Oktoberfest German Style Lager -- JosephsBrau Brewing Co. (San Jose, CA)
With this review, I may be done with the Trader Joe's beers for a while. I expect Octoberfests to vary widely, but this particular version just doesn't fit the bill. A lager that behaves like an American Pale Ale isn't really necessary in my book.
Characteristics: Medium-copper color, light body, slightly stinging carbonation without any real head, sour hoppy tones dominate at start and finish over a yeasty middle.
Gripes: I've gotten headaches from drinking this beer, for no perceptible reason. I'm also not a fan of the hop-heavy American pale ales, so your mileage may vary.
Bottom Line: Trader Joe's produces a dull and uninspired effort at a fest beer. Even the mass-produced Sam Adams Octoberfest beats this one, never mind the heavyweight Hofbrau or other import variations.
Rating: 4 / 10
Characteristics: Medium-copper color, light body, slightly stinging carbonation without any real head, sour hoppy tones dominate at start and finish over a yeasty middle.
Gripes: I've gotten headaches from drinking this beer, for no perceptible reason. I'm also not a fan of the hop-heavy American pale ales, so your mileage may vary.
Bottom Line: Trader Joe's produces a dull and uninspired effort at a fest beer. Even the mass-produced Sam Adams Octoberfest beats this one, never mind the heavyweight Hofbrau or other import variations.
Rating: 4 / 10
Categories:
Lager
I disagree with just about everything you say here, except for maybe the color descriptions. I much tend to prefer the more hoppy flavored beers, rather than the bland, malty, tasteless offers the American beer industry had produced for so many years. I think that's why microbreweries have develpoed,,,because people yearned for a beer with some taste.
I had been a Sierra fan for many years, until I tried the Trader Joes brands. And Lo! finally some good-tasting Pilsner-type lagers. Then I tried Josephsbrau's Hopfest, and now it's my favorite beer. A few minutes ago I opened my first Summer Brew, and I took a second look. WOW! That's a nice-tasting beer.
Dave
Dave, I respect your opinion and appreciate your sharing it here. For what it's worth, my dislike of turbo-hopped beers (and my preference for malty beers) is pretty clearly laid out over the course of the reviews here.
In the context of stouts and porters and ambers, I don't find American-style lagers to be any more malty than the true pilsners. I just find them to be bland and dull and lifeless (but for the carbonation).