“Badtoberfest”: crowning princesses and pints with a refreshing Maibock

Oktoberfest is a celebration dating back to the marriage of Crown Price Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810. The celebration has occurred yearly since then and has expanded to be a worldwide event spanning the last two weeks of September.

We were excited to see that Bad Habit held their own event, called “Badtoberfest,” on Friday. To celebrate the season, we decided to attend and see what Bad Habit’s take on Oktoberfest and German beer was all about.

The atmosphere at the brewery was incredible for the night. Both the taproom and the patio were packed. Live music and long lines for beer inside gave the taproom an energetic atmosphere, and the wait for drinks didn’t feel long with everything that was going on. Outside, groups of people sat and stood around, enjoying the evening with friends and family.

Lawn games were out, and the brewery sourced two stumps for Hammerschlagen, or Stump, a game where players compete to see who can drive their nail into the stump with a hammer in the fewest hits. We had a great time missing nails at first, but we got the hang of it after a few games.

As we enjoyed these games and each other’s company, we also tried Bad Habit’s Oktoberfest beer, Maibock. If you get the chance, we highly suggest that anyone who is of age gives it a try. If you’re under twenty-one, Bad Habit does a killer root beer that comes highly recommended.

Maibock – German Style Heller Bock (7.0%)

Maibock, meaning “pale bock,” is a lighter variety of malty bock lager. We found Bad Habit’s Maibock to have a light grain smell and a darker amber color, however it’s not as dark as a real dark beer like a stout.

The malt flavor was very present, but the beer remained crisp and refreshing on a warm evening. Maibock retained the characteristics of an amber ale, similar to Fat Tire, which we had last week. It was a smooth drinker and a thicker beer, however not as thick as the Fat Tire. We also noted a slight banana note in the aftertaste, which paired nicely with the malt.

All in all, this was a great beer. It fit the Oktoberfest vibe and was a great drinker. Bonus points for the “Badtoberfest” mug that Caden and Andrew picked up along with the beer