Oktoberfest
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

OktoberfestOktoberfest
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From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #5
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,233
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 11.85%
Reviews:
736
Ratings:
2,553
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 28, 2024
Added:
Nov 04, 2003
Wants:
  309
Gots:
  534
Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a celebration of maltiness— packed with rustic, autumnal flavors to put a little more oomph into your oom-pah-pah.

Über smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).

World Beer Championships
4-Time Medal Winner (Gold, Silver)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tectactoe:
Photo of tectactoe
Reviewed by tectactoe from Michigan

4.31/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice copper-caramel color with nice clarity, creamy looking head that sticks around for a little bit, minimal lacing left on the glass. The nose is a malt-fest, filled with toasted bread, butter, yeast, spices, slight floral hops, caramel, toffee, biscuits. The taste is well balanced and on the sweet side up front, hitting with caramel and toffee toasted malts. The yeast flavors work well to balance this and provide a nice structure to the flavor profile. Spices come alive, maybe some clove and/or a hint of cinnamon, I can't quite put my finger on it, but some spice is definitely there, and once again, it helps to counter the sweetness of the malt. Medium, creamy, and overall dense body with mild carbonation, leaves a slight spice filled and yeast-heavy aftertaste on the palate. Mild bitterness and some light hops in the background that become a little more noticeable towards the end; they are musty, dry, leafy in character.

I'm not too well versed in O-fests or Marzens, but this beer is great. In fact, it's quite a bit different than many of the other Oktoberfests I have had, very ambiguous yet very familiar all at the same time. A nice collection of flavors from the abundance of malts, this beer also makes a nice winter warmer, if you can hold onto it for that long.
Nov 12, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of SWOhio-aquifer
Reviewed by SWOhio-aquifer from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Best in class. Well, what is available in the Midwest anyway. Had this about 2O some years ago. Now, that I am revisting 'balanced beers' it stood out as a must try. Superbly balanced. Cheers!
Jan 28, 2024
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

4.02/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tulip pint glass. Pours a clear burnt orange/amber color with a moderate head and not much lacing. Aroma and flavor feature toasty caramel malt, caramel but not overly sweet, and lightly bitter noble hop notes (floral/grassy/hint of citrus). Solid Märzen (though not quite top tier).
Jan 23, 2024
Photo of branko7
Reviewed by branko7 from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love this malty Marzen-style beer from Great Lakes. Has a light, reddish brown color, with a fluffy head which settles down completely. Not much smell, but tastes smooth, malty, a little sweet, with a balanced, satisfying aftertaste with a light showing of hops. Lightly carbonated with a good mouthfeel.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of RPO
Rated by RPO from Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Carmel, malt, extremely smooth yet still full of flavor
Dec 04, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red orange with a small white head. Smells of bright fruit and some caramelized grain. Tastes of caramelized grain with nice bright fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Nov 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by gbiello from Massachusetts

Nov 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by QuintusHorace from California

Oct 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.52 by Trainradio2 from Ohio

Oct 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by thedifferencemaker from Ohio

Oct 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Danmullens1 from Wisconsin

Oct 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by tommyd313 from Pennsylvania

Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.39 by Overtonjd from New Jersey

Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by rare_bird from Michigan

Sep 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by lsudduth from Ohio

Sep 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by tobelerone from New Jersey

Sep 18, 2023
Photo of BelsoC
Rated by BelsoC from Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
In 2020 this was an excellent beer, but not anymore. Better options are out there; Ayinger and Devil's Backbone for example.
Sep 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by Jacob313 from Michigan

Sep 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

Sep 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.66 by ckk527 from Ohio

Sep 10, 2023
Oktoberfest from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 2553 ratings