Octoberfest Beer
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

Raime from Greenland

2.78/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Random single grab at a citgo. Cool September night.

Look - Clear copper with a big foamy white soapy head. Low carbonation.

Smell - Faint bready malts. Touch o hop. Nothing discernible.

Taste - Moderately bready with some AAL quality.

Feel - Sweet and almost syrupy. Touch bitter in the throat. Swallows dry.

Overall - Meh. Glorified AAL. The two new O-fests I've tried this season have been swings and misses. Betta luck next time.

Sep 05, 2020

Peach63 from New York

3.87/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours amber with a 1/2 inch cream-colored head. Moderate lacing.

A little hop aroma, a bit of spices.

Taste is malty and spicy. Light bitterness.

Full bodied, semi-sweet finish. Light carbonation.

This is a very good Marzen, malty with just the right amount of sweetness.

Nov 14, 2019

Tantonys from Maine

5/5  rDev +35.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A very nice Marzen very close to German Octoberfest brews. Excellent hoping, good bitter, great yeast and malt background. Certainly worth grabbing while you can!

Oct 29, 2019

Claude-Irishman from New Jersey

4.12/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Pours a ruddy copper color with a fairly quick diminishing creamy/foamy head. Smell is muted, smell some gentle spices and mild hops, some toffee. Taste is reminiscent of almost like a butterscotch taste, with some stone fruit and pumpernickel bread. Feels full bodied, finishes semi dry. Overall very good. This does not seem to be a true fest bier because of it's viscosity. This is delicious, but definitely not a fest slammer by any means. You would feel too full in my opinion. Would buy again.

Oct 21, 2019

WesMantooth from Ohio

3.67/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dark copper and very clear with a frothy, sticky light tan head. Says robust. Smells robust. Definitely a strong aroma. Smells like toasted dark bread with a bit of a baking spice and some caramel. Tastes pretty much like it smells. Some flavor in there that reminds me of Sam Adams Chocolate Bock though. Doesn’t say caramel malts in the description, but I would swear there is. Fairly hoppy. Especially in the finish, but not overly so. I little light in body. The abv has to be on the lower side for any Marzen I’ve had.
This is definitely what I would call a typical American version, but a decent one. It’s like a Sam Adams that you can actually drink a lot of.

Oct 06, 2019

mike22ne from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a can, dated 7/20/20

Pours a dark amber with a fine off-white layer of foam.
Smells malty, sweet dark bread and caramelized fruits. Subtle spice or herbal hops.
Taste follows with solid malt profile, light earthy/herbal hop bitterness to round it out.
Feels medium light. Balanced on the sweet side, but a dry clean finish.

Overall a good offering. Best e joyed from a stein at the Harpoon beer hall, but I suppose a can at home will have to suffice.

Oct 05, 2019

Lingenbrau from Oregon

3.74/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanks again Patty.

A dark one here. Looks like late Fall in a glass. Deep orange with red and brown highlights, clear as can be, with an off white and well lacing foam.

Aroma is extra toasty with a generous hand full of toasted breadcrumbs and caramel syrup.

Flavor has a bit of a grassy and mineral water metallic presence over the toasted breadiness. There's a touch of raisin too.

Thinner than expected, well carbonated and well balanced, though it flip flops being sweet at first with a creeping bitter finish.

An interesting Octoberfest beer. Much more in line with what is typically thought of as an American signature to the style, but that's not a bad thing. A perfect, cold, night time Festbier.

Prost!

Oct 05, 2019

GreesyFizeek from New York

3.92/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This one pours a slightly dark yellow color, clear, with a fluffy head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like subtly spicy hops, toasty and grainy malt, and a slight sweetness.

Harpoon isn't always my favorite brewery, but they tend to do this sort of stuff pretty well. It's got the appropriate amount of sweet, some slight graininess, and a nice spicy hop character.

I'd want this to be a bit crisper, but it's very drinkable, with a nice light body, and a smooth finish.

I'd have this again. It's not completely a top level version of the style, but I enjoyed it.

Oct 03, 2019

AvengeTheRavel from Connecticut

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Tried this in bottle format. Something about the combination of flavors uses produced *for my palette* a hint of the taste that blood has. Not saying that was the only flavor, but one of a few flavors that was present. It was present enough for me to not want to finish the beer.

Sep 22, 2019

Amendm from Rhode Island

3.6/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A light pour from a 12-oz. bottle yields a finger of light tan soapy foam with average retention and sliding blotches of lace. Clear reddish amber, orange-amber in sunlight.

Mild smell of caramel and toasted malt , floral hops and toasted wheat.

The taste features bready rich malt, semi-sweet and boldly bitter. Apple, apple cider and bitter/sour grape emerge with a mild drying alcohol astringency. Hop flavor builds at the quick clean finish, bitterness continues to rise during the long aftertaste.

Light-ish body, below average carbonation. Almost smooth, hindered by the astringency yet still session-able. Nice malt bill. barley shines through the wheat. PKG 7/29/19.

Sep 22, 2019

Mugman8 from New York

3.98/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I like this one. Garnet red on the pour with firm creamy head and nice hop aroma. Taste is full-bodied, smooth, and malty with slight bitterness on the finish.

Sep 14, 2019

MUTINY from Virginia

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

2019 Release. 12oz bottle into a perfect pint.

A: Pours a clear reddish-copper with 1" dense off-white head that recedes slowly. Retention and lacing are both not bad.

S: Bready malt, pitted fruit, big undertones of hop bitterness. Spices and sweetness underneath. It reveals itself to be increasingly complex with each whiff.

T: Messy, hop-forward with sustained bitterness throughout mid palate. More bracing than is traditional for the style, if they'd committed more hops to this brew it'd read closer to a weak, watery 3IPA. The sweetness does ultimately focus things toward the finish - which reads more like an Oktoberfest should. Spicy, vaguely fruited and malt forward right at the end.

M: Medium carb with a fairly robust, slick body. It's adequate.

O: Seems unfocused and unsubtle. Not a train wreck, and I appreciate it's uniqueness - I just feel that the end product is a bit too clumsy and aggressive for the style. Style point for the appearance though, it's a head-turning brew.

Sep 11, 2019

jrc1093 from Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Canned on 7/29/19

Pours a clear deep copper-brown capped with a few fingers of tight off-white foam; solid retention yields layers of moderate lacing and a light cap-collar of froth.

Aromas present as robust and lightly malty upfront, with a dominant brightness mostly of dark fruit and apple with the occasionally sharp coffee tone in between; hints of pumpernickel bread and further light caramel malt tones develop over time; not offensive, but awkwardly lacking in any malt definition.

Taste follows the aroma, seeing floral apple peel and cherry intertwine with light caramel malts and bread crust; a toasted wood tone and some smoked toffee become apparent toward the relatively quick finish.

Mouthfeel shows a medium-full body with moderate carbonation balanced easily along the palate; consistent and smooth, with a slightly syrupy heft just before the finish dries.

Well-built American take on the style falling short of a more defined malt profile; the fruitier tones are unique, but can become overbearing and prohibit balancing breadier notes from taking shape. Overall, just an ok beer.

Sep 08, 2019

VABA from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A-Pours a nice amber color with a nice head and lacing
A-Aroma had caramel malt hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a caramel malt flavor
M-A light bodied decently carbonated beer
O-A decent Octoberfest beer

Sep 05, 2019

mushroomcloud from Texas

3.8/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle best by 11-15-18
Appealing, clean, bright amber Marzen with a 1" off white head and good retention down to 1/4" then a solid cap. Good lacing.
Rich, malty caramel aroma with a hint of floral hops - well balanced, good aroma.
Bready flavor, caramel, toffee, some hop spiciness from middle thru the end. Earthy finish.
Somewhere less than medium bodied - seems like it should/could be "fuller". Carbonation is right. Even with the rich malty presence the beer doesn't finish sweet and has a pleasant lingering finish balanced between caramel malts and spicy/floral hops.
Another good American version of a Marzen...my last Oktoberfest of the season.

Nov 04, 2018

izraelc from New York

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks fantastic. Deep ruby with a thick foam. If it only it tasted as good as it looks. Falls very flat. Not much character. Slight malt finish. A very average brew.

Oct 14, 2018

Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.57/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(12 oz bottle, enjoy by 12/15/18... poured into a simple 14 oz glass mug)

L: crystal-clear, deep amber almost garnet colored liquid... does throw a few thin streaks of lace

S: surprising degree of hop presence on the nose - orange, grass, pine... bit of sweetness and a touch of toast from the malts poking out, but the hops seem to lay level if not above... might not guess it's an Oktoberfest in a quick blind whiff

T: brown bread crust, hint of caramel; hint of dried orange peel and a good pop of earthy, lightly spicy hops in the aftertaste; quite dry, little residual sweetness, subtle spice flickers longest... flavors fade with each sip

F: smooth, soft, but a bit frayed on the edges... wonderfully dry in the back end; has a delicate bounce to its body; faint warmth remaining mid-palate

O: didn't care for this much - the hops get in the way of the malt, which doesn't project much character or depth anyway... just an odd move with the hops; best part of it may be its near-crisp dryness... no repeat visit in sight

Oct 14, 2018

Brian_L-2056 from West Virginia

3.71/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark amber color with mild carbonation. Smell is definately octoberfest with some other spice note that I don't know. Initial taste is pleasant and sweet with a mild aftertaste. The feel is a just right for the style. Overall just as good of a brew as all he other big names but not a stand out

Oct 06, 2018

flaskman from New York

3.46/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a 16 ounce glass. Dark red amber with moderate tan head the didn't last very long but does leave decent lacing. Smells sweet and malty. When sipping it has a sweet front end with a touch of bitter on the finish. The mouthfeel is good and I like the carbonation. I honestly had my first one out of the bottle ans was ready to totally pan the beer but out of a glass it is a totally difference experience. It's not a bad fall offering. Not too malty and not too sweet. I enjoyed my second try at it much more that the first.

Sep 23, 2018

PMakowski from New Hampshire

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 Oz Can poured into glass
Look - Dark copper brown color, large foam head slow to fade and some nice glass lacing
Smell - Pick up the sweet malt, roasted nuts, some earthy spices and a very slight creamy note
Taste - Not as heavy as other Octoberfest beers i have had. Some chocolate malt and roasted peanuts. Pick up the grain flavor from the wheat and a noticeable zing at the end from the hops. Seems to get better every sip which is interesting. Fairly sweet but nothing overpowering. Texture is fairly smooth. Carbonation medium-low and somewhat drinkable, not overly filling.

Overall, i like the beers this company makes. They may not be as unique as Sierra Nevada or Sam Adams but they have solid flavor and they don't disappoint. This beer is a pretty good Octoberfest, not the best I've had but i enjoyed it.
Grade is a B+

Sep 18, 2018

PatrickCT from Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Late fall in a glass, as a friend put it.
Clear copper/amber body. Cream colored two finger head leaves lots of lace and a ring around the glass.
The aroma is toasted malts, apple juice and skin, floral hops.
Lots of apple and spice in the taste. Solid malts, floral hops.
Medium plus body, dry finish and with nice carbonation.

Nov 12, 2017

IronLover from Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Reddish-orange in color with excellent clarity. Poured with a short, creamy, off-white foam with good retention. Medium light bready malt aroma. No ester or hop aromas. Medium bodied with medium carbonation and light creaminess through the middle. Medium light grainy and bready malt up front. Medium bitterness through the middle that tapers to the end. No hop flavor. Finished with lingering bitterness and grainy malt aftertaste. Balance tips a bit heavily to the bitter side. Malt character was a bit light and the bitterness a bit sharp. This was good, easy drinking, but lacked good malt character.

Oct 24, 2017

Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.59/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a clear mug.
The appearance was a nice looking brisk dark orange to amber color with an ever so slight transparency about it. Carbonation could be seen rising at a moderate pace. Just a cap of a little white foamy head that slid off at a slight pace. Not much lace.
The aroma captured some clean caramel/toffee malts with some breadiness/light toast, a whiff of roasted nuts and a clasp of earthiness.
The flavor was moderately sweet with a trail of earthiness. Slight spice came in ever so subtle. Mild aftertaste of some clingy nuts, but not so roasty with a little bit of malts.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation felt on par. ABV felt appropriate. Malty to semi-nutty and earthy sort of finish.
Overall, as an Americanized Oktoberfest, it's not bad, perhaps not one of the better ones on the American market, but it's do-able.

Oct 13, 2017

ordybill from Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 OZ bottle into a pint glass at the World of Beer in Savannah, Georgia. The appearance is a rusty gold color with a large off-white head. the aroma is malt and some hops. The taste is malt driven with some hops. An average beer.

Feb 25, 2017

kevINSIGHT from Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

One of the best Oktoberfest beers I've had. Nice amber color and good malt flavor. Roasted just enough for character. Poured from a bottle into a pint glass and had a decent head that lasted fairly long.

Oct 09, 2016