Sierra Nevada's Oktoberfest collaboration brewery is Brauhaus Riegele of Augsburg, Germany

Cool old opener! Poor old cap...

 

Thanks! I have several of these old Stroh's openers...that cap had no chance...me wanted that beer pronto!!

 

Another vote for just do it.

My decision point will be 12 pack or just buy a case.

Cheers!

 

I haven't seen a church key in decades!

 

All I am saying is that I found the beer at a store that did not show up on the finder.

Gonna have a few more of these tonight. So good.

 

Picked up a 12pk today at Total Wine in Charlotte for $13.99. Just finished my 3rd bottle and agree that this Oktoberfest is excellent. Kudos to Sierra Nevada for the fine collaboration. In a blind taste test I may not be able to tell the difference between this brew and Hofbrau Oktoberfest. Very tasty.

 

Sure is! We got it at my store last week.

 

Better be truly blind, 'cause the SN color looks a few shades darker than HB Okto.

 

I loved last years, so I was kind of sad to hear that it would be different this year. I hope it ends up being just as good. I was a big fan of last year's fall pack, not sure if I am going to get one or not this year since the Oktoberfest was replaced by a red IPA.

 

Going back for another twelver right now. The "one time only" on the box is killing me, they've got to make this again.

 

Well, yeah -- found the SN Okto locally: one retailer in my county so far, but they had 12 packs and six-packs.

I'm still assessing this beer because I don't want to jump to conclusions; it has a great, crackery malt character that you don't find in many US takes on German styles, it has an outstanding drinkability, and it has a bigger hop character in the finish and aftertaste than any other Oktoberfest I've ever had (except maybe for last year's SN).

But... it's not a hop character that is contrary to German style beer. Just bigger for an Okto. I've had other American renditions that over-do the hop character, but this one doesn't step that far... and there's that nice malt character. It's not big and melanoidin bready, but it's not North American 2 row grainy, either. It's a nice sweetness and a little nutty in the aftertaste.

Okay, so not my favorite Oktoberfest, but this may be my favorite American take on the style thus far. Something very nice about this beer.

 

It's not the same as last year's, but it won't surprise me if you like it just as well. This is a very nice cross between a German style with and American twist without trying too hard to be different.

 

Excellent beer, glad I picked up a six pack of this yesterday. Octoberfest's are my favorite "seasonally produced" beers and this one doesn't disappoint.

 

I'm really hoping that SN Oktoberfest ends up on monopoly shelves, I'm crossing my fingers since most of the SN seasonals have found their way to store shelves here this year (and at least the monopoly gets their release dates right with the Octoberfest beers). A couple of things which are interesting with this beer is the lack of caramel malts, instead SN has opted for a mix of 2-row, German Steffi (unclear as to what type of malt), Pilsner and Munich. But they couple this with a higher original gravity at 14.6% plato whereas the Munich Oktoberfest beers hover around 13.7% plato. So the body and sweetness is built not through caramel malts, but through original gravity, which is in line with the heritage of Bavarian brewing. The abv ends up at 6%, same as the Munich beers, but with a lower degree of attenuation. An interesting recipe by the looks of it and I'm hoping I'll be able to give it a try along with the Munich variants this year.

 

I had to get two sixers (cheaper than a 12pack) right off the bat and then give it a go. I was not disappointed. It is unlike the more biscuity aroma and tasting oktoberfests that the US seems to love to brew. It is also unlike a Ayinger or Weihenstephaner Festbier. This seems to lie right in the middle.

Truly one of my favorite styles (look at my username). I don't often get much of a variety here in NM. Over the years I've been deceived by many shelf bought OFests that were Ales (flying fish, shiner as two examples). Some won GABF medals as Marzens etc. I liked them at the time. I guess a blind tasting is in the works with all of them.

 

This is truly delightful, picked up a 12pk last night and couldn't help but have 2, summer or not this style works all the time.

 

Picked up a 6-pack two days ago. I was gonna hold out until the first day of Autumn, but now I gotta try one.

 

Finally found it today. I'm very impressed. Probably the best American Oktoberfest I've had.