Once upon a time, most Australian spins on Oktoberfest took place in the month of October. It’s a fact that’s always annoyed some, given the traditional Munich festivities kick off in September, and over the years, many celebrations here have tended to creep earlier into the year. The result? Australians now get to enjoy an incredible number of German-style beers for nearly two months. Sure, it’s ten months short of the ideal number for this writer, but we’ll take what we can get.
What we get from Hawkers is two lagers soaked in tradition, with Basement Party a kellerbier; the style of beer so named for their lengthy time spent conditioning away in caves or cellars. We're not sure what the subterranean system out in Reservoir looks like, but cave or no cave, there are plenty of delights to be found here, thanks to the beer's dry cracker and bready characters, along with the softest caramel sweetness that’s balanced by a building bitterness. Add in a peppery spice and gentle fruit edge, and you have a beer that's less suited for the basement and more ready to be enjoyed in the sun.
See Ya Lederhosen, meanwhile, is the quintessential Oktoberfest beer, Märzen. Here, the malt characters are dialled a fair way up, with the bright and clear beer providing a rich array of toast and brioche without being overly sweet. There's also a gentle touch of ripe pear that escapes from the Tettnang hops, which are otherwise dedicated to supporting a substantial bitterness that makes for a moreish beer you'd want to drink until March.
Will Ziebell
If you're reading this in time, you can enjoy both beers along with some excellent German fare at Hawktoberfest opn September 21.
Published September 20, 2024 2024-09-20 00:00:00
