Two Brothers Atom Smasher Oktoberfest to kick off the season

Two Brothers Atom Smasher Oak Aged Oktoberfest Style Lager

The first Oktoberfest beer I drank to kick off the season is the one sent to me from Two Brothers Artisan Brewing: Atom Smasher Oak Aged Oktoberfest Style Lager. It’s a Marzen-style lager aged on oak chips, added during the fermentation process and which (I’m pretty sure) are un-spirited. The brewery says:

Atom Smasher is our take on an Oktoberfest style lager, blending the traditional style of marzen beers from the past with new, innovative flavors. Named with our scientific neighbors in mind, Atom Smasher brings Oktoberfest state-side.

A little background. Two Brothers was founded in Warrenville, Illinois, in 1996 by brothers Jim and Jason Ebel, and based on the website, not only brews beer but also roasts coffee and distills spirits. According to Wikipedia, “Two Brothers Brewing… has opened multiple locations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as one in Arizona.” The brewery has won a number of awards and is distributed in 13 states (though not Oregon).

Atom Smasher is 7.7% ABV and has accrued decent ratings across the various ratings sites. And on a general note, I’m just happy it’s Oktoberfest season again. (Which pairs well with fresh hop season.)

Appearance: Bottle dating indicates “Best by 1/15/19.” Great clarity, bright, copper-colored with orange and brown tints. Head is fizzy and off-white, breaks quickly. Great color and appearance overall.

Aroma: Malty, rich, with an oaky, almost-vanilla note. A touch of alcohol is present, hinting at its strength. Toffee, crackers, and a bit of brown sugar round out the aroma. No hops.

Taste: Clean, malty, rich with a fairly light estery character. Caramel, toffee, grainy, only slightly cloying in the malty sweetness. Possibly a light tannic note, which I would presume comes from the oak chips. No appreciable hops, good malt flavors, clean and mostly on-point but for some residual sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a clean presence and a bit of lingering sweet sugary note.

Overall: A solid Marzen if sweeter than I’d expect for the style, but given that I don’t know how the oak aging might have affected this I’m okay with it. A nice beer to kick off the Oktoberfest harvest season with.

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