Oktoberfest
Sprecher Brewing Company


- From:
- Sprecher Brewing Company
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
Ranked #182 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #35,671 - Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 13.07%
- Reviews:
- 165
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 26, 2023
- Added:
- Apr 18, 2002
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 25
Gold Medal Winner in the German-style/Oktoberfest category at the 2004 Great American Beer Festival (GABF).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey
3.78/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was yet another beer that I picked up at Marketplace Foods in Rice Lake, Wisconsin when I was out that way recently. Never did anything for Octoberfest this year but this was a good substitute for what I missed out on, as it was tasty, easy to drink, and relatively true to stylistic form from start to finish!
Not surprisingly, this had a copper hue to with a nice radiance as the liquid was topped off with a sufficient head that easily filled up the remainder of my glass and was full of both bubbles and body. Only a few hints of rings remained as there was one near the top of my glass and a few thicker ones just above the middle. Not a strong aroma to this with only light bread, and fall fruit emerging through the malt. Lots of bread and spice in the light body with the fruit coming in once this fully warmed up. Light in body and carbonation, this was fine to sip but could have used less bread and more depth to it.
The alcohol was spot-on as I only felt a bit of warming kick in before taking the last few sips. No date was written on the can as only a few numbers that appeared to be part of a code were stamped on the bottom. There was enough sweetness here to ensure a tasty offering as this was about as accessible a Marzen that I've ever had as the ABV listed was only 5.5%. This was a nice nightcap to relax with, but not as good as better examples of the style...
Dec 16, 2022Not surprisingly, this had a copper hue to with a nice radiance as the liquid was topped off with a sufficient head that easily filled up the remainder of my glass and was full of both bubbles and body. Only a few hints of rings remained as there was one near the top of my glass and a few thicker ones just above the middle. Not a strong aroma to this with only light bread, and fall fruit emerging through the malt. Lots of bread and spice in the light body with the fruit coming in once this fully warmed up. Light in body and carbonation, this was fine to sip but could have used less bread and more depth to it.
The alcohol was spot-on as I only felt a bit of warming kick in before taking the last few sips. No date was written on the can as only a few numbers that appeared to be part of a code were stamped on the bottom. There was enough sweetness here to ensure a tasty offering as this was about as accessible a Marzen that I've ever had as the ABV listed was only 5.5%. This was a nice nightcap to relax with, but not as good as better examples of the style...
Reviewed by German-Helles from Wisconsin
3.56/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.56/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This is a 12oz. can poured into the Specher pint glass. This lager is a dark clear amber with two fingers of tan foam. The head slowly fades to a thin cap leaving behind no lacing. The carbonation is very steady.
The aroma is what I expect from a marzen, malty, fresh bead, with a little sweetness.
The flavor is sweet roasted malt up front then a crisp hop, slightly bitter, spicy finish.
The feel is somewhat light, making this very east to sit down and sample a few.
This Marzen looks very nice, has a pleasant aroma, the spice at the end is a bit more than many of the German samples.
Sep 14, 2022The aroma is what I expect from a marzen, malty, fresh bead, with a little sweetness.
The flavor is sweet roasted malt up front then a crisp hop, slightly bitter, spicy finish.
The feel is somewhat light, making this very east to sit down and sample a few.
This Marzen looks very nice, has a pleasant aroma, the spice at the end is a bit more than many of the German samples.
Reviewed by scaliasux from Wisconsin
3.53/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
L - Fairly dark reddish-orange. Clear. Medium tall off-white head. Decent persistence.
S - Bread and grain, caramel.
T - Sweet bready malt with a good dose of spiciness, a little caramel.
F - Medium.
O - A little on the rich side, but a flavorful oktoberfest, nonetheless.
Jan 10, 2021S - Bread and grain, caramel.
T - Sweet bready malt with a good dose of spiciness, a little caramel.
F - Medium.
O - A little on the rich side, but a flavorful oktoberfest, nonetheless.
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.72/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red with a fluffy off white head. Smells of caramelized grain with nice fruit notes. Tastes of bright fruit and caramelized grain. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Dec 30, 2020Reviewed by barnzy78 from Illinois
3.84/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle
L: clear deep amber-brown body with a tall & foamy tan head that leaves nice lacing down the glass
S: very malty; rye bread crust, caramel, toasted grain; earthy & spicy hops
T: very rich; caramel, toasted malt, more rye bread crust, toffee; earthy & spicy hops
F: full body, again very rich, smooth carbonation, finishes more sweet than bitter
O: sweet and rich which takes away from it being easy drinking, but it is very flavorful
Oct 16, 2020L: clear deep amber-brown body with a tall & foamy tan head that leaves nice lacing down the glass
S: very malty; rye bread crust, caramel, toasted grain; earthy & spicy hops
T: very rich; caramel, toasted malt, more rye bread crust, toffee; earthy & spicy hops
F: full body, again very rich, smooth carbonation, finishes more sweet than bitter
O: sweet and rich which takes away from it being easy drinking, but it is very flavorful
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.04/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Caramel clear body with two fingers of white foam. Caramel/toffee, bread pudding, grains, and grassy hops make up the aromas. Taste settles into the malts to start, really letting the drinker enjoy the caramel, malts, grains, and bread, but then gets a pretty decent hop zing to finish with a touch of grass and rye. Body is medium but has higher carbonation, malty smooth. Solid all around
Oct 16, 2019Rated by wl2bill from Wisconsin
2.43/5 rDev -35.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.43/5 rDev -35.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Not the best octoberfest. Has A dirty taste.
Apr 11, 2019Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
3.4/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep mahogany color and crystal clear. Thick bubbly tan head dissipates steadily ultimately leaving no residual head or lacing behind.
Aroma is very malty with notes of sweet bread, caramel, toffee, with a slight floral hoppy note on the back end.
Taste follows the nose with a nice sweet bready malt with caramel and toffee notes cascade across the palate. The malts take on more of a toasted character as the beer warms. A touch of grain is noted in the profile and some floral hoppy notes with a subtle spicy tint to them. As marzens go this is solidly in the American camp - definitely sweet. Reminds me a lot of SA's Oktoberfest.
Feel is light and pretty drinkable. Semi-dry finish. Overall it fits the bill well enough.
Overall this is a solidly average American marzen. I'd drink it again, but its not going to stand up with the best American examples of the style.
Sep 09, 2018Aroma is very malty with notes of sweet bread, caramel, toffee, with a slight floral hoppy note on the back end.
Taste follows the nose with a nice sweet bready malt with caramel and toffee notes cascade across the palate. The malts take on more of a toasted character as the beer warms. A touch of grain is noted in the profile and some floral hoppy notes with a subtle spicy tint to them. As marzens go this is solidly in the American camp - definitely sweet. Reminds me a lot of SA's Oktoberfest.
Feel is light and pretty drinkable. Semi-dry finish. Overall it fits the bill well enough.
Overall this is a solidly average American marzen. I'd drink it again, but its not going to stand up with the best American examples of the style.
Reviewed by Angerhaus from Rhode Island
3.15/5 rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.15/5 rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Yet another substandard offering from the Sprecher Brewing Company. It's a good thing that their Root Beer sells so well, otherwise they'd probably have closed their doors already.
Apr 30, 2017Reviewed by DrMullet from Florida
3.25/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours a clear amber/orange color.
Very light smell of sweet malts and caramel.
Taste is slightly sweet with some dried fruit.
A bit dry. Full bodied.
Apr 02, 2017Very light smell of sweet malts and caramel.
Taste is slightly sweet with some dried fruit.
A bit dry. Full bodied.
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