Oak Highlands Brewery - Oktoberfest Review
When trying a style of German beer, it’s best to go with the tried-and-true from Bavaria with ‘Reinheitsgebot’ stamped on the side because, let’s face it, the original is always the best, especially when they have laws on the books about how to brew the beer. Another good reason is because, try as they might, and with their true successes in American style beers, most American craft brewers struggle to brew European (and especially German) beers that hold up to the real thing.
But to not try is not in the American spirit, and that goes for brewers and drinkers alike, so we’re stepping on up to Dallas, Texas, to try an Oktoberfest beer from Oak Highlands Brewery. It’s labeled as a Marzen style lager that comes in at 5.8% ABV and 24 IBU. The fact that it’s a lager is a good start, because many (and even some of your favorites) opt for the shorter brewing time of an ale for their Oktoberfest beers, and that changes not only the flavor but the feel and, more importantly, the tradition of the beer—and tradition is what makes these beers great.
In a Marzen-style we look for copper color, malty aroma, roasted Munich malt flavors, a bit of caramel or toffee sweetness, a full body, and a mildly bitter and dry finish from noble hops and lager maturation. It seems a long list, but a list worth using to assess great Marzen beers.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Copper and clear and topped with an off-white head that maintains well.
On the Nose--Crisp with distinct caramel malt depth that’s getting me excited. Going back for a second sniff, a mild hop spiciness gets the mouth watering. Checking boxes!
On the Palate--A dense roasted flavor is smoothed out by the sweet caramel from the aroma that is balanced and cleansed by a mild floral and spicy hop bitterness. The Oktoberfest Marzen has a full body and mouthfeel that is pleasant and fun to drink, as the style should be, and it finishes dry, which signals to us the long maturation process of a great lager beer. The ingredients taste traditional and so does the beer.
Food Pairings: Some of our Oktoberfest favorites are pretzels and mustard, brats, roasted chicken, and pork schnitzel and spaetzle. Think salt, starchy, and rich and you’re on the right path!
Final Thoughts:
At first taste, these German beers appear very simple, and I myself even once thought they were, but after trying a few from my favorite American brewers that were below par, I began to realize that hundreds of years of brewing and refining ingredients and yeast to make great beers really is important. That comes into conflict with how much I love drinking, supporting, and writing about American craft brewers. But a humble reviewer can only take so much abuse when his favorite style of beer is under attack.
Thankfully, there are a few American brewers that have been able to pull this style off, and Oak Highlands is one of them. Their Oktoberfest Marzen Lager checks all our Marzen boxes. It’s rich in color, aroma, and flavor, as well as mouthfeel and balance and clean finish. It’s a damn good beer, and a must try for those looking for German beers stateside.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Here’s another beer Oak Highlands is known for: Freaky Deaky, a Belgian-style Tripel coming in at 10% ABV!
And check out some of our other Oktoberfest favorites: Paulaner, Karbachtoberfest, and Hacker-Pschorr!