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: 1,222 | Reviews: 443
3.55/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
I had heard good things about Left Hand Oktoberfest so I thought I would give it a try. It pours a copper hue with a moderate head with very little lacing left behind. The scent is nice with a good amount of toasted caramel and a bit of hops. The flavor starts out nice with a more assertive hop profile mixing in with caramel but the finish really drags this down for me. It gets too hop forward and very boozy which kept throwing me off. Overall it is well made and is an interesting take on the style but I prefer more traditional Oktoberfest.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
I had heard good things about Left Hand Oktoberfest so I thought I would give it a try. It pours a copper hue with a moderate head with very little lacing left behind. The scent is nice with a good amount of toasted caramel and a bit of hops. The flavor starts out nice with a more assertive hop profile mixing in with caramel but the finish really drags this down for me. It gets too hop forward and very boozy which kept throwing me off. Overall it is well made and is an interesting take on the style but I prefer more traditional Oktoberfest.
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3.73/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.17/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Oktoberfest from Left Hand Brewing Company. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, the the the head is three fingers thick and off white, with solid lacing, and a deep amber body with a slight ruby tinge.
Smells like a slightly hoppier take on the average märzen lager.
I taste a more roasted malts kind of deal, with the hops still present without taking this brew out of bounds. Clean and refreshing in all.
Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation.
Overall, I'll rate this with a 4.25
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Oktoberfest from Left Hand Brewing Company. Poured from the bottle into a pint glass, the the the head is three fingers thick and off white, with solid lacing, and a deep amber body with a slight ruby tinge.
Smells like a slightly hoppier take on the average märzen lager.
I taste a more roasted malts kind of deal, with the hops still present without taking this brew out of bounds. Clean and refreshing in all.
Medium mouthfeel with mild carbonation.
Overall, I'll rate this with a 4.25
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3.96/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
It pours a clear Amber with good head of foam. Smells malty as in toasted with bread. No real over sweet notes. Yum. Bready malt, toasted, light bitterness, this is a tasty OFest. I get caramel too but the sweetness level is kept in check. I am a hard ass when it comes to the style so my praise isn’t to be taken lightly. Medium body with mildish carbonation. From their sampler pack.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
It pours a clear Amber with good head of foam. Smells malty as in toasted with bread. No real over sweet notes. Yum. Bready malt, toasted, light bitterness, this is a tasty OFest. I get caramel too but the sweetness level is kept in check. I am a hard ass when it comes to the style so my praise isn’t to be taken lightly. Medium body with mildish carbonation. From their sampler pack.
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4.88/5 rDev +30.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.12/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark amber with small one finger head.
The aroma is toasted malt caramel and a hint of spiciness.
It's a very good octoberfest. Very sweet and malty with a toasty bitterness. The finish has a dry spiciness that reminds me of rye. It's a fantastic beer.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours dark amber with small one finger head.
The aroma is toasted malt caramel and a hint of spiciness.
It's a very good octoberfest. Very sweet and malty with a toasty bitterness. The finish has a dry spiciness that reminds me of rye. It's a fantastic beer.
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4.09/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
**
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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.
**
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Left Hand Oktoberfest from Left Hand Brewing Company
3.74
out of 5
based on 1,222 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1 finger head that disappears without evidence. Deep golden hue. Pils up front with a little sweet note. Flavor follows. Smooth and crisp.
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