Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest 2016

Wouldn't that be around 12 bottling dates? How many batches are brewed then? I remember more than one bottling date last year, but not THAT many.

Thanks for chiming in by the way!

 

Good to know. Thanks!

That's interesting about the Summerfest, btw. Do you figure that has anything to do with how Pilsners are picking up steam as a style lately?

 

Just curious how much Summerfest does Sierra Nevada brew? It's usually gone near me by Aug. 1.

 

Sorry, that was probably my fault.

 

Is it gone, or are the distros pulling it to stock the Oktoberfest?

 

Sorry, that's my bad. I should have said brewing nearly every week. We'll probably bottle 6 more times at both breweries.

 

Be on the lookout for this. Be nice to have a six of it at work for our Oktoberfest brew day tomorrow.

 

No, it's gone. Distributors are reluctant to pull beer before it's time... They've already paid for that beer, so they're eager to sell it.

 

We brewed about the same amount as last year +/- a little bit. The plan is to have it gone or seriously dwindling by 8/1 so this is on-schedule. just a week or two earlier than anticipated.

 

Generally speaking, no, I think it's just a fluke. It has more to do with seasonal releases than pilsners as a whole. We're really hoping that Pilsners would catch-on more than they have. There are lots on the market, but not many are really doing very well in the grand scheme of volume. Here's hoping, though!

 

Don't worry. If I see anyone from the Louisville area complaining that it's too early to buy Oktoberfest and they are holding off until later in August or September, I'll just buy what they would normally get and enjoy it even more than I already plan to. Cheers!

 

Sorry, that was posed to Dennis who says he's stopped seeing the Summerfest on August 1 in the past. FWIW I still see it in N. Eastern Illinois right now.

 

No it just sells out every year. The owner of a local store always tries to to get more and can't.

 

I'd like to say I'm going to wait another month or so, but my cravings for Oktoberfestbier combined with my excitement for this collaboration will cause me to buy it as soon as I see it.

 

Wow, a little bit early for my tastes, but at the same time I'm not complaining. I'm really looking forward to this release, considering how good last year's version was.
@sierranevadabill , I know it might be early, but is it possible you could shed light on who you might be collaborating with for 2017's Oktoberfest?

 

Sadly, I can't share that info just yet. Ken is actually heading to Germany next week.

 

Bill, does Sierra Nevada factor in weather into your beer sale projections? It has been a warmer than usual summer in my area (and much of the US in general). It seems to me that this sort of weather pattern could increase demand for a beer labeled as Summerfest.

Cheers!

 

If a Märzen was really brewed in March, it probably wouldn't have been served before July at the earliest. On the basis of a week per OG in Plato lagering time, you're looking at a minimum of 3.5 months. I guess that in April and May they would still have been serving winter beer.

Festbier isn't so much a specific style as a beer of a certain strength. Usually 13-14º Plato. They come in a variety of colours, though a majority nowadays are pale yellow. Some, but not all, would qualify as Märzen (minimum 13.5º Plato in Bavaria, 13º in Baden-Württemberg).

 

Sounds like a July release isn't too crazy then...

I always thought "Festbier" was only technically used for the beers brewed for the actual Oktoberfest by the six Munich breweries. And Märzen was the an indication of strength. Unless that's exactly what you said and I misunderstand this last part, in which case I apologize.

Thanks for the information, I had a hunch you knew some of this stuff.

 

It's actually "Oktoberfest" that can only be used by the Munich breweries. Festbier is used by breweries outside of Munich for their beers for fall/spring,etc festivals.