oktober outlook: unfiltered
By Colin Burch
For Weekly Surge
The recipe for New South Brewing Co.'s Oktoberfest is the same as it was last year, but the current brew is more flavorful and the body a little thicker.
In other words, it has "a little more umph to it," said Dave Epstein, New South's owner.
Epstein experimented with an unfiltered version of his Oktoberfest last year, making a later batch without running the beer through filters. Filtering makes a clearer beer, but it lessens some of the flavor and body. Epstein liked the 2007 unfiltered version enough to make all of this year's Oktoberfest without filtering. The other locally-brewed Oktoberfest beers are unfiltered this year, too.
The New South Oktoberfest was released at Liberty Tap Room, 7651 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, on Aug. 29. I stopped by the restaurant Monday (Sept. 8) afternoon to see if the beer lived up to Epstein's descriptions.
The color was a cloudy alabaster, or perhaps a hint darker. The flavor was richer, with a smooth medium body, a pronounced nutty flavor, and a finish that is seriously crisp with a hint of white grapefruit.
Two pints later, it was just as good as when I had begun. I paid $3.50 each for the pints, the standard price in the Liberty Tap Room dining area, because Happy Hour prices only apply in the bar.
TBonz Gill & Grill locations will tap New South's Oktoberfest on Sept. 19.
liberty's unfiltered
Meanwhile, Eric Lamb, chief brewer at Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery, located at Broadway at the Beach, has decided to go the unfiltered route this year, too. The Liberty Oktoberfest will be tapped on Sept. 26, a Friday that will kick off a weekend of Kraut music and a German menu. (Call 626-4677 for more details.)
Unfiltered beer tends to be cloudy, but the disadvantages of filtering are clear. "You strip out so much flavor and body when you do that," Lamb said.
While unfiltered beers are nothing new to Lamb, he said Epstein's work influenced his decision to skip the filtering this time. "I'm really happy with how his turned out," Lamb said.
quigley's unfiltered
Josh Quigley, owner and brewer at Quigley's Pint and Plate in Pawleys Island, tapped his Oktoberfest on the last week of August.
All of Quigley's brews are unfiltered - part of the reason they're all so good - and the Oktoberfest recipe remains the same as last year. Quigley said he plans to have his on tap through October.
gordon biersch's unfiltered
Gordon Biersch at The Market Common (located at the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base) will hold its official Festbier tapping party at about 5 p.m. Sept. 18.
Festbier will go on tap two days prior, but the traditional Gordon Biersch tapping of the small wooden keg, the live music, the toast, and the fundraising for charity (this time Habitat for Humanity) will be part of the official party. (Call 839-0249 for more details.)
The restaurant will sell the Festbier in one-liter mugs. "They weigh like four pounds empty," said Pete Velez, chief brewer. Usually, the options are 0.5 liter and 0.4 liter mugs.
The Festbier is the official Oktoberfest brew for Gordon Biersch, although it's year-round Marzen is, technically, an Oktoberfest-style beer. What makes Festbier different from Marzen? Velez said you'll find the Festbier to be more orange in color, and cloudy because it is unfiltered. With a stronger hop presence, it will be drier, and while not bitter, not as sweet as the Marzen, either.
Contact Colin Burch - the Beerman - at beerpour@yahoo.com or visit his beer blog at http://maltyhops.blogspot.com