Coney Island Freaktoberfest - Shmaltz Brewing Company

Scientifichuck

2/5  rDev -38.1%

12-19-2012 07:52:22 | More by Scientifichuck

HiWire

Florida

3.25/5  rDev +0.6%

06-11-2013 07:59:21 | More by HiWire

RonnieRotten

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -22.6%

05-29-2013 02:05:28 | More by RonnieRotten

ajtorres311

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -22.6%

05-16-2013 15:37:46 | More by ajtorres311

Kerrie

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +16.1%

04-08-2013 16:48:04 | More by Kerrie

drgonzo2k2

California

3/5  rDev -7.1%

03-31-2013 00:48:43 | More by drgonzo2k2

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle with no apparent freshness date, although I'm pretty sure this is a fall 2012 release, so it has been chillin in the bottle for about six months now. Was going to get the 4 pack on sale, but decided to buy a single bottle instead. My second beer by Shmaltz, the other being Shmaltz Coney Island Lager, which I don't remember enjoying so much, but that's another story. The Shmaltz Coney Island Freaktoberfest sounds like an intriguing beer, and I am excited to be trying it now! Gets me in the mood for Halloween early.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - An absolutely beautiful, stunning, blood red ruby color hue to that body, but most impressive is the finger and a half of authentic strawberry pink colored foamy head, with very decent retention. One of the most beautiful / truly unique looking beers I've ever beheld. Lots of thick scattered lacing.

S - Judging by the appearance, I would be expecting a luscious tropical strawberry smell, but instead there is only a faint subdued cherry / dark fruitiness, bubblegum malts, and a faint hoppiness. So far, it doesn't remind me at all of the standard autumn seasonal pumpkin / cinnamon spice beers, which I'll go ahead and say is a good thing.

T - Taste isn't as tame as I was expecting; spicy bitter hops overpower most of the fruity bubblegum malts that I thought I could smell in the nose. Even after chillin in the bottle for six months, this beer still packs a hell of a hop punch. Spicy hop bitterness outdoes the malt profile for sure, which is a surprise when compared to the nose, but that bubblegum yeast is still very highly present.

M - Sticky and resinous. Hoppy and malty. A balanced aftertaste, even if it is a little too hop forward.

Overall, an impressive beer, and an impressive seasonal. One I would gladly pick up again fresh next Halloween season. Not nearly as good or memorable as the Great Lakes Nosferatu, but a very notable autumn beer. Glad I got to try a single 12 oz. bottle, I probably wouldn't wanna pay full price for a lousy 4 pack.

Shmaltz Coney Island Freaktoberfest ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 05:20:18 | More by mfnmbvp

beestes

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

03-14-2013 05:45:20 | More by beestes

alelover

Michigan

3/5  rDev -7.1%

03-13-2013 19:45:09 | More by alelover

CMOrak

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -14.9%

03-13-2013 01:31:30 | More by CMOrak

Texasfan549

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

03-10-2013 05:30:14 | More by Texasfan549

BostonHops

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -7.1%

03-06-2013 02:44:02 | More by BostonHops

Dyerseve

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

03-01-2013 19:43:42 | More by Dyerseve

BLACKBEARDNY

New York

4.75/5  rDev +47.1%

02-28-2013 17:40:16 | More by BLACKBEARDNY

Michaeldmanley

Texas

4/5  rDev +23.8%

02-18-2013 23:57:53 | More by Michaeldmanley

maznblue80

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +8.4%

02-16-2013 05:18:10 | More by maznblue80

Thedrizzle

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +47.1%

02-16-2013 00:11:47 | More by Thedrizzle

Flashyspoons

Florida

5/5  rDev +54.8%

02-14-2013 06:12:40 | More by Flashyspoons

beeragent

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz bottle.

A - pours a medium blood red with a 1/2 inch pink head. Medium lace on the glass.

S - bready malt aroma along with a hint of berry.

T - caramel malt, slighty bready, and a slight berry sweetness throughout. Hop bitterness is more noticeable in the finish.

M - medium bodied. Average carbonation. Clean finish.

O - interesting appearance for an Oktoberfest seasonal but it fits better for the Halloween theme. Not as flavorful or as big a malt profile as the usual Oktoberfest seasonal, but the berry addition makes it a very unique beer, especially being characterized as an amber/red lager. Great beer, and if in the mood for an amber lager, this would be high on the list!

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:11:40 | More by beeragent

BugTownPub

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -7.1%

02-06-2013 04:30:08 | More by BugTownPub

jplopez21

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +0.6%

02-05-2013 01:35:51 | More by jplopez21

RWLawman

North Carolina

3.19/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Blood red, which is pretty cool for a "Freaktoberfest" beer. No head or lacing to speak of.

S - Fruity, like raspberry or some kind of berry, with some malts and general sweetness.

T - Tastes almost exactly like it smells. Almost too sweet, but still tasty. Raspberry, malts, slightest hint of a metallic taste on the back.

M - Average mouthfeel. not watery, but not thick. Sessionable.

O - Pretty good beer. Not something that I will go out of my way to find. This is certainly not an Oktoberfest beer, which it is SORT of advertised as. It is categorized on this site as a red/amber lager. In that, this is an above average red, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:35:38 | More by RWLawman

eulerthegrape

California

3.25/5  rDev +0.6%

02-03-2013 20:30:33 | More by eulerthegrape

TATURBO

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +0.6%

02-02-2013 22:51:31 | More by TATURBO

jameyp

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +16.1%

02-01-2013 04:57:13 | More by jameyp