Oktoberfest #5 - Day 3 Sample A (Tyranena)

We continue our quest to try all of the commercially available Oktoberfests from Wisconsin breweries. If we can, we will try to find Oktoberfests from some of the breweries that aren't readily available here in Madison (Viking, Central Waters, Calumet, Lakefront, etc.); but we are starting with the ones that are.

The methodology is simple: blind tasting of two different Oktoberfests. In the mbr refrigerator is all of the Oktobers. One of us sets up the glasses with two random unannounced Oktobers, and another tastes without knowing which beers have been poured. Tasting notes are taken, and guesses are made as to which Oktober is being consumed. The following is those tasting notes; unedited. We try not to "rate" the beers, just to review them. Enjoy. If you have had any of these beers, please feel free to post your review in the comments.

Not too surprised at this one today. I tend to like Tyranena's beers. Though, I'll admit, this one kind of baffled me at first, because I would have expected more hoppy-ness from Tyranena. But, this shows that they can make solid beers without getting heavy-handed with the hops. Ultimately, the subtle hop characters showed themselves, but this isn't a show-off beer. At the end of the day, it is a very drinkable Oktoberfest.

Day 3 Sample A (Tyranena)

Appearance: thin head, light copper in color, crystal clear, little carbonation

Aroma: not much aroma; faint malt and some caramel sweetness, very little hoppy-ness,though some grassy notes seep through

Taste: front of caramel malts and some slightly roasted notes, light and sweet, nice hoppy bitterness actually just before a fast finish that leaves very little aftertaste

Body: medium-light body, with a soft feel, but not syrupy, not very highly carbonated, but the tastes fade quickly so the carbonation isn't missed

Drinkability: very drinkable, could probably have quite a few of these in a large mug wandering around a tailgating party at the Big 10 pub getting ready for a badger game

Summary/Notes: doesn't taste quite "finished" but it's quite drinkable and very good, I could drink this anywhere; very solid for the style, though could use a little more hoppy-ness and perhaps some fullness and depth in the body to round it out

Guess: Tyranena

Recommendation: would search this out to serve as a good Wisconsin oktoberfest; like others, there are better out there, but few represent the state better