Oktoberfest
Millstream Brewing Company

OktoberfestOktoberfest
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Millstream Brewing Company
 
Iowa, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #26
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,677
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 12.12%
Reviews:
71
Ratings:
147
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 05, 2023
Added:
Apr 13, 2002
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  21
Millstream's Oktoberfest is similar to the our Munich style Schild Brau Amber, but it has more flavor, is maltier, and darker in color. A truly special beer, to celebrate the harvest, an important part of life here in Amana. Join us for the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest and partake of a pint yourself!

21 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jaydoc:
Photo of jaydoc
Rated by jaydoc from Kansas

3.97/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Nov 13, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of SuperGrover
Reviewed by SuperGrover from Minnesota

4.69/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Nice, lasting head. Smells of malt and Oktoberfest goodness. Smooth, rich, malty flavor. Millstream really nailed this one. One of the top Märzens I’ve had. Prost!
Oct 05, 2023
Photo of TwilightBeerCareer
Reviewed by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
One of the finer American representations of an Oktoberfest beer. Copper colored. Earthy aroma. Caramel and biscuit, with a nice firm bitterness to cut the sweetness. Well done.
Mar 30, 2023
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4.26/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a clear, medium to deep orange/amber color with a mild off-white head. SRM of 12. (3.75)

Aroma: Huge and intensely strong aromas of baked bread, toasted Munich bread malt, and a rich caramel aroma. Earthy, toasty, and malty. (4.50)

Flavor: Flavors follow with very strong baked bread flavors of earthy Munich malt, rich bread malt, toast and amber malt with a smooth, rich bread, honey and caramel finish. Hints of pecan and grape. Leans sweet. (4.25)

Feel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Finish is smooth and sweet. (4.00)

Compared to Revolution Oktoberfest 9/30/22: Pours a darker color. Stronger aromas. More caramel malt and honey. Less pale Munich malt and floral notes. Darker, richer, and sweeter.

Compared to 3 Sheeps Oktoberfest 9/30/22: Pours a lighter color. Stronger aromas. More glaze honey and baked bread malt. Less dark bread spice and pepperoni and pepper.
10/2023: Pours lighter, larger head. Milder aromas. More sweet bread flavors. Less caramel and amber notes. Similar floral and sweetness.

Compared to Third Space Oktoberfest 10/2023: Pours darker, milder head. Milder aromas. More sweet caramel and bread. Less earthy and toasted. Slightly sweeter. Winner: Third Space

Overall: Tons of smooth baked bread flavor here. Like a honey and caramel glazed baked-bread roll. Not overly spiced, but aromatic, flavorful and smooth. One of the most flavors in an Oktoberfest that I've had. As others have said this is one of the best Oktoberfest Marzens out there. I've give it #2 overall in 2023. (Rating: 4.26)
Sep 30, 2022
Photo of Dervunder
Reviewed by Dervunder

4.85/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I drink at least 40 Oktoberfest beers every year. This one consistently ranks as one of my favorite Oktoberfest from the United States and Germany. It is malty yet has a honey sweet flavor. This is an excellent beer!
Aug 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.24 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Aug 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.95 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Sep 17, 2021
Photo of Storm_Rryder
Reviewed by Storm_Rryder from Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Don't really drink lager anymore, preferring ales which have more "stuff" going on. But I recently had a pilsner and it got my attention for its crisp and simple taste. So just saying, this is not what I would usually buy. For a lager, this is surprisingly sweet, very malty ! I guess that is what a marzen is, just don't recall having one of those before, or if I did, I did not take notes. It does have a clean finish, maybe just a bit watery sometimes. Not really other flavors, simpler type of beer. I like it though, I may get it again when it is this time of the year :-)
Oct 11, 2020
Photo of MrFitgers
Rated by MrFitgers from South Dakota

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
As far as domestic Oktoberfest beers go Millstream is one of the few that has Bavarian fingerprints all over it!
PROSIT!
Sep 23, 2020
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

3.36/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Amber, slight haze. Good head initially, but retention is poor.

Smell: Earthy, a little dark fruit note.

Taste: Earthy tones throughout. A very mild sweetness and a bit of dark fruit. The alcohol does show up despite being only 5.7%. Medium body.

Overall: Millstream's been making German-style beers for about 35 years now, I've had them here and there for 20+ years. Picked up the Oktoberfest since it was $8 for a 6 pack. I wasn't too impressed, almost seemed like a watered down Belgian dubbel with the earthiness and dark fruits. Oh well.
Aug 30, 2020
Photo of MNAle
Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

3.87/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Deep, dark, clear amber topped with a tall, thick off-white head that leaves nice-looking strings and loops of lacing. The head has good retention, with a thick domed top.

Bready malt aroma with sweet caramel.

Very malty taste, freshly baked bread and sweet caramel. Excellent lingering taste throughout, great flavor depth, finishing just a bit on the sweet side. Malty with no bitterness. The aftertaste remains on the tongue for quite some time, as with the initial taste, bready, thick, and slightly sweet caramel.

Mouth feel is moderate to thick, like bread dough.

Overall, an excellent, well-done Märzen for those that like the darker, maltier, earlier Oktoberfest style (and I do).
Oct 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.97 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by LostHighway from Minnesota

Sep 23, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by JMN44 from Minnesota

Sep 08, 2019
Photo of garymuchow
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

4.09/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I'm impressed. This is not one of my favorite styles but I am enjoying this beer. I think I like the balance between the richness of the malt and maintaining a light enough lager quality to keep a nice clean crispness to the drink. Smooth, rich and clean. Head is a little small and the carbonation is on the low side (which I would prefer over being too high).
Great looking orange color but a smaller and short lived head. Even has a nicer price point at $7.99.
Nicely done.
Aug 31, 2019
Photo of AdmiralOzone
Reviewed by AdmiralOzone from Minnesota

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a crystal clear orangish amber with a thick white cap that lingers and leaves great lacing. Aroma is caramel and lightly roasted malt. Flavor is sweet, caramel and dark bread with only a slight hop bitterness in the end. Feel is crisp and refreshing. Well carbonated. Overall a great beer from a brewery I wasn't expecting much from.
Oct 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by ian_graf from Minnesota

Sep 25, 2018
 
Rated: 4.17 by TCMike from Minnesota

Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.87 by ClintGoodman from Iowa

Aug 23, 2018
 
Rated: 2.03 by Chilmer from Iowa

May 23, 2018
Oktoberfest from Millstream Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 147 ratings