Mecktoberfest - The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

brewcnc

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I noted the serving type as 'bottle' but my real love of this beer is on draft, but alas, it's gone. But still available in bottles where you can find it.

I was absolutely blown away by this incredibly accurate version of a German Marzen style Oktoberfest beer. The wonderful malty nose and the subtle use of hops leads to a beer that is balanced to the malt side in ways that I have never ever tasted from a US brewery. Obvious use of all German ingredients brings forth a richness that rivals, and in my opinion, is as good or better than true German versions. Makes me wish that fall would last forever.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 05:40:21 | More by brewcnc

AnalogReigns

North Carolina

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Just had this beer at the tapping for 2010 a couple days ago. I believe this is the 1st review for the 2010 version of this beer.

OUTSTANDING rendition of Munich's classic Maerzen beer. I was literally with a bunch of Bavarians at OMB's brewery at the tapping, when we had mugs and mugs (and mugs) of this beer. The unfiltered was the best...but, that's not generally available (and we killed the keg in 32 minutes). The standard filtered 2010 version is reviewed here.

Great appearance, light colored for an (American) Oktoberfest style--and of course beautifully transparent, with no haze, and a substantial head. Leaves lace all the way down on your glass as you drink it.

Smells great, malty and crisp, just like my Bavarian friends (and I) like it.

Taste is about perfect for the style. Not overly malty--as I've noticed it typical of American craft-brew Oktoberfest styles--but neither is it hoppy--which is completely wrong for this style, just enough hops to give a crisp, non-cloying finish.

Mouthfeel is also excellent, not watery, but neither syrupy (like most American Oktoberfest beers tend toward...).

VERY drinkable, like most German beers. Maerzen should be the ultimate session beer, as folks drink it with friends at table...(Stammtisch!) for as LONG a time as possible. The day after the tapping I was again with a group of over 100 Germans (not just Bavarians) and they also quickly killed the keg of this beer (with NO complaints...says a lot for Germans...).

Do yourself a favor if you are in the Charlotte region, TRY THIS BEER!!!

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2010 00:47:13 | More by AnalogReigns

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
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

steveh

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
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

Daktah

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +7.7%
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

CBlack85

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler of this from the brewery

Poured from a growler into a pint glass

Pours a nice crystal clear copper color with very little off white head that leaves virtually no lacing.

Nice malty aroma with some fruity/citrus and caramel notes as well. More spicy hop aroma than I was expecting. Slightly bigger overall nose than I expected, not overwhelminly so, but definately bigger.

Very clean tasting beer. A perfect mix of sweet maltyness and slightly bitter hops. Really quite nice and very enjoyable. Well carbinated, with a crisp, clean finish. Definately easy to drink

This is probably my favorite example of this style. Very subdued and understated, yet still very interesting and enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

10-19-2010 19:32:28 | More by CBlack85

Backer2004

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The final days of the Mecktoberfest is here. A great first time offering from the guys at Olde Meck. Style right on par and it cannot get any fresher than right form the tap. Nice balance, nothing too off the charts, but another nice German brew right to style. Look forward to their future seasonals.

Serving type: growler

12-31-2009 00:49:03 | More by Backer2004

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
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

oberon

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a lighter copper shade with a large blooming white head into a 1/2 liter stein,just great clarity and a great head,a little lighter than most O-fest beers.Aromas of toasted grain and lightly sweet dough,a little iron/mineral thrwon in,very authentic stuff here.I love the fact the beer is not overly caramely sweet like way to many versions,it's mildly sweet with a firm toastiness,a noticable metallic note comes in along with a smattering of leafy hops in the finish.This is a helluva damn fine Oktoberfest beer,my expectations were fufilled...and more.Hell yeah!.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 00:32:12 | More by oberon

kkipple

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On-tap at the brewery, 11/20/2009, and quite fresh it was, too! From notes:

A. Just gorgeous. Beautiful. Exceptionally clear, a brilliant orange-copper red, tons of off-white lace piled high, leaving sticky ring down the glass as it is (rapidly) drained. A classic look and surely among the prettiest Oktoberfests I've had.

S. Short and sweet, wet, with some grainy-rough caramel sweetness and fine noble hop bitterness that pops out as the brew warms in my hands. Slightly earthy and "low" -- this is not an American Ofest, nor does it pretend to be. There's enough character here, but it's all subtler than you may be used to.

T. First impressions are of a light and tame classic German Marzen. Further exploration (read: multiple pints) reveal a very well crafted, staggeringly clean tasting beer. A delightful interplay of semi-sweet malt notes, tender bitter hops, and grainy water. Could have a bit more heft, but I understand what this brew is trying to do, and it does it well.

M. Perfect. Olde Mecklenburg has this nailed. On draft at the brewery - just perfect.

D. Absolutely. What this beer lacks in aggressiveness it makes up for by virtually demanding you drink more than three of it.

Olde Mecklenburg is a strange beast; they basically eschew all US trends and limit themselves to crafting extremely sessionable, Reinheitsgebot-restricted beer. You won't find much deviation from classic German styles here, but what you will find is a supremely drinkable, fresh and light take on the Marzen style. Some US beer geeks won't "get" this brewery, and it's their loss. More for me!

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 04:27:28 | More by kkipple

srrn

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A deep amber beer, pours with a fluffy white head that reduces with time. Smells of bready malts. Taste, the malts hit first, then a very nice hoppy bitterness comes through and lingers for quite a while. Nice clean and fresh. Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Another winner here. Next is an Alt in a few days. These beers are brewed to be sessioned and are perfect for it.

Serving type: growler

12-21-2009 01:36:09 | More by srrn

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer at the brewery taproom on 9/23/10. Reviewed from notes. Poured into a giant mug. Came out a very clear copper/amber color with a large 3-finger creamy off-white head. Light lace stuck behind. Nose of toffee, caramel, light hops. Pretty average.

What it lacked in the nose, it made up for in flavor! Semi-sweet candied malts. Notes of toffee, bread, and lightly oily hops on the finish. Excellent aftertaste. Good carbonation level. Easily drinkable. Had I not had to drive home, I would have had another mug, as the first mug was gone before I knew it. Recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2010 14:20:23 | More by Onenote81

TheKingofWichita

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A great rendition of an Oktoberfest.
Pours a dark sunset color with a substantial head and great lacing.
Smells of hops, malts, and some spice.
Tastes of great malted barley, medium hops flavor, and well blended spices. Not one characteristic is extraordinarily powerful making it seem very mild and drinkable. Very smooth mouthfeel to an overall outstanding brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 16:34:43 | More by TheKingofWichita

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ the OMB on 9/5/09. Served in a stange glass.

Pours a deep, clear copper, with a finger of creamy eggshell colored white head. Good retention to this, staying fairly rich throughout, and leaving some solid lacing back. The aroma has a nice sweet tang to it, from notes of bread, caramel, and citrus, with the spiciness of the Noble hops giving this an extra tasty smelling pop in the nose.

That delicious and robust tang carries over to the taste, with toasty caramel sweetness and green citrus giving this a zesty stickiness in the mouth. A sturdy tingle of hops balances things out nicely, adding spice and a steady dryness to the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with an excellent smoothness to the overall feel, yet this still possesses a satisfying crispness to it as well, which keeps the drinkibility way up!

Really nice American take on the Oktoberfest style here from the OMB, that had an enjoyable vibrancy to the flavors (thanks to the hops), and a refreshing crispness to the body. This was one of the more gratifying ones that I've had lately. Tasty stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2009 19:11:51 | More by Kegatron

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a clear amber color and a perky head that sticks and laces as desired

Smell: Nice Munich malt aromatics with a hint of caramel

Taste: Malty elements up front that are joined by a nice touch of hops to balance the profile by mid-palate; after the swallow, a slight grainy lager twang is apparent

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A very nice example of the style fresh from the brewery

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2009 22:34:30 | More by brentk56

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Kegatron for bringing back a 1 Liter flip top growler from this relatively new brewery.

A-Bright copper with a thin off-white head that flares up with agitation but quickly reduces to a thin veil and leaves zero lace.

S-Fruity with a mildly sweet caramel malt base. Surprisingly aromatic for an O-fest.

T-Solid caramel base with a citrus bite and a pleasant fruit bowl tartness in the finish.

M-Medium bodied very smooth with a crisp, drying finish.

D-Damn good! This one goes easy for sure. Nice bright flavours with a surprising and tasty fruitiness and a sharp ending bite.

Serving type: growler

09-09-2009 17:38:43 | More by Deuane

dirtylou

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

74oz growler, plugged away at over the course of a saturday afternoon in charlotte

appearance: clear amber body, lovely milky-white foam head with strong retention

smell: nice toasted malts, autumnal, red apple, caramel

taste: a nice, highly drinkable, interpretation of the style - toasted malt, rich caramel, sweet red apple, sourdough, sweet hops

mouthfeel: spot-on, not too heavy and not too sweet, rich with a creamy finish

overall: good

Serving type: growler

09-25-2011 21:36:05 | More by dirtylou

emerge077

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big ups to Wil for sharing this one.
Bottled: 11.07.11

Pours a bright saturated copper orange, sharp clarity, and a pillsbury biscuit of creamy foam on top. Long lasting head retention, coverage for the duration of the glass.

Soft doughy bread aroma, light malt sweetness. Pleasant with some apple notes surfacing too.

Lightly sweet, very smooth feel, clean and dry finish. Bready notes with a hint of apple again in the taste. Lingering shortbread flavor. Medium bodied and full flavored, lighter carbonation. Overall a great Oktoberfest with the advantage of freshness. Thanks again Wil!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 02:24:48 | More by emerge077

Orangevango

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

If nothing else, Olde Mecklenburg makes gorgeous beers. This one pours a crystal clear copper color. The head is ample, pale-cream, and tight. There's a bit of Diacetyl in the nose, along with some grainy aromas and subdued earthy hops. Just the right level of sweetness, combined with a silky mouthfeel make this beer superbly drinkable. The flavor follows the aroma, but without the diacetyl.

Mecktoberfest is, over all, a solid sessionable, gorgeous beer, whose only fault is a hit of diacetyl.

Serving type: growler

12-14-2009 21:30:40 | More by Orangevango

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dispensed a clear, darkened amber-gold body with a spumed, off-white head.

Smell: Toasted whole-grain bread and a fragrance of spicy noble German hops above some lighter crackery tones and far-off traces of sweet-scented caramel.

Taste: Maltiness of moderately toasted bread given a touch of sweet caramel, maybe even a hint of honey as well. Spicy, floral German hops, lightly bitter and more than enough to balance things out. Soft, faint fruitiness. Drying finish with a delicate mix of spicy hops and maltiness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Very drinkable. A clean, satisfying O-fest. Keep up the good German work, OMB.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2010 18:38:28 | More by ChainGangGuy

sommersb

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev -6.3%
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

Bung

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At Mac's Speed Shop. Nice amber pour, 2 finger off white head. Aroma has some malt, tea, toffee, light pine hops. Caramel malt, tea and a nice amount of bittering hops. High drinkability, with good balance. Really a pretty good Marzen, which often just aren't that good. Either too sweet or too tea/old sock like. Definetely my favorite of their offerings thus far.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2009 20:14:55 | More by Bung

botham

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

growler fresh from the brewery poured into a tasting glass. pours a rich copper color with amber highlights and one and a half fingers of eggshell colored head that leaves decent lacings and has moderate retention.

aroma is of rich caramel malts with a lightly sweet aura and a light note of spice in the background. nicely concentrated with a hearty profile.

taste is more of the same with a light floral note behind the malts and a finish of dark and crystalized malts. lightly sweet after the fact.

mouthfeel is medium bodied and full of sweet malt cahracter. lightly carbonated and hearty in texture. could be a bit heavier when the malt profile is considered, but still good.

drinkability is good. this is an easy drinking brew, like a good marzen should be. comes off a bit thin and a bit sweet, but ends up very drinkable.

Serving type: growler

09-09-2009 19:02:29 | More by botham

kimcgolf

Georgia

3.83/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at Moosehead Bar in Charlotte. Poured a hazy copper color with a thick off-white head that lingered well and left good lacing. Nose was a pleasant mix of malty sweet caramel and hoppy floral, with some bread and earth undertones. Mouthfeel was full, somewhat tingly and slightly chewy, and the taste then accentuated the malty caramel and earth of the nose. Rounded off to a long pleasant finish, making this a most fine Oktoberfest beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 15:38:00 | More by kimcgolf

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%
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