Weihenstephaner Festbier
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Had Weihenstephaner's Festbier poured from 11.2-oz. bottle, label stamped "3153," apparently meaning bottled on April 13, 2023, into Tübinger Kugel.

Pours light yellow with clarity and 1/2-finger, fizzing near-white head, which quickly dissipates away, leaving only a few specks of lace. Sweet malt aroma and a little tart stone fruit off pour, with the malt diminished but continuing into light herbal and floral aromas as warms. On tasting, begins sweet, mild malt over nice carbonation, carrying into some herbal hop bite, with a little mild, sweet fruit, before a somewhat sticky, still crisp, moderately bitter lager finish.

Das Bier, und nur das Bier.

 

 

Pours a very light straw with not much head.

The aroma is very faint. As it should be what smell there is is malt. That carries over into the taste. There is only a touch of hops (I cannot help but think of the Schlitz slogan). The malt though falls short of what I was expecting from a festbier.

The feel is light, but not watery. It delivers the drinkability it is meant to bring to the party. In future, however, I will stick to my Märzens.

Now (September 2023) on tap at the German-American Club of Albany, 32 Cherry Street, Albany (Colonie) New York. Open to the public Fridays from 5 pm on. Meals also available, along with live accordion music and plenty of cheer to go along with it. We've loved Weihenstephaner Weissbier for a few years now, added the Festbier to the seasonal offerings. Mark your calendar for a keg of Andechs Festbier to be tapped Sunday, November 12th, 2 pm for our "Afternoon in Bavaria" event. See our Facebook postings for details. Keeping German-American traditions alive in New York's Capitol District since 1895!

 

 

Look - clear, pale straw, head dissipated quickly, no lacing
Smell - cracker, spice, fruity
Taste - cracker, spice, sweet apple
Feel - light body, moderate carbonation, a bit flat
Overall - Cracker with some spice and fruity apple round out the taste profile. I hate to say it but this brew lands on the lower end of the spectrum for me. It's not bad but it came off a bit flat. I'd drink it again but wouldn't go out of my way for it. I'm ready for a new brew in this session so I paired her up with Train Kept a Rollin' by Aerosmith. Next!

 

Poured from an 11.2-oz undated bottle into a pint glass.

Look: Clear golden, with a 2" white head that dissipated within a couple minutes, leaving adequate lacing.

Nose: Grain, bread.

Mouthfeel: Medium, adequate carbonation.

Attack: Follows the nose, with malt appropriate to style.

Finish: Some hop bitterness to balance.

Overall: Quite drinkable. I've long been a fan of good Oktoberfest Märzen beers; this is actually my first or second Festbier/Wiesnbier. I now understand now the differentiation described in BA's style descriptions — yes, while I prefer a good Märzen, this style is more "poundable." (!) I'd be happy to drink this again, though.

 

Draft at Glendale hieghts Oktoberfest

Pours a crystal clear, golden in color with a small head that dissipates rather quickly. Some lacing as you drink, mostly slides down the glass. Carbonation looks pretty average, maybe a tick below. Could use a little more head retention but spot on otherwise.

Aroma is spicy hops, yeast, bread and butter, sweet corn, lemon and apple. It has an overall sweet and earthy vibe. Very fresh.

Taste follows the aroma well. Lots of bread, yeast and sweet corn up front along with some honey and a building hop spice as it sits on the tongue. Feels hop forward, but they are somewhat subdued, mostly lemon rind and grass.

This is medium bodied and drinks very smooth, creamy and clean. Perfect, delicate carbonation. Extremely drinkable. One of the best mouthfeels I've had in a beer.

I can see why festbier is now the preferred style for Oktoberfest (replacing Marzen). This is extremely "poundable", which was the intent. Plus it is just extremely refined, high quality stuff. Its not overly complex, but it really nails the notes of fall. A great beer to mark the occasion that I will happily seek out again. Prost!

Look - very clear, pale yellow, one finger's width of very white froth, moderate carbonation

Smell - pleasant, light malt

Taste - light body, hops forward taste

Feel - smooth and creamy; it goes down too fast, and it's already time for another

This beer is outstanding. The very good rating is not accurate.

Good example of an Oktoberfest beer. This is not a Marzan so it doesn’t have a copper colour and sweet malt taste. It is crisp but has depth. It takes time to brew beer like this and it is well worth the wait.