Initial Impressions:
A good domestic Octoberfest is a rare treat. Many breweries have
one in their lineup, but ingredients and procedure relegate these
examples to second-class status. Justified on economic and logistical
grounds, these beers are typically made out of domestic malts
and mashed in a single infusion. The result is often a cloying,
gummy beer that has more in common with Alaskan Amber than Paulaner
Oktoberfest. Rare is the beer that has the depth of maltiness
of the classics.
Is Pete's such a beer? I'm not sure. Clearly it's not decocted or made with good, imported malts. While domestic malts have improved notably in the past few years, using crystal or caramel malts to achieve the requisite copper color rather than a nice Vienna or Munich leaves much to be desired.
In the glass, the beer is bright, and copper to amber in color. A medium level of carbonation builds a nice rocky head that dissipates slowly but does not linger.
Nose:
A modest, base maltiness is present in the nose,
with a light toastiness in the background.
Flavor:
Taking a cue from the aroma, a base maltiness
introduces me to this beer. This is followed by a caramel flavor,
but not so obtrusive as to wash out the other flavors. A light
bitterness finishes off, underscoring the overall crispness of
this beer.
Final Analysis:
This
Oktoberfest will not remind you of Paulaner or Spaten, but it
is a clean, crisp, well balanced serviceable lager. While lacking
the nuance of the classics, Pete's is superior to most domestic
examples of the style and well worth trying to form your own impressions.
Rating:
***
(5-star scale)