32 replies to this topic

[HVB]

Much as I hate to say it, this year's SN O-fest has turned out be a bit of a disappointment, after all.

 What changed from the original review on it?  Just does not age well?

[Bklmt2000]

 What changed from the original review on it?  Just does not age well?

 

Malt flavor is decent, IMO, but its head retention is nearly none, and to me, it tastes undercarbed.

 

Just seems like it's missing something I can't put my finger on.

[HVB]

Malt flavor is decent, IMO, but its head retention is nearly none, and to me, it tastes undercarbed.

Just seems like it's missing something I can't put my finger on.

Lack of head retention and low carbonation is at an all time high imo these days.

[Bklmt2000]

Lack of head retention and low carbonation is at an all time high imo these days.

 

True that.  Not sure why, but I've noticed that, too.

[positiveContact]

Lack of head retention and low carbonation is at an all time high imo these days.

 

do you mean o'fests in general this year?  that would indicate a water/mash issue right?

[HVB]

do you mean o'fests in general this year? that would indicate a water/mash issue right?

Beer in general.

[Genesee Ted]

Draft beer or packaged?

Lots of places don’t know how to properly clean and maintain their glassware. I’ve seen Hefeweizen carbed to 3 volumes that the head completely disappeared from when poured. Bars commonly use quaternary sanitizer tabs (the blue ones) and they are horrible for beer foam.

I had a SN Oktoberfest the other day for lunch. It was a little hoppy but from this thread I was expecting much worse. Definitely an American interpretation but I thought it was a decent beer nonetheless

[Bklmt2000]

Draft beer or packaged?

Lots of places don’t know how to properly clean and maintain their glassware. I’ve seen Hefeweizen carbed to 3 volumes that the head completely disappeared from when poured. Bars commonly use quaternary sanitizer tabs (the blue ones) and they are horrible for beer foam.

I had a SN Oktoberfest the other day for lunch. It was a little hoppy but from this thread I was expecting much worse. Definitely an American interpretation but I thought it was a decent beer nonetheless

 

The stuff I was referring to was bottled.  And i agree 1000%, a lot of beer bars/restaurants/etc. don't maintain their lines for shit.  Quats are bad news for beer foam.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a bad beer, but it seems to my tastebuds like something is a bit off.  Maybe its carbonation level is right, but to me, I think it could benefit from more.

 

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One thing I've gotten into the habit of doing anymore is giving the inside of my beer glass a light spritz of StarSan, upending it, and letting it sit a moment before I pour a beer (either bottled or my own HB on draft).

 

I have fairly alkaline water where I live, and I use hot tap water to rinse my glasses after washing.

 

The first time I used a StarSan spritz, it immediately resulted in a better head of foam, and a little better taste, by (I'm assuming) neutralizing whatever alkalinity/carbonates were left behind on the glass at prior washing.

[Genesee Ted]

I advise star San for sanitizing in the three bay sinks at the tasting rooms.

What’s weird is that the health inspectors have no idea what star San is and try to push quat. I’ve actually had them say you have to use quat or it’s not allowed. And then I provide them with the paperwork that says it’s fine. Those guys dont like looking like they don’t know what they’re talking about but I always give them a shit eating grin anyway.

[Bklmt2000]

I advise star San for sanitizing in the three bay sinks at the tasting rooms.

What’s weird is that the health inspectors have no idea what star San is and try to push quat. I’ve actually had them say you have to use quat or it’s not allowed. And then I provide them with the paperwork that says it’s fine. Those guys dont like looking like they don’t know what they’re talking about but I always give them a shit eating grin anyway.

 

If there was ever a time I wish I could +1 a mod, this would one of them. 

[shaggaroo]

Had the SN O-fest on draft a few nights ago. I thought it was quite tasty, more of a modern Oktoberfest, i.e. a Festbier; a ramped-up Helles if you will. Liked it so much, bought a sixer when I found it at a local beer store. Nice from the bottle too.

[Bklmt2000]

As an experiment, I got some more of this beer during our weekly shop yesterday.

 

One odd thing I noticed is, a flavor in the aftertaste that reminded of me Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

 

Noticed that immediately after the first sip, and while it never intensified, it didn't go away until the glass was empty.

[Big Nake]

As an experiment, I got some more of this beer during our weekly shop yesterday.

 

One odd thing I noticed is, a flavor in the aftertaste that reminded of me Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

 

Noticed that immediately after the first sip, and while it never intensified, it didn't go away until the glass was empty.

That's weird.

 

I know I've said this before but I occasionally get a very good beer from a local place and I'll email them and ask for the recipe and being a small place, they might send it to me.  In many cases (especially if the beer is supposed to be German) the recipe is not authentic... American hops or grains, ingredients that are just not meant to be in that style, etc.  It doesn't mean the beer is not good but I wish they wouldn't call it that style because it's really not.  I feel that this could easily happen with Oktoberfest.  Someone could look at one and say "Oh, pilsner and some crystal, Mt. Hood or Liberty hops and just pick a lager yeast!  Boom, done!".  I know that's naive of me but I've tasted many "supposed" German styles made by American craft breweries and been mostly disappointed.