Columbus Festbier - Columbus Brewing Company

MuscleConfusion

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

01-17-2012 13:37:41 | More by MuscleConfusion

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into an English pint glass.

A – Pours a rich yellow-copper into the glass, with a one-and-a-half finger loose head of off-white foam characterized by lots of large bubbles that falls quickly to a 1/8 finger of tight bubbles and lace that just sit on the surface. Then, that takes awhile to slow dissolve away to just a lacy sheen across the surface. Held to a full-spectrum light, the beer is a bright orange/yellow copper and clear, with a fair amount of carbonation rising throughout the glass from the bottom.

S – Rich caramels and nicely toasted malts with hints of toffee and light pipe tobacco. Nose is soft, but inviting. Noble hops start to emerge as it warms in the glass, along with suggestions of soft, yeasty spiciness, like nutmeg.

T – More malt-forward and more toastiness to them than the nose suggests. Noble bittering hops thoroughly mixed-in rather than following behind. The nose promised sugars, but they're much in the background and indistinct. It's liquid sourdough toast. It's score suffers from its classification.

M – A bit fizzy in the mouth, showing moderately full carbonation. Decent body, definitely not watery. Structure is well-integrated. Not much of a finish, and is a bit dry for the style. Would have liked to have had some of caramel lingering on the tongue, especially since it's so hidden in the taste profile.

O – While the lack of caramel in the taste profile makes this an atypical Oktoberfest, the somewhat fuller toastedness of the malts is surprisingly well-balanced with the hops. This beer isn't hop-forward, but it's not the least bit sweet, either. It's one that you could easily session because your tongue isn't going to get tired of the sugars and long for a break from them. Try it for its own take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:32:07 | More by BuckeyeSlim

jeremyEsmith

3/5  rDev -18.3%

12-22-2012 23:35:39 | More by jeremyEsmith

jaidenjb

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

11-11-2012 00:45:01 | More by jaidenjb

CoryJHarber

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

10-18-2012 18:48:57 | More by CoryJHarber

kbrown

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -31.9%

09-30-2012 23:15:22 | More by kbrown

Giantspace

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +9%

09-20-2012 23:16:38 | More by Giantspace

garuda

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -21%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Amber/ruby, slightly hazed and arrives with no head and has no lacing.

S/T - Sweet, bready and caramel malts with a bit of noble hop presence and bitterness in the finish.

M - Medium to light body, medium carbonation, finishes mostly clean and slightly bitter.

O - A little bitter for my liking of the style, poor appearance, but drank fairly easy. Nothing to write home about, no urge to get it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2012 16:21:33 | More by garuda

equincel

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

09-12-2012 00:47:15 | More by equincel

jminch

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

09-01-2012 00:32:23 | More by jminch

xdefeatsy

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%

08-24-2012 19:00:33 | More by xdefeatsy

dusting871

Ohio

5/5  rDev +36.2%

02-18-2012 19:31:07 | More by dusting871

fluidmotion

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%

01-17-2012 03:01:47 | More by fluidmotion

kkipple

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

RB style quickie:

Columbus Festbier perfectly drinkable, if safe, Marzen, gifted by my buddy Jared. Clear copper, short head, bit o' lace. Smells Old-World and toasted and characterful, well attenuated, with real noble hops. Flavor follows, this is a lighter take on the style. Quite drinkable, full, slightly spicy carbonation, no surprises, clean. Grows on me.

Maybe not worth seeking out, but an excellent local option if you can get it.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2011 00:33:38 | More by kkipple

PDXHops

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another dose of Columbus goodness from Ryan011235. 12 ounce bottle poured into a shaker pint. 2 fingers of foma that settles fairly quickly into a thick skim atop the hazy copper body. Lazy small wet patches of lacing.

Full malty nose with hints of nutmeg, caramel and baking apples. Definitely smells more bready and roasty than sweet. More flavorful than the nose led me to believe. Quite toasty with a nice little punch of bitterness in the dryish finish. Earthy and slightly nutty. Fluffy carbonation coaxes out light tobacco and citric notes. Just enough juiciness to lend a quenching quality. Another tasty offering from Columbus.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 23:37:43 | More by PDXHops

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Samuel Smith pint glass on 11/30/11

This obviously isn't fresh, so let's see how it stacks up to my recollections of having it earlier.

Burnt tobacco brown. A clump of sediment broke free into the glass, slowly adding a drifting cloudiness. Fast rising, three finger head that's riddled with pores. After a few minutes, all is gone, save a thin layer. Not much lace at all.

The aroma finds notes of tangy apple butter, caramel, toasted grains and bread, and a fluffy, dusty yeast undercurrent. The most striking difference being a prominent butterscotch aroma when fresh that is absent here. I specifically let this bottle warm up while I did dishes because I previously noted I liked the beer much better as it warmed. Now, I find the aroma mellow and blends together as it warms even more.

Huh. Same thing as with the nose. The buttery aspect is mostly gone aside from a slight notion in the middle and some that creeps in around the edges; certainly a lot less than when fresh. At this point (and this temperature) toasted grains and suggestions of caramel are showcased very nicely. A soft earthy hop note rounds it out. The finish is rather dry; suits me just fine.

I'd call the overall feel medium, though it's a bit on the plump side (is that what you get when you drink an Oktoberfest after Thanksgiving?). Carbonation seems pretty close to spot on, though my own fancy for the bubbles might have been better suited if I poured the beer before letting it warm up. The only downside here is a coating feel on the latter half.

On the whole, I'd say this has held up pretty well, at least for my two cents. Though I liked the aroma more while fresh, I think it tastes better now. I wouldn't have any complaints about seeing this return next year.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 04:14:01 | More by Ryan011235

recall1242

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9%

11-18-2011 08:07:48 | More by recall1242

Spider889

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +22.6%

11-16-2011 21:24:18 | More by Spider889

Adamostella

Washington

4/5  rDev +9%

11-14-2011 14:21:47 | More by Adamostella

Geno78

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9%

11-14-2011 06:58:25 | More by Geno78

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to recall1242 for sending me this one!

Pours a slightly hazy copper orange with a 1 inch fizzy off-white head that fades to a thin film on the top of the beer. Thin streaks and small dots of lace stick to the glass on the drink down. Smell is of biscuit-like malt and lots of caramel aromas. Taste is of malt, caramel, and some herbal and citrus zest hops. There is also a slight metallic taste with each sip. A mild bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a weird carbonation going on with a crisp but acidic mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good Oktoberfest beer but the carbonation issue makes this one hard to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 00:47:38 | More by UCLABrewN84

prototypic

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Festbier pours a nice looking copper color. It’s very clear. Backlighting gives it a slight orange tint. It’s capped with a vanilla colored head that stands about a finger or so tall. It recedes to a surface covering quickly and holds there for a bit. Lacing is on the lighter side.

The nose is weak and needs more strength. It’s still pretty good. Initially, it smells like a mix of caramel and toasted malts. The caramel definitely smells like the stronger of the two. It smells a little grainy. Grassy, earthy hops are certainly in the mix. Definitely smells like noble to me. They complement the malty base well. All in all, it smells pretty good. More strength would help.

The flavor is good. It has a nice, sturdy caramel malt base. It’s a little sweet, but isn’t offensive by any means. There are some toasted malts, as well, but they are secondary. Hops are certainly noted. They’re earthy, grassy, and all kinds of noble. No doubt about that. At the secondary level, it’s grainy and earthy. Frankly, it’s not very deep or complex. For the style, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Nonetheless, it tastes good. Alcohol is buried and isn’t noticeable at all.

The body is definitely light. Carbonation is mid-range, but doesn’t affect the feel. It’s not buzzy. Having said that, it’s not smooth either. It’s easy drinking, whatever the case. I could tackle a few of these in a sitting.

Festbier is a pretty solid release from Columbus Brewing Company. It’s not among their best, but it is pretty good. To be fair, it’s really tough to distinguish yourself in the Octoberfest style. It’s a straight forward beer style that isn’t very complex. Festbier hits all the bells and whistles, but lacks that extra punch to reach the elite level. Pretty good stuff though. Definitely worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 03:52:09 | More by prototypic

JayQue

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I don't get that excited with the Marzen style, but this is a real tasty example of the style. Pours a crystal clear amber color with a small white head with average retention and some lacing on the glass.

Surprisingly strong aroma of sweet and roasted malts. Taste is stronger than many Marzens as well. Sweet and roasted maltiness leads as it should with a marzen. A good hint of bitterness in the middle and malts again in the finish.

Mouthfeel is rich enough for the style, crisp and without the metallic taste that affects so many marzens. This one is very drinkable and overall a solid representative of the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 02:28:06 | More by JayQue

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

4.03/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into nonic pint...

A- Dark orange color. Nice finger of egg white head. Settles down to a cm then chills for awhile. Sporadic lacing.

S- Freshly toasted bread with a slight dulce de leche aroma. A touch of sulfur and trace amounts of whats a not so acceptable diacetyl for this style.

T/M- Malty and fucking delicious! Biscuits, toast, grain, toffee, and even Werthers candy. A bit on the bock side of the style as its slightly sweeter than most Fests, but still great. The flavor really sits on the tongue for a long time. Great medium crisp body. Coats the palate well, fitting for the flavor.

O- Not the most traditional oktoberfest, but I thought this was an absolutely great beer. It loses a few points here for being much sweeter and not as clean as an oktoberfest should be, but keeping the taste score high because I did enjoy this beer with styles put aside. One of the best non-pumpkin fall beers I have had. Might be hitting my brother up to send me more, soon!

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 13:06:20 | More by TheGordianKnot

schwaeh

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared by inebriated joker.

A: Comes out a dark copper color with a large white head. Very active carbonation and good lace.

S: The smells is somewhat subdued, showcasing some bready malt, caramel sweetness and some higher-than-usual hop presence. I get some metallic notes in the aroma.

T: The taste is bigger than the nose. The malts have a soft sweetness and nice toastiness. This has more hops than most marzens but overall it's still the expected malt show.

M: The mouthfeel is fairly thin, good for the style, allowing it to go down very easy.

O: A really flavorful and sessionable marzen. A good beer for their first time out on this(I think?).

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 19:46:37 | More by schwaeh