Mecktoberfest - The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at the brewery (October 2011):

Appeared a very nice darker amber color with a very nice off-white, creamy 2 to 3 finger head that was well retained throughout the entire beer.

The beer gave off a nice, deep toasted malt aroma and perhaps a hint of toffee sweetness.

The taste of the beer is exceptional. This is what I imagined a marzen to taste like. The beer had a bready, malty sweetness to it, balanced well with some light hops. The taste was full with an excellent aftertaste.

The beer had a medium body to it, was extremely smooth and extremely easy to drink. I put down two before I even knew it. This is an outstanding brew. If you like this style or beer you should try this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 22:48:07 | More by PhillyStyle

herrburgess

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-30-2013 12:40:47 | More by herrburgess

Jason

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

04-19-2013 17:56:59 | More by Jason

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.1%

04-11-2013 17:32:37 | More by DaPan

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

02-08-2013 12:23:14 | More by dvmin98

LooseMoose1978

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.1%

01-20-2013 02:49:26 | More by LooseMoose1978

jorrx003

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

01-13-2013 22:06:04 | More by jorrx003

Todd

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

01-12-2013 06:09:36 | More by Todd

mhaugo

California

2.5/5  rDev -40%

12-17-2012 05:52:41 | More by mhaugo

LGFitz2

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

12-08-2012 16:12:51 | More by LGFitz2

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As the taste of Oktoberfestbiers are trending lighter and lighter, Mecklenburg finds comfort in these developments with a firm fest-style lager that promotes pilsner taste with floral hop balances.

And like many German lagers, the bright straw color contains restrained gold highlights within its crystal clear appearance. Its spirited carbonation releases a fluffy cotton head of froth that shows strong staying power and laces the glass intermittently.

Floral hops deliver a bouquet of aromas that takes the olfactory senses back to honeysuckle and flowery sweetness. Backed by the crisp grainy-sweet scent of pilsner malt, the hop character is charged by the underpinnings of crisp cracker-like breads and supple sweetness.

Flavors act conversely as the malts meet the front of the mouth with malty sweetness that turns lightly grainy at mid palate before concluding dry to finish. An elevated hop taste develops at middle palate and provides floral and grassy taste before developing into a spicy and racy bitterness that balances the fleeting malt taste late. With light apple-like sulfurs and a light minerally crispness, the beer rounds out very well.

Crisply textured throughout, the beer's semi-dry malts pull away from the zest of carbonation to provide a quick transition to finish. Early creaminess wastes no time going toward a lightly arid conclusion that leaves floral hop and spice to fend for themselves in aftertaste.

Mecktoberfest is a sturdy and crisp lager that might hint toward elevated flavor, body, and strength compared to the stalwart German lager, but its lighter profile compared to the more traditional and authentic Oktoberfestbiers demonstrates a shift downward that shows no sign of slowing.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 18:14:46 | More by BEERchitect

sommersb

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 11-24-2012
Freshness: Unknown
Packaging: Draft
Glassware: Stange
Purchased: On tap at Olde Mecklenburg

A: Bright, clear copper pour shows a fair level of head retention and good lacing. A bit lighter in color than most of the style I've had.

S: Aromas are mainly of noble hops, with grass and hay notes.

T/M: Crisp and clean lager taste, featuring bready malts, spices and moderate hop bitterness. Fresh, clean and easy drinking.

O: Overall a solid Oktoberfest-style beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 02:31:09 | More by sommersb

TheInfamousElGuapo

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-24-2012 19:41:18 | More by TheInfamousElGuapo

retreminy

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

11-18-2012 22:20:41 | More by retreminy

srhudnall

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

11-09-2012 00:06:10 | More by srhudnall

Daktah

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Finally getting around to reviewing this after drinking it pretty consistently over the past couple months. Picked up a growler and took it home to enjoy. Poured a clear, medium amber color with a noticeable head that stuck around for a little while and created consistent lacing. Smell was bready and mildly sweet. Taste was perfect balance - malt up front and then a little hops; a touch of sweet, fresh fruit and slight spiciness. I found it to be on the more full-bodied side of the Marzens I've tried, which I really liked, with medium carbonation. Perfectly drinkable and one of the best I've tried in the style. Very happy to have this beer made just down the road.

Serving type: growler

11-05-2012 15:52:21 | More by Daktah

Ik_hou_van_bier

5/5  rDev +19.9%

11-03-2012 15:55:24 | More by Ik_hou_van_bier

Tilley4

Tennessee

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

Big thanks to gfish for sending this my way...

Fresh clean malty aromas kissed by a tinge of noble hops... best way to describe the aroma... not overdone or overanalyzed.. simple, clean and true to style...

Perfectly blended formula of lightly toasted biscuit malts and noble hops... what a refreshing Oktoberfest this is... clean and crisp with a slight bite from the hops... they didn't pound this with malts and make it all syrupy and sweet... excellently crafted and delicious...

I liked this beer quite a bit and wish I had more of it... I bet this thing is a beauty on tap... I'd love to have a keg of this to drink during O'fest...

Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 23:29:46 | More by Tilley4

crawdadwilly74

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

10-31-2012 11:39:50 | More by crawdadwilly74

Illmaticzx

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -28.1%

10-29-2012 03:42:54 | More by Illmaticzx

freshtojeff

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

10-28-2012 14:21:43 | More by freshtojeff

steveh

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another successful, generous trade with Herr Burgess.

19 ounce bomber, bottled-on 9.25.12.

A -- Clear, deep orange-gold with a creamy, dense, long-lasting head.

S -- Bready, yeasty with that "fresh breeze" smell that I now know is related to DMS.

T -- Even balance of bready and nutty up front, some fleeting spiciness from hops in the middle, and a fresh bread toastiness that commandeers the aftertaste. The maltiness in the aftertaste is more fresh than any other German-style beer I've had from the U.S.; luscious and almost juicy. There's a vague hint of nuttiness in the last of the aftertaste, but it's not at all distracting, along with the lightest bite of spicy hops for balance.

M -- Mouthfeel is soft and smooth with a light-medium body.

O -- This is a very good take on a difficult to brew style. Olde Meck avoided the usual shortcut of roasted malts for color and body and went straight to Munich and Pilsner styles. Quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 21:02:15 | More by steveh

CarolinaKev

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

10-22-2012 01:31:15 | More by CarolinaKev

GFish

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

10-22-2012 00:24:16 | More by GFish

MerkurKing16

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.1%

10-12-2012 01:00:58 | More by MerkurKing16