Oktoberfest
Capital Brewery


- From:
- Capital Brewery
- Wisconsin, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
Ranked #512 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #76,956 - Avg:
- 3.6 | pDev: 13.06%
- Reviews:
- 151
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 14, 2022
- Added:
- Oct 26, 2001
- Wants:
- 4
- Gots:
- 30
2014 GABF Gold Medal (German-Style Marzen)
The mother of all seasonal beers has a fiery amber hue with rich malty overtones that dominate the flavor.
The mother of all seasonal beers has a fiery amber hue with rich malty overtones that dominate the flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin
3.98/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, medium amber color with a strong off whtie head. SRM of 12. (4.25)
Aroma: Strong crackery and grainy aromas upfront. Moderate aromas of bread, toast, with a slight caramel note. Mostly crackery, grainy, yeasty. Smells like a brewery. (3.75)
Flavor: Moderate flavors cracker malt, grains, bread malt upfront. A German influence, and somewhat earthy. An underlying rich bready and slight caramel flavor underneath. Slightly nutty. Leans slightly malty on the finish from rich bread, but dry. See below. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Strong carbonation to match. Full-bodied. Yeasty, clean. (4.25)
Compared to Capital Skål Winter Lager 12/2022: Pours similar, similar aromas. Slightly more earthy and hoppy Munich flavors. Less rich bread and caramel. Slightly more hoppy and less malty with similar sweetness and overall very similar.
Compared to Bent Tuba Titletown 12/2022: Pours similar, milder aromas. More rich bread, orange citrus, Munich malt. Less toasted malt and caramel.
Overall: A pretty decent Oktoberfest here. Strong cracker, grains, yeast, with a full mouthfeel, yet a soft, dry body. Slightly nutty. Full, dry, grainy, clean. Right up my alley for a drinkable beer and Oktoberfest. Leans toward my liking and I'll say the flavors aren't pronounced, but there's enough complexity here. It's better than expected folks, and I'm coming back to it. (Rating: 3.98+)
Sep 14, 2022Aroma: Strong crackery and grainy aromas upfront. Moderate aromas of bread, toast, with a slight caramel note. Mostly crackery, grainy, yeasty. Smells like a brewery. (3.75)
Flavor: Moderate flavors cracker malt, grains, bread malt upfront. A German influence, and somewhat earthy. An underlying rich bready and slight caramel flavor underneath. Slightly nutty. Leans slightly malty on the finish from rich bread, but dry. See below. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Strong carbonation to match. Full-bodied. Yeasty, clean. (4.25)
Compared to Capital Skål Winter Lager 12/2022: Pours similar, similar aromas. Slightly more earthy and hoppy Munich flavors. Less rich bread and caramel. Slightly more hoppy and less malty with similar sweetness and overall very similar.
Compared to Bent Tuba Titletown 12/2022: Pours similar, milder aromas. More rich bread, orange citrus, Munich malt. Less toasted malt and caramel.
Overall: A pretty decent Oktoberfest here. Strong cracker, grains, yeast, with a full mouthfeel, yet a soft, dry body. Slightly nutty. Full, dry, grainy, clean. Right up my alley for a drinkable beer and Oktoberfest. Leans toward my liking and I'll say the flavors aren't pronounced, but there's enough complexity here. It's better than expected folks, and I'm coming back to it. (Rating: 3.98+)
Reviewed by magikbagel from Wisconsin
3.16/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.16/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I find the smell somewhat offputting, its like an overwhelming molasses smell. Aside from that its an OK octoberfest beer, It’s a little on the sweeter side and leaves a strange aftertaste. If it had more of a toasty and hoppy bite I’d enjoy it more.
Oct 10, 2021Reviewed by jrc1093 from Connecticut
3.07/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.07/5 rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Can bottom reads '19108P'; consumed on 11/26/20
Pours a clear, deep orange-copper body topped with over two fingers of fluffy, off-white foam; decent head retention leaves a slight layer of creamy cap, a moderate, frothy collar, and sparse spread of webbed/spotty lacing along the walls of the glass.
Aroma gives immediate impressions of green apple peel as caramel malt sneaks through in an attempt to balance; sparse minerality over the middle gives way to brown sugar, yeasty esters, and honeyed bread dough on the close.
Taste opens with fruity esters and a light honeysuckle as sparse yeast and prickly minerality cut through; toasty malt and brown bread crust finish as green apple, pear, and a sharper minerality linger past the swallow.
Mouthfeel offers a medium body trending light with a moderate carbonation fluffing delicately on the palate; a crisp, flaky mid-palate guides to a semi-wet finish, highlighting a brightness verging towards acidity while remaining entirely approachable with lingering dryness.
There's plenty of character here, even if somewhat rough around the edges and more orchard fruit-forward for the style; maintains a baseline for drinkability, even if constructed a bit sloppily.
Nov 26, 2020Pours a clear, deep orange-copper body topped with over two fingers of fluffy, off-white foam; decent head retention leaves a slight layer of creamy cap, a moderate, frothy collar, and sparse spread of webbed/spotty lacing along the walls of the glass.
Aroma gives immediate impressions of green apple peel as caramel malt sneaks through in an attempt to balance; sparse minerality over the middle gives way to brown sugar, yeasty esters, and honeyed bread dough on the close.
Taste opens with fruity esters and a light honeysuckle as sparse yeast and prickly minerality cut through; toasty malt and brown bread crust finish as green apple, pear, and a sharper minerality linger past the swallow.
Mouthfeel offers a medium body trending light with a moderate carbonation fluffing delicately on the palate; a crisp, flaky mid-palate guides to a semi-wet finish, highlighting a brightness verging towards acidity while remaining entirely approachable with lingering dryness.
There's plenty of character here, even if somewhat rough around the edges and more orchard fruit-forward for the style; maintains a baseline for drinkability, even if constructed a bit sloppily.
Reviewed by MercInc from Wisconsin
3.64/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
Trying a few local takes on the "OktoberFest - Marzen" Theme.
Poured at 40 degrees into a pilsner glass. Nice darker amber color with a thick white head that stayed around for more than 5 minutes. Notes of roasted malts and a sweet, smooth mouth feel. The hops were well hidden in this one.
A good "OktoberFest" beer. Very drinkable.
Sep 26, 2020Poured at 40 degrees into a pilsner glass. Nice darker amber color with a thick white head that stayed around for more than 5 minutes. Notes of roasted malts and a sweet, smooth mouth feel. The hops were well hidden in this one.
A good "OktoberFest" beer. Very drinkable.
Reviewed by German-Helles from Wisconsin
3.71/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.71/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
This 120Z. bottle poured a dark amber, leaning to the hazy side, yet clear enough to watch the medium carbonation ascend in the glass. An aggressive pour gave me a solid two fingers of off white foam that receded to just a thin cap after a couple of minutes.
The aroma is the typical Marzen malt smell and slightly sweet.
The taste follows the nose, bread notes, sweet caramel flavors, just enough hops to tame the sweetness with a slightly dry finish.
This one seems creamier than many of the Oktoberfests I've had this year.
Overall this is an OK Oktoberfest beer, looks nice, smells OK, and is very easy to drink.
Oct 12, 2019The aroma is the typical Marzen malt smell and slightly sweet.
The taste follows the nose, bread notes, sweet caramel flavors, just enough hops to tame the sweetness with a slightly dry finish.
This one seems creamier than many of the Oktoberfests I've had this year.
Overall this is an OK Oktoberfest beer, looks nice, smells OK, and is very easy to drink.
Reviewed by Schlitz74 from Illinois
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured a darker amber color with no head into a dimpled mug. It is an descent beer, I am not to familiar with the style so I can't say how it compares to others in the style. It is worth a try if you live in Wi.
Oct 22, 2018Reviewed by BenneJ95 from Wisconsin
1.62/5 rDev -55%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
1.62/5 rDev -55%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
If you like Octoberfest beers, then don’t buy this. It has a non hoppy yet bitter taste with a slightly metallic hint. I truly enjoy the Octoberfest season, perhaps my favorite style of beer, but I accidentally bought some again this year and was yet again disappointed. Yuck.
Sep 08, 2018Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.65/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 12oz bottle into glass.
Amber body, not completely clear, persistent slightly off white cap.
Rich aroma of caramel malt and spices.
Taste of malt, caramel and spice.
A thicker mouthfeel.
A very enjoyable Marzen style beer. Perfect for the fall festivals.
Oct 08, 2017Amber body, not completely clear, persistent slightly off white cap.
Rich aroma of caramel malt and spices.
Taste of malt, caramel and spice.
A thicker mouthfeel.
A very enjoyable Marzen style beer. Perfect for the fall festivals.
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