Hoptoberfest - Milwaukee Brewing Company

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.58/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date, no nothing. All I can tell you is that my label is blue and does not look like the beer pictured, but is most assuredly a Milwaukee Brewing Co. Hoptober Fest Lager. Unless this bottle is lying, but it also says copyright 2012 on the label so I'm guessing this is just a newer batch than the beer pictured. It says it has a 6.0% abv also.

A - Pours a very nice burnt orange color with a nice two finger head. I can already tell that this might be a little better than the awful Milwaukee Brewing Co. Hop Happy IPA that I drank last night.

S - I'm smelling a bit of malts, and that is about it. No spices present. Maybe just a little bit of honey in there.

T - Malty taste for sure, with light carbonation, and some wheat.

M - Mouth is nothing special. Very dry feel afterwards. I feel like the malts are lingering around a little bit, and I can still maybe taste some honey in there.

Overall, not terribly impressed. Although, out of the selection of "craft" beers that Milwaukee Brewing Co. is doing, this is the best one I've had so far.

Milwaukee Brewing Co. Hoptober Fest ---2.5/5

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 07:32:29 | More by mfnmbvp

Weli

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Deep copper with about a 1/2' white head subsiding to a fine white lacing

S-Bready malty and a slight hint of ethanol. Faint floral hop aroma

T-Assertively bitter, probably a bit too bitter for strict style guidelines. Some malt sweetness, but the hops tend to overwhelm the malt flavors. Tastes like a Oktoberfest crossed with a pale ale.

M-Prickly carbonation, a little bit rough around the edges from the assertive bitterness.

O-An Oktoberfest for hop heads? Although I love hops this combo doesn't quite do it for me, was really expecting the malt to shine more for this beer, or there to at least be more hop aroma. Decent beer but should be more balanced.

Comments:
Website lists it as 40 IBUs and about 1.060 og so this is definitely overly bitter for an Oktoberfest of its gravity

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 23:20:29 | More by Weli

innersanctum

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pilsner glass, the appearance is a mild redish brown with some foam. Initial tasting notes are similar to other American Octoberfest's such as Sam Adams and Great Lakes versions of the seasonal with a rounder smoother mellow taste. Then flavor then opens up toward a much drier and hoppier version reminisent of a Spatten, and quickly moving toward a blast of hops ala a Jinx Proof.

This is one the hoppiest laggers out on the market and a darn good product. This packs a nice punch near 6% APB and an absolute joy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 16:10:42 | More by innersanctum

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
6.0% ABV, no date.

A - Brilliant clarity shines through the golden cedar-colored beer, allowing a visual on steady carbonation rising up. A dense off-white head starts low in stature but is retained very well and leaves patchy dots of lacing circling the glass.

S - Despite it's Milwaukee origin, Hoptoberfest is European in aroma with lots of floral and earthy hops emanating from within. Hard mineral water laces the toasted Vienna malts and light Munich sweetness.

T - Hoptoberfest might be European in aroma but our love for hops makes it all American in flavor, pouncing on the tongue with bitterness. While still seemingly comprised of classic European ingredients, this is like a ramped up Oktoberfest with bolder herbal and floral hoppiness plowing through the toasted malts. Sweetness lingers for a touch of balance, but the style's depth of maltiness is largely passed by here.

M - Smooth and well-carbonated, Hoptoberfest is almost creamy-feeling with a dry and moderately bitter finish, much more bitter than the style generally serves it's drinkers. Medium-bodied, this beer maintains enough drinkability to parallel the style in that regard.

O - The nature of Milwaukee's Hoptoberfest is played out perfectly in the name. Take said Oktoberfest, over hop it, and, in a manner of speaking, there you have it. This beer takes a classic malt base which usually commands a little more attention and uses it to balance the bigger load of hops tossed in this beer. It doesn't stray from the classic roots so much in ingredients but rather in how they're used. Don't expect your bold citrus and pine American hops here, just a good Oktoberfest with some more earthy herbal and floral characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 23:35:49 | More by BeerFMAndy

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a glass mug

A- Pours a deep must orange amber with a bubbly slightly off white head. Only has a small amount of light penetration.

S- Smell is rich and caramelly. Although there was a bit of an earthy sweet hop aroma when opening the bottle it dissipated as soon as the beer was poured into the mug. A nice complex malty scent with a nice breadiness.

T- The taste is very bready with a sweet caramel malt coating to it. Strong taste of bread and crackers with a tiny bit of underlying hop sweetness as well. Ends in a mostly sweet yet just slightly bitter finish with more of a very slight earthy aroma to it.

M- Has a clean and crisp feel to it with a slightly medium body and low to medium carbonation.

O- A very basic marzen. In fact I would go as far as to say it was a bit bland even. Not much really going on with this beer that is very noteworthy. The breadiness gives it a very "blah" feel, although it still is drinkable. I feel ridiculous for giving it an all around 3 but to be completely honest that is
literally where I would rate each of the categories. None of them are special enough to garner anything higher yet they also aren't really bad enough to be anything lower. This beer is worth passing up unless you really like milwaukee brewery or marzens. Perhaps it is because this bottle may be somewhat old? I picked it up in a mixed 6 pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 01:51:03 | More by Zachtheporter

GoldHorde

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

HOPTOBERFEST...hmmm...instantly I recoil. I'm not a fan of Octoberfest STYLE - way too close to BELGIAN ALES which too often bear sour mash notes and wildly unhinged fruit esters. This version definitely holds to the elements of that style. Clean pale gold appearance, musky pilsner aroma that does not predict the sour note edges in the flavor gamut. The hop character was admittedly higher for this style but not by much, and noticable ONLY in the flavor (not the aroma). My Belgian Ale friends will love this - but it is low and outside of my preferences for Ales promising a HopHead experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 06:16:55 | More by GoldHorde

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sending this one, Jeff.

A: The beer pours amber in color with a finger of off-white/khaki colored head.

S: Not much aroma to this. Very plain. Bready malt and toffee with a little bit of spicy hop character. Maybe some yeast to it. Really not much going on.

T: Some bready malt and toffee. A little bit bitter for an Oktoberfest. Some spicy and floral malts. Some fruity esters and a little bit of yeast.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O: Not a very traditional Oktoberfest, but not awful.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 21:51:37 | More by womencantsail

morimech

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler filled at Cassanova's in Hudson, WI.

Clear brass colored with a dense two finger head that held on for a long time. The head settles to a thick cap. Heavy lacing is left done the glass.

Sweet malt aroma with a slight toast. Hints of caramel and grass from the hops. Smells like a marzen should. Nice and clean.

Flavor of caramel malt with the slightest toast. The sweetness is balanced by a surprising bitterness (I guess it is called Hoptoberfest for a reason). Hops add grassy and spicy notes. A well done lager.

Body is a little bigger and more carbonated than an old world marzen. The carbonation does it best to lift the beer. I like it.

This is a very good cool weather beer. Might be too large and alcoholic to enjoy an entire festival night with, but it has a lot of clean flavors. My first Milwaukee Brewing Company beer. I hope the rest of their beers are as impressive as this one as I need to explore the rest of their lineup.

Serving type: growler

09-04-2011 18:01:04 | More by morimech

richkrull

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at Hyvee in the $1 bin.

Poured a darker copper color with a little bit of head on it.

Smells a little smokey. Not as hoppy as I though it would be.

More hops in the taste but not overly bitter. A very good tasting beer.

Very smooth mouthfeel. Light to medium body.

This beer went down great! I'll definitely look for it again in the fall. Glad I took a chance on this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 02:23:41 | More by richkrull

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

A: Crystal clear golden amber. Two fingers of cream hued head. Sticky lace and solid retention.

S: Spiced caramel malt, earthy hops and even a hint of coffee. Very nice aroma for a marzen.

T: The flavors are a bit thin. Light spices and pale malt. Slightly metallic finish.

M: Medium to light body. Light bubbly carbonation.

D: Overall the nose was solid the flavors were average. A decent marzen.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 02:35:59 | More by beerwolf77

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a Tequila Sunrise bronze with a four-finger, frothy, off-white head with excellent retention. Car-wash-like suds lace the side of the glass throughout session. Exceptional appearance.

Aromas of citrus hops, yeast, mint and caramel malt. Opens with a moderate hop bitterness and notes of grapefruit. Full bodied and luxurious mouthfeel. Marzen maltiness surfaces in the middle with a trace of mineral water. Finishes mildly bitter with a scratch of grainy husk. Interesting take on the style. Full of character and very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 00:49:45 | More by CaptainIPA

dirtylou

Washington

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz single, Woodman's

appearance: served in a bells pint glass - bright orange-amber body nice frothy beige head with good retention

smell: lemon, herbs, light hop bitterness, toasted grain and nuts

taste: hard to call this one an oktoberfest - as the name implies, this one is hop-forward. Bitter lemon peel, grassy hops, herbal, toasted grain, spicy rye. Nice brew, though more of a hoppy lager than a true oktoberfest

mouthfeel: a touch spicy, moderate bitterness, decent carbonation, oily

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 20:25:27 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear copper-orange with a mountain of rocky pale tan foam that slowly recedes to leave the glass absolutely smeared with lace. Simply put, it looks fantastic.
Bitter herb and lemon oil nose backed with toastier and vaguely sweet notions of bread and nuts. It presents as a hoppy pils/marzen crossbreed.
That generally bready/toasty, somewhat unassertive maltiness rolls across the mouth. It totes traces of nuts, especially a segue of peanut skin bitterness. Hops bring a fair sized slap of bitter herbs and grasses. As it nears room temperature, the maltiness is bolstered, bringing out a fuller expression of toasted bread, and an faint caramel sweetness, along with similar nuttiness as before. The hops fade somewhat at this point, but are still well above-average for the style.
The body is medium-plus, with a greasy, fattened feel from the sluggish carbonation, though it's not so rotund as to impede drinkability, which (aside from appearance) is its strong suit.
It's completely agreeable as a small departure from the traditional style. But I would have prefered it to either have a more assertive malt base, or, honestly, just hop the hell out of it. Right now, it merely exists in that middle-ground ether, and best serves as an easy drinker rather than making a true statement one way or the other.

Even with this perceived indecisiveness, I do rather like it. And it's probably the best bottled offering I've had from MBC.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 07:40:18 | More by cokes

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. No mention of what style this is. I bought a single bottle of it.

It pours a vibrant fall orange with a big foamy white head with a mountain of fluff atop it. The head sticks for a good while and recedes to some lacing.

Initially it smelled hoppy but that died down and left a sweet caramally nutty character with a subtle bit of hops.

The taste is hoppier than most of the style. It has a pronounced nuttiness and pretzel flavor along with some caramel and toasted malts. There is a b it of diacetyl but it isn't too much. There is a bit of mineral water flavor in play here too.

It is a bit thin for an oktoberfest but it has a nice drinkability.

A decent americanized oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 21:16:13 | More by crossovert