Glassware: Oktoberfest beers were traditionally brewed to be consumed in large quantities. Glassware that gets the beer from the glass into your mouth the quickest is standard fare for the style. If you are looking to enjoy a traditional experience then look no further than a dimpled beer stein that should be held aloft to give a proper toast before consumption. However, if you are looking to enjoy the rich malt aromas try a willi becher pub glass that offers just enough to trap the aroma, but does not hinder the traditional drinking experience.

Description: BennyFest pours a deep and clean copper hue with a creamy white head that leaves behind a thick lacing on the glass. The aroma is very malt forward with sweet notes of caramel, freshly baked bread and slight nutty hints mixed with spicy noble hops that have a faint woody background note. The taste follows the nose with malts hitting from all sides, imparting a semi-sweet caramel taste, balanced with a fresh bread-like quality that, when balanced with the spicy hops, act as the perfect counterpoint to the sweet malts. The flavors meld seamlessly together for a truly drinkable Oktoberfest. This is not a beer that will fatigue your palate, but does offer a lot of flavor. The medium body and moderate carbonation impart a very smooth mouthfeel that is perfect for the style. Fans of Oktoberfest or lagers will want to seek this one out as it is a great example of a well brewed and very drinkable lager, grab it now while you can!

Food Pairing: The semi sweet and heavy malt profile mixed with the subtle spicy hops make BennyFest perfect for pairing with hearty fall favorites. Try pairing with a warm beef stew, the thicker the better, and be sure to include fall vegetables for an added bonus. The malts will melt perfectly into the base of the stew while the spicy and earthy hops elevate the vegetables to enliven the dish. BennyFest goes well with butternut squash and sage ravioli, the matching of the sweet squash and malts is immediately apparent and the hops will pair perfectly with the sage for a truly wonderful fall evening dinner. If you are looking for a contrasting flavor, try this with Jalapeno cornbread, the spicy pepper will gravitate toward the heavy malt backbone allowing the cornbread to shine through and pair with the spicy noble hops. BennyFest is a great beer to have on hand for any fall evening get togethers or Sunday afternoon football games where pizza will be consumed. It is a wonderful pairing and do not be afraid to pile the toppings high.

The Final Word: Oktoberfest beers are a wonderful fall treat with a rich and hearty backbone that is the perfect compliment for a fall evening. This fall seasonal has fallen behind in popularity, mainly due to the increasing pumpkin beers that occupy taps and shelf space this time of year. The Oktoberfest style is still here and, when brewed well, is a fantastic beer. BennyFest shows the full display of a great Oktoberfest beer with a rich, semi-sweet malt profile and spicy noble hops for textbook balance. This is a beer to be enjoyed in large quantities and one to savor and enjoy. It’s brewed locally and gives even more credence that we have some incredible breweries right here in NEPA.

Grab yourself some BennyFest before it passes you by and raise a glass to NEPA!

BennyFest is one of many Oktoberfests currently on the market. It’s a solid Oktoberfest that is brewed in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_thumbnail_BennyFest.jpg

BennyFest is one of many Oktoberfests currently on the market. It’s a solid Oktoberfest that is brewed in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

BennyFest is one of many Oktoberfests currently on the market. It’s a solid Oktoberfest that is brewed in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_CMYKBennyFest.jpg

BennyFest is one of many Oktoberfests currently on the market. It’s a solid Oktoberfest that is brewed in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

By Derek Warren

For Weekender

Brewer: Benny Brewing Company

Beer: BennyFest

Style: Oktoberfest/ Märzen

ABV: 5 %

Rating- WWWW

Derek Warren is a beer fanatic, avid homebrewer and beer historian. Derek can be heard weekly on the Beer Geeks Radio Hour at noon on Sundays on WILK 103.1 FM with past episodes available on iTunes.