Dogtoberfest - Flying Dog Brewery

JGam115

New York

3.26/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

From my Untappd history. Cask poured at The Ginger Man NYC.

A: Really liked the copper color with a slight haze, but not terrible.

S: Straight-up anise hits you first which I definitely wasn't expecting. There were some lingering malt aromas, but not like your typical Marzens.

T: I'd put this in the category of a thirst quencher. Not big and not small. It's right to be called an Oktoberfest beer, but one unlike any others I've had.

M: Cask so the flavors were lingering.

O: So different, yet so good. This one was a hard one to peg because it has some aspects of the beer style and others that I feel are out of place. Try for yourself and see

Serving type: cask

05-14-2013 18:33:37 | More by JGam115

axeman9182

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, poured into my Bruery tulip.

Flying Dog Dogtoberfest pours a polished amber, lightening a bit around the edges. I feel as though clarity could be just a little bit better though for a German style lager. Maybe two fingers of cream colored head crowns the beer and manages to stick around for a minute or two. Lacing is a bit spotty though. The nose has some nice malt aromas, though I think it could stand to have a bit less caramel and more bread/biscuit character. The flavor profile delivers on that, it's much more biscuity, with just a little bit of caramel. Unfortunately the malt aspect passes altogether too quickly, making room for a soft bitterness and an earthy, lightly spicy hoppy finish. The body does a marvelous job of staying light and crisp despite the malt presence in the beer, and the carbonation adds just a bit of life to the beer. Great mouthfeel all around. It's not quite perfect, But Flying Dog's rendition of a marzen is one of the better beers from them that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:28:48 | More by axeman9182

jak3676

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Flying Dog - Dogtoberfest

Bottled in Frederick, MD. Overall, I was slightly disappointed.

Coming in at 5.6% ABV this is right on track for the style. Its just a shade off from perfectly clear, with a nice deep amber toward red color. It was OK, but it just seemed slightly off a bit for the märzen flavor, not so bad as to call it watered down, but definately off somehow.

Almost a bit sour; I have to wonder if it sat in my fridge (or more likely - on the store shelves ) to long. I'm reviewing it in mid-November, but more a style that was designed to lagered over the summer I expected better. For a pour that was slighly more aggressive than intented it produced suprisingly litttle head and what there was dissapaited quickly.

Only indication of bottling date is a stamp of 362A12 on the bottom of the label.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 21:53:02 | More by jak3676

williamjbauer

West Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled served in a Sam Adams glass

A - clear copper amber with 1 finger khaki head with moderate retention and minimal streaky lacing

S - toasted burnt caramel with biscuit, savory jerky funky yeast

T - initial sweet malt is quickly overwhelmed by strong caramel flavor which dominate with a touch of bread and no booze and a slightly bitter finish

M - light body moderate carbonation, crisp

O - caramel heavy, not a bad beer for the style, I wouldn't seek this out lest I'm truly in the mood for a marzen

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 11:57:46 | More by williamjbauer

stephenjmoore

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Transparent amber body with a very thin layer of off white bubbles on top.

S- Caramel malt with a hint of fresh barley.

T- Nice and fresh tasting malty marzen. Caramel malts steal the show.

M- Medium carbonation, medium bodied.

O- Nice marzen, not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 22:48:22 | More by stephenjmoore

TheSixthRing

California

3.65/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a clear red amber color with an off-white, finger width head. Average retention. Very little in the way of lacing.

Smell - Notes of buttery toffee, bread and oddly, but in a good way, candied peach.

Taste - Not as good as the smell. Flavors are a bit muddled. Sweet and bready. Fruity. Mild, sour peach. Bitter grassy hop twang. It's all in there, but everything hits at the same time; just a big mess in the middle of the room. No real sense of layer with this one. Finishes with a fruity sweetness.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. Somewhat silky, goes down nice and easy.

Overall - Good beer, though not sure it necessarily fits in well as an Okto/Marzen brew; it's certainly not your standard fare for the style. In the very least, it's an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 04:42:30 | More by TheSixthRing

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- pours a bright copper color with a small light tan fizzy head that dissipates after the pour

S- sweet and buttery toasted malt, caramel, and a bit of dark grape

T- sweet and malty with some toasted notes, finishes with a slight bitter bite and somewhat dry.

M- medium body, moderate carbonation, creamy finish. Well balanced.

O- a solid example of the style that's worth trying but nothing really sets it apart from its other American counterparts.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 02:18:24 | More by Treyliff

kylehay2004

Florida

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: thin head that doesnt stick around long on a very clear amber body. If only the head was better this would be a great looking beer.

S: honey, toffee, caramel malts, hint of candied oranges.

T: caramel and toffee malts, fruity with breads and light earthy hop notes.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: pretty different from a standard marzen. The sourness that I seem to get from this genre is more of a tart or sweetness in this one. Not a very exciting or repeatable beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:01:52 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of white foam on top of a perfectly clear, dark amber body. The foam settles quickly and leaves almost no lace.

S - A nice, malty aroma of toasted grain, caramel, and toffee with some herbal hops.

T - Sweet, toasted malt up front with some darker notes of caramel and toffee in the middle. Finishes with caramel malt, herbal hops and just enough bitterness to balance.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - A nice mal character and enough hops to keep it in style, it may be just a touch too sweet, but it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 03:01:46 | More by nickfl

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear red-brown with a one-and-a-half finger off-white, fizzy head that lasted a minute or two. Not much lacing.

S: Caramel malt and subtle tropical fruit.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Bread, a hint of caramel, and some spice.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp but slightly smooth too.

O: This beer wasn't much to look at, but it had a great aroma and taste. Solid mouthfeel too.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 01:38:56 | More by SolipsismalCat

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark orange with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, toast, and caramel. Taste is much the same with a slight fruity flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good peer that is pretty tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 04:00:27 | More by UCLABrewN84

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Horny Goat pint glass.

Appearance- A reddish orange color with creme color head that dissipates away. Small carbonation bubbles stream to the top.

Smell- Smells of carmel, bread, malt and a tart hop.

Taste- Lots of bready malt with a toffee sweetness. On the back end you get some nuttyness and a tinge of alcohol.

Mouthfeel- Solid medium mouthfeel.

Overall- Very solid Marzen.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 23:11:18 | More by BrownAleMale

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I am reviewing this beer as a Maerzen beer!
Poured into my crystal mug, the beer poured a nice clear medium brown with hints of amber. The head is a fizzy tan head, about one finger high. It dissipates fast, leaving no lacing.
The smell tells of roasted malts, caramel and faint hops.
Tasting the beer, the beer reminds me more of an ale, rather than a Festbier. Yet the roasted malt which is pretty much the front, is kept in check by some earthy hop. The middle is of a strong caramel, tofee character and makes this beer a sweet one. The finish is a combination of the above and makes this beer a very drinkable, medium bodied brew. I am just not so sure of the style, but I guess it not that important as long we can enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 23:45:24 | More by Hopfenpeter

CloudStrife

New York

3.65/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a clear ruby brown with a 1 finger off white head. Not much visible carbonation but the head fizzles to a thin film. No lacing.

S: Some dark fruitiness from the malt. A bready or yeasty smell. Kind of a staleness.

T: An interesting take on the style, much lighter with less malt backing. Doesnt have as much of the flavor you would expect. Has light roasty and fermented malt notes and a decent dose of hop. Balanced and enjoyable, but not the style.

M: Real light body with low carbonation. Sort of a slick feel. Doesnt leave your mouth sticky. Easy drinking.

Overall its light tasty and easy drinking. Good for an Oktoberfestival but not so much the Oktobefest beer connoisseur. Not as true to the style as it could be.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 01:33:04 | More by CloudStrife

crenegar

New Jersey

2.58/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

First of all this beer is an Ale so it is not only not really an Oktoberfest but it is not really a Maerzan either. Personally I stronly dislike breweries calling their beers something they are not. Call it a Fest Beer, Autumn Fest, Harvest Ale whatever the hell you want to but don't use the word Maerzen on the label - it is not.

This beer has a fairly strong caramely finish, certainly too sweet for the style. This is probably because they are using ale yeasts and lower attenuation fermentations. Poured with very little head even though I got a little aggressive at the end as I saw weak head formation. Since this style doesn't mormally pour with a big head I wasn't too concerned. First couple sips were pretty good but the overly sweet malt characteristic started to poke through as the temp warmed up. We drank this beer with a few other domestic O'fests and we rated it last...Lakefront, Brooklyn and Schlafly's were all significantly better - and all of those are lagers. I usually like FlyingDog's beers (except for the IPA's) but this is one I can't recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 23:44:20 | More by crenegar

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

When i poured thsi beer into a pint glass, it has nice rich amber colored body to it with no head. The smell is nice and malty. The taste has a nice rich malt flavor and as it warms up i get a hint of roastyness to it, and on the back of the tongue a little bit of hops but not much though. The mouthfeel is really good and overall a good o-fest/marzen beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 20:27:06 | More by chefhatt

ShiftBeer

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very American octoberfest, and by that I mean pretty malty. Its a little outside what I think the style should entail, if you want me to get nerdy about it.

The maltiness turns almost roasty, and maybe faintly smoky, which is a little jarring. Medium/full bodied and fairly rich. Sort of a Celebrator wannabe.

Long finish.

Not bad, but too heavy for what it is.

EDIT: I'm liking this more as it warms up. The malt flavors and pretty layered and complex actually. Still not what I want in an Octofest though.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 04:06:01 | More by ShiftBeer

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-dark amber with almost no head

S-faint scent of adjunct dark grains. Very light

T-comes in with a taste of carmel flavored tonic and and a touch of biscuit. Not much going on here. After-taste is slightly more potent.

M-dry medium carbonation with a dry finish

O-this isn't a good Oktoberfest. It doesn't have much flavor. It might be easy to drink, but it's not something I want to be drinking all night.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:29:29 | More by AdamBear

Brenden

Ohio

3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The color is a bit past copper, or copper with a deep red tint to it. It develops a nice eggshell-white head about a finger tall that, while not big or making a statement, actually lasts longer than many starting off huge. Moderate patches of lacing are left on the glass, and the head seems to be kept up by very consistent activity rising from the bottom.
Crackery and bready at the same time, it's a semi-dry beer. Maltier than it is hoppy, naturally, there is a very herbal note to the bitterness that suggest a German hop varietal. A bit in the nose but more in the flavor, a green apple or white grape skin note is also present. There's a touch of toast as well, though it doesn't set the tone as it does in some. While Marzens shouldn't be massive beers, it could use a little strength overall.
The feel is good, as this beer is appropriately light, perhaps medium edging that way, which a uniform smoothness throughout riding off a steady crispness.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 21:59:21 | More by Brenden

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

"There is sauerkraut in my lederhosen." So is quoted on the label of my bottle.

12-ouncer poured into a pint glass.

Pours with a hefty two fingers of head or maybe more. It's boiling away along the edges, but it's holding like a champ. Looks a purdy beige color, too. The beer is copper red in color with just the slightest notice of haze. Great Oktoberfest look.

Now, the aroma is super light. Malt-forward for what's here. Smells a little sweet and somewhat nutty. Hard to pick up much in the way of hopping.

There's a barky wood flavor that carries with it the implication of cinnamon sticks. A wet tanginess from the malts coupling with an oily hop note that's earthy and almost slightly citrusy. There's a distinctive roast to the grain that's close to harsh, but it works with all of the offsetting hop tingles. Funny how the hops were hard to discern in the nose. Finishes a little minty with some taffy flavors. I really dig how unique this is while still tasting like a true Oktoberfest beer. Although this may not pass the German standards.

The body has some medium girth. Nice element of stinging carbonation deep in the middle of the palate. It finishes easy.

Great character, but it's nothing outstanding in overall quality. Just a fun craft take. I'll remember to turn to this when the faithfuls aren't cutting it or are boring me. I'd have to recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 03:47:07 | More by thecheapies

Alkey

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark amber reddish color small tan colored head. Smells of toasted and roasted malts. Taste slightly sweet caramel, lots of malt flavors, slight bitterness, medium body. Overall tasty Oktoberfest beer, very easy to drink, good buy if fresh and local.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 22:40:56 | More by Alkey

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Augustfest continues, this time with an American offering. USA! USA! USA! 12 oz bottle poured into a stein.

A: Pours a dark rusty copper color with great clarity. The head is a one finger light cream color with low retention.

S: Caramel and toasted malts dominate (get used to that phrase, I've got a few more marzens to go...), but what really intrigues me is the subtle spicing that's found as well.

T: The light touches of cinnamon help set this one away from other marzens, and play well with the caramel maltiness. The flavor is enjoyable, but it's not quite as drinkable as it could/should be. Still a good beer, though.

M: Finishes a bit chalky, this should be cleaned up to help inspire drinkability better. Otherwise, it has decent texture, crispness, and carbonation.

O: This one's pretty good. I feel it's not the easiest chugger, which is vital in a beer like this, but it features enough of a different character to be worthwhile.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 20:55:42 | More by ThisWangsChung

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.23/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from tasting notes.

Pours out a clear standard amber with a flash head that doesn't leave any lacing behind. Smells of floral hopping over toasted white bread and caramel. Tastes more of very light herbal and grassy hopping under a standard and simple caramel and vienna malt. Medium body and carbonation levels. This one is decidedly an average marzen at best.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 21:41:08 | More by WastingFreetime

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a burnt orange color, minimal head, retention and lacing. Scent is sweet caramel and bready up front, a splash of herbs and spice. Taste begins with a sharp astringent note, mellows into a bready and quite sweet beer, light herbal and spice on the end. Medium bodied, lightly oily in texture. Overall, a little sweet and "off" when compared to others in the style that I enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 18:31:08 | More by rfgetz

dtivp

West Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep clear amber with a half finger ldull white head that faded quickly into a thin ring with light lacing.

Aroma of of light malt, bread and hints of sweet dark fruit.

Taste followed the nose initially with bready malt, sweet dark fruits ending with some spiciness and a slight hop bitterness.

Mouth Feel was medium leaning light body with mild carbonation and a slight bitter after taste.

Overall not a beer to get excited about, a good Oktoberfest beer with great bottle art.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 13:27:59 | More by dtivp