Karbachtoberfest - Karbach Brewing Review
German influence is at the heart of craft beer in Texas, paying homage to the immigrants who brought their culture and practices with them. It often surprises folks to learn about the German influence in Texas, but it is deep, with towns and festivals dedicated to keeping the heritage alive.
That influence makes it an absolute riot to celebrate Oktoberfest each year—Texas-style! And one of the most influential breweries in Texas helps us Prost! with enthusiasm.
Karbach’s Karbachtoberfest is a Bavarian-style Marzen lager that pays homage to tradition with Vienna and Munich malt, and Hallertau-mittelfrüh and Tettnanger hops, and it comes in moderately at 5.5% ABV and 25 IBU.
They brought the traditional ingredients to their six-week, cold-fermented lager, so let’s see how it stacks up in our…
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Deep golden and clear as a fall day. Topped with an off-white colored head that diminishes moderately.
On the Nose--Toasty and crisp with a sweet maltiness dancing the Waltz with the noble hop aroma. Like the sausage counter at Oktoberfest, it’s very inviting!
On the Palate--Toasty and full-bodied, it splashes crisply across the palate. The floral notes from the noble hop character provide great balance to the sweet malt. I get a slight breadiness through the dry and mildly bitter finish. Karbachtoberfest has the crisp and refreshing nature of a lager while providing the pleasant and full mouthfeel we come to expect from our Oktoberfest beers.
Food Pairings: Karbach suggests pairing Karbachtoberfest with pretzels (of course), sausage, pizza, schnitzel, and by itself.
Final Thoughts:
The malt sweetness is a little lighter than many marzen-style lagers, particularly American interpretations of it, but Karbachtoberfest is balanced expertly and, in my opinion, reminds me more of a Marzen lager you might get from a German brewer like Paulaner or Spaten. It has a slightly lower ABV than most Oktoberfest beers, but that only serves to make it more sessionable, which is a good thing. The body, mouthfeel, and balance make this Marzen lager fun to drink, particularly for those seeking something in the middle-ground between malt heavy Marzen-style lagers and hoppier and lighter Dortmunder-style lagers.
This is a well-thought out and also very affordable beer. Karbach serves an array of very hoppy and strong beers, but they show their skill and diversity with their Karbachtoberfest beer. Get it while you can.
Cheers
Mr. Brew