Beer Stats:

Packaging: 12 oz. can

BJCP Style: German Marzen

ABV: 5.3%

Hops Variety: Magnum and Hallertau Mittelfruh

Malts Variety: 2 Row Pale, Vienna and Caramalt

Brewery:  Catawba Brewing – Morgantown, NC

Beer Connoisseur Rating: None

LUDB Notes:

• Bitterness Level: Low
• Drinkability:
  • Would I purchase again? No
  • Would I stock it? No
• Comments/Characteristics: Not the most visually attractive Marzen; but a decent, drinkable beer.

Now that the temperature has finally dropped here in the Southeast, it is finally starting to feel more like Oktoberfest season.  My local Total Wine & More still has a decent stock of Oktoberfest and Festbiers, so I decided to grab just a random craft beer off the shelf, which turned out to be Catawba Festbier Lager.  Catawba Brewing Co. is located in a small town called Morgantown in Western North Carolina, just east of Ashville.  This small brewery in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains offers up their Festbier Lager as their Oktoberfest seasonal beer.

Catawba Festbier pours a light amber color with a slight haze.  The head forms a fluffy white foam, which is retained well over minute.  Aromas are malt forward, bready to light toast.  Catawba uses Magnum and Hallertau hops, which provide a very slight herbal aroma and very minimal bitterness.  Two row pale, Vienna and Caramalt malt varieties make up the malt forward flavors, with a medium sweetness.   The finish is short and slightly drying with no bitterness.

This Festbier is in the Marzen tradition, using quality malts and hops ingredients; making it typical of what is produced for Oktoberfest in the United States.  The 5.3% ABV is on the low end for Marzen.  It has virtually no bitterness and is quite drinkable.  While Catawba Festbier was not one of my favorites in this style, it is certainly not a bad beer. I most likely would not purchase it again, as I have several others I would buy ahead of it.  Prost!

Thank you for reading and until next time…Let Us Drink Beer!