caramel and toffee and some bread in the finish. Has a mild metallic twang but it's easily ignored.

M - Light to medium an easy going Oktoberfest.

Overall I might have to pick this one up again. Sweet, balanced and not very much skunked malts its a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 02:41:18 | More by DrDemento456

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2012 Penn Oktoberfest. 12oz bottle. Look forward to this brew every year.

Beautifully clear copper body with an eggshell white head of a quarter-inch height. Retaining very well atop the beer.

Sweet and toasty caramelly malt with a sprite hop aroma. Definitely beefy with grain. Nice Oktoberfest aroma.

Classic toasty flavor with some toffee malts, earthy notes, and Noble hops. Slight metallic character works well here. A good strong gritty bitterness follows the palate into the finish. Clean outro with some lingering crisp grain. Lovely sweet Oktoberfest beer.

A very easy drink. Bristly carbonation, specifically in the finsh. Light-to-medium body. Very smooth.

One of my favorite Oktoberfests. Gonna enjoy this six-pack in these dog days of summer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 02:11:15 | More by thecheapies

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good starting head that settles to a thin layer of bubbles. Some ring lace. Darker gold color with a touch of haze.

Deep semi-sweet caramel smell. No notable hop nose.

Tastes like a cross between an Marzen and a heavily unmalted pilsner. Lightly sweet with an above-average body. Light on the carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 01:28:52 | More by smcolw

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours medium orange with a slight off-white skim of a head. No lace.

Some malt, a little caramel, some slight woodiness. Wanted alot more here.

Nice lager. Good depth of flavor for the malt, with hints of caramel and even a little nuttiness. The sugars are present at first but disappear. But this beer dries out fast and leads to some toasted grain and light bitterness. The brew finishes with a very nice malt profile and light lingering bitterness.

Medium bodied. Nice carbonation.

I'm sorry, but all in this style pale to their german counterparts. A very good domestic version -- one of the better ones.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 19:17:04 | More by OtherShoe2

Tschnab

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- a dark orange pour with a creamy head that quickly shrinks to a film.

S- very grainy, slightly vegetal, and has a very pleasant spicy and floral hop aroma.

T- definetly a malty beer, but has enough balance from the hops too. Biscuity malts pair with herbal spice, almonds, and hops.

O- Good session beer, very clean and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 14:02:36 | More by Tschnab