Which one takes my top spot (Part 3)?
OKTOBERFEST has come and gone but the beers remain. For the last two weeks I started a top twelve of my favorite Oktoberfest/Fall Season brews. I listed the first eight (5-12). Today I will continue with the top numbers 4-1. Lets see how surprised you will be!!!
There were some surprises this week as well. There always is, but at least one in the top 4 will probably raise a few eyebrows. There is room for debate on the entire list but I do stand by my choices and order. Regardless if you agree with my list or not one thing is for certain: You should at least try them all (or at least a few) and then make you own assessment of the beers. Hey, if you are feeling confrontational, (HAHA) leave a comment or two and see where I may have went wrong. But once again, all the beers on this entire list are good drinking brews that are worthy of your own taste buds.
So if you can, try to grab one of these brews before they get retired or at least leave the shelves for another year.
SO, HERE ARE THE FINAL FOUR...
#4 - PAULANER OKTOBERFEST
Let's just start by saying that this beer is one of the proud few that gets to be served at the one and only Oktoberfest event in Munich, Germany. Since 1818 they have been brewing this beer and it is fantastic. Very light and crisp, but with a darker amber hue, this lager has lower carbonation but slightly higher {ABV} than other lagers, it starts easy but finishes on the strong side. A perfect drinking/savoring brew. Pair it up with some smoked mackerel for a truly great taste experience!!!!
#3 - SHOCK TOP - TWISTED PRETZEL WHEAT- LIMITED RELEASE
This is a unique beer. A limited release, surprisingly this beverage, from a major brewer no less, takes such a high spot on my list. At first sip you are wondering what you taste: Bready, salty, slight sweetness? Well all of the above and then it hits you: You are dinking a pretzel. It is the liquid equivalent of drinking a beer and eating salty pretzels. Not too much is going on the nose. A little caramel notes and that is about it. A very nice experimental beer that while it is not perfectly balanced, and probably would turn off some beer snobs, its curiosity and definite taste texture make it claim the first of the top three. Well done for trying something different. I like to give accolades to breweries that think out of the box.
#2 - WEIHENSTEPHNER - VITUS
This is BAVARIAN BREWRING at its BEST. This light, crisp single bock goes down smooth and makes the drinker want another one. With a nose that consists of dried apricots and citrus, the full bodied liquid gives even more with a taste profile that consists of banana and spice. After tasting you might actually confuse it for a wheat beer instead of a bock. Because it is a bock, it has a higher ABV as well clocking in at 7.7%. Definitely get your hand on a few of these. It is a good drinking brew for the fall season and beyond. A VERY SOLID spot at #2. Well deserved. Very few beers are this perfect!!!!!
#1 - SHIPYARD PUMPKINHEAD WHEAT
So we finally come to the number 1 spot. Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Wheat (ironic too that this post is on Halloween) is everything that a Autumn brew should be and more. With a golden brown color that gives off a sweetness on the nose of caramel it is already starting in a good direction. What truly makes this beer stand out though is the balance that is has with the flavors. One sip, and then another and you are going to get flavors of pumpkin, clove, spice, nutmeg, and baking spice. It is almost like pumpkin pie in the bottle. But as I said, the balance is near perfect. Not one of those flavors overpower each other. After a swish around the palate, you still taste them all. No stand-outs. I really cannot recommend this brew enough. I think it is the most well balanced pumpkin wheat on the market. Very few come close. CONGRATULATIONS TO SHIPYARD AND THEIR PUMPKINHEAD WHEAT!!!!! MY FAVORITE FOR THIS OKTOBERFEST AND AUTUMN SEASON!!!!
So there are the final four. I think I might list a few honorable mentions as well in the next few weeks before switching over to winter beers which should be hitting the store shelves soon if not already. But that just means more beer sampling for me. Nothing really wrong with that!! I hope you enjoyed my selections and I really hope that is stirs some debates in your beer drinking crowd. Because realistically, that was the point. To get out and try something new and argue!!!
AND AS ALWAYS
RAISE A PINT OF ALE (SOMETHING FROM MY LIST PERHAPS) AND ENJOY
CHEERS
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