Ballast Point Oktoberfest - Ballast Point Brewing Company

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at The Surly Goat in West Hollywood, CA.

Pours a clear dark orange-brown with a tan head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and caramel aromas. Taste is also of malt and caramel with a mild bitterness after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer even if it's quite out of season in March.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 06:53:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

armock

New York

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

On-tap at the main brewery's tasting room.

A - Poured a brown color with a thin white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of sweet caramel malt with a hint of hops

T - Follows the nose with sweet caramel malt thats a little roasty and a dash of hops in the finish

M - This beer has a medium body with medium carbonation to it

O - I liked this beer quite a bit and could probably drink a number of these in a sitting worth grabbing a pint if you see it around

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2011 19:52:49 | More by armock

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.48/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap in a shaker pint, this beer is dark amber with ruby highlights and a 2-finger creamy head that doesn't stick around too long. Scattered patches and streaks of lacing are left behind.

The nose is full of a leafy hop character that somewhat overpowers the malt. Taste is pretty much the same story. A powerful leafy bitterness dominates from sip to swallow, getting a bit tealike and lingering in the finish. Some caramel and tangy fruit flavors linger underneath. Tasty enough, but entirely too bitter and hop-forward for the style. Could use some more carbonation as well, as the thick body makes for a sluggish feel at times.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2010 16:28:55 | More by PDXHops

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

another one that was new at barleys that i decided to try on tap while i had the chance. served cold and into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 11/06/2010.

the pour was decent, nothing to right home about with a medium color and a nice head of white that did not stick around nearly long enough in my opinion.

aroma is lots of caramel, a bit too much if you ask me followed by a bready onslaught of malts and a light tinge of hops in, earthy though and nothing at all to really make it stand out more then a simple balance. light body that was adequatly carbonated led to a smooth and easy drink.

overall not the best they could have done here but i have had worst for the style for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2010 01:54:07 | More by mikesgroove

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Liberty St. for $5 a pint. I was surprised by how dark this beer was, but it was still heavy on caramel and not roasted malts. There was a medium spicy hops kick at the end with smooth bready caramel candy. There was a bit of underlying fruit and a surprising lack of toffee like in most Oktoberfests. Still, it was very drinkable and a fine session lager. Give it a try if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 04:39:56 | More by tempest

beer2day

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Barleys in Greenville SC.

Deep caramel pour with very little head. No lace. Nice color, though.

Big deep caramel nose and taste. Slight syrup in the body. Sweet dried fruit as well. Very nice version. Would easily drink this again, but a little heavy.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2010 22:39:09 | More by beer2day

mithrascruor

California

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ballast Point Oktoberfest (I think it's this one) on-tap at O'Brien's, San Diego.

Pours a dark brown/amber color. Nice light tan head with good retention and some lacing. Roasted malt aroma with some toffee. Similar flavor, with some sweetness and spiciness. Smooth, medium-bodied, with moderate carbonation. Darker and maltier than the Oktoberfest beers that I'm used to, but it is a great beer and quite tasty!

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2010 01:06:14 | More by mithrascruor

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear and very dark amber in appearance with a thin white head. There's a moderate level of carbonation.
S: There are some sweet aromas of caramel malts in the smell.
T: The taste is rather complex: it's dominated by malts and has sweet flavors of caramel malts along with dark roasted malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and relatively smooth on the palate.
D: The drinkability didn't quite match up to other types of Oktoberfest beers, but this was definitely made up by the impressive, complex flavor. Nonetheless, it was very refreshing and I would definitely have another if I can find it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2010 00:40:52 | More by metter98

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @ Ballast Point Old Grove on 11/14/09. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a clear amber, with a 1/2 finger of off-white foamy head. Rich frothy look to the intial retention and its accompanying lace. The aroma has a nice deep roastiness to the malts, with sweeter notes of bread and caramel off the backend. Fresh smelling floral spice gives some real zip in the nose.

The taste is sticky and roasted in the mouth with toasted caramel malts, while a firm and aggressive spicy bitterness offers some good balance and substance to the profile. Finishes roasty and dry on the palate, with just a smidge of residual tang on the backend. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a sharp and crisp feel to the carbonation. There seems to be a touch more beef than there should be but it doesn't hurt things at all.

Really nicely done American O-Fest here, with that deep roasty character helping set this apart. Crisp, yet smooth, and well flavored, this was some tasty stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2009 13:30:17 | More by Kegatron

Halcyondays

California

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours one of the darkest ambers I've seen in an Oktoberfest beer, almost brown. Nice full pillowy creamy white head, adds to the great appearance.

S: Munich malt, caramel, moderate intensity.

T: Sweet caramel and Munich malt with a good nuance and complexity of flavour which is often lacking in marzenbier.

M: Smooth, medium-bodied, creamy.

D: A nice Oktoberfest lager. Not as drinkable by the end as I initially thought but still good. A treat in October.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2009 20:18:35 | More by Halcyondays

srandycarter

California

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Like dark honey mixed with cola. Largish off white head from growler, Lots of sticky lace.

S - Not much. Some malt. Not much.

T - Deep, complex yet light flavor, so many subtle things mixing around.

M - Creamy, balanced, very nice.

D - Soooo easy.

Serving type: growler

10-22-2009 03:08:45 | More by srandycarter

HopHead84

California

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed at the Old Grove location on 10/17/2009 in a pint glass. The beer is crimson amber with a one inch beige head and nice retention.

The nose is rich toasted malt with no alcohol or hop aroma. It's a touch roasted. Smells like a nice clean Oktoberfest.

The flavor is toasted malt with low moderate sweetness. The malt is rich and complex with a low level of hop bitterness. The beer finishes dry, clean, and crisp. It's medium bodied with moderate draft carbonation. A nice refreshing lager on such a day is just the job.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2009 03:43:26 | More by HopHead84

magictrokini

California

3.58/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear brown with a two-finger off-white head. Strong aroma of malt, cocoa, and some smoke. Grain and wood abound, giving it an earthy quality. Taste does not live up to the aroma, but is still good. Mostly malt and toffee. Some vanilla and cocoa powder, but it gets run over by the grainy malt. Bitter, dry finish. Good, not great.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2009 19:44:02 | More by magictrokini

OStrungT

California

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer pours a very nice looking reddish brown color with a light tan head. The head fades slowly, leaving a nice lacing.

This beer has a buscuity aroma. It smells of caramel malts. Nice and sweet. It has a slight citrusy hop aroma.

This beer tastes exactly like it smells. Buscuity flavor up front, mixing in with some nice sweet caramel malt flavor. The hop flavor is very subtle, but I can slightly detect some citrusy hops.

This beer is refreshing. It goes down smooth, leaving a malty sweet, and buscuity aftertaste. The carbonation is just right.

This beer would probably make a good session beer. I assume the alcohol content is low enough, and the flavor is mild, and not overly aggressive. I have killed more than one growler of this stuff, and I can assure you, it is easy to drink.

Overall: This beer is good. I am surprised by the low reviews. It is a good solid Oktoberfest.

Serving type: growler

10-23-2007 20:40:02 | More by OStrungT

Floydster

California

3.13/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

5 ounce taster today at Ballast Point

Color was a semi dark reddish brown with a 1/8 inch white head that settled pretty quickly, chose to try this over this year's Rocktoberfest Marzen, but heard they were pretty similar except that the hops died down in this one a bit

Smell was a little skunky and smelt a little like wood chips, particualy oak, lots of sweet malt also here, some caramel and vanilla in particular

Taste was pretty dry and hoppy, not expecting it to be too much after the smell, not near as sweet as I thought it would be either, pretty smooth nonetheless

Could drink a fair amount of this because it is pretty light and probably only four or five percent alcohol, worth trying if like Octoberfest brews and I know they have this at both the brewery and O'Briens Pub currently

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2007 07:28:14 | More by Floydster

scottoale

California

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This special beer was on tap at O'Brien's, served in a pint glass. Coppery red in color with a short lived off-white head, some lace and a mild display of carbonation.

Roasty malt with a good dose of hops give this lager a bitter fragrance with a slight metallic twang. The taste was much the same but with a pronounced woody oak flavor and some serious hops to finish quite bitter, yet clean.

A medium body with the alcohol well hidden, not quite sure of the ABV but my guess would be 6-7%. Easy to drink and not as heavy or strong as their Navigator double bock...a good change of pace.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2006 08:27:47 | More by scottoale