Wham!mstein - Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.35/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Described by the brewers as a "mock"toberfest, the intent may declare marzen, but the results say American amber ale. The renovations to the classic Bavarian lagers are celebrated in American inovation. But on the other hand, aren't we simply taking shortcuts and hiding behind the guise of invention?

Wham!mstein pours with a medium amber-orange color and mild, somewhat wheaty haze. After building a creamy froth of eggshell white, the beer's foam character slowly dissipates and speckles the glass with tepid lace.

An array of aromas take the note in a lot of different directions: caramel, oranges, bread crust, herbs, citrus, esters, and savory notes deliver an simplistic sweet note in one visit to the glass, but then American citrus hop notes the next. English-like esters, floral lager aromas, and German influence with grainy-sweet character take the nose on quite a ride.

Flavors of all the bread and caramel sweetness, citrus bitterness, fruity esters come at the taste buds with equal intensity. Although it keeps the balance even-keel, they also have a way of cancelling each other out. But in the end, the lasting memory is how the caramel and grain sweetness lingers and how all the other complexities confuse the palate. Finishing with a semi-clean citrus bitterness causes the beer to side more so with amber ales than its German cousins.

Medium bodied throughout, the malty richness that greets the front of the tongue resists the urge to dry as the beer marches across the palate and delves into finish. As it looses the elegant malt flavors and textures of true Oktoberfestbiers, the light hopping rates are no match to dry the caramel weight in finish. Slight warmth also proves too light to assist in dryness or to signify closure and causes the beer to wear out its welcome.

Although much of the criticism of the beer is because it tries to capture what's best about several different styles, but doesn't really display any of them that well. But it's steady balance and unwavering demeanor makes it well suited for a wide range of foods, for instance a farmhouse salad equipped with egg yolk and thick cut bacon.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 17:35:19 | More by BEERchitect

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Was told this was an Oktoberfest.

Mild sweet tone with a mild spiced bite. Fairly smooth even though there is a mild bite to it. An easy drinker, and definitely a session ale. I wouldn't go for this again as I'd probably go for something with more punch, but it's an easy drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 22:38:06 | More by RblWthACoz