It’s Officially Fall!!

I don’t know about you, but to me – one of the signs of Fall is Paulaner Oktoberfest!  I know I’ve posted about this beer before  – but it’s such a classic, it deserves many posts and many cap pictures!

A malty smoothness that many have tried to duplicate, but few (if any) have cloned, Paulner is the Oktoberfest to top all Oktoberfests.  I mean, the Germans had to be doing something right when they created a beer with flavor that you can actually stand drinking liters of!

Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!

Prosit!

This weekend we celebrated Oktoberfest at The Capital Ale House in Richmond. They closed off some streets downtown in front of the restaurant, got some great beer trucks, and had a party. We have attended The Capital Ale House’s Oktoberfest Events for the past 9 years, and this was probably the best organized yet. Having delicious Paulaner and Spaten on tap – as well as Yager and Goldschlager shots, made for a day of celebration!

The pretty lady in this picture is a dear friend of our family. With both Irish and German heritage, she knows good food and good beer! She also embodies what these celebrations are all about – having fun!

If you’re looking for a good Oktoberfest style beer, which it’s the perfect time for right now, try Paulaner – as it’s the original!

Sammy’s Oktoberfest

 

On hot, sticky, disgustingly humid days like today, I long for Fall!  Oh how Fall weather and everything it brings (yummy beer) would be so nice right now.

I think I’ve probably posted about Samuel Adams Oktoberfest before, but I found this cap and it made me long for its malty goodness!  Yes, it’s too hot for Oktoberfest right now, but as soon as the end of August arrives, we start scouring the shelves for this orange box of goodness  If you haven’t had a Sam’s Oktoberfest, it can be described as malty, spicy and all around delicious; sort of an embodiment of Fall!

Oh, and don’t worry – that lemon is just for decoration and while I love it in water, would never tarnish a delicious beer with adding lemon.

Fall… hurry up!

 

Festie – An Average Amber

When out and about today, at my local grocer, I saw a six pack from Star Hill Brewery that I hadn’t tried – The Festie.  I was eager to taste it, especially since they mention on their website that it’s similar to an Oktoberfest (and you probably know by now that I do love the Oktoberfest).

While I think the flavor comes off slightly malty and tastes like a decent Amber Lager – it was sort of anti-climatic.  It tasted slightly under carbonated, and it didn’t have a strong malty finish like I was hoping for.  I certainly wouldn’t liken it to an Oktoberfest – sheesh, as if!

All in all, it’s not a bad beer by any means, I think they just overshot by mentioning that it was “a tribute to the great German Lager…”, as I believe it fell a little flat.  It’s kinda like when Madonna sang “American Pie”… you get the picture!

Spaten – Enjoy it on tap if you can!

Spaten Brewery in Munich makes one of the “original” delicious Oktoberfest beers.  At first glance, you’ll think – this can’t possibly taste like a bold, malty Oktoberfest – but believe me, looks are deceiving.   This light colored brew packs a full mouth feel and rich malt flavors that assure you – it’s a beer worth a celebration.

Just a note of warning, Spaten comes in green glass bottles, which most beer lovers know can cause some “skunk factor”.  I’ve had a few bottles that were totally skunked, and had it been my first time trying the beer I probably wouldn’t have tried it again.  Get Spaten Oktoberfest on tap if you can, because it really is a wonderful concoction!