Odell Brewing Oktoberfest - Review
When the temperature and the leaves start to fall, it’s officially time to get the lederhosen to the dry-cleaners for a good starching. That’s right, it’s Oktoberfest season, and though it seems to come earlier and earlier every year (when the temperature and leaves are still suspended) we can’t contain our excitement for malty, traditional, and quaffable beers.
And though the German brewers have their recipes cinched down tighter than a lid on a sauerkraut jar, we still love to see (and try) Oktoberfest-style beers from amazing American brewers. This time around, that brewer is Odell Brewing out of Fort Collins, Colorado. We grew up in the area of Fort Collins and can tell you that Odell is king and has been creating exceptional craft beers since 1989.
Their longevity speaks to their skill, and they put their skill into this Oktoberfest Marzen-style lager with no shortage of Munich malts, Noble hops, house yeast, and Cache la Poudre River water.
Fort Collins is nestled right up against the Rocky Mountains, much like Munich is nestled tight to the Bavarian Alps, but the competitors of the old world have been perfecting their lagers for hundreds of years. They sit on pinnacles, making the comparison all the more difficult for modern brewers to achieve.
Odell’s Marzen-style lager sounds traditional, and considering their own tradition of success, we expect something great from this seasonal lager.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Odell’s Oktoberfest pours golden and clear and is topped with an off-white head that diminishes quickly.
On the Nose--Malty, roasty, and with the right amount of Noble hop spice. Perfect!
On the Palate--Biscuity and dry right through the finish with a healthy dose of hops. There is a note of caramel that keeps the roasted flavor in check and the hops add an almost spiced apricot flavor for a touch of floral fruitiness at the end. The roasted malt notes are true to form and comforting as can be but they don’t linger long into the clean lager finish. It is medium-bodied and actually quite light and easy to drink, as an Oktoberfest beer should be.
Food Pairings: We love pairing our Marzen lagers with pork schnitzel, pretzels (try our spent grain pretzel recipe here!), and bratwurst with a healthy dose of whole grain mustard. Oktoberfest is no time to be counting calories.
Final Thoughts:
This is the first time we’ve tried Odell Brewing’s Oktoberfest Marzen-style lager, and we know from drinking their 90 Shilling Amber Ale and their Isolation Ale that they know how to pack a lot of malt depth and flavor into a can. But more than flavor, Oktoberfest beers are about feeling. If you’ve ever wanted to cry tears of joy after drinking any of the official beers served at Oktoberfest in Munich, then you know what I’m talking about. It’s the kind of feeling that makes you want to learn German and pick up a trombone so you can play Oompah music when you’re not swinging across the dance floor with a blonde in a dirndl. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
So, to the question: Does Odell’s Oktoberfest give that feeling?
Well, simply put, Yes! It is roasty, malty, spicy from the hops, and resting at the correct 6% ABV. It’s a delight to drink, and it’s fun to see our modern breweries paying their due respect to the old world recipes. If I were to add one small note, it would be to say that Odell’s Oktoberfest is slightly lighter in the mouth with a medium-body compared to the full mouthfeel you would find in some of the European Marzens. But that is not necessarily a bad thing as it serves to make the beer more approachable and quaffable.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
Learn more about Oktoberfest beers here and check out the review of our favorite Oktoberfest lager, Paulaner.