Altstadt Oktoberfest Review
Being in the Central/South Texas area, there are so many breweries offering so many great beers and concoctions a person might never have thought possible. But it can get a little noisy, and when a break is needed, tradition is the best place to take it, right under the shade of an oak tree.
This is often where Altstadt brewery out of Fredericksburg, TX, comes through. The area around Fredericksburg is filled with vineyards and German heritage, and in the middle of it all is a modern German brewery that pumps out beers according to the 1516 Reinheitsgebot, the German beer purity law. And to adhere to that law, Altstadt uses 100% imported ingredients and Texas hill country spring water to make some truly German beers. But one of those beers stands out as a very recognizable seasonal offering: the Oktoberfest beer.
I had my first one not long ago at the Fredericksburg Oktoberfest, and each year I can’t wait to grab another and pair it with a pretzel and bratwurst. And even without all the ambiance of horns playing and women dancing in dirndls, this beer stands on its own. Here are our first impressions of this classic offering.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Okt is as clear as the spring water they use to brew it, and it pours a beautiful copper color below a cream-colored head.
On the Nose--A lot of malt complexity on the tingling bubbles. It smells bready, roasty, and very inviting.
On the Palate--The malt complexity is really deep in this beer. It is brewed with Pilsner, Vienna, and Munich malts, and the different layers of bread and caramel flavors ripple through the dry finish. It is full-bodied and smooth, which is common to the Marzen style, but it is also really crisp and easy to drink, leaning more toward its lager fermentation. It is a great party beer, and it takes me back to that first Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg, TX, every time I drink it.
I admire the heck out of Altstadt and the wonderful products they make and the tradition they apply. One thing I really enjoy about their beer—any of their beers—is that I can taste that they were brewed at Altstadt, and that shows their commitment to ingredients and history. And to me, that is always worth the purchase.
Prost!
Mr. Brew