Oktoberfest (2015)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.


- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 91
- Avg:
- 4.06 | pDev: 9.11%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 269
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Dec 29, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2015
- Wants:
- 38
- Gots:
- 188
Brewed in collaboration with Brauhaus Riegle of Augsburg, Germany, this Oktoberfest lager is deep golden in color and rich with malt flavor from the use of traditional German Steffi barley.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by keithmurray:
Reviewed by keithmurray from Connecticut
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - golden amber body with beige colored head
Smell - caramel, toasted grains, rye
Taste - toasted caramel, mixed roasted nuts, brown bread, rye like spiciness on the back end
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, ever so slight sweetness combined with a nice toasted feel upfront, back end has a rye like spiciness imparted by the hops, hoppier than I'd like for the style, but that does not detract from the experience
Overall - very nice offering of the Marzen style here. Not cloyingly sweet like some American versions, my only drawback (personal taste) is that it is a bit overhopped for the style. Otherwise, Enjoyable and recommended
Price Point - $9.99/6 pack 12 oz bottles
Sep 20, 2015Smell - caramel, toasted grains, rye
Taste - toasted caramel, mixed roasted nuts, brown bread, rye like spiciness on the back end
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, ever so slight sweetness combined with a nice toasted feel upfront, back end has a rye like spiciness imparted by the hops, hoppier than I'd like for the style, but that does not detract from the experience
Overall - very nice offering of the Marzen style here. Not cloyingly sweet like some American versions, my only drawback (personal taste) is that it is a bit overhopped for the style. Otherwise, Enjoyable and recommended
Price Point - $9.99/6 pack 12 oz bottles
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
See previous reviews of various versions of SN Oktoberfest. Done from foggy memories, I've always considered it cheating when Sierra Nevada started collaborating with German breweries for their yearly Ofest instead of standing on their own like they used to do.
Dec 29, 2025Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.94/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great Oktoberfest beer, Dark golden, almost copper color. Aroma of malt, bread, some caramel, hint of citrus. Sweet malty taste, delicate hoppy bitterness in finish. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Bread in aftertaste.
Jun 08, 2025Reviewed by Offa from California
4.68/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
An excellent beer of this type which I loved - thankfully some iterations since have been even better.
Dark gold, big off-white head slowly shrinks to thin lasting top.
Aroma is strong helles -type, toasty bread, grain, grass, herb- complex, aromatic,
Taste is similar, nice firm sweet toasty bread, some apple, grain, herbal bitterness. Complex, balance,d engaging, drinkable.
Nov 05, 2018Dark gold, big off-white head slowly shrinks to thin lasting top.
Aroma is strong helles -type, toasty bread, grain, grass, herb- complex, aromatic,
Taste is similar, nice firm sweet toasty bread, some apple, grain, herbal bitterness. Complex, balance,d engaging, drinkable.
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
2.96/5 rDev -27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.96/5 rDev -27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
[Original rating 2015-10-24] Pours clear medium gold with a thick white head. A lot lighter in color than I expected for an Octoberfest. Aroma of Malt, toffee, a hint of earth. Taste is sweet malt, caramel. Steady fine carbonation, nice mouth feel
Oct 24, 2018Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.58/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.58/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I think I just went on record saying how these are pretty much the same thing every year. Same reliable stuff every year, pours a mixture of light brown, auburn and amber with around 1/2" head in a lighter shade compared to the body. Aroma kicks down those lagery caramel Octoberfest mild sweetness notes on the nose.
Taste is fitting for style, you have a smoothed out slappy hours kind of unsweetened but still mildly sweet caramel without the heft flow going all over it. Carbonation seems right on point. Can't really distinguish anything hop wise, which is also fitting to style. Has some of that darker bread than normal feel to it. These were good to have on hand for people who don't like hoppy beer, want something bigger than AAL, but also don't want the heft of a porter or stout.
This is the 2015 Oktoberfest release.
Mar 29, 2018Taste is fitting for style, you have a smoothed out slappy hours kind of unsweetened but still mildly sweet caramel without the heft flow going all over it. Carbonation seems right on point. Can't really distinguish anything hop wise, which is also fitting to style. Has some of that darker bread than normal feel to it. These were good to have on hand for people who don't like hoppy beer, want something bigger than AAL, but also don't want the heft of a porter or stout.
This is the 2015 Oktoberfest release.
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