Now we are moving on to the critically acclaimed Great Lakes Oktoberfest. If I am being honest I have always enjoyed every beer I have tried from Great Lakes. However, I tend to find their reviews a little too high and a bit overrated, so lets see if their Oktoberfest is any different. Coming directly from their site.

“Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a real malt party, packed with toasty autumnal flavors perfect for hearty hoisting.

 FLAVORÜber smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).”

Appearance: I am happy that Great Lakes has changed their label. The original was boring and this one is colorful with a scenic view in the background. Huge improvement and I love to see changes for the better.

Aroma: The aroma is light but what I am able to detect is stale sweet bread with a malt finish . The aroma begins to pick up as it warms, but its never heavy.

Taste: The taste is mostly malts with hints of toasted bread. After the beer warms I got a little bit of clove, which is interesting for this style. Its not bad, but doesn’t feel like a Marzen.

Experience: This is one of the strongest Marzens I have tried (at 6.5%) and its surprisingly smooth. There is a bit of a bite and some dryness after the fact, but it drinks more like a 5.5% brew.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Halo 3: ODST. This game is loved but it has plenty of faults, especially how short it is. I think a strong beer with this game will enhance anyone’s experience.