I’ve gotten another chance to highlight several beers which one brewer has brought me to describe. This time around: Great Central Brewing Co.

Great Central is located at 221 N. Wood St., in the Chicago Brewing District. It was founded by David Avram and Conor McFerran, opening in 2015 as a “collaborative” brewery, doing client brews for smaller locals needing larger releases: Maplewood, Begyle, Pollyanna, Illuminated, Sketchbook, Lo Rez, Cruz Blanca, Kinslahger, and LaGrow Organic among them. They’ve also contracted with brewers from the western U.S. for distribution east of the Mississippi. They’ve also been working on a portfolio of German-style beers. I was given a variety pack of these beers after tending my regrets that I couldn’t come to the Oktoberfest at their taproom.

Of course, to stay in the spirit of the season, I started with:

Great Central Festzeit Oktoberfest

For their own German beers, Great Central proclaims that they send their buyer directly to Germany to select hops. The Festzeit is a limited seasonal release, of course.

Popping the tab, there’s just a bit of sodium in the nose, as in a softened Bohemian Pilsener water profile. But that note goes away as I pour out a nice amber color, with a big tan head, and plenty of bubbles.

The taste has the expected caramel and toasty malt character. This one is a little lighter in texture than other festbiers