Octoberfest Lager: Sink the Status Quo

Received this beer from the Iowa City Brewfest a week ago. I got around to reviewing it on Sunday afternoon after having done completely nothing all day because I was exhausted from running. Enjoyed with a bean dip I made from scratch with home made hot sauce, onions, peppers and tomatoes I picked from the garden.

Appearance: Rustic amber with a soapy off white ring set around the inner perimeter of the glass. Lacing is wet but both silhouetted and speckled on the sides. Micro-bubble carbonation can be seen parading upwards from the depths of the beer while the clarity is sub-par achieving at best a 6/10
Aroma: Certainly a very present oxidation in this beer. Intermittent perks of caramel malt and herbal hops surface in accompaniment with a perfumy essence, reminiscent of flowers and stale hops.
Taste: Honey sweetness and biscuit malt are immediately present. To follow, a sort of tannic bitterness in the back of the throat initiates the midtaste, all the while the sweet malt backbone continues. The end maintains a sort of woodsy flavor with an apparent oxidation, and even notes of diacetyl. At the end, one can notably perceive the alcohol which parallels a grassy, stale hop finish. Similarly as the beer warms and the palate adjusts to the peculiar, yet complex flavors, there emerges even an undertone of roasted malt and cocoa midway through the taste.
Mouthfeel: A bit on the lighter side of body, yet still maintaining a girth for what the beer is concerned. Carbonation is adequate with a fine bubbled bite that is long lasting. Finally, the beer doesn't finish extremely dry, but still leaves an earthly dry flavor/texture in the mouth
Overall Impression: Upon first smell and taste, I didn't think this beer could amount to anything worthy. However, as I let it settle out and thought about all I was tasting, the oxidation didn't seem all that bad, and neither did the diacetyl, or butteriness. Nonetheless, I found the hops to be a little to earthy and bland for the beer, taking away from any potential crispness and drinkability. Big malt sweetness and interesting flavors to say the least. Try it.


80/100

Deep Water Dopplebock Lager

Thanks to Justen Parris for allowing me to take this one home after our Twisted Pine tasting a couple weeks ago. This was reviewed following practice and while watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, one of my favorite shows on Travel Channel. Nevertheless I still think they should have one about craft beer! Choose me.

Appearance: Quite dark with a brown red hue when held to the light. Mediocre off white fine foam head, but well sustained in its own minimal state. Segmented lacing left behind.
Aroma: Pleasantly toasted with bready malt undertones and a big nutty bill. Roasted malt also contributes. Finishing is a bit of bittersweet chocolate
Taste: Rich nut flavors permeate through the palate followed by toasted malt and mild roasted sweetness. Bready too. The progressive development of this beer is astounding. It starts out mildly sweet, but as that mellows it blossoms into a wealth of flavor and complexity. Some graininess is apparent in the midtaste that progresses through to the aftertaste. I do however notice some component of baking soda in the aftertaste, but it remains mostly negligible compared to what the other complexities are involved in the flavor.
Mouthfeel: Medim bodied with a mid level carbonation that offers a bit of a spike to the tongue. A little dry in the finish. Some tackiness on the lips.
Overall Impression: I'd call this the better side of a chocolate beer than Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter. It offers a lot less cocoa powder and sweetness, while offering some more balanced bitterness.


86/100