Schell's Oktoberfest
August Schell Brewing Company

Schell's OktoberfestSchell's Oktoberfest
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #300
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,358
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 12.33%
Reviews:
185
Ratings:
398
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 09, 2023
Added:
Aug 31, 2002
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  44
The Oktoberfest or Marzen (March) type of beer was originally brewed in March, and laid down in caves before the summer weather rendered brewing impossible. Stocks would be drawn upon heavily during the summer, and exhausted by October.

In Germany, this tradition has come to be associated with one specific style, Oktoberfest Bier. In keeping with true German tradition, August Schell Oktoberfest beer is brewed just once a year. Brewed with the perfect balance of Pale, Munich, and Cara Pils malt with Liberty and Perle hops to create a rich, smooth taste.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by savaship:
Photo of savaship
Reviewed by savaship from Minnesota

2.77/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
Upon opening this beer I poured it into a clear tulip glass to maximize the aroma. The beer appeared fairly red, and mostly transparent but with a little bit of haze.

The aroma was full, lots of beta acids gave off esters over the malty mixture. The odor was that of hops and malts more weight on the hops.

When I tasted the beer the flavor was overwhelmingly unbalanced towards bitter. The signature Schell's high alpha acid hops took the entire beer and masked the wonderful malts under a veritable shower of the foulest tasting bitterness I've ever layed tongue to. There was great potential in the malt, it was just so covered, I couldn't pull it out.

Despite my aversion to the overall flavor, this had a fantastic mouthfeel! Carbonation, weight, movement was all signature of my ideal beer.

Overall there was a lot to love, and some things that could have been better about this beer, all tastebuds are different, so I suggest giving this one a try.
Nov 05, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.55 by creedcanns from Minnesota

Nov 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by sccrneo from Minnesota

Oct 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.65 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

Sep 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.48 by fflopps from Iowa

Aug 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by BlonsAle

Jan 14, 2023
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Crystal clear orangey amber body, off-white cap. Smells of caramel malt with light biscuit, simple. Mild esters shake up the ordinary light caramel malt, yeasty finish with a sweeter edge is interesting. Simpler and slightly watery feeling, crispness is muted, not taxing at all on the palate
Nov 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Oct 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.58 by StoutAtTheDevil from Alabama

Oct 05, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
great octoberfest beer from a great brewery smooth sweet malt taste
Sep 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by wheelsnipecelly from Minnesota

Aug 21, 2022
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.74/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can enjoy by date 12/15/23 into a Becher glass.
L: Pours clear amber with steady carbo bubbles, a soapy, thin off white head with zero retention, minimal lacing.
S: Caramelized malts, fruity, a hint of pastry dough, very lightly floral, soft brown bread.
T: Lightly sweet caramelized malts, cereal grains, very clean tasting, a whisper of brown bread crumbs, raisins, not much aftertaste, finish has distant citrus zest bitterness.
F: Quite brisk, fluffy medium light bodied feel with a medium fast lightly drying finish. It is clean.
O: Blissfully easy drinking at 5.8% ABV though it is a Marzen on the lighter side. Well balanced tastes and a fairly clean finish. It is very good in its style.
Nov 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.35 by CisPiece88 from Nebraska

Sep 25, 2021
Photo of davisdahlberg6
Reviewed by davisdahlberg6 from Tennessee

3.92/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Enjoyed on 9/17/21 with a best by date of 01/02/22

Look: 2 fingers of white creamy foam atop a clear and clean amber colored beer.

Nose: Notes of caramel biscuit and a bit of cracker. I also get a hint of cinnamon and maybe pumpkin but maybe my brain is imagining things.

Taste: Follows the nose with the bit of cinnamon still present. Malt is very enjoyable and very clean.

Feel: Minimal carbonation with a medium body.

Overall: I wish I could rate this beer for the style because I think its a great Octoberfest and a great Lager but I have a hard time giving something so simple a high rating. Great fall beer and I would definitely buy again!
Sep 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by einman from Minnesota

Sep 16, 2021
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.64/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I got a can of this beer off the single shelf from a beer store in LaCrosse, WI. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had caramel cream notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with caramel many base a subtle bitter hop highlights. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer.
Nov 07, 2020
Photo of GoBearsWalter34
Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper orange with a big, white head that dissapates quickly that leaves lacing.
Smells of pilsner malts, carmel and slight hops.
Pilsner malt and German hops are certainly present. It comes together fairly well in which the hops stick out slightly. Decent Marzen that allows hops to stick out, but does not come together as well as others.
Nov 17, 2019
Photo of LukeGude
Rated by LukeGude from Iowa

3.44/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Free can at Fin and Feather!! Nothing special but okay.
Nov 11, 2019
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.61/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Look: Dark, perfectly clear amber. One finger of white head with excellent retention.

Smell: Sweet, doughy grain. Very minor fruity hop note all the way at the back.

Taste: Follows the nose with a solid bitter undercurrent.

Mouthfeel: Full body with mild carbonation.

Overall: A very sweet, grainy beer. Might not be to everyone’s liking, but it’s enjoyable to me.
Oct 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.96 by MrGreensled from Colorado

Sep 29, 2019
Schell's Oktoberfest from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 398 ratings