Shiner Märzen-Style Oktoberfest
Spoetzl Brewery


- From:
- Spoetzl Brewery
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
Ranked #2,560 - ABV:
- 5.7%
- Score:
- 77
Ranked #252,605 - Avg:
- 3.37 | pDev: 15.43%
- Reviews:
- 375
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 18, 2024
- Added:
- Sep 21, 2005
- Wants:
- 21
- Gots:
- 345
Just like the world's largest beer festival, our little brewrey has Bavarian roots and a long tradition of honoring tradition. Which is why we made this märzen-style with German-grown Hallertau tradition. If that doesn't make you polka dance for joy, we don't know what will.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Otter-the-Beer-Man from Maryland
3.9/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A little thin for a marzen style but enjoyable for the season.
Nov 10, 2024Reviewed by mikeinportc from New York
3.64/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.64/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Typical clear orange-amber, with one finger of light tan head.
Aroma is also typical : moderate caramel, & toffee , with a hint of spiciness.
Taste is similar to aroma, leaning a bit more to the toffee side. There is also a slight nutty aftertaste.
Feel is medium , lightly slick, with light, very,very fine tingle at finish. A bit under-carbonated for my taste.
Overall, not bad. Given my experience with this brewery (mediocre-to-bad beers), this is a pleasant surprise. It's slightly sweet, but not overly so, so better than some of its American brethren. There are many O-fests that I enjoy more, but if this was the only one available at the moment in question , I'd get it , & enjoy it. As-is, I'm glad to have the opportunity to try just one. Maybe in/by January(?) , that'll change? ;)
Oct 24, 2024Aroma is also typical : moderate caramel, & toffee , with a hint of spiciness.
Taste is similar to aroma, leaning a bit more to the toffee side. There is also a slight nutty aftertaste.
Feel is medium , lightly slick, with light, very,very fine tingle at finish. A bit under-carbonated for my taste.
Overall, not bad. Given my experience with this brewery (mediocre-to-bad beers), this is a pleasant surprise. It's slightly sweet, but not overly so, so better than some of its American brethren. There are many O-fests that I enjoy more, but if this was the only one available at the moment in question , I'd get it , & enjoy it. As-is, I'm glad to have the opportunity to try just one. Maybe in/by January(?) , that'll change? ;)
Reviewed by RedStickPhil from New Mexico
3.44/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I’m trying to be more open-minded about malty beers. Oktoberfest seems like a good time for it. That said, this one isn’t really worth the 5.7 abv. Nice warm color, and some carbonation, but no head to speak of. Nose weak malty sweetness. Ok on the palate, and reasonably refreshing. Not worth repeating.
Oct 08, 2024Reviewed by ironprog from Florida
3.21/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.21/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
12.0 oz. can
5.7% ABV
Best by date: 11/29/24
$11.99 6-pk @ Publix
AROMA: Mildly sweet with moderate scents of biscuit and caramel, followed by hints of roasted butternut squash. Overall, a very pleasing aroma.
APPEARANCE: Pours a clear dark-amber with a frothy, 2-finger, tan head that dissipates quickly with no lacing. Initially, it looked great in the glass. But before I could put the glass down, the head had almost completely dissipated. I'm actually quite baffled at how such a frothy, medium-height head could dissipate so quickly.
TASTE: Lightly sweet with mild flavors of caramel and malt. At the very end of the finish, i get just a whisper of cinnamon.
MOUTHFEEL: Heft-wise, I would classify it as medium-bodied. But feel-wise, it is a bit on the watery side. The finish is slightly dry and the carbonation is below average. Honestly, I think this is the characteristic (i.e. mouthfeel) that could use the most improvement.
OVERALL: This is an easy-to-drink beer. Mildly sweet, no bitterness or sourness, pleasant aroma, and standard ABV. I could see myself downing several of these, in a single sitting, and never tiring of it. However, I probably won't ever purchase it again. Mainly because there are other festival beers that I like much better. But also, partly because the beer is not memorable in any fashion. In other words, if I was offered this at a party, or saw it on a menu, I would probably remember that I've had the beer before, but I definitely wouldn't remember my impression of it. Which is sad, because I think the "bones" of the beer are pretty solid, and with a little tinkering I think the brewer could transform this from a "good" beer into a "great" beer.
Oct 04, 20245.7% ABV
Best by date: 11/29/24
$11.99 6-pk @ Publix
AROMA: Mildly sweet with moderate scents of biscuit and caramel, followed by hints of roasted butternut squash. Overall, a very pleasing aroma.
APPEARANCE: Pours a clear dark-amber with a frothy, 2-finger, tan head that dissipates quickly with no lacing. Initially, it looked great in the glass. But before I could put the glass down, the head had almost completely dissipated. I'm actually quite baffled at how such a frothy, medium-height head could dissipate so quickly.
TASTE: Lightly sweet with mild flavors of caramel and malt. At the very end of the finish, i get just a whisper of cinnamon.
MOUTHFEEL: Heft-wise, I would classify it as medium-bodied. But feel-wise, it is a bit on the watery side. The finish is slightly dry and the carbonation is below average. Honestly, I think this is the characteristic (i.e. mouthfeel) that could use the most improvement.
OVERALL: This is an easy-to-drink beer. Mildly sweet, no bitterness or sourness, pleasant aroma, and standard ABV. I could see myself downing several of these, in a single sitting, and never tiring of it. However, I probably won't ever purchase it again. Mainly because there are other festival beers that I like much better. But also, partly because the beer is not memorable in any fashion. In other words, if I was offered this at a party, or saw it on a menu, I would probably remember that I've had the beer before, but I definitely wouldn't remember my impression of it. Which is sad, because I think the "bones" of the beer are pretty solid, and with a little tinkering I think the brewer could transform this from a "good" beer into a "great" beer.
Reviewed by Stevosps from Pennsylvania
4.03/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When poured from a can this Octoberfest is a deep Amber color with a lacy head.
It has an aroma of sweetness. The flavor is Carmel and sweet. A perfect fall beer !
Enjoy on the porch while watching the sunset!
Sep 21, 2024It has an aroma of sweetness. The flavor is Carmel and sweet. A perfect fall beer !
Enjoy on the porch while watching the sunset!
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina
3/5 rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a beautiful dark amber color, smells and tastes like old leather and black tea, I just don't think I'm super into Märzen beers these days, but it’s probably good for those who are into them.
Style: Märzen | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 5.6% | Rating: 3
Sep 18, 2024Style: Märzen | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 5.6% | Rating: 3
Rated by Caoimhin from Pennsylvania
4.21/5 rDev +24.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +24.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I do not understand the "okay" rating. This beer is as just as good as the German Märzens, a little bit fresher, and less expensive.
Sep 07, 2024Reviewed by Kostantiniyya from Texas
3.17/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.17/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Sweet season marzen purchased at an H-E-B grocery store as a single bottle.
Look: Conveys an orange-y, transparent look. Light head that quickly dissipates. Some carbonation. I like the packaging; it looks nice.
Smell: Caramel malt and sweetness on the nose. A little bit of biscuit / toasted bread.
Taste: Caramel sweetness. Malt. Definitely on the sweeter side of some marzens I've had this season.
Feel: Feels like drinking beer. I could have crushed this in a fraction of the time it took me to write this quick review.
Overall: A nice drinker; not likely to get it again, though if it were the best option at a low-bar restaurant or something I guess I'd order it over the mass-produced mainstays. Glad to have; glad to move on to the next unique beer.
Nov 01, 2023Look: Conveys an orange-y, transparent look. Light head that quickly dissipates. Some carbonation. I like the packaging; it looks nice.
Smell: Caramel malt and sweetness on the nose. A little bit of biscuit / toasted bread.
Taste: Caramel sweetness. Malt. Definitely on the sweeter side of some marzens I've had this season.
Feel: Feels like drinking beer. I could have crushed this in a fraction of the time it took me to write this quick review.
Overall: A nice drinker; not likely to get it again, though if it were the best option at a low-bar restaurant or something I guess I'd order it over the mass-produced mainstays. Glad to have; glad to move on to the next unique beer.
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