Jacks Abby Fest Of Both Worlds

Fest Of Both Worlds from Jacks Abby is a Massachusetts-brewed lager at 5.5% ABV and 30 IBU, a pairing of numbers that points to a malt-forward beer with restrained bitterness. The name signals a hybrid of the German festbier tradition and American hop character, so expect the soft, bready malt body of a Märzen-style lager with a hop presence a little more expressive than a classic Oktoberfest would carry. At 30 IBU the bitterness sits in the moderate range, enough to dry the finish and keep the malt from reading as sweet, but well short of the bite of an IPA. Styles like this usually show toasted bread crust, light caramel or honeyed grain, and a clean lager fermentation profile with little fruitiness. The American hop influence typically shows as a touch of citrus, pine, or stone-fruit aroma layered over the malt rather than dominating it. The 5.5% ABV keeps the body medium and the drinkability high, which is the point of the festbier format. Serve it cold but not frozen, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F), where the malt character is still readable and the hop aromatics are not muted. A tall lager glass, a Willi becher, or a classic Stange suits it well, as does a dimpled mug or a Maß if you are pouring for a group. A slightly narrower glass helps hold the white head and concentrates the hop aroma. Pour with a firm stream to build a couple of fingers of foam, then let it settle before drinking. For food, the moderate bitterness and toasty malt work with the dishes festbiers have long been matched to: bratwurst and other grilled sausages, roast chicken, pretzels with mustard, pork schnitzel, and spätzle with cheese. The hop lift also holds up to smoked meats and barbecue, and the clean finish handles fried foods and sharp cheeses such as aged cheddar or Gruyère without being overwhelmed.