Oktoberfest (2019)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Lager - Märzen / Oktoberfest
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.91 | pDev: 8.95%
- Reviews:
- 182
- Ratings:
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 13
- Gots
- 43
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
Notes:
It’s the ultimate season of revelry, so we teamed up with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery for an Oktoberfest that turns backyards into beer gardens. Rally your friends and celebrate with a festbier whose rich amber color, secret hop blend, and smooth malty flavor bring the Munich tents to you.
Malts: Caramelized malts, Munich, Pilsner
Hops: Bitburger Siegelhopfen, German Magnum, Loral
Yeast: Lager Yeast
Malts: Caramelized malts, Munich, Pilsner
Hops: Bitburger Siegelhopfen, German Magnum, Loral
Yeast: Lager Yeast
Reviews: 182
| Ratings: 442
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defunksta from North Dakota
3.78/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2019:
Appearance: Pours a dark, rich amber color with a strong brown tint to remind me of whiskey. SRM of 15 (4.00)
Aroma: Light on the aroma. Aromas of rich, earthy, bread and caramel. (3.50)
Flavor: Flavors are more bread and caramel. A touch of spice and maple syrup. Very much like french toast. Yet, finishes dry and smoother than I expected. (4.00)
Feel: Medium bodied. Good carbonation. The carbonation cleans off the malt flavors. Very clean on the finish. (3.50)
Overall: Maybe my expectations were too high for this one. Sort of simple caramel malt profile similar to their pale ale. Then a unique maple and French toast component which is pleasant, but still doesn't stand up to some of the German brewers. (Final Rating: 3.78)
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2020:
Appearance: Medium orange, clear, with a soft off-white head. SRM of 10-11. Lighter than I expected. (3.75)
Aroma: Light bread and orange with nothing else there. Severly dissapointing and not what I expected.
Flavor: Flavor is daft too. Some orange, nectar, pine. Mildly bready malt flavors. Drinks like a pale ale with some sweetness and hints of bitterness.
Feel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Sweet, pine and malt finish.
Compared to SN Summerfest 8/23/20: Pours a darker color. More resinous orange and darker malt. Less orchard fruit and pale malt. slightly more bready, and less tart. Overall, very similar. I think we all know who copied whose homework here.
Compared to Bell's Oktoberfest 2020 8/30/20: Pours a lighter color. Stronger aromas of resinous orange and pine. Less smooth bread and cream. More fruity and hoppy. Not very similar, but neither are standard for the style.
Overall: I find myself asking what happened here? Reviewing this beer as an Oktoberfest beer is difficult. It drinks nothing like a Marzen or Oktoberfest bier. I suspect this is their Pale Ale, mislabeled, and rather I am drinking their SN Pale Ale, which is what this tastes like. I don't know what happened, but this 2020 version is a bust, or I have the wrong beer here. Nothing to do with Oktoberfest with this one. Between their Pale Ale, 40th Anniversary, Summerfest, and this one, these beers are starting to meld together.
Aug 23, 2020
3.78/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2019:
Appearance: Pours a dark, rich amber color with a strong brown tint to remind me of whiskey. SRM of 15 (4.00)
Aroma: Light on the aroma. Aromas of rich, earthy, bread and caramel. (3.50)
Flavor: Flavors are more bread and caramel. A touch of spice and maple syrup. Very much like french toast. Yet, finishes dry and smoother than I expected. (4.00)
Feel: Medium bodied. Good carbonation. The carbonation cleans off the malt flavors. Very clean on the finish. (3.50)
Overall: Maybe my expectations were too high for this one. Sort of simple caramel malt profile similar to their pale ale. Then a unique maple and French toast component which is pleasant, but still doesn't stand up to some of the German brewers. (Final Rating: 3.78)
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2020:
Appearance: Medium orange, clear, with a soft off-white head. SRM of 10-11. Lighter than I expected. (3.75)
Aroma: Light bread and orange with nothing else there. Severly dissapointing and not what I expected.
Flavor: Flavor is daft too. Some orange, nectar, pine. Mildly bready malt flavors. Drinks like a pale ale with some sweetness and hints of bitterness.
Feel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Sweet, pine and malt finish.
Compared to SN Summerfest 8/23/20: Pours a darker color. More resinous orange and darker malt. Less orchard fruit and pale malt. slightly more bready, and less tart. Overall, very similar. I think we all know who copied whose homework here.
Compared to Bell's Oktoberfest 2020 8/30/20: Pours a lighter color. Stronger aromas of resinous orange and pine. Less smooth bread and cream. More fruity and hoppy. Not very similar, but neither are standard for the style.
Overall: I find myself asking what happened here? Reviewing this beer as an Oktoberfest beer is difficult. It drinks nothing like a Marzen or Oktoberfest bier. I suspect this is their Pale Ale, mislabeled, and rather I am drinking their SN Pale Ale, which is what this tastes like. I don't know what happened, but this 2020 version is a bust, or I have the wrong beer here. Nothing to do with Oktoberfest with this one. Between their Pale Ale, 40th Anniversary, Summerfest, and this one, these beers are starting to meld together.
Aug 23, 2020
KTCamm from New Jersey
3.43/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4/12/20...a little late for octoberfest, but nevertheless, pours medium copper amber with very low foam that settles to nothing. Light caramel malty nose. Little pilsy too. Firm mouthfeel, all malt, fades quickly. Little bite. Nice carbonation embedded. Hints of maple and sweetness. Nice/. but not remarkable.
May 23, 2020
3.43/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4/12/20...a little late for octoberfest, but nevertheless, pours medium copper amber with very low foam that settles to nothing. Light caramel malty nose. Little pilsy too. Firm mouthfeel, all malt, fades quickly. Little bite. Nice carbonation embedded. Hints of maple and sweetness. Nice/. but not remarkable.
May 23, 2020
CTHomer from Connecticut
4.26/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: crystal clear; copper in color; 1+ finger finely pored off white head that receded to a skim cap; nice lacing;
S: toasted grain, floral, and a touch of spice;
T: toasted grain up front; through the middle, floral comes in; finish is all floral with mild bitterness;
M: medium bodied; moderate, creamy carbonation; dry finish;
O: my favorite of their Oktoberfest collabs so far;
Apr 15, 2020
4.26/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: crystal clear; copper in color; 1+ finger finely pored off white head that receded to a skim cap; nice lacing;
S: toasted grain, floral, and a touch of spice;
T: toasted grain up front; through the middle, floral comes in; finish is all floral with mild bitterness;
M: medium bodied; moderate, creamy carbonation; dry finish;
O: my favorite of their Oktoberfest collabs so far;
Apr 15, 2020
secondtooth from Indiana
3.99/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep amber, with a nice off-whit head of fine suds and fenceposts of lace.
Aroma: Biscuit malty, caramel, toasty. Nice and faithful.
Taste: Sweet, malty, caramel and toasty with floral hops right in balance. Tons of flavor here, easy to drink and as top-tier as expected from Sierra Nevada and Bitburger. As near a fresh Oktoberfest as we Americans can hope to have!
Mar 24, 2020
3.99/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep amber, with a nice off-whit head of fine suds and fenceposts of lace.
Aroma: Biscuit malty, caramel, toasty. Nice and faithful.
Taste: Sweet, malty, caramel and toasty with floral hops right in balance. Tons of flavor here, easy to drink and as top-tier as expected from Sierra Nevada and Bitburger. As near a fresh Oktoberfest as we Americans can hope to have!
Mar 24, 2020
elNopalero from California
4.27/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had this fresh, from a bottle.
This pours a rich amber with a tremendous cap of tan foam. Bready and malty, with a crisp hop snap that draws it into focus on the finish. Not too heavy, not too thin, just about right.
Dec 01, 2019
4.27/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had this fresh, from a bottle.
This pours a rich amber with a tremendous cap of tan foam. Bready and malty, with a crisp hop snap that draws it into focus on the finish. Not too heavy, not too thin, just about right.
Dec 01, 2019
Billolick from New York
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, "PKGD 7/9/2019"
Pours out a nice glowing darker amber hue, moderate cap and leaves typical strands of stickage.
Bready malts and maple on the sniff.
On the palate its maple, vanilla, dark bread....malty and delicious...well worth a try...worked great as part of a marinade for chicken thighs
Nov 30, 2019
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle, "PKGD 7/9/2019"
Pours out a nice glowing darker amber hue, moderate cap and leaves typical strands of stickage.
Bready malts and maple on the sniff.
On the palate its maple, vanilla, dark bread....malty and delicious...well worth a try...worked great as part of a marinade for chicken thighs
Nov 30, 2019
stevoj from Idaho
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle from the Boise Co-op. Light amber, small foamy head fades to flat. Malty, bready aroma. Taste also features the malts, light caramel, slight bitter edge. Dryness grabs the palate.
Nov 29, 2019
3.5/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle from the Boise Co-op. Light amber, small foamy head fades to flat. Malty, bready aroma. Taste also features the malts, light caramel, slight bitter edge. Dryness grabs the palate.
Nov 29, 2019
Franziskaner from Missouri
3.96/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark copper colored with a quarter inch of brown on top. The head dissipated to a fingernail around the rim within a few minutes. The aroma is of dark bready malt and marzipan. I’m tasting a light nuttiness and toasted caramel. The mouth is smooth and quaffable.
Nov 24, 2019
3.96/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Dark copper colored with a quarter inch of brown on top. The head dissipated to a fingernail around the rim within a few minutes. The aroma is of dark bready malt and marzipan. I’m tasting a light nuttiness and toasted caramel. The mouth is smooth and quaffable.
Nov 24, 2019
EMV from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Crystal clear copper/amber pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Great lacing. Attractive brew.
S: Malty... toasted grains and bread/sweets.
T.F: Sweet and malty up front... toasted bread, caramel, and grains. Earthy hops for balance and some bitterness. Some floral notes at the finish. Medium to light bodied... well carbonated and smooth.
O: A clean/crisp Oktoberfest. Well crafted... great looking beer that's easy to drink.
Nov 13, 2019
3.79/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Crystal clear copper/amber pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Great lacing. Attractive brew.
S: Malty... toasted grains and bread/sweets.
T.F: Sweet and malty up front... toasted bread, caramel, and grains. Earthy hops for balance and some bitterness. Some floral notes at the finish. Medium to light bodied... well carbonated and smooth.
O: A clean/crisp Oktoberfest. Well crafted... great looking beer that's easy to drink.
Nov 13, 2019
tone77 from Pennsylvania
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze/amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of bready malts. Taste is also of bready malts, enough hops to make their presence felt. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a smooth and easy drinking beer.
Nov 11, 2019
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a bronze/amber color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of bready malts. Taste is also of bready malts, enough hops to make their presence felt. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a smooth and easy drinking beer.
Nov 11, 2019
cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.76/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a tiny white head. Smells of fruity caramelized grain. Tastes of fruity caramelized grain, slight caramel, fruit forward, nice combination. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Nov 08, 2019
3.76/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a tiny white head. Smells of fruity caramelized grain. Tastes of fruity caramelized grain, slight caramel, fruit forward, nice combination. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Nov 08, 2019
CodyBasden from Texas
3.8/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark amber/brown super clear no carbonation tan head that dissipates quickly, small roast smell and a hint of what smells like raisins, nice roast flavor with a surprise of spice, light body medium carbonation
Nov 06, 2019
3.8/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Dark amber/brown super clear no carbonation tan head that dissipates quickly, small roast smell and a hint of what smells like raisins, nice roast flavor with a surprise of spice, light body medium carbonation
Nov 06, 2019
FriedSlug from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nice amber colored beer with a short, off white head that quickly retreats to the edge of the glass. Smells great and clean. Lots of bready yeast, sweet caramel maltiness and floral hops. Taste is moderately sweet and malty with caramel, apple, yeastiness with a floral, bitter finish. Quite tasty.
Nov 05, 2019
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nice amber colored beer with a short, off white head that quickly retreats to the edge of the glass. Smells great and clean. Lots of bready yeast, sweet caramel maltiness and floral hops. Taste is moderately sweet and malty with caramel, apple, yeastiness with a floral, bitter finish. Quite tasty.
Nov 05, 2019
neenerzig from Ohio
4.35/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Finally getting to drink a full bottle of this. Poured into one of my steins, this beer pours a clear, medium to dark amber/copper color with lots of streams of little bubbles fairly rapidly and continuously rising to the beer's surface. Has a nice, fluffy looking head that's about an inch thick when first poured that eventually settles to a very thick ring lining the inside of the glass at the beer's surface, excellent lacing, and a nice surface coating of foam. Aromas of toasted, bready, caramel malt sweetness, a bit of nuttiness, a hint of spice, and just a bit of earthy, floral hops. A very similar taste of course, with the aforementioned toasted, bready, caramel malt sweetness and a bit of nuttiness along with some earthy and floral hops that lend just the right amount of bitterness. A well constructed and balanced flavor profile I feel. Has a mostly crisp, slightly prickly, slightly chewy, also smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Has a clean finish along with a somewhat sweet and nutty aftertaste.
Eric
Nov 02, 2019
4.35/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Finally getting to drink a full bottle of this. Poured into one of my steins, this beer pours a clear, medium to dark amber/copper color with lots of streams of little bubbles fairly rapidly and continuously rising to the beer's surface. Has a nice, fluffy looking head that's about an inch thick when first poured that eventually settles to a very thick ring lining the inside of the glass at the beer's surface, excellent lacing, and a nice surface coating of foam. Aromas of toasted, bready, caramel malt sweetness, a bit of nuttiness, a hint of spice, and just a bit of earthy, floral hops. A very similar taste of course, with the aforementioned toasted, bready, caramel malt sweetness and a bit of nuttiness along with some earthy and floral hops that lend just the right amount of bitterness. A well constructed and balanced flavor profile I feel. Has a mostly crisp, slightly prickly, slightly chewy, also smooth, medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Has a clean finish along with a somewhat sweet and nutty aftertaste.
Eric
Nov 02, 2019
wl2bill from Wisconsin
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Middle of the road Octoberfest. I liked it but I have had better. Every year I have about 12 different ones and this one fell in the upper middle of the pack.
Oct 30, 2019
3.64/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Middle of the road Octoberfest. I liked it but I have had better. Every year I have about 12 different ones and this one fell in the upper middle of the pack.
Oct 30, 2019
keithmurray from Connecticut
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - bronze/copper body with tan head
Smell - caramel malts, toasted caramel, bready
Taste - toasted caramel, bready malts, presence of honey
mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium carbonation, slightly sweet upfront, toasted/bready malts on the back end, crisp finish
Overall - decent collaboration between SN and Bitburger. Hits all the right notes, nether too sweet nor too dry. I'm interested to see what they do next year. Worthy
Price Point - $8.99/ 6 pack/12 oz bottles
Oct 29, 2019
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - bronze/copper body with tan head
Smell - caramel malts, toasted caramel, bready
Taste - toasted caramel, bready malts, presence of honey
mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium carbonation, slightly sweet upfront, toasted/bready malts on the back end, crisp finish
Overall - decent collaboration between SN and Bitburger. Hits all the right notes, nether too sweet nor too dry. I'm interested to see what they do next year. Worthy
Price Point - $8.99/ 6 pack/12 oz bottles
Oct 29, 2019
RozzieBoy from Rhode Island
3.88/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L - copper with a light tan head. Minimal to no lacing.
S - bready malt.
T - similar to the nose.
F - medium mouthfeel and semi-dry finish.
O - decent, overall.
Oct 27, 2019
3.88/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L - copper with a light tan head. Minimal to no lacing.
S - bready malt.
T - similar to the nose.
F - medium mouthfeel and semi-dry finish.
O - decent, overall.
Oct 27, 2019
Wattie83 from Pennsylvania
3.69/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: deep orange/amber color. Tan foam that settles into a nice cap. Clear and bubbly with carbonation rising up to the top.
Smell: Pretty clean smell with bready, doughy malts on top. A bit of spicy hops, but buried for the most part in the malt.
Taste: I expected a sweet entry, but that didn't happen. It's pretty clean tasting at first, then in the middle you get bread taste, almost like a dinner roll with a yeast presence balanced with some herbal/spicy hop notes. Finish is dry and malts linger a bit in aftertaste.
Feel: Medium body, nice soft carbonation. Feels like a lager!!
Overall: A good beer but seems to be missing something as an Oktoberfest. Perhaps the yeast taste is throwing me a bit.
Oct 27, 2019
3.69/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: deep orange/amber color. Tan foam that settles into a nice cap. Clear and bubbly with carbonation rising up to the top.
Smell: Pretty clean smell with bready, doughy malts on top. A bit of spicy hops, but buried for the most part in the malt.
Taste: I expected a sweet entry, but that didn't happen. It's pretty clean tasting at first, then in the middle you get bread taste, almost like a dinner roll with a yeast presence balanced with some herbal/spicy hop notes. Finish is dry and malts linger a bit in aftertaste.
Feel: Medium body, nice soft carbonation. Feels like a lager!!
Overall: A good beer but seems to be missing something as an Oktoberfest. Perhaps the yeast taste is throwing me a bit.
Oct 27, 2019
dd53grif from Michigan
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Used to drink Bitburger in Germany so I was looking forward to trying this one. Pours a golden brown color with a minimal head. Malty aroma and taste. Pleasant mouth feel with no bitterness noted. A very good Oktoberfest brew.
Oct 26, 2019
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Used to drink Bitburger in Germany so I was looking forward to trying this one. Pours a golden brown color with a minimal head. Malty aroma and taste. Pleasant mouth feel with no bitterness noted. A very good Oktoberfest brew.
Oct 26, 2019
mothmanscott from Georgia
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I look forward to the release of this collaboration every year. It's like an early Christmas gift!
Pours a crystal clear deep, rich amber with abundant effervescence streaming from the bottom. The pour produces almost 3 fingers of pale beige, foamy, somewhat lasting head that leaves a nice collar and surface cap but little lacing. Aroma is sweet malt hints of honey, cereal, brown sugar and buttery toast with fruity and floral hop hints. Taste is MALTY and fruity! Caramel and dried apple. Starts sweet but not nearly as sweet as some of it's predecessors (in particular the 2016 Brauhaus Miltenberger Collaboration). Fruity with cereal, biscuit, honey, caramel, toffee, pepper, spice and floral notes that roll over into the relatively short-lived aftertaste. A low level bitterness arises in the pleasantly DRY finish and hangs on through the aftertaste. This dryness is a nice touch. The lager yeast stands out. I'm a little disappointed with the special hop package but that might be due to the level of my experience. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, silky, tongue coating and drier than expected. A nice surprise. A good example of what the style should be. Good but not great it falls short of last years Weihenstephan collaboration. With that said it won't keep me away from multiple 12 pack purchases of this nice marzen.
Oct 26, 2019
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I look forward to the release of this collaboration every year. It's like an early Christmas gift!
Pours a crystal clear deep, rich amber with abundant effervescence streaming from the bottom. The pour produces almost 3 fingers of pale beige, foamy, somewhat lasting head that leaves a nice collar and surface cap but little lacing. Aroma is sweet malt hints of honey, cereal, brown sugar and buttery toast with fruity and floral hop hints. Taste is MALTY and fruity! Caramel and dried apple. Starts sweet but not nearly as sweet as some of it's predecessors (in particular the 2016 Brauhaus Miltenberger Collaboration). Fruity with cereal, biscuit, honey, caramel, toffee, pepper, spice and floral notes that roll over into the relatively short-lived aftertaste. A low level bitterness arises in the pleasantly DRY finish and hangs on through the aftertaste. This dryness is a nice touch. The lager yeast stands out. I'm a little disappointed with the special hop package but that might be due to the level of my experience. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, silky, tongue coating and drier than expected. A nice surprise. A good example of what the style should be. Good but not great it falls short of last years Weihenstephan collaboration. With that said it won't keep me away from multiple 12 pack purchases of this nice marzen.
Oct 26, 2019
Sir-Buddly-Longfellow from Michigan
4.53/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Better in overall quality than some others, such as Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest (which I know isn't probably saying much), but it's also not as filling as Sam Adams Oktoberfest, which makes one feel like they just ate a loaf of bread (common with the kind of beer).
Strikes a dang-near perfect balance.
Oct 24, 2019
4.53/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Better in overall quality than some others, such as Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest (which I know isn't probably saying much), but it's also not as filling as Sam Adams Oktoberfest, which makes one feel like they just ate a loaf of bread (common with the kind of beer).
Strikes a dang-near perfect balance.
Oct 24, 2019
Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
3.77/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at Pies and Pints in Morgantown WV. Hits all the right notes in an average way. Malty, spice and everything nice. Glad to have tried this one from the tap.
Oct 22, 2019
3.77/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at Pies and Pints in Morgantown WV. Hits all the right notes in an average way. Malty, spice and everything nice. Glad to have tried this one from the tap.
Oct 22, 2019
PatrickCT from Connecticut
3.42/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Beautiful copper body. Clear with a one finger soapy head. It leaves some nice wet lace and a sudsy ring.
Floral, earthy aroma. Grainy, musty.
Honey sweetness in the taste, a bit grainy. Dried flowers, cut hay, sulfer towards the end.
Light mouthfeel and body. Grainy like a pilsner without the softness. Very dry finish. Too dry.
Oct 21, 2019
3.42/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Beautiful copper body. Clear with a one finger soapy head. It leaves some nice wet lace and a sudsy ring.
Floral, earthy aroma. Grainy, musty.
Honey sweetness in the taste, a bit grainy. Dried flowers, cut hay, sulfer towards the end.
Light mouthfeel and body. Grainy like a pilsner without the softness. Very dry finish. Too dry.
Oct 21, 2019
PNWbeerlover from Oregon
3.46/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Looks the part - Carmel amber with a faint head that recedes quickly. Smells sweet, like raisin/toasted malt. Drinks easily enough, nothing offensive but there's something missing. Have to agree with previous posts remarking on the odd hop profile which for me ruins the toasty malts. Finishes a tad too sweet.
Oct 21, 2019
3.46/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Looks the part - Carmel amber with a faint head that recedes quickly. Smells sweet, like raisin/toasted malt. Drinks easily enough, nothing offensive but there's something missing. Have to agree with previous posts remarking on the odd hop profile which for me ruins the toasty malts. Finishes a tad too sweet.
Oct 21, 2019
Vetbidder from Pennsylvania
3.52/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice see through copper color with a fading off white head. The nose is hop forward with a grassy/sazzy thing going on. Not what I was expecting. Easy to drink and somewhat sweet with a slight hop bite. This is good but not caramel or spicy enough to be what I think of as an Oktoberfest.
Oct 20, 2019
3.52/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice see through copper color with a fading off white head. The nose is hop forward with a grassy/sazzy thing going on. Not what I was expecting. Easy to drink and somewhat sweet with a slight hop bite. This is good but not caramel or spicy enough to be what I think of as an Oktoberfest.
Oct 20, 2019
Oktoberfest (2019) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
442 ratings
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