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Beer Reviews

The Kaiser

Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder, CO
USA
http://www.averybrewing.com

Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
ABV: 9.3%

Franz’s Rating:
   (Outstanding within its style.)


Comments:
I can’t remember the last review I wrote, but life is busy and it’s easy to drink craft brews and not write about them. During the past month I’ve had the opportunity to drink of lot of different brewers’ interpretations of an Oktoberfest. Most of them were so-so, but the Kaiser, by Avery Brewing, is worth writing about.

This beer is actually an imperial Oktoberfest, which is unheard of with this style and really doesn’t surprise me with the growing trend of hybridized beer styles. As I pour this bomber into my stein, I notice the copper hue usually associated with the style. It weighs in at 9.3 percent ABV and I can taste the zing associated with the high alcohol. As far as other flavors that I can pull out, I would say this is sweet and malty, with sweetness overpowering all. The first smell that comes to mind is the 18.6 proof ethanol produced by yeast. It is almost too overpowering except for the the sweet raisin-like aroma associated mixed in there. No hop aroma that I can pick out.

As stated above The Kaiser is the best I’ve had this season. This is the break-down of all I’ve had this year and the ratings I’d give them:

New Glarus Staghorn-3 mugs
Victory Festbier-1 mug
Sprecher Oktoberfest- 2 mugs
Bells Oktoberferst -3 mugs
Great Lakes Brewery Oktoberferst-3 mugs
Spaten Oktoberfest- 3.5 mugs
Leinenkugel Oktoberfest-3 mugs

Prosit


Reviewed by Franz Mueller on October 4, 2010.

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