| I live right here in Western Pennsylvania and have | | | | much zing on the palate even given the appearance |
| sampled some great Pennsylvania microbrews and | | | | of a high level of carbonation. It was hard to sense |
| craft beers from all across this great state. But finally, | | | | much carbonation at all in the mouthful. This |
| only just yesterday did I finally pick up an unassuming | | | | Oktoberfest went down very smooth and very easy |
| looking bottle of Penn Brewery Oktoberfest from | | | | and it only went easier as fifteen or twenty minutes |
| my local bottle shop. Wow, it's hard to believe that it | | | | went by and it warmed in my mug. Only after a |
| took me this long to review a beer from this local | | | | while did I start to become a little more annoyed |
| Pittsburgh area brewery? Yes, I am a slacker in | | | | with the thin character of this craft beer. There was |
| many senses of the word. But of course, Pittsburgh | | | | a mild sour aftertaste that definitely didn't add to a |
| is not exactly known for its microbreweries and craft | | | | most positive experience. |
| beers now is it? | | | | I tried this beer after a long holdout of sampling and |
| Anyway, this chilled 12 ounce brown glass bottle | | | | reviewing any of the products cranked out by Penn |
| features a somewhat festive scene of a good ole | | | | Brewery and after this beer, may wait quite a while |
| German guy and gal in traditional German | | | | longer before sampling and reviewing another |
| Oktoberfest celebratory garb (the lad hoisting only | | | | microbrew from this Pittsburgh microbrewery. |
| one stein of the German liquid gold while the young | | | | Aside from my experience with Pennsylvania Brewing |
| lady boasts six mugs at once. Pretty impressive for a | | | | Company's wintertime offering of St. Nikolaus Bock |
| young lady of any nationality, isn't it? It's a decent | | | | Bier, I just haven't been all that impressed with most |
| label, but nothing all that extreme or off the beaten | | | | of the others I've tried from this Western |
| path of those designs found on many Oktoberfest | | | | Pennsylvania microbrewery. I think they try, but |
| style beers. Just how much can anyone do with a | | | | maybe there's some room for one or two more |
| theme like an Oktoberfest celebration in Germany | | | | "flagship" type beers that could help put them on the |
| anyway right? | | | | microbrew review map nationally. I hope the best for |
| I poured this beer into a standard, unchilled 10 ounce | | | | them as I do all microbrewers and craft beer |
| glass beer mug fairly aggressively. Not a whole lot of | | | | brewers alike. More good breweries means more |
| head frothing about or anything really going on here | | | | good beer for us all to try and enjoy. |
| appearance-wise. I witnessed just shy of a one-finger | | | | My final word on Penn Oktoberfest Lager from |
| white head on Penn Oktoberfest which really didn't | | | | Pennsylvania Brewing Company is that it is an |
| hang around very long for more than a minute or | | | | average craft beer, and an average representation |
| two. Beer is very clear and a tawny reddish brown | | | | of an Oktoberfest style lager. Nothing too, too bad |
| color. A very active culture of tiny bubbles migrate to | | | | about it but nothing all that great either. I just didn't |
| the surface from every area of the bottom of the | | | | feel this beer defined itself or offered any separation |
| mug. | | | | from the other Octoberfest beers available on the |
| Aroma is not very assuming. Mildly bready and a | | | | beer market today. Maybe next fall's batch will be |
| mediocre malty scent presence. That's really about it | | | | different and better overall but for this year, I'm |
| here. There was nothing to write home about Penn | | | | giving Penn Brewery's Oktoberfest a 4.75 out of |
| Brewery's Oktoberfest in the way of an assault on | | | | 10.00 points overall. It would be good for tailgating at |
| the ole olfactory homefront. Nose is definitely | | | | the next Steelers game however. I don't know the |
| average at best in making me want to take my first | | | | alcohol by volume, but I'm guessing it's somewhere |
| sip. | | | | around 5% or so which would allow for consuming at |
| But sip I did. And my first sip provided a smooth but | | | | least a few of these beers per sitting or event. |
| somewhat thin mouthful of beer. Sweet just a bit | | | | Cheers! |
| but a fair balance of hops to balance. There was not | | | | |
