Oktoberfest
Dark Horse Brewing Company

OktoberfestOktoberfest
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From:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Märzen
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 14.93%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
81
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2021
Added:
Sep 09, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  11
Copious amounts of Bonlander Munich Malt give this beer a great malt sweetness and very big body to enjoy with the change in season. This beer is released to coincide with the official Oktoberfest in Munich Germany.

24 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bschmidt_37:
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Rated by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Oct 16, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.74 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Nov 27, 2021
Photo of Johnsfolly
Rated by Johnsfolly from Michigan

4.39/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Not overly sweet like many American Märzen beers. Nicely balanced. Darkish color, malty nose. Great example.
Oct 31, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled 8/11/16; drank 9/5/16 @ the Yarchives.

Semi-opaque purple/brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small tan head; decent lace.

Apple, burnt caramel & brown sugar notes in the nose.

Medium thick mouthfeel.

Brown sugar, acorn & fresh apple flavors up front; mild cinnamon notes on the finish.

Autumn in a glass, this flirts with being too sweet but never falls victim. Very good.
Jun 15, 2019
Photo of bushbeer75
Reviewed by bushbeer75 from Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz brown bottle - not dated

Dark Horse Oktoberfest filled my glass mug with a dark amber body forming an off-white 1-finger head that reduced to a thin ring of foam. The nose was malty, a little nutty, and has a caramel sweetness. The flavors follow the nose, however, are stronger than the smell. A very light hop bitterness is also present at the finish. The body is medium with moderate carbonation and a little sticky in the mouth.

Overall, a sweeter Oktoberfest that is flavorful - I Iike it!
Feb 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4.43 by pstam87 from Illinois

Oct 19, 2018
Photo of JimboBrews54
Reviewed by JimboBrews54 from Michigan

4.97/5  rDev +32.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Red brown with off white head and decent lacing. Strong caramel and biscuit aromas with baked apple and grassy notes. On the sweeter side, but not over powering and has a slight dryness in the finish. Slight sticky feel, tasty Oktoberfest offering.
Oct 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by prototypic from Ohio

Sep 29, 2018
Photo of Brutaltruth
Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This solid little fest brew pours a
nice red tinged clear mahogany with a decent head of off white foam that
settles to a thick ring, thin light swirling pool, and displays some subtle
lacing. Nose of lightly scorched brown sugars with a hint of orchard fruit
and subtle breaded malts. Flavors exceed the nose with a nice dark roasted
brown sugar atop a light peach and herbal hop that provides balance with a
light touch of breaded malts and a touch of grains on the finish. Nice mouth
feel; medium light body, medium light carbonation that is lively, and a moderately
sweet brulee touched malt and herbal hop finish that is subtly dry.

A solid brew from a great little brewery!

Cheers
Sep 12, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by paulish from New York

Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 1.22 by BenHoppy from Michigan

Nov 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by The_Beer_Guru from New York

Nov 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.86 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Oct 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.42 by HardyA from Michigan

Oct 26, 2017
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz bottle (date is unreadable, but this fall's vintage) poured into a.5L krug at fridge temp no ABV listed on bottle. The beer pours a deep dark reddish brown with abundant light brown head. The head settles to a nice 1/8" cap with no lacing. The aroma is nutty with a burnt sugar presence. The taste is dark nutty sweetness that somehow finishes with a nice spicy hop dryness. Mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied, well carbonated, dry and a little grainy. Overall, pretty good. I never know what to expect with a Dark Horse beer. This is fairly traditional, albeit dark. Similar to Spaten, which is high praise from myself.
Oct 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by -Andrew- from Michigan

Oct 13, 2017
Photo of fitrock2112
Reviewed by fitrock2112 from Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured Dark Horse Oktoberfest into a pint glass.
A - Dark amber with a finger of off white head.
S - Carmel, sugar, roasted malts
T - Burnt sugar, carmel, light hops. Light roasted malts.
M- Smooth medium mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.
O - Great Oktoberfest.
Oct 11, 2017
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
This one pours a nice dark-ish brown, with a fluffy white head, and lots of lacing.

This smells very, very sweet, almost berry-like, with toffee, and caramel.

This is the classic American-style over-caramelization of this type of beer, as this has a very sweet caramel malt character, and a completely out of place berry fruitiness. It's not dry in the slightest, there's no spicy hop character, it doesn't have that nice balanced malt richness I want from the style. This is quite disappointing.

The body on this is also far too big and beefy, and probably adds to the too-sweet feeling that this has. It's carbonated normally.

This is very disappointing, but unsurprising.
Oct 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by JDoHo from Michigan

Oct 08, 2017
Photo of CNoj012
Reviewed by CNoj012 from New York

3.18/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
This beer pours a deep ruby brown color with a two finger, creamy light khaki head. Retention is moderate and there are chunks of hanging lacing left all over the glass.

Smell is very sweet and nutty. Caramel, nuts, toffee, dough, chocolate and roasted malts are all I get. The malt profile reminds me more of a brown ale or a porter honestly.

Taste is similar with the only real difference from the smell being that there is a hit of hop spice on the finish. If it wasn't for that this beer would truly drink as if it were a brown ale. Also it is a bit boozy.

Feel is medium full and sticky. Again not anywhere near what it should be for the style.

Overall this beer is decent, but not to style whatsoever. It is overly sweet, too heavy and sticky.
Oct 06, 2017
Oktoberfest from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 81 ratings