Oktoberfest Märzen Style Lager
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

Oktoberfest Märzen Style LagerOktoberfest Märzen Style Lager
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
 
Connecticut, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #63
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,931
Avg:
3.87 | pDev: 10.34%
Reviews:
177
Ratings:
299
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 17, 2023
Added:
Sep 03, 2003
Wants:
  42
Gots:
  32
Originally brewed to celebrate the beginning of the German brewing season and the 1810 wedding of crown prince Ludwig of Bavaria and his bride-to-be, princess Therese of Saxon-Hildburghausen. This amber beer was brewed in March ("Marzenbier") and left to age in cool lagering caves during the heat of the summer. Our rich and satisfying Bavarian-style OctoberFest comes from a special blend of imported German malts that creates a full-bodied brew and stresses a malty flavor and lingering aroma. Gently hopped and delicately balanced, its true-to-style, slow fermentation and long, cold maturation produces a luxuriously smooth, award-winning brew.

16 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by albern:
Photo of albern
Reviewed by albern from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This is a very characteristic Marzan style lager. It looks the part, with a nice clear mahogany copper color with a small foamy little head. No lacing, not great amounts of retention either. The nose is all malt, crystal malts, toasted grains, a touch of chicory reds.

The taste is quite nice. It has a hop bite, slightly leafy and bittering towards the finish. The beer has a very large malt palate with lots of roasted notes, some caramel and chicory flavors, crystal malts, some drying notes in the finish. The beer is largely smooth but there is a touch of graininess in there too. The beer is fairly low carbonation, a touch sweet with the malts up front, but not cloyingly so. There is a particular hop bite very characteristic of the style. It is a lager and has that consistency too.
Sep 20, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by strengthdoc from Connecticut

Sep 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
Photo of Wattie83
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania

3.52/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 16 oz can into .5L stein. Pours a nice, rich, copper color, clear with a khaki head falling to a ring. Some carbonation bubbles popping up through the body. Smell is malty, bready, some herbal hop aroma. Taste is caramel sweetness up front, malt, grain, and hop spice in the middle, ends with a bit of bitterness and a mix of hop spice and dark bread. Feel is medium bodied with a nice zippy carbonation. A bit of dryness meets the finish which gives it a little zip in the finish. Overall this is a nice fall beer to enjoy on a crisp October afternoon. I would go back to this.
Oct 09, 2022
Photo of SABERG
Reviewed by SABERG from Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz can, dated 7/30/21 into the test mug.
A - Deep coper color, lovely lager carbonation. Gentle, determined, feeds a nice loose knit froth. Throughout the experience lacing shows each sip
S - Caramel, toasted grains, earthy thread from the noble hops
T - Malt but not overbearing, some caramel, pumpernickle, rye toast. Hints of toffee, and brown sugar. Again with the earthy thread.
M - Lovely texture, semi sweet start, solid grainy mid, excellent dry finish.
O - A very good Marzen, avoids the sweet side, while maintaining that slight hop bitterness. Finish id=s delightfully dry
Aug 08, 2021
 
Rated: 3.96 by jaxon53 from Connecticut

Feb 12, 2021
 
Rated: 3.85 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Nov 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by StanleysCup from Maryland

Nov 02, 2019
 
Rated: 4.15 by jeffmck09 from Connecticut

Sep 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by lic217 from Connecticut

Aug 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by curlybird from Pennsylvania

May 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.71 by SouthCrescent from Pennsylvania

Nov 16, 2018
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
12oz canned 8/10/18 (3 months ago) poured into a dimpled mug at fridge temp 6.2% ABV. The beer pours mostly bright dark amber to copper in color with light khaki head. The head recedes to a thin film and ring leaving some lacing behind. The aroma is slightly sweet caramel and very light fruit. The taste is semisweet caramel rolling into a floral and very light citrus (lemon maybe) finish. There is very little bitterness, but the malt bill and attenuation leave it pleasantly dry regardless. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied and adequately carbonated. The beer is clean tasting with no defects. Overall, very good beer, but the lemony finish is distracting to me personally. The can claims this is a "traditional Marzen lager", which I can't agree with.
Nov 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by rdoggg from Pennsylvania

Oct 13, 2018
Photo of jrc1093
Reviewed by jrc1093 from Connecticut

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Canned on 8/10/18

Pours a very deep but clear caramelized amber with a fluffy finger of off-white head; good head retention and fair bit of soapy lacing remains.

Aroma is heavy on sweeter, roasted malt intertwined with notes of toffee and caramel; pretty saturated, sticky, and mostly sweet, but with a drying roastiness and faint hop presence that evens things surprisingly well for a bouquet that tiptoes around cloying.

Taste unfortunately doesn’t skirt the same line; I’m getting heavily caramelized malts with background notes of toffee and roast. The flavors are done well enough, but their intensity varies over the course of the profile, making this one far from unpalatable, but not feeling as sharp as I would’ve preferred.

Mouthfeel is mildly sticky on the palate and manages to dry a bit without losing the stickiness completely, which becomes fairly off-putting; I do get a crispness through the finish, evening out the above-average levels of carbonation and adding some character to the at-times lighter body.

Various degrees of cloying throughout and some noticeable inconsistencies don’t do this one many favors; it’s a tolerable “American-style” Oktoberfest, but I wouldn’t give it much more credit than that, at least this time around.
Oct 09, 2018
Photo of Lingenbrau
Reviewed by Lingenbrau from Oregon

3.74/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Got this from a man named Patrick. At least, I think he's a man...

Excellent clarity from Thomas Hooker's rendition. The bright burnt orange body has very little to show for it up above though, with just a few straggling white bubbles scattered after the initial one inch coarse bubbled foam falls. Zero lacing as well. Sad.

Heavy on the sweetness in the aroma. Almost a light syrup or molasses blending with a pinch of spice and toasted bread. A good amount of spicy hop finish to bring it somewhat back to balance.

Big malt influence in the flavor as well. Caramel spiked with nutmeg followed by brown sugar and white bread. Definitely a spicy finish from the hops, but missing that floral punch.

Sweetness again is the driving factor in the feel. It ends with a spiced finish but still manages to pull back in some sweetness to linger between sips. A more full feel as well especially due to its mild carbonation. I'd even say a bit oily. 5 Weight. Still smooth and easy enough to drink though. It's almost already gone as I write this.

Another enjoyable fest beer courtesy of Patrick. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a sixer or two given the opportunity.
Thanks again! Prost.
Oct 02, 2018
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
DATE: September 30, 2018... OCCASION: football watching and soccer waiting... GLASSWARE: Man Skirt willibecker... this pours straight from the can an amber brown with almost no effervescence... its head is off-brown, thin, and creamy--could look a bit livelier... a strong, assertive caramel injects apple, a bit of cinnamon, and cracker--smells like the season... creamy, much livelier than its appearance, with a bite at the teeth and a bit smooth, almost thick, at the finish--medium-bodied and well-tempered at 5.8%... between the caramel and tea, this puckers with a sweetness that bathes in breadiness, thick and full-flavored... it has a hint of hops, but apple and pear round out the experience.. a pleasant find at Abe's Deli, and glad to have bought two... a solid Fest...
Oct 01, 2018
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz Can

Thanks for the beer Patrick! Thomas Hooker's Oktoberfest pours a little darker than most leaning toward a murky orange with some brighter highlights when backlit. It may not be darker actually, it may just be murkier than most. The clean white foam forms easily on the pour and settles at a finger. A long while goes by before it fades to a thin cap and leaves some patchy lacework.

The nose is fairly robust. Big bready malt and loads of caramel. There's a solid dose of sweetness in that caramel. This sample smells pretty fresh, showing of a sturdy dose of herbal hops that help cut through the sweetness. There's a soft apple essence from the yeast expressing itself. This stuff smells best with a little time in the glass to breath.

The flavor follows the nose as to the individual aspects but it's more well rounded, no edges. The caramel takes the lead and is rich. There's a spicy brown bread maltiness that nearly reaches the level of the caramel. The hop profile is also spicy and complementary while cutting through a bit of the sweetness and adding a soft bitterness on the finish. This is a plush, well put together beverage.

The mouthfeel fits well. The body has a bit of weight behind it, it's velvety and soft with carbonation that takes it's time. A bit of sweetness lingers on the swallow but it's met with a soft bitterness as well. With those two balancing each other out this is an easy drinker.

I would pick a sixer of this up every year if it was local. It's a nice sturdy Oktoberfest that leans toward the sweeter varieties. It's robust and well rounded with comforting qualities. Thanks again, Patrick!
Sep 29, 2018
Photo of mnrider
Reviewed by mnrider from Connecticut

3.92/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Canned 8/10/18 - Rated 8/25

A: Pours a dark red/amber color. Large off white head, which dies down fast leaving a small layer of retention. Lacing Is minimal.

S: Sweet. Lemon. Caramel. Grains and other malt flavors. The aroma is nice but not strong enough.

T/M: Caramel. Light coffee and sugar. Sweet. More malty caramel flavors. Hoping is minimal. Largish body with a sweet crisp feel. Alcohol taste comes through at times. Has a slight linger of sweetness in the aftertaste.

O: This is an enjoyable Oktoberfest Lager. It hits the traditional flavors pretty well. Malt taste is nice. Worth a try for sure.

Cheers!!
Sep 05, 2018
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.47/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A thanks to the commander of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a copper color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, green apples. Taste has lots of malts, caramel, a bit of apples. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking and decent beer.
Jun 28, 2018
Oktoberfest Märzen Style Lager from Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 299 ratings