The Tempe Beach Park, which is becoming a bit of a haven for beer lovers, held another festival dedicated to the craft this weekend. Four Peaks Brewing’s Oktoberfest settled into the park and brought food, shops, rides and even a wiener dog race.
Even though it was an Oktoberfest, it was pretty clear that this was a place for all ages. A sizeable midway held court near the river, offering up a variety of rides for the kids to enjoy. Near the dog races, a kid section housed games and even crafts to play around with. German sausages (of course) sold in the many white tents that lined the pathways, along with sustenance from local vendors.
As it was Oktoberfest, however, this meant folks dressing up in traditional German gear, and trying any of the 40 different beers available. With brews coming in from either the U.S. or Germany, many visitors opted for the liter-sized stein cup to get in the spirit of the event.
While the festivities were fun, and the dog races adorable, I wanted to see what sort of beers were on hand. So, in no particular order, here are four beers that I enjoyed the most.
Four Peaks White Ale (Tempe, AZ)
Not too distant in taste from a Bud Light, the White Ale set itself aside by bringing in some minor orange notes to complement the smoothness of the intake. While not spectacular, it was easy to drink, even more than one if you liked. For those that were looking for something not too complex to down as they started the day off, this one was a good one to start with.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Weisen (Munich, Germany)
This was my first time with a German beer at the festival, and it reminded me of the slight differences between what we are used to here in the States. This Weisen gives me the slight hops and bitterness of an IPA, with none of the strength, but ends on a more domestic note – less so than the White Ale on account of a smattering of flavors I couldn’t quite register. Much like the White Ale, it was ready drinking for folks that didn't want a whole lot of complications their beer, but disappointing for those that did.
Four Peaks Pumpkin Porter
I decided on another Four Peaks brew and this one didn't disappoint by any means. Not only did it smell great, the lasting pumpkin taste stayed consistent through each sip – a problem that tends to appear in brews flavored with a unique base. The pumpkin came through stronger after I let it get to room temperature which masked any hops that could've come through. And as someone who loves hops and bitterness, this lack thereof actually served it better. In short, the stout was a smooth drink from sip to sip and highly enjoyable.
Warsteiner Dunkel (Warsten, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany)
Just about as dark as the Pumpkin Stout was the Warsteiner Dunkel, another German beer. This one handled itself better than the Paulaner however, with a more consistent robust taste that maintained consistency throughout. Not only that, but the flavors, which I weren’t able to pinpoint, also cancelled the hops and bitterness, making it work a session provided you had the tickets. Absolutely good, despite tasting a little similar to the Pumpkin Stout.
Reach the reporter at damionjrohman@gmail.com or follow @legendpenguin on Twitter
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