A friend and I headed out to Oktoberfest [#] today and, in the interest of science and beer drinkers everywhere, decided to use our 20 combined pogs to sample 20 different brews. I’m not going to pretend that the last couple aren’t just a fuzzy memory, but I did have the wherewithal to write them all down with little check marks next to my favorites. Here are my top five for those of you heading out tomorrow (keeping in mind that I’m not a stout drinking girl):

1. Yakima Brewing’s Mandarin Hefeweizen. This beer was as light and refreshing as you’d expect a Hefe to be, but with a slight orange hint to it that made it just yummy. I was sorely tempted to use up two tokens for this one.

2. Rogue Ale’s Bullfrog Ale. A little darker than the Hefeweizen but certainly a wheat best served with lemon, this one was not at all sweet and very tasty.

3. McMenamins’ Margaret Trudeau Pale Ale. This particular beer was so intensely hoppy it took me half of a thimble to decide whether or not I liked it. In the end I realized that I did, and it’s a beer that’s medium bodied enough to stand out against an early afternoon of wheats.

4. Wyder’s Cyders’ Raspberry Cider. After a couple of Pilsners and one accidental lager, my compatriot and I decided to refresh ourselves with a cider. I don’t usually drink them–they tend to be a little too sweet for me–but this raspberry one tasted nothing like a Jolly Rancher in a glass. It was crisp and quite enjoyable.

5. Elysian Brewing Company’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. This beer was delicious, an amber all pumpkins and spice. It will be best tasted hanging out with us, though, on Tuesday at the Elysian. [#]