Thomas Hooker Octoberfest Lager - Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

TheycallmeTim

New York

4.47/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

A--Two finger creme colored fizzy head that reduced to skim quickly and didn't lace. But the real story here is the body: picture perfect deep auburn sunset combined with some copper. Really really beautiful and spot on for the style.

S--Decent. I'm picking mostly a candy apple thing, with some toffeeish notes alongside a lighter fruity sweetness. Definitely some Munich malt going on here.

T--Wonderful! Good sock of malt here right up front, as the toffee bark flavors come to the fore early on, followed by a more mellow caramel gloss that also picks up the now juicier apple notes toward the back. Really, really accurate representation of the style, very true to German standard, which I prefer. Balanced hop bitterness keeps the malts from taking over and urges you to gulp some more.

M&D--Mouthfeel is appropriately thin without being watery. Carbonation, again, is moderate. All the aspects of the mouthfeel stay out of the way--they're like a good Major League manager: you don't notice them. Drinkability is excellent, as this is smooth enough to throw back a few without being boring in the flavor profile.

If you're a fan of the style, this has to be the must try list for American versions of the style. Tastes like a standard-bearer to me, alongside the Ramstein Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2009 22:27:32 | More by TheycallmeTim

NJBeer265

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-22-2013 17:59:48 | More by NJBeer265

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

05-17-2013 15:50:28 | More by twenty5

ScottieD

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-11-2013 01:44:42 | More by ScottieD

SuomiHobbit

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

03-26-2013 01:12:36 | More by SuomiHobbit

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -23.7%

03-09-2013 23:37:31 | More by ejimhof

rorjets

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

02-10-2013 01:53:47 | More by rorjets

neil2me

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

01-03-2013 03:14:02 | More by neil2me

DMB

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%

12-29-2012 19:44:49 | More by DMB

searsclone

Arizona

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottle into a flared pint glass.

hazy copper color with a sticky tan head and good lace

smell is malty sweet and earthy

taste is malt and caramel with a slightly bitter hop finish. nice balance

mouthfeel is chewy with a wet finish

overall, tasty and easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 01:05:23 | More by searsclone

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

12-08-2012 02:11:37 | More by Damian74Shensky

FutureOBrew

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

11-26-2012 18:56:29 | More by FutureOBrew

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.73/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.

Pours light to medium copper, orange hints. Foam vanishes fast. Clear looking. Malt bomb nose, some hints of spice - cinammon/nutmeg. Taste is a delicious malt full of flavor and smooth. Some sweetness which is balanced by a full bodied mouthfeel, Wow, really kicked me back a bit - just outright excellent.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:09:22 | More by KTCamm

anelson86

4.75/5  rDev +20.9%

11-18-2012 22:45:15 | More by anelson86

oldedog

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -17.3%

11-03-2012 16:03:51 | More by oldedog

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.8%

10-27-2012 05:22:20 | More by WDJersey

IronLover

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bright copper orange in color with a slight chill haze at the onset that ultimately cleared nicely. Poured with a thick foamy off-white foam that left a ladder of sticky lacings down the backside of the glass. Earthy, sweet caramel, toasted malt and toffee aromas with earthy grain and floral hop aromas. Delicate, smooth, velvety feel with subdued carbonation upfront that thickens through the middle and toward the finish. Flavor is a nice carbonation of floral hops, caramel and toasted malts from beginning to end. This is a nit more hop forward than your average oktoberfest. Finishes crisply with a light floral hop character followed by toasted malt. A nice, drinkable, slightly hoppy fall offering.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2012 03:44:12 | More by IronLover

jk3

New York

3.5/5  rDev -10.9%

10-18-2012 02:03:09 | More by jk3

khargro2

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

10-13-2012 05:14:19 | More by khargro2

JayQue

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good One!!! From a style that can often be pretty bland. Pours a hazy orange amber color with and average size off-white head. Average head retention and good size bands of lacing around the glass.

Smell is fairly mild, mostly malty.

Taste is very good. Strong, somewhat sweet malty backbone and good robust bitterness. Not IPA bitterness but some subdued European hops. The balance is great. This is not some bland watery beer.

Mouthfeel is rich and crisp. Just right for the style. The bitterness is a treat for the tongue at the end of a malty sip.

This is what a Marzen should be. Not the most exciting style in the world but a great beer for pitchers and mass quantities on a fall day.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 17:24:57 | More by JayQue

DouglasChasse

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.8%

10-06-2012 18:34:24 | More by DouglasChasse

DCav

2.25/5  rDev -42.7%

10-04-2012 16:42:03 | More by DCav

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

09-20-2012 21:14:55 | More by PEIhop

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -4.6%

09-19-2012 22:04:58 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -23.7%

09-16-2012 23:12:46 | More by djrn2