Oktoberfest
Goose Island Beer Co.

Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange red with a small white head. Smells of some caramelized grain and fruit. Tastes of caramelized grain with some spices and fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.

A: crystal clear; deep gold in color; 1 finger finely pored ivory head that receded to a wispy cap with a thick tight collar; no lacing;

S: earthy and bready;

T: sweet malt up front; slightly acidic; a bit of breadiness toward the end; mild bitterness on the finish;

M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: a little too sweet for me;

RB transfer

 

 

 

 

Light and sweet. Lots of froth. Probably not terribly true to the style. Very smooth and drinkable. This was part of a rando six pack and I'll have to look into getting some more.

Very underrated. Great marzen

Pours a clear copper color with a creamy off white head that provides a little lacing and a nice residual cap on the body of the beer.

The nose is led by caramel and toffee notes, but there’s a surprising amount of spicy noble hops, and that carries through to the taste. It’s not bad, just a bit outside of the style, IMHO.

The mouthfeel is very crisp, which adds to the drinkability. This is a worthy “once every fall” 6er, if not completely true to the Marzen side of Oktoberfest beers.

 

 

Note: I am in the process of moving all of my ratings from other beer sites to here, so that all of my ratings are consolidated in one place. The review below is an exact copy of my original RateBeer review from 09/25/2015.


12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear, medium-amber color with a very small, light-tan head that dissipates quickly. Strong scents of caramel, toffee, and apricot. It is slightly sweet with flavors of toffee, apricot, and maybe a little orange peel. It has a medium body that is slightly creamy. Carbonation is average, with the finish being quick and on the bitter side. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this beer, as I was not expecting too much from it. Certainly, not one of the best beers I’ve had, but definitely enjoyable.

 

I got a 6pck of cans of this beer from my local Giant Eagle store. It poured a clear copper with thin white head that is not leaving much lace. The scent had light caramel malt and grain notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with crisp semi sweet caramel malt base with barely, grain, and finishing hop presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a great beer.

Pours nice color appropriate for style no dark but lighter than many. Smell is ok nothing stands out. Feel is medium body with carmel and sweet up front finishing creamy. Letting it warm a bit better tasting. A very good 23 ofest of of the better this year.

After drinking a few and formulating a general impression, I was surprised this beer didn't get a higher rating. Looks are typical for the style. Aroma is a robust malt. Taste follows its' aroma, lots of character. Just enough hops to allow for a dry aftertaste. I would purchase again.

12oz can pours a relatively bright golden orange color with a small cap of fizzy tan-colored head that disappears fairly quickly. Smells lightly of toasty malts and caramel. Flavor has notes of lightly toasted malts, caramel, honey, and hearty bread with a spicy-earthy hop flavor. Slight sweetness and a mild bitterness and bitter aftertaste. Medium body with a moderate carbonation mouthfeel.

This is a solid and crushable Märzen, but it definitely isn't super fantastic or interesting. Probably won't buy again but it was fun to try.

 

12 oz. can, best by Jan 2024. Somehow I haven't reviewed this one... I swore Goose Island used to make an Oktoberfest years back, but this one has only been around since 2019 according to the website.

A: Body is a crisp looking amber. Small finger of thing wispy head dies off rather quick, leaving the beer behind looking rather dull. Appears adequately carb'd.
S: Some toasted caramelized malt presence, orchard fruits, dry German hop presence, lightly herbal.
T: Taste follows the nose - toasty, with lots of brown bread, caramel melt, lightly grassy, with some herbal hop imparted fruitiness. Perhaps not quite as toasty & nutty as some other options, but for Goose Island, I'd say this is pretty solid.
F: Smooth, crisp, clean. Medium-light body, good carbonation, easy-drinking stuff for sure. If anything, it's a bit thin, and dare I say "regular" tasting..

Overall, decent enough drinking for the season, though there are undoubtedly better marzens out there.

Goose Island Oktoberfest -----3.75/5