Okto Festival Ale

Image courtesy of Widmer Brothers Brewing

I sometimes think Widmer Brothers Brewing (Portland, OR) products are overlooked here in the Midwest.  Well, they should not be you Midwesterners, shame on you!  I have just been enjoying a 6-pack of their Okto Festival Ale (ale, not lager) and I’m glad of it.  Deep honey-colored with a whispy, loose-bead head, this lightly carbonated brew is an easy drinker.  With nice roasted caramel notes, a sweet bouquet and a mild hop presence, Okto Festival Ale is a good companion to traditional German cuisine, not overpowering, but instead complimenting the food flavors.  At 5.3% ABV (less than authentic German Oktoberfest beers) you could have a few of these with no problem, and then contemplate having a couple more.  I think Ty Wagner (pronounced VOG-ner this month), the King of the Wisconsin Oktoberfest, would enjoy this stuff.

75/100 Marzen/Oktoberfest

Image courtesy of Foxnews.com