Oktoberfest (2019)
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.


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- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Lager - Märzen
- ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 8.97%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 17, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 20, 2019
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 42
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
3.83 by TMoney2591 from Illinois on Jan 17, 2022
3.89 by HanktheTank94 on Oct 27, 2021
4.08 by BradtheGreat7 from Ohio on Aug 22, 2021
3.75 by NickMunford from Wyoming on Jul 16, 2021
3.62/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Pours the prototypical amber color indicative of autumn and oktoberfest. Big 4/5" off white head. Great retention. Poured into a dirty 90s Brewer's glass during a Brewer's game. Aroma of fall, caramel maltiness, light woody aspect despite no wood being used.
Taste is right where you would expect two traditional world class breweries to go with this. The ever lasting caramel waves are actually not heavy on the mouth feel, good carbonation works wonders in that regard. The slightest Magnum and Loral bitterness under the surface. Has the darker more sophisticated breadiness without the heft or stickiness that befalls lesser caramalt kind of beers. Light almond/marzipan like qualities as it warms up.
These are very easy to drink, the six pack I bought was blown through much quicker than expected, almost everyone I associate with likes these kinds of beers. Still works at the ballfield or on the river even if in the words of George Strait, you start to feel the chill of an early fall.
May 14, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Pours the prototypical amber color indicative of autumn and oktoberfest. Big 4/5" off white head. Great retention. Poured into a dirty 90s Brewer's glass during a Brewer's game. Aroma of fall, caramel maltiness, light woody aspect despite no wood being used.
Taste is right where you would expect two traditional world class breweries to go with this. The ever lasting caramel waves are actually not heavy on the mouth feel, good carbonation works wonders in that regard. The slightest Magnum and Loral bitterness under the surface. Has the darker more sophisticated breadiness without the heft or stickiness that befalls lesser caramalt kind of beers. Light almond/marzipan like qualities as it warms up.
These are very easy to drink, the six pack I bought was blown through much quicker than expected, almost everyone I associate with likes these kinds of beers. Still works at the ballfield or on the river even if in the words of George Strait, you start to feel the chill of an early fall.
May 14, 2021
3.75 by Chipwells from Georgia on Feb 02, 2021
4.02 by BigMike from Pennsylvania on Dec 26, 2020
4.15 by Archfiend from Illinois on Sep 28, 2020
3.78/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by defunksta from North Dakota
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
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by defunksta from North Dakota
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
4 by Aeroscorp from Tennessee on Jun 16, 2020
3.43/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by KTCamm from New Jersey
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
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by KTCamm from New Jersey
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
4.26/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by CTHomer from Connecticut
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
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by CTHomer from Connecticut
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
3.99/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by secondtooth from Indiana
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
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by secondtooth from Indiana
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
3.7 by DesMoinesMike from Iowa on Feb 24, 2020
3.75 by SargeC from California on Jan 04, 2020
3.56 by stella77artois from New York on Jan 03, 2020
4 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania on Jan 02, 2020
3.99 by Satsuma from Florida on Dec 29, 2019
4.08 by rorjets from Connecticut on Dec 27, 2019
4 by Eziel from Ohio on Dec 19, 2019
4.3 by doowhat from Arkansas on Dec 14, 2019
4 by ScottK22 from New York on Dec 10, 2019
4.24 by Hophazzard from California on Dec 05, 2019
4.5/5 rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by pathman from Ohio
11/2/19 bottle @ home
Dec 02, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by pathman from Ohio
11/2/19 bottle @ home
Dec 02, 2019
4.27/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by elNopalero from California
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
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by elNopalero from California
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
4.1/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Billolick from New York
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
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Billolick from New York
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
3.5/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by stevoj from Idaho
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
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by stevoj from Idaho
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
3.77 by hopley from Massachusetts on Nov 27, 2019
3.5 by d5001986 from Wisconsin on Nov 25, 2019
3.96/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Franziskaner from Missouri
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
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Franziskaner from Missouri
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
4.73 by Burt from Rhode Island on Nov 22, 2019
3.89 by Gemini6 from Michigan on Nov 18, 2019
4.03/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by bubseymour from Maryland
IMO this one is a little too caramel forward. Solid Marzen, but not as good as collaboration from last few years.
Nov 17, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by bubseymour from Maryland
IMO this one is a little too caramel forward. Solid Marzen, but not as good as collaboration from last few years.
Nov 17, 2019
3.74 by dsreeves from Florida on Nov 17, 2019
3.5 by caahare from West Virginia on Nov 15, 2019
3.79/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by EMV from Pennsylvania
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
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by EMV from Pennsylvania
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
3.64/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by tone77 from Pennsylvania
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
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by tone77 from Pennsylvania
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
3.87 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin on Nov 09, 2019
4.09 by MICAMD from Maryland on Nov 09, 2019
3.76/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
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
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
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
Oktoberfest (2019) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
449 ratings