Oktoberfests You Aren't Looking Forward To

Doubtless I'll try a few new ones. I don't expect any brewery will match the beer Sierra Nevada brewed last year including Sierra Nevada. Still you never know.

 

(Pssst -- I've had it... it ain't the same. )

 

I've had 4 of the SN '16 Oktoberfests out of my 12. Last year's was so good, I'm trying not to be too let down, and I have grown to enjoy the 16 version, but to me the 15 was much better. The 16 is HOPPY! At least it's a spicy hop character, but there is no confusing this with a classic festbier. As it warms the malt character shines through a bit and balances out, making it a nice beer, just not what I'm looking for in an Oktoberfest

 

Exactly how I view it. And when I am able to separate the malts they seem to be about the same character as last year -- but those spicy hops are just more dominant.

@einhorn mentioned it might be worth a little more time in the bottle to mellow the hops some, so I'm going to try that with what I have left.

 

Of all the ones I sampled historically, these are my low ones I won't revisit and will make room for some newbies to try and some repeats. My bad list:
Dundee Oktoberfest
Wolters Fest-Bier
Beck's
Brooklyn
Dominion
Saranac
Leinenkugels

 

Not looking forward to any of 'em. Not a style I care for. Too malty sweet.

 

Avery The Kaiser - This resulted in a drain pour after about 6 ounces were drunk.
Santa Fe Oktoberfest - No where near as bad as The Kaiser, but still way below average for me.

 

Urban Chestnut does make an Oktoberfest, it's called Oachkatzlschwoaf (??) and it's DELICIOUS. Certainly one of the best I've ever had.

 

Wow, reading this, I feel like I'm one of the only fans of Sam Adam's Oktoberfest left! Maybe it's more like a guilty pleasure now than anything?

Regarding which ones I'm really not looking forward to, Leinenkugel's variation is not for me.

 

While it is possible that many (most?) BAs are not fans of Sam Adams Oktoberfest that is certainly not the case for craft beer drinkers at large. Sam Adams sells a shit-ton of their Oktoberfest beers.

It is important to remember that BAs are a small portion of the overall craft beer drinking community.

Cheers!

 

As the guy who found the '15 too hoppy to appreciate, I appreciate the warning (and the @steveh corroboration)!

 

I'm also a big fan of Oktoberfests, and am lagering a homebrewed Marzen right now.
+1 for Sam Adams, and I would also add Shiner to the list. My lowest-rated one last year.

 

Marzen is one of my favorite styles. Its cool they are yours too but i dont understand the negativity. I don't worry about ones im not looking foward to because i just dont buy or drink them.

 

I think the info helps to keep him from a brand that just won't cut it.

My own view of this thread is positive that it really hasn't gotten out of hand -- there are a lot of worthwhile Oktos to choose from.

 

Great! I hope they send some our way, but the Zwickel I just picked up should help with the wait .

 

Yeah, that's my trouble with UC; only 3 styles available and no specialty/seasonals -- and I'm closer to the source!

 

Well, we'll just have to say please, then .

( oh well, it would've been pretty cool, but I'm sure I'll make do...)

 

While I agree that Dogtoberfest doesn't accurately represent any version of an Okto (German, American, or otherwise) I really like that Frankenstein of a beer.

To me, that beer has the roasty malt character of a Fat Tire with the body and mouthfeel of a GL Eliot Ness while being hopped in a way that resembles a Sierra Nevada Summerfest.

As long as you're expecting a unique amber lager and not an Oktoberfest in any way, shape, or form, Dogtoberfest is a damn tasty beer.

 

It's the local distro I'd have to suck up to... and I just don't suck up well.

 

Many moons ago the Dogtoberfest was a pretty nice rendition of a Wies'n Festbier -- then it dropped from availability in my area. Last year it popped up again -- at a ridiculous price per-six-pack for the label (at least around here).

A month or so after Okto season a local retailer put it on sale and I grabbed a six. Mistake. Not sure if it was the recipe or the shelf-age on the beer, but -- yech. Just not right.