This past week America’s premier beer festival and competition took place. The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is one part party, one part industry conference, one part public tasting, and one part competition. Taking place every year since 1982, the GABF gives breweries a chance to show case their best craft beers from the year. This weekend I’m enjoying a brew that won gold, the highest award, for a Mäzen style beer; this weekend Abita Brewing Company’s Octoberfest is What’s on Tap!
I know, what does a New Orleans based brewery know about a German style brew? Well apparently a lot! Full of the malty goodness that you expect from Mäzens, caramels, roasted malts, and a slight earthy quality, but what sets Abita’s Octoberfest apart is the hops on the backend of the taste. There is a slight spiciness to the brew but what I am enjoying is how the sweetness of the malts and spiciness of the hops balance each other perfectly. Too often this combination cancels each other out and the result is a brew that does not have much taste at all; but Abita has found the perfect combination. The beer ends with a drinkable crispness that lacks bitterness.
This week I am making one of my favorite fall meals; roast beef. And to add to this hearty meal I am making my own spicy dry rub for the outside of the beef. This rub will have everything in it oregano, paprika, garlic powder, and even cayenne pepper. Along with mashed sweet potatoes this dinner, and beer pairing, screams fall. So this weekend crack open an award winning Mäzen and toast to the weekend!
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: Mäzen
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 5.4%
Bitterness (IBUs): 24
Color (SRM): 12
Color: Copperish
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