Oktoberfests / Marzens

Josbor11: I couldn't agree more! If you ever come across Schell's Oktoberfest, give it a try, IMHO, one of the very best.

 

Understood you're not getting this in OR, but Stoudt's does them nicely.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/394/25382/?show_ratings=Y

 

Tend to agree.

 

Here's a thought, maybe if we all keep quite about our fondness for Oktoberfest & Marzen beers, the DIPA & BBA crowds will get bored w/ this thread & move on....Then we can reap the benefits of shelves filled w/ these treasures!!! Cheers

 

It is here as well but I'm just not a big fan of that particular beer. Or at least not big enough a fan to drink it year-round.

 

Have to keep my eyes open, but right now I can't even find the Helles.

I would definitely rotate the beer in my selection. Nothing else like it.

 

Hofbraeu's is probably a top ten beer for me. Incredibly satisfying stuff.

 

I hope you sent that back, they short-changed your pour.

 

I assume it would have settled to the line, but it never got the chance to sit that long!

 

Oh man, it's that sort of indifferent attitude that brought U.S. brewing down post-prohibition!

 

I like them ok but wouldnt want to drink them year round.

 

I always load up on that one. How do you find their Maibock? They strike me as being incredibly similar to one another, plus I've never seen them in the same room together . It's definitely close enough to make the Maibock a reasonable substitute when the O'fest isn't available.

This past year I was able to get the Weihenstephaner Oktoberfestbier, and found it to be even better than the Hofbrau. It was one of my top beers of 2013, and has me anticipating when it returns already.

Another big surprise was Sly Fox, which got the malt profile spot-on. I think some American breweries may just be catching on to how it's supposed to be done.

 

Really? Because I've always had the Wies'n Märzen from HB in my area; very yellow-golden and crisp, but still maltier than a Helles. Whereas the HB Maibock is always deeper gold to bronze with a maltier character and bigger body... nearly what the Spaten and Paulaner Oktoberfests come in at.

Then there was the HB Winter Spezial we had for one season -- that beer was the twin to the Festbier, maybe a touch bolder in malt.

 

I've not had their Maibock, though I hope to try it. Apparently it's stronger than the Oktoberfestbier (which is one of the heftier ones of its sort anyway). I'll have to keep an eye out for the Weihenstephaner.

 

To springboard off what @TheNightwatchman posted: “Good balance”. To me the Oktoberfest beer style is defined by a pleasant balance between bready malt flavors and Noble hop flavors.

I agree 100% with @TongoRad on: “Sly Fox, which got the malt profile spot-on.”

As has been discussed by others, crafting a beer that is perfectly balanced is not the type of beer style which is greatly appreciated by BAs (for the most part).

Cheers!

 

I'm definitely keeping an eye out for the Maibock this year, but last year's did seem to be more on the golden side and slighter in profile than what I was expecting. They both do strike me as using their helles as a starting point, so that's where the similarities come in. Although the Maibock may be bigger, I didn't think it was that different. Perhaps I will hold on to a few until fall comes around this year, and keep them as cold as possible- just to do a broad comparison.

I don't think I've even seen the Winter Spezial, but it does sound like a nice beer to bridge the gap.

 

Agree, my fav style too. Under-appreciated and usually disrespected. IPAs and all the heavy beers are ridiculously overrated right now. Sam Adams is ok, but not the best. I'd give that nod to Spaten.

 

Being the maltaholic that I am, Oktoberfests are far and away my favorite beer style. Can (and do) drink an awful lot of them when the season is upon us.