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Columbus Festbier

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Amber and malty, this Oktoberfest-style lager layers toffee, caramel, honey and fresh-baked bread crust, with a soft floral lift and delicate herbal aromatics from German Tettnang hops. Pilsner and Munich malts and German lager yeast give 5.3% ABV, 24 IBU and a smooth finish. It pours only in a limited late-summer-to-fall window, August to October, in cans and on draft in Ohio.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltynoble hopcaramel
malty
noble hop
caramel
bready
honey
herbal
Aroma
The nose leads with warm Pilsner and Munich malt character—fresh bread crust and honey malt sweetness dominate the initial impression.
also:floral,clean
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Columbus Festbier

◎ Appearance

A clear amber pour with a bright, golden-bronze hue characteristic of the Festbier style. The head is dense and persistent, leaving fine Schaumkleiden down the glass as it settles. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a lively but controlled effervescence.

amber-bronzeclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warm Pilsner and Munich malt character—fresh bread crust and honey malt sweetness dominate the initial impression. German Tettnang hops contribute a delicate floral and herbal backdrop, soft and refined rather than assertive, with hints of noble hop spice. There is no phenolic or yeasty character; the German lager yeast remains completely neutral.

bread crusthoney maltnoble hop floralherbal spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with substantial malt body—toffee and caramel notes sit prominently at mid-palate, supported by the sweet, bready grain foundation. Tettnang hops deliver a restrained bitterness (24 IBU) that frames rather than dominates, allowing the malt to remain the central voice. The finish is smooth and clean, without astringency or harsh edges.

toffee-caramelmalty backbonegentle bitternesssmooth mouthfeel

◑ Finish

The finish is soft and quick-fading, leaving a pleasant malt sweetness and a whisper of herbal hop on the palate. No lingering bitterness or drying sensation; the aftertaste is clean and refreshing, inviting another sip.

soft landingmalt lingeringclean finish
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
81
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Columbus Festbier

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About Festbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Festbier?

Festbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Festbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, noble-hop, caramel character as Columbus Festbier will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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