Exile Oktoberfest

This 5.1% ABV seasonal release marzenbier is from the Exile Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa. 

The beer pours a light and clear amber in color. There is a half inch of off-white foam. The aroma is lightly nutty, caramel, and the straw note of a lager. The taste follows the aromas, but is far more rich, nutty, caramel, roasted and toasted malts, sweet, yet dry. For all the caramel notes, it finishes dry, with light bitterness. The beer drinks easy with a tingling of carbonation. This is a nice Oktoberfest. 

2016: New label, the beer pours looking the same. The aroma is quite nutty, very toasted, with rich caramel. The taste follows the aromas, a big blast of toasted, nutty, caramel malt. There is some sweetness in the malt, but the beer comes to a dry and moderately bitter finish. The beer drinks easy, a touch of smooth, yet carbonated, definitely quaffable. Prost, indeed!

2017: Totally different label art this year, but I did not like the beer as much this year. The beer pours a deep, gleaming copper in color. There is a rapidly dissolving head of off-white foam. The aroma is malty, caramel, sweet potato, but a bit of an off tart note. The taste follows the aromas, but luckily the off note is gone. The finish is dry, actually feels a bit odd on the tongue, with a fairly bitter finish. The beer drinks easy, with a crsip note of carbonation at the end. This just wasn't quite right for me, but it got better as it proceeded, maybe just needed to open up a bit.