Left Hand Oktoberfest | Left Hand Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Left Hand Brewing Company
Colorado, United States
lefthandbrewing.com
Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.60%
Availability: Fall
Notes / Commercial Description:
This is no festivus for the restivus, on the contrary, we start brewing in the spring and it takes a full two months to reach lagered perfection. Biscuity, malty goodness dominates upfront while the noble pedigree hops lend a properly spicy, dry finish.
Added by rowew on 08-22-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,214 | Reviews: 439
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. Bottle
Pours a pretty nice yellowish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy/foamy white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with some spice notes. The taste is malty, yeasty, spicy, Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
294 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz. Bottle
Pours a pretty nice yellowish color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy/foamy white head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with some spice notes. The taste is malty, yeasty, spicy, Medium body. Overall, a pretty tasty brew.
294 characters
3.95/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Enjoyed this brew in February. Copper color, spice and caramel laden palette, beautiful finish.
95 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Enjoyed this brew in February. Copper color, spice and caramel laden palette, beautiful finish.
95 characters
3.08/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
**
11/30/13
04/17/14
AROMA: Grains, brown sugar.
LOOK: light copper color, clear. no head.
TASTE: is caramel. brown sugar, grains.
FEEL: very little carbonation. Medium Body.
OK....Enjoyed the 2nd one more than the first. 2.60 to 3.08.
**
248 characters
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
**
11/30/13
04/17/14
AROMA: Grains, brown sugar.
LOOK: light copper color, clear. no head.
TASTE: is caramel. brown sugar, grains.
FEEL: very little carbonation. Medium Body.
OK....Enjoyed the 2nd one more than the first. 2.60 to 3.08.
**
248 characters
3.71/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a very heavy, very malty octoberfest, I suppose the American style upped a notch by a brewery known for dark beers. It is caramel sweet and a bitter ending. Better than many in its same class, which I call dark microbrew octoberfest.
241 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a very heavy, very malty octoberfest, I suppose the American style upped a notch by a brewery known for dark beers. It is caramel sweet and a bitter ending. Better than many in its same class, which I call dark microbrew octoberfest.
241 characters
3.85/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.56/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I decided to give this one a whirl since I saw no other local options that I felt compelled to order while my wife and I were munching on some pizza in Green Bay the night before the Colts @ Packers game. I've had plenty of Left Hand beers before and figured that this one would be good too. This beer pours a dark amber with light carbonation visible through the clear liquid. A thin white head dissipates quickly to a thin creamy lacing that is retained. 3.5/5 The aroma is very sweet with caramel, toffee, dark malted grains, and toasted wheat bread each having their time in the sun. Typical of the style, the grainy sweetness pervades throughout the aroma profile. 3.75/5 The flavor is very fruity and sweet with caramel, toffee, dates, raisins, red wine grapes, dark malted grains, and toasted wheat bread all coming out and melding together into a cacophony sweetness. This is probably the most fruity Oktoberfest that I have ever had. 3.5/5 A moderate carbonation burn hits the tongue straight away and transitions into a medium body that is a bit drier and less creamy than most other beers of this style that I have had. 3.5/5 I've gotta say, I was expecting something completely different. The fruitiness really throws me here and it just doesn't feel right for an Oktoberfest. I can't say that I will be revisiting this one any time soon, although it is tasty. It's just not for me... 3.5/5
1,419 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I decided to give this one a whirl since I saw no other local options that I felt compelled to order while my wife and I were munching on some pizza in Green Bay the night before the Colts @ Packers game. I've had plenty of Left Hand beers before and figured that this one would be good too. This beer pours a dark amber with light carbonation visible through the clear liquid. A thin white head dissipates quickly to a thin creamy lacing that is retained. 3.5/5 The aroma is very sweet with caramel, toffee, dark malted grains, and toasted wheat bread each having their time in the sun. Typical of the style, the grainy sweetness pervades throughout the aroma profile. 3.75/5 The flavor is very fruity and sweet with caramel, toffee, dates, raisins, red wine grapes, dark malted grains, and toasted wheat bread all coming out and melding together into a cacophony sweetness. This is probably the most fruity Oktoberfest that I have ever had. 3.5/5 A moderate carbonation burn hits the tongue straight away and transitions into a medium body that is a bit drier and less creamy than most other beers of this style that I have had. 3.5/5 I've gotta say, I was expecting something completely different. The fruitiness really throws me here and it just doesn't feel right for an Oktoberfest. I can't say that I will be revisiting this one any time soon, although it is tasty. It's just not for me... 3.5/5
1,419 characters
4.27/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle
Pours copper red amber with a creamy frothy off-white foam head. Smells like sweet honey grain, grape, pear, apple, toasted brown bread crust, raisins, caramely molasses-like malt, mild spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like toasted brown bread crust, honey grain, grape, pear, apple, raisins, caramely molasses-like malt, mild spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with moderate low carbonation. Overall a nice Oktoberfestbier.
504 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle
Pours copper red amber with a creamy frothy off-white foam head. Smells like sweet honey grain, grape, pear, apple, toasted brown bread crust, raisins, caramely molasses-like malt, mild spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like toasted brown bread crust, honey grain, grape, pear, apple, raisins, caramely molasses-like malt, mild spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy with moderate low carbonation. Overall a nice Oktoberfestbier.
504 characters
4.71/5 rDev +25.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
It is hard to think of a better example of this category. Like this destroys Karl Strauss and even Spaten. And Ayinger. And others that know what they're doing.
160 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
It is hard to think of a better example of this category. Like this destroys Karl Strauss and even Spaten. And Ayinger. And others that know what they're doing.
160 characters
3.25/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a perfect pint.
L=Perfect deep red color...head was a tad thin and dissipated quickly.
S=Bit musty, like a basement.
T=Sweetness dominates, with a hint of caramel and citrus. Nice maltiness, hint of hops. Other than the sweetness, a very tasty beer.
F=Very light carbonation...hard to gauge due to sweetness.
O=An above average märzen, but it was a bit too sweet for my liking.
392 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a perfect pint.
L=Perfect deep red color...head was a tad thin and dissipated quickly.
S=Bit musty, like a basement.
T=Sweetness dominates, with a hint of caramel and citrus. Nice maltiness, hint of hops. Other than the sweetness, a very tasty beer.
F=Very light carbonation...hard to gauge due to sweetness.
O=An above average märzen, but it was a bit too sweet for my liking.
392 characters
3.25/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.48/5 rDev +19.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.29/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This FINE fest pours a brilliant clear
ruby mahogany with an excellent head of off white foam that subsides to a thick
ring, thin layer, and features some very nice sudsy lacing. Nose of heavy
caramel, brown sugars, and rich breaded malts. Flavors follow the nose with
perfection----brown sugar touched breaded malts and caramel malts on all
sides with a nice medium bittering herbal hop note on the rear to bring it all
into balance with a touch of alcohol warmth. Excellent mouth feel, smooth,
rich, coating, light carbonation, and darn near a perfect finish that is lightly
sweet and herbal hopped. Overall an excellent example of the style from an
excellent brewery here in America.
Cheers
740 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From the 12 oz bottle in a snifter. This FINE fest pours a brilliant clear
ruby mahogany with an excellent head of off white foam that subsides to a thick
ring, thin layer, and features some very nice sudsy lacing. Nose of heavy
caramel, brown sugars, and rich breaded malts. Flavors follow the nose with
perfection----brown sugar touched breaded malts and caramel malts on all
sides with a nice medium bittering herbal hop note on the rear to bring it all
into balance with a touch of alcohol warmth. Excellent mouth feel, smooth,
rich, coating, light carbonation, and darn near a perfect finish that is lightly
sweet and herbal hopped. Overall an excellent example of the style from an
excellent brewery here in America.
Cheers
740 characters
3.43/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.52/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle.
The deep amber colored body has excellent clarity and a moderate size, semi-durable head. Minimal lacing.
The aroma is hoppy for style but the flavor has a typical hop/malt balance.
Overall: a solid, mainstream marzen.
236 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle.
The deep amber colored body has excellent clarity and a moderate size, semi-durable head. Minimal lacing.
The aroma is hoppy for style but the flavor has a typical hop/malt balance.
Overall: a solid, mainstream marzen.
236 characters
3.89/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from keg many times into a glass. Pretty dark for a marzen and a good head on it. Smell is earthy, spicy, bit floral, dark biscuits. Taste is caramel, brown bread with a spicy, floral Hop bitter finish. Bit boozy as well. Mouthfeel is a little thin. Definitely an American take on the style being slightly more hoppy, higher abv and having a bolder flavor. It works ok together. Not in the caliber of the top German staples but an interesting take on the style from an American view.
491 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from keg many times into a glass. Pretty dark for a marzen and a good head on it. Smell is earthy, spicy, bit floral, dark biscuits. Taste is caramel, brown bread with a spicy, floral Hop bitter finish. Bit boozy as well. Mouthfeel is a little thin. Definitely an American take on the style being slightly more hoppy, higher abv and having a bolder flavor. It works ok together. Not in the caliber of the top German staples but an interesting take on the style from an American view.
491 characters
Left Hand Oktoberfest from Left Hand Brewing Company
3.74
out of 5
based on 1,214 ratings.
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5