Octoberfest (pre-2015)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Märzen
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 10.24%
Reviews:
225
Ratings:
1,042
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by barczar:
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Reviewed by barczar from Kentucky

3.87/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Fairly sweet, toasted malt with light herbal and floral notes.

Flavor is lightly sweet, with underlying toasted malt and a nutty finish. One of the closer to style I've had in a while.
Aug 14, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by Gizzardo from Arizona

Sep 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.93 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 26, 2021
Photo of FishyBeer3
Rated by FishyBeer3 from Massachusetts

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, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by smi69 from New York

Oct 28, 2020
Photo of hopley
Rated by hopley from Massachusetts

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, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by lic217 from Connecticut

Sep 13, 2020
Photo of TerryMills
Rated 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
7/23/20 bottle date..

Not very Carmel or sweet for the style imo.. Very smooth easy drinker either way ...
Sep 06, 2020
Photo of Henrythegreat
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
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, 2020
Photo of Danieljm
Reviewed by Danieljm from Missouri

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, 2020
Photo of matcris
Reviewed by matcris from Arizona

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, 2020
 
Rated: 4.04 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Jan 16, 2020
 
Rated: 3.81 by hogrider from Florida

Dec 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by MJSFS from Florida

Dec 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.04 by andrebotha315 from Texas

Nov 04, 2019
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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
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, 2019
 
Rated: 4.43 by consmienor

Oct 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.61 by Dharmelink from Wisconsin

Oct 06, 2019
Photo of AvengeTheRavel
Reviewed by AvengeTheRavel from Connecticut

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