The September Beer

It’s September, I can’t believe it. As a kid, the belief I held was that each season got three months. Winter equaled Christmas, New Year, and the –uary months, when there was any chance of snow. Spring was March, April and May, flowers, bunnies and such. Summer consisted June, July and August, days at the beach or adventures around the neighborhood. This leaves Fall to the present month, the Halloween month, and the turkey month.
As the first day of fall is September 23rd, and Oktoberfest 2015 kicks off 4 days before that, a change (of season and beer) has come. Or will come. It has to come! I’m ready for fall, summer be damned. But of course, even as a kid I realized that the start of the 9th month didn’t mean we couldn’t still find ourselves experiencing summery swelter. Even those chilly nights couldn’t stop sticky humid days to follow.
A solid class of beers for this strange month is Amber Lager. If, when discussing non-light lagers, we think of Pilsner as the brightest and lightest colored of the bunch, and golden lagers as a shade darker, the amber lager will be darker still, but not so deep ruby or brown hued as some Bock lagers or even darker, like Munich Dunkel or Schwarzbier.
While Yuengling Traditional Lager and Brooklyn Lager both fall into this category, the European distinction of the group “Amber Lager” really only includes two styles of beer: Vienna Lager and Oktoberfest.
In Vienna Lager, you have a medium-bodied, malt dominant, but not overwhelming-flavored beer. Toasted notes will be present in smell and taste, with hops, usual noble, playing a supporting role. Appearance will be clear, bright red or amber. The key to Vienna Lager, especially compared to Oktoberfest, is the dry, crisp finish.
Vienna Lager is a favorite style, and one worth the time to search out uncommon examples of the style. Most folks will be well familiar with Vienna lager through the slightly dumbed-down but still tasty version found in Negra Modelo and Dos Equis amber, Mexican beers with a German heritage.
Further, very few folks have never tasted Sam Adams flagship Lager, which is also in the Vienna style. A decent beer, but I suggest Great Lakes Eliot Ness. Takes the Sam Adams Lager and ups the classic qualities to perfection. A fantastic amber lager!
Of course, Oktoberfest beers have been out for over a month now, with the obligatory Sam Adams submission the first to hit shelves. But better examples have now made it to market. In any case, these beers on shelves (hopefully) point to cooler days ahead.
Compared with Vienna, Oktoberfest lagers in this country will also be amber to dark red colored and toasted in aroma. Hops are present, just not in the amount found in the Vienna lager. Yet, a difference is noticeable in the sweeter, richer malt taste of the Munich festival beer. Also, the gentle sweetness in the finish of the fest beer is evident compared to the clean ending of the Vienna. In direct contrast to the popularity of Vienna Lager in the world, where very few examples are made, Oktoberfest beers will are abundant. Pour up an elegant and flavorsome amber lager and know…fall is coming. Enjoy the brews…Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob
at publisher@westof.net.