Okto Festival Ale - Widmer Brothers Brewing Company

TheMarkE

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A solid German Altbier with good malt backbone and enough caramel and hops to keep it interesting. Some Octoberfest brews are overpowering with spice to me, but this one is just about right.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 00:23:06 | More by TheMarkE

KKB

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A – Very nice, just how an Octoberfest should look, it has that burnt autumn leave look to it with a tall toast head is transparent and leaves behind adequate, if not overwhelming head. Lovely looking beer.

S – Rather mild smelling with a caramel malt sweetness and barely detectable hops. There is a slight IBU to this beer but I’m drinking it 5 months after it was made so I expect that they are severely faded by now. Toasted and earthy as well. Smells nice despite being mild.

T – It’s good, if pretty underwhelming. You get some bread in there, a malty sweetness, a pecan element, and a little bit of tobacco. Perhaps a little tea taste in here as well. This doesn’t taste bad and is very drinkable but it is just really too mild for me to say wonderful things about it.

M – It could use a greater amount of carbonation to be sure, the mouthfeel is light. It is not bad though, still has a nice smoothness to it which is emblematic of the style.

O – I don’t hate this beer one bit, but I certainly do not love it. It is just so-so. I wouldn’t recommend you run out and buy it when it’s being made but I might want to try a fresh one of these one day to see if the added IBU brings something else to the table. Overall, a good beer for sure, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 04:50:53 | More by KKB

mckenziac

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from a Widmer Bros. variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a clear, amber color. Has a small, foamy head that dissipates quickly and leaves no discernible lacing.

Smell: Smells toasty and sweet with a bit of fruitiness.

Taste: Starts mildly hoppy. Finishes toasty and sweet with strong notes of caramel, nuts, and a bit of fruitiness.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and light-bodied.

Overall: Not a bad "Oktoberfest," although it definitely tastes more like an altbier. Pretty unoffensive but mostly forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 02:41:30 | More by mckenziac

alexgash

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle. Brewed on Jul 25, 2012.

Clear, clean, deep burnt sienna copper body. Small, fizzy-ish, dirty beige head. Not much lacing. Cookie dough and caramel malts dominate the nose. Caramelized fruit. Some spicy hops and cooked vegetables.

Toasted malts and spicy bitterness give way to cookie dough malt semi-sweetness. Fruity edge to it. Finish is more vegetal with some spicy, grassy hops. Lingering caramel and carrots. Moderate body with a slick, smooth feel. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 22:12:20 | More by alexgash

mttaylor1066

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A second tier marzen/Oktoberfest. Nothing particularly wrong, just not among the better Oktoberfests.

A - Looks good and dark, just as an Oktoberfest should. A thin head forms on the pour and persists throughout the glass.

S - Not much here in the way of hops. Some bready notes backed by malt.

T - A good malty backbone with some light caramel notes. This is the best part of this lager.

M - Full and mouth-filling. No real alcohol presence.

O - If I were Widmer, I'd look to develop a different strain of yeast for this beer. It's fairly good, but stops short of great. A little more tinkering and this could be a better beverage.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 21:03:49 | More by mttaylor1066

morimech

Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear amber color with just over a finger of head that settles to a thick cap. Moderate amount of sticky lacing is left down the glass. Looks like a good Oktoberfest.

Bit of a different aroma. The caramel malts comes through nicely with floral hop notes. There is a nuttiness that is a bit unusual.

For the most part the flavor is good. Nice caramel flavor with subtle hints from the hops lending floral and earthy notes. But unfortunately there is also a metallic aftertaste that lets this beer down.

Lighter body and a touch undercarbonated.

An ok beer but with so many great fall seasonals on the shelf, this one will get passed over in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 21:49:21 | More by morimech

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.23/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Small off white to light tan head quickly recedes to a thinning lacing above a clear bright copper colored beer.

Bready to sweet caramel malts aroma with just a slight sour hint, maybe some citrus hops sneaking in.

A light sweet malt bordering on caramel, maybe a slight bread yeastiness in the lighter than expected taste.

A light dry aspect to the aftertaste without much or any lingering tastes on this medium bodied beer.

A pretty light Oktoberfest style makes this a very easy beer to put down, but all the time wishing it had more to it.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 21:32:26 | More by LXIXME

riored4v

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured in to a pint glass. 1 finger, tan colored head. Clear, dark copper colored body.

Aroma was malty and bready. Mild sweetness with some light hoppyness. A bit metallic. Slightly floral.

Taste had some good malty flavor. A bit nutty and bready. Slightly buttery. Light metallic notes.Mild caramel flavors. Finishes with a light bitterness that was earthy and floral.

Mouthfeel was medium/light body with medium carb. Slightly slick mouthfeel upfront, finishes crisp.

Decent beer overall. A couple flavors I found a little off, but overall it was still enjoyable and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 23:18:24 | More by riored4v

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.88/5  rDev +40.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into an irish pint glass.

The beer is a deep rich caramel/copper color. A cream colored head slowly recedes to the proverbial wisp of bubbles, while light sticky lacing leaves random rings on the glass.

The aroma is purely sweet caramel and malts, just spot-on for an Oktoberfest.

The taste is exceptional. It's not overly-spiced as some Oktoberfests are, it's just perfectly balanced caramel sweetness. A touch of balance comes in the hops with a bright, clean finish.

The mouthfeel is smooth, silky, and crisp.

Overall, my favorite Oktoberfest bier of 2012. It's just exactly as I like them.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 14:11:26 | More by JuicesFlowing

flagmantho

Washington

3.85/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this beer in a pint glass on-tap at Indigo in Lynnwood, WA.

Appearance: medium orange hue with a clear body and a lazy effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy ivory foam. Seems a bit light for an altbier, but it's still pretty attractive.

Smell: light malty aroma with a light citrusy fruitiness. Nice, but a bit on the subtle side.

Taste: sweet malt with a light toasty character. There's a nice citrusy hop flavor which seems atypical for an altbier but I think it works well. Bitterness is relatively low; overall I like it.

Mouthfeel: medium light body with a low level of carbonation; there's a light but decent creaminess.

Overall: it's a bit unorthodox, but I like the idea of a citrusy altbier.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2012 01:43:26 | More by flagmantho

ghengisflan

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Very appropriately for a fall/October beer, it's a bright fiery orange ale. Very clear. Pours with a tan 2 inch head which quickly dissipates.

S: Initially a pleasant spicy yeasty smell, which mellows out to a sweet, simple (and slightly less pleasant) beer smell.

T: Moderately strong forward sweet and malty taste. I'm not an Octoberfest expert, but it's good.

M: Round and smooth mouthfeel, pleasant all the way down.

O: A delightful beer to drink. It goes down easy but is still substantial.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 22:21:54 | More by ghengisflan

jak3676

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Widmer Brothers - Okto Festival Ale Bottled in Portland, Orago.

Not bad - Like so many others, I like it, but it seems uninspired. This one is a little more brown than red, but still a nice amber color. It was pretty clear color, but poured without any head.

5.3% ABV and a date of Aug 08 12 stamped on the side. I'm assuming that was the bottling date - I just got this a the last week of August and I haven't seen them in the store before then.

Another middle of the pack beer in my book - good enough that I'd go for more, but not enought that I'd seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 20:35:55 | More by jak3676

Jason

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

LOOK: Clear orange amber hue, sticky suds all around

SMELL: Bready, toasted grain, clean, caramel, slightly grassy, hint of floral hop

TASTE: Crisp, medium body, very malty, toasty, faintly biscuity, balance hop bitterness, mild caramel, dried grass, nutty, kiss of alcohol, clean, malty semi-dry finish

Definitely the Altbier that they have talked about the past, some minor tweaks over the years and ends up being a solid brew. A good pick for a fall seasonal, happy to see this one back.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 00:49:20 | More by Jason

Bung

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. Orangey gold pour, pretty standard. Small white head. Doesn't really stick a whole lot.

Aroma, kind of a musty carmelly malt. Some noble type hop aromas.

Taste, good caramel and grainy bread. A slight toasted note, a little leather. That hop presence is just barely here.

To the right of light bodied, enough carbonation. Abv under control, an easy drinker for me.
Nothing mind blowing, but a really solid example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 02:16:58 | More by Bung

DannyHartman

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not a huge fan of the Widmer Weissbiers, but I must say that this seasonal isn't too bad.... As you fill a pint glass, a beautiful reddish/copper beer appears with a nice inch head that leaves a decent amount of trails as you drink it.... The smell is that of toffee, caramel, and a bit of toast.... The taste is also toasty with caramel notes, and slightly hoppy and nutty.... It has an average to full body that leaves a pleasant aftertaste.... Overall, a pretty good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2012 16:20:32 | More by DannyHartman

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Red-copper. Head istwo finger off white. Great retention, just a wisp of lacing.
S- Aroma tends toward mild and sweet with toffee, caramel (though it's more like dark caramel, not caramel candies) and toast.
T- A bit of sweetness, toffee and brown sugar up front. Did not expect this, but they managed to get a nice hop level to it. Just a touch of bitter herbal flavor in the finish that is very nice.
M- Body is just a touch lighter than I'd like. Just a bit sticky though. Good carbonation on the whole.
O- This is a good beer. Nothing flashy or surprising, but well rounded with no glaring flaws.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 01:29:35 | More by jsprain1

beerpadawan

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The ingredients listed on the website for the 2012 bottle do not match those above: hops include their "Alchemy" blend and Willamette. ABV is listed at 5.3% and IBUs at 28.

To mid-afternoon sunlight it has a clear, dark amber color and with a 1-finger head the color of the Dark Helmet's desert gear. It retains for a few minutes and then settles to a splotchy covering.

The crystal malt is apparent in the aroma, mild toffee or caramel; some toasted/sugary notes join dark bread and some faint fruit and floral hops.

The flavor is malt-forward, with toasted grain/bread and light caramel. It has mild bitterness and some estery fruit. Hop flavor is noticeable but takes a back seat; floral. Body is medium and somewhat sweet on finish, despite balancing bitterness that gains prominence as the beer approaches room temperature. I would probably pick it out as an amber ale if I weren't told anything about it.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 22:27:11 | More by beerpadawan

barczar

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Altbier and Oktoberfest are NOT similar enough to be substituted styles, but the label on my bottle says oktoberfest style, so that's the way I'm rating it.

Pours a clear copper brown color with a solid half inch cream head that slowly dissipates into a layer of foam, leaving spotty lacing.

Caramel malt, toasted bread, and floral hops comprise the initial aroma, with caramelized sugar and a hint of resiny hops adding complexity deeper in the scent.

Flavor reveals more of a bready backbone, with toasted crust lingering throughout. Light caramel notes are slightly sweet, and floral hops surface toward the finish, which is fairly dry and a touch bitter. There's a bit of a metallic aftertaste. Nuttiness emerges as it warms.

Body is moderate to slightly full, with moderate to low carbonation. There's a slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, a decent beer, but it lacks the malt complexity that is typical for the style. The caramel notes are too light, and melanoidin flavors are absent.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 18:34:57 | More by barczar

MouthfulOfchris

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Poured out a dark copper color with a very thick off-white head with good retention and lacing.

S: The smell is very light. It is mostly light toasted malt and earthy bread with a hint of caramel.

T: The taste is mostly sweet malt with an ever so slight slight earthy hop bitter finish. The bitter finish is a nice balance to the sweetness. It also has notes of caramel and roasted/tea flavor.

M: A medium body mouth feel with a medium-low amount of smooth carbonation. It has a nice sticky texture that feels like it coats the tongue.

O: A solid Oktoberfest offering. Nothing stands out as spectacular but has a nice overall character. It definitely leans toward the sweet side but has just enough bitterness for balance which makes it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 01:30:11 | More by MouthfulOfchris

wac9

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

what can i say i dont normally buy widmer but i like the color of the bottle wow very nice beer with a little hop to it but that ok all i can say it s a good tasting beer for a octerber fest so if your looking a beer that crisp with a hop this is a beer for , good color good taste little hop enjoy

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 00:36:24 | More by wac9

droomyster

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a copper body with one inch of foam with decent retention. The aromas are reminscent of bread crust and baked biscuits. The front palate has a light earthy hoppiness, with breadier, more biscuity flavors dominating the middle. Medium to full bodied, finishes crisp. This is my first Oktoberfest of 2012, and I like it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 03:50:28 | More by droomyster

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brown longneck from a 6pack "okto festival ale"

A: very enticing copper color, very clear, with 1 finger khaki colored head. Head fell to an average cap with a thick ring.

S: almost smells like pineapple, sweet malty profile and noble hops. Most of the smell is fruity though. Smells good but odd.

T: super malty and rich. A little toasty and bready. Quite sweet. A little hop character at the end that finishes well.

M: rich and chewy. very smooth. I really like this.

O: quite good, I am a fan of alts in general. I do not regret this 6 pack at all!

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 06:07:42 | More by N3rdM3t4l

Zorro

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear deep amber colored ale with a smallish tan colored head.

Smell is sweet and malty with a little Lemon in tea and grass in it. Toffee candy and a little toasted grain.

Starts out malty and mild. Sweet and malty with nuts and a little hop bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel is good.

Overall not a bad beer. Probably won't buy again though.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 01:27:18 | More by Zorro

bump8628

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Looks like a fall beer, vibrant copper with a thin head of foam that drops some lace. Thick, steely caramel with warm toasted bread maltiness. Hops are clean and herbal. Balance is about even. Clean fermentation profile, lager-like even if it is technically an ale. Nothing spectacular, but another solid beer to have in the cooler during football season.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 23:49:12 | More by bump8628

iabeerbaron

Iowa

2.38/5  rDev -31.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Surprising found this at Chameleon's in Mount Vernon, IA. "Pours a clear amber with a thin white head that disappears immediately. Smell of sweet malts, with just a hint of hops. A little watered down. Taste has malt, caramel, and some hops with just a tad of bitterness. I would say this would be a very average Octoberfest; nothing stands out.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 03:10:17 | More by iabeerbaron