Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Unfortunately I never did get around to their Bock, but the Dunkel is a real favorite of mine, one that only gets better the more you gulp, er, drink it.

 

Last evening, I had a Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen. Well, two, actually.
I really hate to admit it, but this one is also way better than I remember it.
Amber-goldish-color,sweet and malty, only slightly spicy finish, yet still smooth and not cloying. Dangerously drinkable for 5.8% abv.
Compared to the Annafest beers I had, it is way less hoppy and spicy and way sweeter, but I'm not even sure that's a bad thing, it's just a different character. I'm glad those differences exist within the same "style".

 

it is fast becoming on of my favorites

 

It's an old favorite of mine (assuming you guys get the same beer as we do in the US if it's the amber version). The last year or two it didn't taste right to me, this year's is again superb.

 

We get both, though the amber version is way more common, at least where i live.
The amber version comes in 0.5l bottles, has silver-ish label and is called Oktoberfest Märzen, while the pale version is simply called "Oktoberfestbier",with the aditional tagline "Original Wies'n Bier",and comes in giant 2 litre bottles with green labels.

 

How about the Spaten or Paulaner Amber versions? Do they sell those in your area?

 

Nope, I did not even know those existed, only pale. Weird.

 

Yeah, here in the U.S. we get the Amber Märzen versions of Spaten, H-P, and Paulaner. As has been mentioned, we also get the Paulaner Wies'n (Pale) in various packaging and last year H-P made their Wies'n available as a special release in .5l swing-top bottles.

 

I always found it annoying that there are several products by smaller and bigger german breweries alike that only or nearly exclusively make it to the US market- Schlenkerla Eiche, Uerige Doppelsticke, Warsteiner Dunkel...

 

Welcome to the club. It's been a favorite of mine for a long time.

Unrelated to your post, and I don't mean to offend, but I find it absolutely hilarious that there are those who 'hate to admit' that they like a beer, presumably because it's fernsehbier. Why is it so hard to imagine that a big brewer could make a 'good' beer?

 

That is not hard to imagine at all. I love several beers made by bigger brewers and have them as go-to beers which I buy regularly (La Chouffe Blonde, Duvel, 3 Monts,Jenlain Ambree, to name a few...)
It is not so much the sheer size of the brewery as to which conglomerates it belongs..
AND since I lived in franconia for quite a while, I simply "know better". And yes ,compared to the munich Oktoberfest Biers, I'd say that, for instance, the Annafest Biers of Forchheim have more diversity,character and are made with more care on a smaller scale- which doesn't mean I can't enjoy Oktoberfests for what they are. But they are different.

 

Ive never seen a Hacker-Pschorr commercial though.
When it comes to Schörgruber, Paulaner is the mass marketed product (probably the best mass-marketed brewery in germany).
Hell, even Möchshof is more available in my area than HP.

btw im just drinking a Schneider Tap5 for the 2nd time.
Its much fresher (just under 3mts) than my first bottle and its godly.
Saphir Hops are so underused imo.

On another Note, i have 5 of the 6 Munich Oktoberfest Beers now, but Augustiner isnt releasing theirs until Sept. 14 and its unlikely itll make it to my area.Not sure if i should wait on the off chance that itll be available this year or start drinking them now..........

 

Just to be clear, I never said you couldn't enjoy the beers, just was curious as to why someone doesn't want to admit that they enjoy a beer.

Is it because you generally prefer the biers one finds at Annafest celebrations? If so, fair enough and I apologize for my misdirected questioning.

I've seen far too many dismiss beers simply because they're made by a larger brewer. Smaller doesn't always equal more 'care' or better tasting or even character.

 

All over the world there are "smaller" brewers making mediocre brews, sure.
But travel around Munich, than travel around the Fränkische Schweiz and tell me there isn't a huge difference in the beers overall, both in diversity and character regarding the traditional style beers. If it is "better" or not is a matter of taste, sure, but I'd guess that on average, in the Fränkische Schweiz traditional techniques such as decoction mashing or longer lagering times are more common than in and around Munich.

 

I love Kneitinger Dunkel. It's probably the beer I had the most on my last visit, plus I brought a couple home (although maybe it was Spezial Lagerbier). I missed having their Bock this time. They should make it year around since they promote it on the front of their brewery.

 

As far as the decoction mashing, I'd guess you're most likely correct, given the sheer number (and variety) of breweries in the Fränkische Schweiz that more breweries decoct.

As far as lagering times? That accusation has me intrigued. I would find it hard to believe that many places have 'shortened' the time they lager their biers. But again, having only toured one brewery in Germany, I don't know for sure and I wouldn't accuse places of doing so without more proof.

 

I agree with you there. I am a BIG fan of the flavor/aroma that Saphir brings to Firestone Walker Pivo Pils.

Cheers!

 

Doesn't H-P get a black eye because it's partnered with Paulaner? I say that with complete levity because I enjoy Paulaner and H-P myself, as well as their competitors-in-coglomo ownership, Spaten (and Löwenbräu).

Oh, and I like Mönchshof a lot too.

 

Just as an FYI, Eiche is available in Germany, although only during Christmas Market season. You can order a case (or more...?) via their website, an annual tradition of mine when I lived over in Heidelberg.

 

Augustiner is also available online, which is to say, it was last year when I was living over there. I think Biershop Bayern carries it, but as you say, it wasn't released until mid-September, whereas all of the other Oktoberfestbiere came out end of July/beginning of August. Oddly, I never saw Spaten's Oktoberfestbier sold in bottles, the only time I ever had one was at the 'Fest itself.

It was tremendous, albeit maybe the sweetest of all the Munich O'Fests I've had. Not that anyone asked, but I'd probably rate them (1) Spaten, (2) Löwenbräu, (3) H-P, (4) Augustiner, (5) Hofbräu & Paulaner tied for the bottom, I didn't really care for either of those.