Is it really that time of year already? I can’t believe I’ve been seeing Octoberfest brews and Fall seasonals so soon. I also can’t believe that this beer has been around for 10 plus years and this is the first time I’ve had a chance to enjoy it.
I’m a big fan of Octoberfest/Marzen styled brews. There’s just something about them that really gets me siked for this time of year. So, when my wife brought home a couple six packs of this one I was excited and surprised to find that she bought it at the local Safeway. They’ve always carried Old Dominion brews, but rarely anything outside of the usual Lager or Ale.
Appearance
Dominion’s version of this beer pours a light amber with a subtle red hue. The head was small, off-white in color and faded relatively quickly, leaving a thin lacing on the glass.
Aroma
This one smells wonderful. A slight roasted malt and spice mixture (perhaps cinnamon) are the primary characteristics of the beer’s aroma.
Taste
Yup. It tastes just as good as it smells. It’s got a well balanced flavor with a light body. The spice seems more subtle than in the aroma, but it matches well with the wonderful malt presence. There’s a slight hop bitterness in the finish that lingers shortly and then fades.
Overall
I’ve rarely had a beer from Old Dominion that I don’t like. In fact, I can’t think of any off the top of my head. The Octoberfest is simply another well crafted beer from this local brewer. I think I’ll need to get a couple more six packs before they disappear from the shelves.
Rating: 3.5/5
