Oktoberfest
Santa Fe Brewing Company

OktoberfestOktoberfest
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From:
Santa Fe Brewing Company
 
New Mexico, United States
Style:
Märzen
ABV:
6%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 11.91%
Reviews:
66
Ratings:
205
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 28, 2021
Added:
Oct 05, 2010
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  35
Though it is not necessary to drink this beer out of a mug that is larger than your head while dancing to polka music and wearing your lederhosen, you will find this lager's unbridled festivity difficult to resist. This ode to Germany's classic fall lagers is as clean, clear, and quaffable as any that has ever weighed down the table of a German Beer garden. The crisp maltiness of classic Munich malt compounded with the delicious notes of Bavarian hops gives this clean-finishing beer just the right flavor for the end of the summer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by woosterbill:
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

3.4/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz can into a Weyerbacher tulip. Thanks to JAHMUR for sharing.

A: Clear medium amber body beneath minimal head. Pretty uninspiring.

S: Meh. Generic nutty + caramel maltiness as well as some stone fruit. Not bad, just average.

T: Maltiness dominates throughout, happily leaving the weird fruitiness by the wayside in favor of sweet nuttiness. Tasty enough.

M: Soft medium body with moderate carbonation. Nice.

O: Decent beer, and I'm always happy to see craft in cans. I preferred this brewery's IPA by a good margin, though.

Cheers!
Nov 06, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.78 by KSenye

Nov 28, 2021
Photo of LukeGude
Rated by LukeGude from Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From the can while camping near the Great Sand Dunes. Decent.
Nov 04, 2020
Photo of ZenAgnostic
Reviewed by ZenAgnostic from Texas

4.25/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz can poured into Duvel tulip. BEST BEFORE 11/19/20 printed on bottom rim of can. So this still has 2.5 months left in it.

Appearance - Clear amber body. Medium 1 finger fine white head that easily regenerates with swirls. Decent to decent-low retention. Decent stick and lacing. 4.25

Smell - Faint nutty. Faint corn and grass as well. Thin in the nose overall. 4.25

Taste - Nutty. Caramel. Some bitter hop. Maybe a little more malty than a typical oktoberfest beer. Which I think actually works out if you're only having a couple, but if you're going to be downing a large oktoberfest-sized quantity of beer, this may be a little too sweet for the job. 4.25

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied. Slight astringency. Mostly clean finish. 4.25

Overall - Slightly above par across the board. Inoffensive. Drinkable. Not particularly interesting, but that may be due to the style and not the example. 4.25
Jul 30, 2020
Photo of gvickery
Reviewed by gvickery from Texas

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks medium dark copper with a smallish tan head. Smells sweet, toasted, brown bread. Semisweet but finishes on the drier side. It has a residual toasted malt flavor that is not a drawback, at least for me. The abv is slightly high but if you pace yourself it would be easy to drink several of these. This is a great representation of the style. It has a semi dry finish and a medium mouthfeel.
Oct 19, 2019
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. can - Best before 01/03/20:

Pours orange hued with a head that descend to a lasting thin cover. Very nice color. Spotted lacing sticks.

The smell is of sweet bread with a hint of grassy noble hops. Smells like an O-fest.

The taste is of sweet grain/bread/lightly toasted biscuit and nuts. Finish is slightly dry for the style.

It is smooth - very smooth.

A nice autumnal lager to say the least. Very drinkable. Very smooth. I really like this one - The brewery took the style and made it their own while staying within the general style guidelines. Nice malt character with a bit of hops and slight alcohol warmth. Very enjoyable!

Prost!
Oct 11, 2019
Photo of sjdevel
Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah

3.57/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
LOOK - very nice copper color and very clear - decent 2 finger head but the retention could have been better
SMELL - slight caramel and slight bread and yeast - not very aromatic at all - disappointing
TASTE - maybe a touch of hops at first - it gets dirty tasting - some earthy herbal notes - then there is a peanut/almond flavor that is off-putting - gets sweeter and some caramel and dark brown sugar come through
FEEL - medium mouthfeel - feels about right - slight oiliness - carbonation really trails off after a few minutes
OVERALL - this is just ok - it isn't horrible but there are so many Oktoberfest/Marzens out there that I won't bother with this one again - there is a slight off flavor here and there - after taste is like stale cracker jack - a bit odd but not bad
Oct 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by Connybumbum from Colorado

Sep 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kolb from Montana

Apr 29, 2019
 
Rated: 3.25 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Dec 16, 2018
 
Rated: 2.95 by firkingroovin from Illinois

Nov 08, 2018
Photo of MrGreensled
Reviewed by MrGreensled from Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours nice with a creamy fast rising head. Color and appearance
An okay German Märzen / Oktoberfest when compared side by side with other more traditional examples, though I certainly agree with the can's label, "A not exactly authentic German Märzen-style lager, brewed by very authentic New Mexicans."
Oct 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.82 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Oct 08, 2018
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz undated can poured into a krug at fridge temp 6% ABV. The beer pours bright light honey amber in color with off white head. The head recedes to a thin film and ring. The aroma is Munich malt. The taste is very bready caramel with a firm (American) hoppy bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. There is a metallic finish that is slightly distracting. Overall, good. A better beer than Oktoberfest. I'm not a fan of this much caramel or American hops in my Marzen.
Oct 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.48 by beeragent from Texas

Sep 17, 2018
Photo of mjurney
Reviewed by mjurney from Texas

3.19/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Appearance:
Amber, brilliant. Fast rising bubbles. Thick creamy head. Good head retention. Leaves a pretty good lacing behind.

Aroma:
Sweet pale malts, biscuit, caramel, clean lager yeast, faint spicy hops.

Taste/Finish/Body:
Sweet pale malts is dominant, biscuit, some caramel and toast. Some clean yeast character. Hop bitterness is very mild. Very dry aftertaste that lingers. Medium bodied, dry, medium carbonation, somewhat drinkable.

Overall:
Not the best Marzen/Oktoberfest, it's fairly good.
Aug 26, 2018
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer is a clear gold color with a large white head.
Bread and sweet malt aroma.
Caramel taste. White bread toast.
Medium-bodied. On the sweet side.
Will buy this again.
Aug 21, 2018
Photo of denver10
Reviewed by denver10 from New Mexico

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours amber with an off white head. Aroma is nutty, biscuity, a little grassy. Flavor follows suit. Medium bodied mouthful, moderate activity. Overall, initially I wasn't much a fan but began to like it more and more as I worked through my six pack. Perhaps its better with a few weeks of age to it than fresh from the tanks?
Jul 22, 2018
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a can, this one is a clear, golden amber color. The aroma is bready, malty, and a little nutty. The taste is lightly toasty, with a semi-sweet balance. Caramel and low bitterness. Full in body and very nice.
Dec 02, 2017
Photo of JLaw55
Reviewed by JLaw55 from Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This was a pleasant surprise and a great Oktoberfest. It hit all the right notes; roasted and toasted malt, caramel, toffee, earthy, somewhat sweet, and a kiss of hops to keep it all in check. And this one is surprisingly drinkable. Especially so for a 6% ABV brew. Just a great all around beer and an outstanding Oktoberfest.

Would drink again: Yes
Would purchase again: Yes
Oct 25, 2017
Oktoberfest from Santa Fe Brewing Company
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 205 ratings