Paulaner Oktoberfest Wiesn | Paulaner Brauerei GmbH & Co. KG

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I picked up an Oktoberfest special from the Cellars in Woodbury, MN. It included a one liter Paulaner mug made by rastal, as well as a one liter can of Oktoberfest Weisn.

Appearance --- honey colored (like a golden yellowish-orange) with a nice two finger white head

Smell --- a bit like bread/grains, and a decent amount of malt

Taste --- can taste some bread and maybe even slight hints of banana, with a grassy finish

Mouth feel --- minimal carbonation, pretty smooth, light to medium bodied, slightly hoppy start to a subtle sweet finish

Overall --- This was the first time I have tried Paulaner’s Oktoberfest Weisn. I enjoyed it quite a bit and would love to see them offer it every September/October as an alternative to their Oktoberfest Marzen. This was a nice, enjoyable beer that is perfect for the fall. I will stock up on this while I can and will have something to look forward to during the cooler fall months. It is definitely worth a try, it is not a very complex beer… but it is the most similar to beers sold at Oktoberfest in Munich and about as close as you can get to being at Oktoberfest in Munich without having to buy a plane ticket :) Prost

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3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle. 07/15. Pours a bright, pale straw colour with a frothy, slightly off white head which refused to disappear and excellent lacing. Very gentle aroma of malt and only a hint of hops. Light sweetness and light bitterness. Very clean. Medium body, smooth texture and just a touch of bitterness in the finish. Not very complex but subtle, well made and a perilously drinkable brew at 6% abv. I wish I had another one of these, as it's not a beer to be pondered and dissected, it's a beer to be simply enjoyed.

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3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Although my hometown of Waterloo plays host to one of the world's largest Oktoberfest celebrations (which actually just ended yesterday), I'm sure the real thing in Munich would be something amazing to behold. Someday I hope to make the trip to Bayern, but to tide me over until then, the LCBO brought in a lovely Paulaner MaB and 1L can giftset to celebrate the Oktoberfest season. A lovely way to toast a splendid fall day.

The 1L pour was quite something, but it resulted in a brimming frothy head and scads of lacing. The brew itself is a brilliant golden, with visible carbonation until the bitter end (at a whole litre in volume, that 'bitter end' took about 45 minutes to reach). I've got to say, the glassware brings out the very best in this brew; what I'm sure would be underwhelming in a regular lager glass looks bloody brilliant in a shiny new MaB, so forgive my bias.

The nose is satisfactory, but less than exciting. Bready malts, honey sweetness, mild leafy hops, chestnuts. Not entirely unlike a German pils.

The taste is not that of a dark, robust marzen, but again rather like a German pils. Slightly sweet, bready, and with a crisp, hop finish. A touch of lemon to the finish as well. Although I'd very happily drink this over the standard Oktoberfest beer in KW (sadly, Molson Canadian), there's nothing overly interesting about this brew, save for the fact that it's called an "Oktoberfestbier" and comes with a giant MaB. Still, these things can't be overlooked - in a party atmosphere, a brew like this goes down outrageously well in vast quantities, which is a very good thing.

Mouthfeel is quite impressive; even near the finish of the giant can, still a steady carbonation. Lighter bodied, but still above average for the pils style.

A great Oktoberfest quaffer - nothing overly exciting, but damned exciting to drink in such a cool mug in a festive setting. Prosit to another Oktobefest, and looking forward to next year. Gemuetlichkeit!

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4.24/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Drank several .5 liter cans of this several years ago. Would like to purchase more. Problem is I live in Dallas. Very smooth going down. Nice European taste. One of my favorites.

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4.16/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz bottle;

Best before 06/16;

Pale gold in color with amazing clarity and a thick, frothy, white head that refuses to go away. It has that classic lager look that is very easy on the eyes. Bready, doughy malts are abound in the aroma, but gone are the rich, toasty notes you would find in a traditional Märzen, as they are replaced with a generous dose of spicy, floral hops. The flavor implies sweetness initially from the malt, then gives way to moderate bitterness from the hops. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and dry while finding a beautiful balance between strength and drinkability.

This is the beer I drank in the Paulaner tent in Munich in 2007 that I have such fond memories of. To find a six-pack of it in America, fresh, mere miles from where I work, is truly a glorious thing. Prosit!

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3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Fairly tasty, but a bit thin. Malt-forward, but not as sweet as I'd like.

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4.09/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.53/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4/5  rDev +3.9%

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

4.48/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: It was poured from a big limited edition 1 liter can into a 1 liter Paulaner Masskrug. The beer came inside of the glass as a package deal. The can has a nice description of the Munich Oktoberfest and the beer. This info also includes its ABV which is 6.0%.

Appearance: Inside the big liter mug the body has a deep golden color with good clarity visible carbonation and a tall bright white head. This head slowly settles down to a much smaller cap that hangs on till the end. Lacing is slick.

Smell: It has white bready maltiness with a nice nutty character and some leafy/earthy/spicy noble hop notes as well.

Taste/Palate: The flavor is very similar to the aroma with the same base of clean bready malt and noble hop notes. Its medium bodied extremely drinkable and lively carbonated.

Notes: All I need now is some good German fest food and maybe some lederhosen to go with the other Paulaner Wiesn beer/glass combination packs I picked up!!!

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3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4

11.2oz brown bottle, purchased at local Boston area store.

I've had copious mugs of this during Oktoberfest in the Paulaner Tent, glad to see it in the US again this year.

While it does not form a massive head the lacing stays intact, crystal clear golden hue. Clean nose of dried grass, bread, cooked veggies, and a subtle herbal hop. Lots of crispness, moderate sized body, a bit of chewy malt up front. Balance hop bitterness, lots of clean grain, linger of herbal hop in the finish. Easy to knock back, more than enough flavor to keep me coming back.

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3.16/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 1 liter can into a huge Paulaner mug.

The beer pours a yellow color with a nice-sized white head. The aroma is a mix of bready malt and some grain notes. Not too much going on but nothing offensive. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of grain and bread notes with a little bit of toffee and a hint of grass from the hops. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Not really what I come to expect from an Oktoberfest beer, but you have to like the packaging which includes the 1L can and 1L mug for a nice price.

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4/5  rDev +3.9%

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Modern Golden Festbier instead of the traditional amber Marzen. Biscuit and apple backbone, with spicy and floral noble hops for balance. Almost like a more biscuity Dortmunder.

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3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

4.82/5  rDev +25.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Light yellow-golden color with a billowing head that lasts till the last drop. Aroma is fresh bread and fruit. It is quite different than the "Paulaner Marzen Oktoberfest" I've had in bottles which is amber and much less malty with a disagreeable bitter finish. This "Wiesen" is very malty, fruity, smooth and sessionable with a pleasant dry hop finish that is not as much bitter as it is herbal. One of the best Oktoberfest beers I have had, and easy to believe it is "Germany's #1 Oktoberfest beer" as described on the box. Whereas the "Marzen" was disappointing, this "Wiezen" is highly drinkable and enjoyable. The liter can went fast and was good to the last drop.

Update 10-2-2016: Wiesn has become my favorite Oktoberfest, thankfully available in my area this year in 11.2 ounce bottles. Picked up 2 cases since it now the best oktoberfest available. I tried many U.S. versions but they are too rich or hoppy. I drink 3 bottles in a session.

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4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This has a big grain nose, brilliant straw gold with a clingy 2” finely bubbled white foam collar, packed with huge malt flavors. Starts malty, dries out, lingering grain lavors – just enough hops to balance. There is some of the Oktoberfest malt spice but not much.

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4.5/5  rDev +16.9%

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from one liter can into a liter Paulaner glass mug.

Appearance: Bright and clear golden yellow with a tint of orange and lots of rising bubbles. Big four finger white head that lasts a few minutes before settling into a thin white layer. Foam had some tiny black specs that look like pepper. Decent lacing.

Smell: Sweet and bready caramel malts with toffee. Wheat grains and earthy hops. Some subtle hints of clove and other spices. Mostly grains and malts that stand out here.

Taste: Mildly sweet bready malts with caramel and toffee. Lots of grain. Some earthy hops give a mild bitterness. Light hints of spice. Tastes more like a Helles lager than a classic Marzen. Pretty good balance.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with a moderate carbonation. Crisp and creamy.

Overall: A very solid lager even though its different than a typical Marzen. Sweetness and bitterness is nicely balanced.

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3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4/5  rDev +3.9%

4.34/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%