Saint Helen Oktoberfest

Review Date 9/8/2021  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Oktoberfest   Brewery: Georgia Beer Co.   Country: USA   State: Georgia   $ Per OZ: $.15 (B)   ABV: 5.5%

Well, hello there Georgia Beer Co. of Valdosta, Georgia! I just purchased my first ever beer from you, Saint Helen’s Oktoberfest. Named for the quaint Alpine village of Helen, Georgia, I like the way you say that Helen inspired you to build a brewery. Of course, Helen and Valdosta are about as far apart as you can be while remaining the state of Georgia, but that’s neither here nor there. Although, I suppose that Helen may be here, and Valdosta there. Or the other way around. Something like that.

Truth be told, Helen inspires me, too. Way back in the 90s, when I lived in Rhode Island, I would shop mail order from House of Tyrol, located in-you guessed it-Helen, Georgia. There was also Helenboch beer, which I drank then, from a company based in Helen. Never did I ever imagine I would love only a few hours away from Helen, and go there once a year for Oktoberfest. Last year, Covid shut the Oktoberfest down in Helen, and although it is on (so far) for 2021, Covid is raging in Georgia, and I am sot sure I will be able to go.

From the label:

In White County, GA lies the small town of Helen. Famous for its Alpine architecture and annual Oktoberfest celebration, Helen inspired our owners to not only open a brewery, but use its namesake for this delicious, malty and crisp German-style Marzen. Since 1810, beer drinkers have been celebrating Oktoberfest. Pour our ode to the season in your favorite glass or mug, and don’t forget to shout “Prost!”.

Georgia Beer Co. Saint Helen’s Oktoberfest has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume and I paid $10.44 for my six-pack from Target.

Georgia Beer Co. Saint Helen’s Oktoberfest pours to a beautiful chestnut color with a thick creamy head of foam and a soft nutty malt nose. Taking a sip, the beer is wonderfully malty and rich with caramel, then adds a hint of toasted nuts. I love the malts here, though it favors the caramel over that Teutonic toasty nutty melanoidin “oomph” that is the hallmark of a fine Marzen. Still, there are Munich malt notes here, and the beer finishes a tad sweet with a gentle, almost balancing bitterness.

A fine beer indeed, and one I would be happy to drink either here or there-Helen or Valdosta, you see.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??