Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier
Hofbräuhaus München

I've been enjoying a bounty of fresh HB Oktoberfest this season, so I thought I'd update my review from 6 years ago.

L -- Clear, bright gold with a long-lasting, firm white head.

S -- Mild DMS, yeasty bread, light spicy hops.

T -- Lightly sweet, bready malts up front and through the middle, finishing with a dry, lightly spicy hop character that lingers to the aftertaste with some very mild citrus notes. Yeastiness also lingers thru the aftertaste.

F -- The mouthfeel is soft and smooth up front to dry in the finish with a light-medium body.

O -- Freshness is key and definitely brings out flavor and body in this true Wies'n Festbier. It's definitely bigger and more complex than the HB Helles (of which I accused this beer of really being back in '09). This is a refreshing, highly drinkable beer -- even at 6.3 ABV.

*****
9, 16 2009 bottling. Definitely toward the Wies'n Fest style of Oktoberfest, but I already had a couple earlier in the week and was a little disappointed in the character -- so here's notes on a direct focus for review.

A -- Clear, pale straw gold color with a dense white head that holds well. 4

S -- Eek. Can smell some skunk at arm's length -- green bottle trouble. The skunk dissipated with the vigorous pour, but there's only some vague breadiness and hop spiciness coming through, maybe a hint of alcohol -- but it's more fusel or solvent than we'd like. Though it's light. Mild DMS with warming. 2

T -- Light, bready malt character up front that fades into the quickest hop note then the bread lingers and a mild touch of citrus. Not really rich in flavor as would be expected -- more Helles in character than a Festbier -- which isn't bad, just not what to expect from the label. 3

M -- Light body with a soft mouthfeel that turns very dry in the finish. Not impressed to style. 2

D -- Drinkability is definitely good, for a Munich Helles. Just a little disappointed in the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus on this one. I had a draft version at a bar that I thought was a little richer in flavor, but didn't take notes. I wonder if H-B pasteurizes their bottles, but not their kegs? 3.5
Total: 2.82

 

 

 

Pours very golden. Nice white foam head. Smell is bready malty. Taste is bready malty and some fruitiness and hoppiness at the end. Tastes like the HB Original but more bready and rounded.

Very clean and crisp. A very nice sweetness, very slight bitterness.

Excellent beer.

Pours a very pale straw with a thick head that has decent lacing and retention. Nose is malty bread or biscuits but with a touch of floral notes. Taste is rich and malty with a spicy hop finish. Surprisingly tasty fest bier from a brewer that gets looked down on for it somewhat manufactured beer hall experience. Their beers are always solid if not spectacular IMO. This one is better than most

 

 

Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier pours a translucent sharp golden hue with very visible central upstream of bubbles. It has an off white thin head, sending a cereal grains fragrance to the nose. Halting with only a mild bite this brew is easy going with a veggie taste. At a 6.3% ABV - strikes a value, and mouthfeel certainly tame - eggs one to have another. Barely semi dry finish.

 

Crystal clear wedding band gold with a tall head of dense white foam.

A touch astringent or metallic, but only mildly semi-bitter--okay perhaps even a bit skunked--but also some cornbread and Brazil nut, cracker and a hint of esters, bitterness verging floral at times. Surprised it's actually opposite of too sweet actually.

500 mL bottle. BBE 08/2026.

Appearance: 3.25. Clear lemon to amber yellow with a white head, and minimal fizz.

Smell: 3. Light malts and hops.

Taste: 3.75. Mild-moderate hop bitterness - slightly more than the usual festbier. Light malts, grassy hop notes.

Feel: 3.5. Smooth, good body, moderate carbonation.

Overall: 3.5. A nice festbier with some extra hop presence.

 

 

 

Good clarity, excellent lacing. Nice bready malt aroma with fresh hops. Robust flavor, almost bock-like. Smooth enough. Like this big-beer approach to the traditional fest style.

Hofbräu München Oktoberfest Bier
Poured from bottle into a classic Steinkrug glass.

Look: Clear golden-yellow. Poured with a nice head that settled into a thin layer covering the beer.

Aroma: Sweet malt upfront with caramel notes that come through more as it warms. Slightly dry, boozy notes appear at times.

Taste: Starts malty with a slight touch of hops in the middle. Finishes grainy/oaty with a pleasant bitterness. Alcohol peeks through, especially early on, but fades as the beer goes down.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, nicely carbonated, light-bodied and easy to drink.

Overall: I really enjoyed the caramel aroma, especially once the beer warmed a bit. The flavor opens malty, with a hint of hops in the middle, finishing on grains, oats, and bitterness. Alcohol presence is stronger at the start, but mellows out as you get further into the glass. I felt the beer actually improved as I drank it. I’d happily have this again.

 

Greatt