So here's a fun one, Fifth Ward Brewing Company just brought back their Oktoberfest, and yeah, I know, it's the middle of July, but honestly, who's going to complain about a good malty lager showing up early?
This one's brewed right in between a Marzen and a proper Festbier, which is a nice way of saying they took the best parts of both and didn't overthink it. You've got biscuity Munich malt doing most of the talking, backed up by a crisp Pilsner malt and traditional German Perle hops, and it comes out pouring a deep gold with that classic malty aroma running all the way through. At 5.8% ABV and 23 IBU, it finishes crisp and dry, the hops stepping in right at the end just to keep things honest.
There's something comforting about a brewery that just brings a good seasonal back when it back, calendar be damned. Oshkosh's Fifth Ward isn't dressing this up as some big reinvention, it's just a well-made Festbier showing up because it's good and people missed it, and that's really all a beer like this needs to do.
It's on tap and available to-go right now, so no need to wait for the leaves to turn.
Sometimes the best seasonal move is just not waiting for the season.