Maierfest Lager - Rogue Ales

Brewski4Drewski

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Enjoyed September 3 at Savannah Craft Brew Fest '11.
A: Light cloudy amber color not as dark as most Marzen. Big white head holds carbonation.
S: Slight malt and nut tones, and subtle hopping
T&M: Crispy taste and finishes on malty smoothness. Could sesh out with this one. Booze is coming from somewhere not sure if I am missing something.
O: Decent brew, not my favorite Oktoberfest, was expecting more malt considering its a Rogue beer but it'll do pig.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2011 15:35:36 | More by Brewski4Drewski

Merkur

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours a much lighter than normal Oktoberfest amber color. The beer is also cloudier with a larger amount of white head.

The beer smells malty and nutty aroma.

The tast is very crisp and tasted a good bit of hops. This was very surprising and refreshingly so. The beer finishes with a nice malty flavor.

This is not your usual Oktoberfest beer, but is very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 01:26:03 | More by Merkur

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap 9/10/2010 at Doherty's East Ave Irish Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains fruit, honey, caramelized malts, lager yeast and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of lager yeast and a thin malt character. Then some sweetness comes in from flavors of honey, fruit and caramel. The hops presence is very mild but brings some balance. The after-taste is slightly bready.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, decent representation of style, it's not a bad beer but there are several other O-fests that I would choose first.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 15:12:58 | More by TheManiacalOne

ToasterChef

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from my notes. Served in a Rogue pint glass. The beer has a translucent golden yellow color. It's white head dissipated to a thin coating quickly. Lots of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass. There wasn't much to the aroma; some earthy yeast and a hint of citrus. The taste has a bunch of flavors. I can detect some sweet malt and a hint of citrus. I feel like I am tasting white grapes and pears. The yeast is prominent and has a slight nuttiness. There is a slight bitterness as the beer first hits my tongue. It has a light body and a good mouthcoating. The carboantion is playful, it reminds me of a glass of champagne. I can feel the bubbles in the mouthcoating, which is different. The beer is very drinkable. It may be better for a spring night instead of this cold winter one, but I'll still say that I could have a few rounds of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2010 15:08:24 | More by ToasterChef

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Had at the Great Lost Bear on 10/24 - lost original review

A: This beer pours a clear light copper color with a one finger of offwhite head. Head retention is decent and leaves spotty wispy lacing.

S: Nose is of caramel malts, corn, and a breadiness but all very muted.

T: Taste is caramel malts up front, a dose of sweet corn and bread through the middle, and a finish of slightly citru hops.

M: Light to medium body, high carbonation, crisp and clean finish.

D: A decent offering, though nothing truly stands out. I'd opt for others of the style if given the choice.

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2009 14:25:35 | More by Jayli

RJLarse

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Swamp. Served in a pint glass.

Appearance is a clear god color. Frothy little white head.

Smell is faint. A little seet brown sugar aroma maybe.

Taste is a sweet bread taste with a little vegetable flavor. Squash or sweet potato.

Mouthfeel is light and a little flat. Very mildly carbonated.

A typical o-fest. Drinkable in season. Not an all the time beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2009 04:57:26 | More by RJLarse

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I remember being very impressed with this brew while drinking in the Southside of Pittsburgh, at Fathead's. This is from notes and it was my first or 2nd beer of the evening so I trust that my palate and judgement was okay. Beautifuly copper bronze body with a nice light creamy off white head, leaves behind ample speckled lacing. Aroma has a mild tartness a bit of a vinous note with some caramel and biscuit malt and a dash of raisin sweetness. Crisp herbal hop profile for balance but it's nice to smell a Rogue offering that doesn't smell like their signature Pacman yeast strain. Flavor was sweet with the caramel and biscuit malt presence but not cloying in anyway, a great pronounced hop bitterness with herbal leafy flavors going on in the finish even a touch of citrus that is typically not welcomed in my O fest but this was excellent. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with even smoth carbonation, drinkability was one of those by the liter sessionable brews that have become a rare experience in the realm of craft brewing. Will seek more of this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2009 16:55:24 | More by WVbeergeek

Gavage

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: hazy orange color with a 1" head that falls slowly.

Smell: little aroma as only some malt sweetness rises from the glass.

Taste: bready and mildly grainy malt profile. Some grass, hint of earthiness, and a decent bitterness makes up a nice oktoberfest.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied but a bit thin too. Crisp to start, less so at the finish. Aftertaste is short, almost clean.

Drinkability: very easy to consume this one. This is a nice session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2009 23:50:40 | More by Gavage

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured ontap into a pint glass. Brownish/Copper color with a small head that recedes to a ring along the sides of the glass.

Smell is of bready malts, standard fare for an octoberfest.

A slight roasted/smokey to this beer, and finishes a bit sour on the back end. Decently malty with an herbal hop presence. I'd liken this brew to sourdough bread. I found the flavor to be strange and maybe even a little off.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, slightly watery.

Drinkability is average. This brew doesn't really stick out, other than that odd sour twang. On par with low end Octoberfests.

Serving type: on-tap

09-04-2009 14:22:33 | More by Stinkypuss

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into signature pint glass; no bottle dating, but this is likely to be over a year old. Pours hazy golden orange color with a small 1 finger foamy white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Minimal spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of caramel, apple, pear, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, toffee, herbal, and light earthiness. Nice aromas with good balance and decent strength; very pleasant. Taste of caramel, toast, pear, biscuit, apple, toffee, nuttiness, floral, herbal, and light earthy spiciness. Lingering notes of caramel, toast, light fruit, nuttiness, biscuit, toffee, and herbal spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance of flavors with good robustness; zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy and very smooth mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Oktoberfest lager. Nice robustness with a good balance of toasty and nutty flavors with light fruitiness(which I prefer in the style); very smooth and fairly crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 05:56:15 | More by superspak

travolta

California

3.48/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: slightly hazy apricot, minimal to no head retention. No lacing.

Nose: Malty sweetness, honey, clover, tiny citrus and tropical fruit to finish.

Taste: Calm and pleasant mouthfeel. Sweet malt, herbaceous crispness.

Notes: A malty, nice beer. Not like Rouges' usual production, but still a nice beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 00:54:17 | More by travolta

Zorro

California

3.38/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Slightly chill hazed amber with a puffy white head.

Toasted grain aroma with a nutty scent like wheat bran. Slightly spicy noble hop aroma saffron and hay scent. The nutty smell makes this smell a lot like a Bock beer.

Starts out a little sweet with a slight tobacco taste. Biscuit malt flavor. Herbal tasting the sweetness again makes me think Bock beer.

Mouthfeel is full.

Overall it is expensive and too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 23:54:38 | More by Zorro

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very lightly hazy golden yellow with light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a half finger tall white head that dissipates immediately leaving a very thin ring of bubbles at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Very subtle/light aroma of sweet malts, caramel, and grassy/earthy hops.

T: Flavor is sweet toasted malts, caramel, and brown sugar. The beer has some more subtle hints of citrus zest and floral notes. There is some mild earthy hop bitterness in the finish.

M: Light to medium bodied with low to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly crisp with a dry finish.

O: Good for the style but nothing special - I have had many other beers in this style (though this is the first I have reviewed) and I would much rather have other beers instead of this one - not a bad beer just pales in comparison to others. Easy to drink and a decent session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 01:38:40 | More by dbrauneis

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear, bright golden color with a nice foamy white head with good retention.

The scent was sweet and grassy, with some notes of caramel.

The taste was of sweet bready malt, notes of floral hops, and some caramel presence.

Light bodies, smooth and a bit crisp, moderate carbonation.

I thought this was a really good beer, very flavorful and easy to drink. I would definitely go for this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 16:48:46 | More by BeerCon5

Billolick

New York

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Typical 22 ounce Rogue bomber, w/o freshness info.

A- Cloudy, dull tangarine amber, quickly departing light tan head, leaves nominal fine bits of lace.

S- Earthy malts picked up by the sniffer

T- Malty amber brew, slight floral note,lite lime and gin, but in the end, mostly light malt and moderate grainy hops drying out the finish.

M- nothing special going on mouthfeel wise

O- ehh, decent but not anything I would rush back to buy more of

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 22:59:07 | More by Billolick

Kromes

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A hazy pale copper color with a thin line of white bubbles on top.

S: Sweet toasted malts, caramel and a touch of earthy hop.

T: A nice, sweet toasted malt, caramel, brown sugar flavor up front that continues into the finish. It is sweet with only a touch of hop at the end to take the sweetness down just a touch.

M: Light-Medium body with low carbonation make this a good session beer.

O: A good Oktoberfest beer. No off flavors. Sweet without being cloying and good drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 00:23:17 | More by Kromes

Vylo

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pumpkin orange.

Smell is strongly citrus. Jumps out at you and is pleasant.

Taste excellent. I find it hard to put my finger on what exactly is in it. most likely apples, orange, possible pumpkin.

Mouthfeel is good, could maybe use a bit more carbonation.

Overall, great ocktoberfest style. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 11:18:23 | More by Vylo

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A friend brought this over to the house last weekend for our annual pumpkin-carving-beer-tasting party. Split and poured into a mug.

This beer pours a dark amber/orange with a thick bone-white head on top. A fair amount of lace left behind after each sip. The nose is sweet with caramel, pale fruits, and faint floral tones. Good body as the carbonation bulks this up a bit. Moderate chew to it. Sweet caramel malty flavors start things out, but then a refreshing hoppy bite closes it out. I like that interplay with the hops. Nice refreshing Marzen that I will gladly have again. Thanks, Jared!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 18:24:40 | More by Onenote81

zeff80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a two-finger, khaki colored head of bubbly foam. It left some thin rings of lace.

S - It smelled of caramel and floral notes. Not much else.

T - It tasted of sweet caramel and some bready malt. A subtle spicy bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and fairly smooth. A light bodied lager with a dry finish.

O - This is a nice oktoberfest. Good but not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:00:45 | More by zeff80

confer

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The color is a deep yellow with a lot of haze. The big white head promised on the label only lasts a brief time.
Smell is all malt, caramel and sweet.
The taste is on the sweet side with a hint of orange and a biscuit finish.
Feels a bit on the thick side for a lager. Overall another good Maerzen, one of many.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 23:18:15 | More by confer

metter98

New York

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy yellowish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a very thin white head that rapidly faded away, leaving only a bit of lacing on the surface and a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: The smell is quite malty and has aromas of bready malts along with hints of caramel, toffee and sweetness.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and the malts assert themselves in the flavors. There is a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied and is smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness in the finish.
O: The beer is very easy to drink for the style and goes down smoothly. If it was slightly less malty and filling then I would consider it to be sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 00:47:24 | More by metter98

sommersb

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 10-09-2011
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Seidel
Purchased: Single from Midtown, Nashville

Color is dark golden, with an off-white head. The head is about 3 fingers on the pour, but doesn't stick around long and leads to little lacing. A few bubbles are seen in this clear beer.

The aroma is crisp and lager-like, with a nod to the pilsner malts included I think. The lightly toasted malt and grassy hops make up the aroma, but overall is a bit weak.

Taste is dominated by a solid malt base, with bready and caramel flavors. Some bitterness from the hops rounds out the taste but does well to stay in the background.

Mouthfeel is smooth, with a medium body. The carbonation is medium to high. The finish is dry, with both malt sweetness and hops making up the aftertaste.

As I worked my way through the bottle I enjoyed it more and more. I'd say the beer as a whole is greater than the individual parts. It really comes together well and I'd recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 01:03:16 | More by sommersb

clayrock81

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a reddish tinted gold w/ minimal head and lace. Sharp, almost pungent pils-malt aroma along w/ some dry breadiness and a touch of wet hops. Smooth and light bodied but borders on being watery at times. Has somewhat of a residual stickiness and you can detect faint sweet malts along with dry, grainy malts and bitter hopping. Finishes disappointing as instead of a crisp bite or anything it's just watery. A decent but underwhelming beer that tries to be both dry and sweet and just doesn't pull it off that well.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 16:56:55 | More by clayrock81

samie85

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Pours a copper-tinged color with a half-finger of white head that quickly dissipates.

S-Bready and caramelly malt notes with herbal and spicy Oktoberfest hop notes.

T-Bitter herbal notes upfront with some subdued bread and caramel malt with a bitter finish.

M-A little thin bodied with prickly carbonation and a drying feel.

D-Not exactly my favorite interpretation of an Oktoberfest as the hops overwhelm the malt in this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 01:46:56 | More by samie85

rootbeerman

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: pours amber orange, with a finger or so of white large bubbled head.
S: biscuity and bready slightly sweet. Plain but wasn't really expecting gold style wise.
T: simple, light bready malt sweetness. Light hop bitterness that is barely earthy on the back end. This just seem to be lacking on the malt some.
M: smooth easy to drink as the style should be.
O: yes it is very easy to drink, but its just not all there, not as bready as most, not as dark as some.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 09:15:26 | More by rootbeerman