Judge’s Review: 90 Rating – Fest of Both Worlds: In Collaboration With Warsteiner by Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers

Festbier | Collaboration | USA

By Brian Eichhorn

Judges Rating: 90.00
Aroma: 20.00
Appearance: 5.00
Flavor: 38.00
Mouthfeel: 9.00
Overall Impression: 18.00

Fest of Both Worlds: In Collaboration With Warsteiner by Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers is being evaluated as style 4B, Festbier, per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.

Into the glass, this pours a faintly hazy deep gold color with a pillowy white head that persists pretty well. The nose offers a bit of sulfur up front, but underneath that is a pleasant spicy, herbal hop character and rounded pilsner malt. It is almost pilsner-like in aroma. The sulfur is a bit strong on the nose, however.

On the palate, it is driven by malt, with an almost grape-like quality from the pilsner malt. Substantial bitterness supports the beer and invites another sip. This is remarkably drinkable for 5.9% ABV, learned post-review. Great malt depth and complexity here, and I really like the yeast character, as it enhances the malt and allows the hops to have their say as well. Herbal on the palate, with a slight tanginess in the finish.

It is medium-plus in body, which contributes to a sense of fullness as you drink it, but it really feels German, more so than many American lagers.

I do think that if the sulfur were knocked back a bit, this would be a world-beater. Good stuff, and fantastic malt character on this one.