As I mentioned in a previous showdown, I signed up for a beer of the month club. Many of the beers are from outside of California, so I decided to pit them against some of California's best.In this showdown we a pretty solid contender in Sudwerk's Fest Marzen which beat out other Fest beers in another showdown. Sudwerk is the only German-focused brewery in California so we thought it is only fitting to have them in this German Oktoberfest showdown.
Sudwerk will be taking on the Oktoberfest Lager of the Boone Brewing Company of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. it's worth noting though that much of the brewing is contracted out through a contract brewery in Pennsylvania.
ABV: 7.5%
Beer Advocate: 3.98 out of 5
Rate Beer: 3.22 out of 5
Pours a clear, copper red. Nice rich malty nose. The taste is a great balance between the Pilsner, Caramel and Munich malts. There is a tame bite from the hops. Nice full, mouthfeel, well carbonated.
ABV: 5%
Beer Advocate: 3.68 out of 5
Rate Beer: 2.89 out of 5
Pours a clear golden amber color with a small wispy white head. The aroma has light malts, caramel, and what seems like tea and/or lemon. The taste has a light malt flavor mixed with the tea/citrus flavor. There is a metallic flavor that sticks around.
Conclusion
We did a 4-way blind taste test. Sudwerk Fest Marzen wins again, unanimously. See the picture below. Blowing Rock's flavor was weak and more disorganized and without balance. Sudwerk had a suprerior body, great malt flavor and high drinkability.
Conclusion
We did a 4-way blind taste test. Sudwerk Fest Marzen wins again, unanimously. See the picture below. Blowing Rock's flavor was weak and more disorganized and without balance. Sudwerk had a suprerior body, great malt flavor and high drinkability.
Haven't had a chance to taste Blowing Rock's Okterberfest but I can definitely agree with the Marzen's flavor and drinkability.
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