Judge’s Review: 87 Rating – Oktoberfest Bavarian-Style Lager by Wild Leap Brew Co.

Märzen | Limited Release | United States

By Nelson Crowle

Judges Rating: 87
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 4
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 7
Overall Impression: 18

Oktoberfest Bavarian-Style Lager by Wild Leap Brew Co. was evaluated according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines as 6A Marzen (which is the darker gold/amber Oktoberfest, not the gold Festbier).  
The beer pours a beautiful very clear deep gold, with no head and just a slight amount of ivory bubbles on the cordon. A small stream of bubbles continues to rise from the nucleation points in my glass. An inviting lightly toasted bread crust aroma starts things off, with a very light herbal and black pepper note to balance. The aroma is dead-on for the style, but on the understated side. The first taste brings a medium-low toast note, with a moderate rich biscuity/crackery malt character that adds complexity. Light white pepper notes complement the malt. Medium-bodied, with fairly low carbonation, there is a nice lingering bready finish and a low clean bittering. A bit more carbonation would be appreciated, but overall, this is a very nice Oktoberfest that falls on the lighter side. Pair this beer with some bratwurst, sauerkraut, and a salty, doughy soft pretzel.