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Octoberfest (pre-2015)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
- ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 10.24%
- Reviews:
- 225
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Sep 29, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 13, 2003
- Wants:
- 41
- Gots:
- 242
Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrated a royal marriage and the health of the fall harvest—which in Bavaria, means brewers, barley and hops! Today, Oktoberfest is considered one of the world’s greatest parties, and in honor of that rollicking bash we bring you our version of the classic festival beer. Oktoberfest is medium-bodied and rich with bready and toffee-like malt flavor but maintains a crisp finish marked by floral and spicy hops.
Before 2014, known as Octoberfest and ABV 5.80%
2014 - Only available in Fall Variety Pack
DO NOT REVIEW THE 2015 VERSION HERE.
Before 2014, known as Octoberfest and ABV 5.80%
2014 - Only available in Fall Variety Pack
DO NOT REVIEW THE 2015 VERSION HERE.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by FishyBeer3 from Massachusetts
3.97/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Strongn flavor and bite but great taste
Oct 31, 2020Rated by hopley from Massachusetts
4.12/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2020 Release - a really nice Octoberfest. Drank out of the bottle.
Sep 15, 2020Rated by TerryMills from Tennessee
3.65/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
7/23/20 bottle date..
Not very Carmel or sweet for the style imo.. Very smooth easy drinker either way ...
Sep 06, 2020Not very Carmel or sweet for the style imo.. Very smooth easy drinker either way ...
Reviewed by Henrythegreat from Texas
3.29/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Amber color with a quickly dissipating white head. Smells of bread. Crisp with a little too much hops and not enough malt flavor. No toffee flavor (which I like in a marzen) to speak of. Not a bad beer, but tastes more like a pilsner. I guess it's a little disappointing after the awesome 2019 beer.
Sep 04, 2020Reviewed by Danieljm from Missouri
3.79/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured nice amber color with small pure white head. Smell is of malts with some carmel sweetness Taste matches with aroma. Nice malts with just a hint of sweetness. Well balanced beer a great example of the style. Good benchmark for American style of Octoberfest
Aug 27, 2020Reviewed by matcris from Arizona
4.42/5 rDev +16%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +16%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
LOOKS: Bottled on 7/28/20....Straight from the fridge. A clear 24k gold with a small finger of off white foam that settles quickly to a ring. Mild lacing down the glass.
AROMA: Smells balanced between malt and hops. Mild wheat bread vs those German, grainy, grassy hops.
TASTE: Same with the flavor, but, this year, although pretty balanced, the sweetness really stands out and lingers. Not an obnoxious caramel thing, just that it carries the hop flavor throughout the sip.
FEEL: Medium-ish body, strong carbonation, almost slight stickiness, and just perfect on the finish. Just dry enough.
OA: Love it. Will buy again.
Aug 19, 2020AROMA: Smells balanced between malt and hops. Mild wheat bread vs those German, grainy, grassy hops.
TASTE: Same with the flavor, but, this year, although pretty balanced, the sweetness really stands out and lingers. Not an obnoxious caramel thing, just that it carries the hop flavor throughout the sip.
FEEL: Medium-ish body, strong carbonation, almost slight stickiness, and just perfect on the finish. Just dry enough.
OA: Love it. Will buy again.
Reviewed by tracycramer from Texas
3.61/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Octoberfest 2019. Decent beer. Not sweet or bitter or overly carbonated. Nice reddish color.
Goes down very easily, and yet still has some character and a degree of heft, which is saying something for a corporate beer. Enjoyed 10/27 at home with the family in Austin.
Oct 28, 2019Goes down very easily, and yet still has some character and a degree of heft, which is saying something for a corporate beer. Enjoyed 10/27 at home with the family in Austin.
Reviewed by AvengeTheRavel from Connecticut
3/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
3/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Had it in bottle format. Bodywise, it was a little thinner than i would like. Tastewise, it was a little thin and lacking. Would not have it again.
Sep 22, 2019
Octoberfest (pre-2015) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
1042 ratings
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