Robin Shepard
Tyranena's barrels of Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest fun were released a few short weeks ago, and bottles in area liquor stores will go fast.
Tyranena Brewing Company was founded in 1998 by owner and brewmaster Rob Larson. Tyranena is said to be an Aztec word meaning sparkling water, a reference to nearby Rock Lake. Many of the brewery's beers are named after local legends, like Rocky's Revenge, a bourbon-barrel American brown ale named after a serpent believed to haunt the deep water of Rock Lake; and Stone Tepee Pale Ale, which references stone formations discovered on the bottom of the lake.
On Saturday, Oct. 6, the brewery will host its own day-long Oktoberfest celebration, with a bike ride, music, and a dinner that benefits the charity Tomorrow's Hope. Advance registration is required for the ride.
What is it? Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest from Tyranena
Style:
Background: For the Germans, Gemuetlichkeit connotes friendliness, cheerfulness, merrymaking. Each September in Jefferson, just to the east of this Lake Mills Brewery, the annual Gemuetlichkeit Days is a celebration of the area's German heritage. Tyranena originally brewed its Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest to mark the Jefferson festival and the Oktoberfest season.
The 37th Gemuetlichkeit Days run from Friday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 16. The theme this year is "Fass Spass" -- which, naturally, means barrel of fun. Tyranena's barrels of Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest fun were released a few short weeks ago, and bottles in area liquor stores will go fast.
Tasting notes:
- Aroma: Malty, a light caramel nose.
- Appearance: Clear, deep copper to bronze body. A thick, soft, tan head.
- Texture: Medium bodied and round.
- Taste: A soft smooth caramel malty beginning with a firm but mild hoppy background.
- Finish/Aftertaste: Smooth, malty yet very clean.
Glassware: Glass stein!
Pairs well with: Will stand up nicely with a grilled steak. The sweetness of venison is another great pairing. And of course, this wonderful German lager is built to withstand all the pork and sausage your best German restaurant can dish out this time of year.
Rating: Four Bottle Openers.
(I am using a one to four bottle opener scale: four is a great beer, distinctive, you'll have this over others; three is a beer you enjoy, reliable, close to its described style; two is problematic, lacks distinction, but worth having again; one is a beer that isn't true to its style, you would not recommend it to a friend.)
The Consensus: The 2006 release of Tyranena's Oktoberfest gained an 84 (recommended) from Beer Advocate and a 53 from Rate Beer. The 2007 version has not yet received enough entries to be adequately judged by these websites.
The Verdict: The emphasis of this Oktoberfest is on the malt. Overall, it has some nice balance and is a great way to begin the season of Oktoberfest sampling. This beer sets the bar high for other regional breweries.
