Oktoberfest beer is good; Imperial Oktoberfest doubly so. At least, I think that is usually the case. I will say this: Sweetwater dank Tank Danktoberfest styles itself as an Imperial Oktoberfest, and I think it is a good one. So there. The beer is another entry in the brewery’s “Dank Tank” series of specialty releases.

First order of business for me was to determine if this was an ale or a lager: it is a lager. In fact the, label proudly proclaims “Ich bin ein lager” to dispel any doubts on that front. The label features a lot of gobbledygook that doesn’t really mean a lot about the beer, though it does have a lot of German interspersed.

This is a potent beer, even for an Imperial, at 8.5% alcohol by volume. One strange note, on the label the beer is described as “Einen Punkt Sechs Funfmal Oktoberfest”. Perhaps somebody with better German-speaking skills than mine (I can speak and read but am not by any means fluent) can correct me if I am wrong. I take this to mean “1.6 five times Oktoberfest”, which if we do the math is 8, and this beer is 8.5 % alcohol as we already mentioned. So really “Einen Punkt Sieben Funfmal Oltoberfest” would hit it on the nose. Schlechtes Mathe, Sweetwater.

Sweetwater Dank Tank Danktoberfest pours to a tawny amber orange color with a prodigious creamy head formation and a potent nutty malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is certainly big in body with chewy caramel missed with toasted nuts. I get some good hearty Munich malt flavors here as well as a hint of fruit, not so welcome in a lager but not so strongly present I can’t enjoy the beer. The beer finishes with a hint of grassy aroma and a firm bitterness.

Yes my friends, this beer certainly gets the Imperial Oktoberfest style (if it really is one) down, and though I think I prefer Avery’s The Kaiser, this isn’t a bad effort overall. Reasonable, too, at $5.99 for a 22-ounce bomber bottle.

Not sure if this will be released again, but if it were, I would pick up another bottle or two.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

 



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