Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Bell's Octoberfest

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Sep 21, 2006 5:00PM

It was just over three months ago when some of you helped Chicagoist celebrate its "terrible twos" by drinking the Pontiac completely out of Bell's Oberon.

Fucking souses.

Anyhoo, normally this would be the time of year where we would make the transition form Oberon to the heartier fare of Bell's Two-Hearted IPA, quite possibly one of their hoppier offerings. This year, Bell's had to throw a curve and - for the first time - brew an Octoberfest beer.

Bell's Octoberfest has a clear copper color when poured, and a lighter body than what we're normally accustomed to tasting in an Octoberfest lager. It has a nice balance between the malt and noble hops, with the malt slightly more prevalent as the beer warms to ambient temperature. It isn't overly bitter like most Octoberfest lagers, so it's accessible for folks who aren't used to hop bombs. At 5.5 percent alcohol, by volume, it also packs that trademark extra kick associated with most Bell's beers.

Because this is Bell's inaugural Octoberfest beer, it's in very limited supply. Matter of fact, it's a draft-only selection; unless you're throwing a kegger this weekend, don't bother looking for it on store shelves. If your curiosity has been piqued, you'll need to do some investigating and find it at a local tavern. Those of you who might have had a pint or three may want to share where Bell's Octoberfest is available with other readers, in the comments.

Even with its limited supply and "golden ticket" aura about it - more accurately, because of it - Bell's Octoberfest is a beer worth of being named Chicagoist's "beer of the week."