512 Brewing Oktoberfest - Review
One thing a lot of people outside of Texas may not know about the state is that it has a deep-rooted German culture. That culture mixed with the craft beer scene brings us some fantastic Oktoberfest beers. It’s a real treat to see your favorite local brewers stacking six packs next to iconic Oktoberfest brewers from Munich. Honestly, it’s where our love for Oktoberfest culture started, here at home in Texas.
One of those iconic brewers is 512 Brewing. Carrying the Austin, TX, area code and sporting the blue and white of the Bavarian flag, 512 brings us an Oktoberfest Bavarian-style festbier brewed with German Pilsner Malts and Hallertau-Mittelfruh hops and comes in with a lot of tradition at 5.8% ABV and 23 IBU.
The majority of American Oktoberfest beers are the Marzen-style, which was the original style served at the first Oktoberfest, but in recent years the German companies have been brewing a Dortmunder-style lager, which is lighter in malt character (from reduced Munich malt) and is a touch hoppier than the Marzen. With that in mind, that’s what we’ll be expecting with 512’s Oktoberfest: something with strong Pilsner malt character and a floral hop finish. Let’s get after it.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Golden and clear and topped with a cream-colored head that maintains quite well. It has the slightly green tint that comes with Pilsner rich beers and a very, very slight haze. I only mention this last bit because often the Festbiers from Germany are absolutely crystal clear.
On the Nose--Lots of Pilsner malt character, which is one of those aromas that gets the mouth watering, and it has an almost Belgian Blonde character that keeps it interesting. You really have to search, but it has the floral hop character we're hoping will take us right through a dry finish. Very clean, very refreshing.
On the Palate--Strong Pilsner malt flavor, as expected, with a brisk hoppiness to take us right through the finish. The hop bitterness doesn’t linger but prepares the mouth for another gulp. And this one is very gulpable (is that a word?). All that Pilsner malt gives it a full mouthfeel that makes it all the more gulpable (I used it twice now, it’s officially a word). It finishes dry and crisp and gets you excited for the next rich swallow of Pilsner malt gold.
Food Pairings: With a lager so rich and crisp, we love pairing pretzels and brats, roasted chicken, and pork schnitzel with a squeeze of lemon.
Final Thoughts:
It’s difficult to try and imitate a beer created by brewers with hundreds of years of experience, and some might even call it a little arrogant to try, but that’s where that German heritage planted in Texas long ago comes into play. If you know good beer, you brew good beer, and I think that’s the case here with 512 Brewing’s Bavarian-style Festbier. It’s honestly an accurate imitation of the Festbiers served in Munich each fall. It’s rich in malt aroma and flavor with just the right amount of hop bitterness to cut the sweetness. It’s full in the mouth but goes down so smoothly you hardly even notice it. The finish is dry, clean, and refreshing, and before you know it, it’s gone, and that’s the real testament to a beer of this style.
A beer brewed for the little German in all Texans. Get after it.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew