Rahr & Sons Brewing Company's Oktoberfest

I know it's fashionable to have beers as early in the season as possible, but it's still October, so I don't feel like I'm terribly late in having my first Oktoberfest. Even if we are three weeks deep in October and Saint Arnold's Christmas Ale is coming out any day now, which is entirely too early.

Wow, great copper color with a nice tan head that stays better than most lagers. Looks loosely filtered, with decent carbonation.

Nice malty but zippy smell. The noble hops give it a slightly spicy smell as well.

Good body for a lager. Caramel malts overpower any hops, which stay in the background. Tastes like a very strong Coors, but I don't mean that in a bad way. Fades to a hollow maltiness, but the aftertaste stays malty for quite a while. The hops are more twangy than bitter, which I think they could improve upon.

Good beer. On type, but could use a little more oomph in the body if you ask me. I like the mild hops and strong aftertaste. Probably my favorite Texas Oktoberfest. It drinks very well, and before you know it the glass is empty.

Rahr and Sons Brewing Company's Rahr's Red

I wanted to do an update on this beer because this bottle is so much different from the one I reviewed about a month ago. Even though it came from the same six pack, and went into the same glass...

This one poured the way it should. It didn't foam, and didn't have large floaties in it. Medium amount of reddishness, it looks like a straight amber, but has a good tan head that gets pillowy and fades slowly with good carbonation.

Smells like a solid, hoppy amber. Slight malt to it, but a crisp bitterness that comes from the hops. More of a raw grain smell than bread in the malt.

Good bitterness up front, slightly less body than an amber which is what I have come to see as the characteristic that sets reds apart from ambers. Yes, I know they're different colors too, but I'm talking about substantive issues. Part of having a little less body means having a little less follow through in the taste. The malt doesn't help it stick around for long, and it fades quickly to a zippy, slightly bitter aftertaste.

I like you Rahr and Sons Brewery, but so help me God if your consistency doesn't pick up I will quit you.

Rahr and Sons Brewing Company's Rahr's Red

I always try to buy a Texas beer when at the store, so I was glad to see this one come back. Rahr has solid beers, and I've liked every one of them except for their Summertime Wheat, which is too Belgian for me but otherwise I bet pretty good.

This one pours a moderate, coppery red. Too foamy. Unusual for one of their beers, and I hope it doesn't throw off all of the taste as the head recedes. Took several slow pours to empty the bottle. The pillowy tan head would have been just right otherwise.

Lots of large floaties, including one or two stuck to the side of the bottle. Combined with the heavy foam, it looks like this one is infected. I don't think this beer is bottle conditioned, and even if it is these are fairly large chunks. Damnit.

Good smell. Slightly spicier and more peppery than a straight up amber. Malt is lighter than I think it should be though.

This one is soapy (no, it's not my glass, which was clean), and I think I'm gonna' stop there. I've had this beer in the past and enjoyed it. Something's wrong with it, I think.

Rahr and Sons Brewing Company's Summertime Wheat

Good to see another Texas beer at the store, especially one of my favorite styles.

Pours a cloudy, loosely filtered (at most) orangish yellow with a perfectly white head that thins quickly. A bit of a wit smell, which is sorely disappointing.

Yeah, it's not a full-on wit, but I think it tries to be. Damn I wish I would have read the label closer. Disappointing. More of a green grape flavor than the usual chemical or plastic tastes, but still.

At least I have a friend who'll drink the other five, cause I'm not touching them. Never thought I'd see the day when I was looking forward to the three Sam Adams I have sitting in the fridge.