5 Seasons Oktoberfest

Review Date 9/29/2013  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Oktoberfest   Brewery: 5 Seasons   Country: USA   State: Georgia   $ Per OZ: $.36   ABV: N/A

Since I moved to Georgia in 2001, the 5 Seasons Brewing Company has always been one of my favorite places to have a cold brew. Rome, Georgia was my first address here in the Peach State; in those days the first (and at the time only) 5 Seasons location was in the Prado plaza on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.

It was a 60 mile drive then to get to the beer, but never fret: I moved to Vinings, Georgia in 2003, a mere 5 miles from the Prado. I was also in close proximity to Summits Wayside Tavern in those days, a mere ½ mile up Roswell Road from 5 Seasons, and those two establishments quickly became my regulars

Fast forward to 2010, the wife and I buy a house in Canton, Georgia, now 20 miles from 5 Seasons (though I do have a 100+ tap Taco Mac 3 miles from home. Always good to keep the beer near). I don’t get to 5 Seasons as much as I used to, but still pop in for a beer whenever I can.

The location I frequented on Roswell Road, however, is just one of three 5 Seasons locations in metro Atlanta. If you find yourself downtown, then you might just want to stop in to 5 Seasons Westside on West Marietta Street, just a few scant miles from the Georgia Dome. I happened to find myself here on a fine Sunday in September, passing time with my son awaiting the Patriots-Falcons game.

I ordered up a half-liter Maas of 5 Seasons Oktoberfest Lager, a beer I had had many a time at the Prado location. The beer arrived a bright orange amber in color with a thick rocky head and a deliciously enticing soft nutty malty nose. Taking a sip, that same nuttiness came right through in the palate, with lovely toasted malt notes and a smooth, refreshing drinkability. The finish is gently balanced with a very gentle hop aroma and appropriate balancing bitterness.

All in all, a very tasty Ofest beer and about average in price at $6 for a half liter.