8

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Taster at Standard market, because there’s no way I can manage a second pint, let alone their Liter steins. Deep brown color, a thin layer of foam inside a ring around the edges. Yes, I’m giving it a “5” because I’m happy to see these autumnal colors. Dang it if I can’t get much of a nose right now, as my own nose picked this time to get stuffy. But certainly nothing untoward is leaping out at me. Taste is rich and malty, with notes of pipe tobacco (like I’ve ever tasted pipe tobacco…) also notes of plum and caramel. Dark German malts usually make me think of smoke, but I have none of that here. Admittedly, this is after a pint of Oktoberfest beer, but this one stands well enough on its own I like finding this solid bock on tap to break a few of the rules of an Oktoberfest beer time.