Oktoberfest
Great Lakes Brewing Co.


- From:
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Ohio, United States
- Style:
- Märzen
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #7,403 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 11.85%
- Reviews:
- 741
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 15, 2024
- Added:
- Nov 04, 2003
- Wants:
- 312
- Gots:
- 536
Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a celebration of maltiness— packed with rustic, autumnal flavors to put a little more oomph into your oom-pah-pah.
Über smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).
World Beer Championships
4-Time Medal Winner (Gold, Silver)
Über smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).
World Beer Championships
4-Time Medal Winner (Gold, Silver)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by ken3c from Michigan
4.16/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Copper color. Very clear. Slight head fades into whisps.
Yeasty bread and a little caramel.
Toasty caramel with a spicy finish.
Creamy feel with some tingle from carbonation.
Really nice beer.
Sep 30, 2024Yeasty bread and a little caramel.
Toasty caramel with a spicy finish.
Creamy feel with some tingle from carbonation.
Really nice beer.
Reviewed by Stakebone from North Carolina
5/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the best American Oktoberfest (Marzen style), bar none, IMHO, and I’ve tasted a lot of ‘em. The only German version that competes with it, and may get the nod even though it’s brewed 27km from Munich, is Ayinger. I don’t buy much else in this style anymore. Key here is big malty flavor and clean lager taste. 6.5% abv ain’t bad either, although you don’t taste it.
Sep 24, 2024Reviewed by Nash39 from Florida
4.05/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From the can, the pour is copper colored with an ample amount of carbonation. The taste is rich roasted malt followed by a touch of molasses, whole grain bread crust, along with a subtle hint of charred smoke. In general, this was well made Oktoberfest beer. Cheers! A-
Sep 21, 2024Reviewed by mcsst44us from Virginia
4.2/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.2/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Not usually a big fan of Oktoberfest, I usually prefer pumpkins - but this is certainly one of the best I have had. Very crisp with great malt and spice notes that give it that harvest celebration feel.
Sep 21, 2024Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.09/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Best By: 11-5-24
A - Caramel colored pour with light carbonation and no lacing whatsoever. :o(
S - Toasted caramel malt and bread crust permeate the nose.
T - Follows the nose (go figure, right?) - All bread crust and toasted caramel malt with minimal hops and a light amount of earthiness on the back side. Starts sweet and ends sweet but after the sip some earthy bitterness pokes through over top of bread crust.
M - Medium body with gentle prickly carbonation and a wet finish.
O - This beer is rock solid.
Aug 31, 2024A - Caramel colored pour with light carbonation and no lacing whatsoever. :o(
S - Toasted caramel malt and bread crust permeate the nose.
T - Follows the nose (go figure, right?) - All bread crust and toasted caramel malt with minimal hops and a light amount of earthiness on the back side. Starts sweet and ends sweet but after the sip some earthy bitterness pokes through over top of bread crust.
M - Medium body with gentle prickly carbonation and a wet finish.
O - This beer is rock solid.
Reviewed by Brewsta from Colorado
4.54/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Aroma: Toasty caramel malt notes dominate the aroma, with subtle hints of floral and grassy noble hop undertones.
Color: The beer pours a clear, burnt orange/amber color, reminiscent of a warm autumn evening.
Visual Appeal: The moderate head settles quickly, leaving minimal lacing. However, the beer’s rich, malty color and smooth appearance make up for the lack of head retention. The initial head is moderate, but it dissipates rapidly, leaving a thin, creamy layer.
Flavor: The flavor profile is characterized by smooth, toasted caramel malt, balanced by lightly bitter noble hop notes with hints of floral and grassy undertones. The beer’s sweetness is well-restrained, allowing the malty flavors to shine.
Mouth Feel: The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied, with a smooth, creamy texture and a gentle carbonation that complements the beer’s flavors. The finish is satisfying and balanced, with a subtle linger of toasted malt and noble hops.
Overall, Great Lakes Brewery’s Oktoberfest beer is a masterful interpretation of the style, showcasing a perfect balance of malty sweetness and noble hop bitterness. Its smooth, creamy texture and autumnal flavors make it an excellent choice for sipping on a crisp fall evening.
Aug 15, 2024Color: The beer pours a clear, burnt orange/amber color, reminiscent of a warm autumn evening.
Visual Appeal: The moderate head settles quickly, leaving minimal lacing. However, the beer’s rich, malty color and smooth appearance make up for the lack of head retention. The initial head is moderate, but it dissipates rapidly, leaving a thin, creamy layer.
Flavor: The flavor profile is characterized by smooth, toasted caramel malt, balanced by lightly bitter noble hop notes with hints of floral and grassy undertones. The beer’s sweetness is well-restrained, allowing the malty flavors to shine.
Mouth Feel: The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied, with a smooth, creamy texture and a gentle carbonation that complements the beer’s flavors. The finish is satisfying and balanced, with a subtle linger of toasted malt and noble hops.
Overall, Great Lakes Brewery’s Oktoberfest beer is a masterful interpretation of the style, showcasing a perfect balance of malty sweetness and noble hop bitterness. Its smooth, creamy texture and autumnal flavors make it an excellent choice for sipping on a crisp fall evening.
Rated by Oktoberfest from Ohio
3.95/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.95/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Good. A little sweeter than others in the style.
Aug 12, 2024Reviewed by SWOhio-aquifer from Ohio
4.5/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Best in class. Well, what is available in the Midwest anyway. Had this about 2O some years ago. Now, that I am revisting 'balanced beers' it stood out as a must try. Superbly balanced. Cheers!
Jan 28, 2024Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland
4.02/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tulip pint glass. Pours a clear burnt orange/amber color with a moderate head and not much lacing. Aroma and flavor feature toasty caramel malt, caramel but not overly sweet, and lightly bitter noble hop notes (floral/grassy/hint of citrus). Solid Märzen (though not quite top tier).
Jan 23, 2024Reviewed by branko7 from Illinois
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love this malty Marzen-style beer from Great Lakes. Has a light, reddish brown color, with a fluffy head which settles down completely. Not much smell, but tastes smooth, malty, a little sweet, with a balanced, satisfying aftertaste with a light showing of hops. Lightly carbonated with a good mouthfeel.
Dec 17, 2023Rated by RPO from Minnesota
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Carmel, malt, extremely smooth yet still full of flavor
Dec 04, 2023Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red orange with a small white head. Smells of bright fruit and some caramelized grain. Tastes of caramelized grain with nice bright fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Nov 10, 2023
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