Oktoberfest Beer
Lancaster Brewing Company

Oktoberfest BeerOktoberfest Beer
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From:
Lancaster Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #379
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,172
Avg:
3.51 | pDev: 12.54%
Reviews:
101
Ratings:
229
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 28, 2022
Added:
Oct 31, 2003
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  23
Oktoberfest uses seven different malts and three varieties of imported and domestic hops, as well as an authentic Bavarian lager yeast. This beer is full-bodied with a nice malt sweetness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TLove:
Photo of TLove
Reviewed by TLove from District of Columbia

2.38/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
(From Notes)

On tap at the brewery.

Yellowish orange with a rough, strewn head that disappears very quickly. Overly carbonated and kolschy, this beer possesses a slight note of honey in the body, along with orange citrus and papaya. Sweet malt, grainy taste, which sits rather oddly to me. Finish is timid. Light in hops. Strong in alcohol, but hidden well. Crisp, but a bit syrupy and light in body.

I expected a lot more from a brewery in one of the biggest, most traditional German-descendent communities in the country. Really unremarkable.
Oct 27, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

2.05/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 1.75
Can(s)
Glassware: 0.5 L Festmug
Temp at Pour: 52.4 F
ABV: 5.5%


Look:
The color is a clear medium copper with an off-white head. The head starts at an initial 2-finger thickness and dissolves quickly leaving no cover and little lacing.

Smell:
While the head exists there is a metallic aroma. As the head disappears, there is are sweet fruity notes with an unexpected and very noticeable white grape and/or vinous one. There are malts and some grassy hops in here, but I am having trouble detecting them over the vinous aroma.

Taste:
Very sweet. The fruity and white grape/vinous aromas carries over into the taste. These again obscure most everything else.

Feel:
Soft and somewhat wet. The body is medium-light.

Overall:
Not what I expect from a Märzen. Sadly, this is just about a drain pour. And I know that, on draft, the beer is better than this. Very much better.
Sep 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.83 by xnotx from Pennsylvania

Sep 11, 2022
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

3.46/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25
12 ounce can poured into a dimpled mug.

Pouring light brown with an orange hue and a bit cloudy. The thin, half inch head disappears in about fifteen seconds. The nose is weak but nice aromas of bread and bread crust, toasted malt and spicy hops all came through at some point. Taste is malt forward and ruled by caramel sweetness that is kept somewhat in check by the spicy and herbal hop flavors. As with some other sweeter Marzens I get a medicinal taste at the finish. The mouthfeel is rather good, medium weight with medium carbonation giving it a concise crisp start that smooths to a creamy, viscous finish. Not bad but the sweet caramel character throws it out of whack for my taste.
Oct 06, 2021
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
A twelve ounce can poured into a clear Imperial pint glass shows a pretty caramel-amber colored brew. There was a short-lived light beige head. The aroma is mostly of malts, sweet and moderately roasted, with some yeast and hops included. This is a maltfest for the taste buds. It's very earthy and not overly sweet. The balance between hops and malt is commendable, as this tastes delicious. The mouthfeel is a bit light, but this is a very good one in its style because of its great taste.
Sep 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by Jcal2023 from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2021
Photo of Spade
Rated by Spade from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A malty, slightly sweet, Oktoberfest. The aroma is a bit weak but the flavor is a good example of the style.
Sep 19, 2021
 
Rated: 3.33 by CreightonSM from New York

Oct 30, 2020
 
Rated: 3.61 by bankboy66 from New Jersey

Oct 24, 2020
Photo of datstankadank
Reviewed by datstankadank from New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear orange 3 finger head. Smell is very malty with a hint of herbal hops. Taste follows, very balanced and nice dry finish. Very pleasant and honest marzen. Would recommend
Oct 06, 2020
 
Rated: 4.11 by LoganFarinhas from Pennsylvania

Oct 01, 2020
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aroma is malty,roasted malt, toast, a little orange peel,
Taste for the most part follows the aroma. Mostly malt with a lot of different flavors playing backup dancers to the the malt
Overall it's a solid Oktoberfest that I would try again
Dec 17, 2019
 
Rated: 3.8 by Gmartin75 from Pennsylvania

Sep 17, 2019
Photo of DonBowman
Rated by DonBowman from Pennsylvania

2.92/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Overall disappointing for an LBC beer! Looks and feels okay but nothing distinctive in the taste.
Aug 31, 2019
Photo of AyatollahGold
Reviewed by AyatollahGold from Indiana

3.8/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pouring from a 12 oz. can into a mug, this beer pours out an Amber color and forms a thin, off white colored crown. Would like the beer with more clarity.

The smell is spices, toasted caramel malts and toffee. The toasted notes are nice. Some sweet honey notes.

The taste brings those toasty elements back in. Still has some caramel and toffee notes, but more of a toasty and doughy sweet bread. Very slight honey sweetness on the back. While there is some hop presence, they are being held back and not stealing from the malts.

The mouthfeel is thin-light medium. Well carbonated and dry.

Overall, this works for me. It strays from traditional, but just a little, still letting you know what it’s trying to be. I thought it was a solid brew.
Mar 12, 2019
Photo of Emperur
Rated by Emperur from Pennsylvania

3.49/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not the greatest beer I've ever tasted in my life but definitely far from the worst.
Nov 09, 2018
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.41/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12oz undated can poured into a dimpled mug at fridge temp 5.5% ABV 18 IBU per label. The beer pours bright honey amber in color with khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and leaves a few spots of lacing. The aroma is caramel malt with a bit of hops and yeast thrown in. The taste is darker caramel (barely burnt sugar) tapering off to a light nonbitter finish. The mouthfeel is thin bodied, lowly carbonated and dry in the finish. Overall, good and highly drinkable, but rather thin and one noted. I can see getting through a bunch of this in one night in good company.
Oct 27, 2018
 
Rated: 2.9 by Budlum from Maryland

Sep 21, 2018
Photo of KTCamm
Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
10/23/17...pours lighter caramel brown, see through, virtually no foam remains. Bready toffee malt, light spice nose too. Smooth mellow malt taste, very light bodied. Scant sweetness. Fast finish. Creamy. Decent.
Dec 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by generallee from Virginia

Nov 06, 2017
Oktoberfest Beer from Lancaster Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 229 ratings