Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

I'd love to see more biergartens in the US.

 

Denver has a few biergartens that recently sprung up. Unfortunately none of them really capture what makes a real one great. It isn't about the number of taps or food that is particularly clever. It needs to be a shady/relaxing escape from the world. A social experience even if you don't know anyone. A couple good beers are necessary, but you don't need many.
Authentic furniture, gravel, and stands are wonderful. At the same time I'd almost prefer a place that cobbled the stuff together but captured the spirit of the idea. I've had more "real" biergarten experiences in the CO mountains with makeshift amenities and 1-2 local taps than some of the places shooting for authenticity in Denver.

 

But if you sign up as the originator of the Kölumbianer name, you will receive numerous benefits not listed. Least we could do... [/QUOTE]

Will that apply to the Bierkenner?

Any pix of the 'wagen?

Will we all fit at the Whig?

 

Will that apply to the Bierkenner?

Any pix of the 'wagen?

Will we all fit at the Whig?[/QUOTE]

Bierkenner at the top level(s) definitely get numerous benefits! As for wagen and Whig...those will be revealed soon. I hope we are not too packed into the Whig's "Keller." I will say, however, that the Kellerbier has had a great slow, steady fermentation and is tasting great.

 

Found Hacker Pschorr's Amber Märzen today. Pretty consistent with years past; toasty, bready malts up front with big melanoidin character and that very dry finish that H-P and Paulaner seem to share (and more dry than Spaten or Ayinger).

Anyone thinking Oktoberfest ought to be sweet should compare the H-P to what they've tried previously.

Oh yeah, well worth the purchase again this year (probably my 30th year drinking Munich Oktos. @AlcahueteJ ).

 

Somewhere around 10 - 11 years for me (well, it will be when I get my hands on some Munich Oktoberfests this season), so don't feel bad!

The H-P and Spaten are the top two in terms of displaying the richest, breadiest (is that a word?) malt character in my opinion.

Ayinger's is too light (still delicious though, but in a different way), and Paulaner's has always been a more than passable "last place" for me.

 

I can't remember if it was last year, or the year before -- I think I had suspicions 2 years ago and last year confirmed it -- but (to me anyway) H-P and Paulaner are identical anymore. Sort of makes sense, being brewed under the same roof -- and sometimes I perceive Paulaner to be a touch more dry, but both are of the old-school "traditional" Oktoberfest Märzen and worth drinking.

Give them a side-by and tell us what you think.

 

I'll try to make it a point to do a side-by-side this season. Should be easy enough, as my local "Oktoberfest" watering hole has both on tap, and I can easily grab singles of each at the liquor store as well.

 

Weihenstephaner Festbier made its annual appearance locally, this season is gonna break my budget (and my gut).

Oh yeah, this beer is pictured in the beer dictionary as the prototype Festbier.

 

I'm on the look out for this one. So far I've only had one import this season, Hofbrau's Oktoberfest, in the bottle. It could have been palate fatigue or perhaps it was slightly skunked (green bottle, haven't been burned in awhile that I can remember, if ever though), but it tasted off to me. It was also my third beer of the afternoon, and Pils malt tends to lose its depth for me as I drink more.

And perhaps "off" isn't the proper term, the sweet, bready malt characteristic paramount in this style (pale version anyhow, which is sweeter, more graham cracker like to me) was subdued. I thought maybe it was last year's, but I checked the date and it was bottled in June of this year I believe. Luckily I only plucked two bottles (nearly grabbed three), so I'll give the second a whirl on a fresh palate hopefully and see what happens.

 

Uh huh. I think you answered your own question. While grilling yesterday I had an HB Helles that was very bready, followed by the Weihenstaphaner that wasn't quite so, but also very dry in the finish. All perfect (for me) as I enjoyed the afternoon at the grill.

I haven't seen HB yet, just Paulaner, H-P, and now the Weihenstephaner. Oh yeah, I also saw the Paulaner Maß Krug - Canned Wies'n combo too, but I didn't look at any details (price, dates, etc...).

Funny, but Paulaner and H-P seem to be popping up at places that didn't have them last year. And, of course, no sign of Spaten at all. I'll have to check out Wisconsin again, I'll bet I can blame the Spaten absence on the Northeastern Illinois distributor.

 

Looked closer today, $14 and a best-by of mid-2017.

 

To my fellow Amis -- I just realized that, aside from Spaten Okto, I haven't seen Ayinger Okto yet this year. Anyone else seen it?

Oh yeah, spotted HB Festbier at one spot -- realized I mentioned that above.

 

I share space with company that delivers in CA for Wine Warehouse and I saw this...never heard about this before. Anyone?

 

Never heard about... H-P Original Oktoberfest? 600 Years of brewing?

This is the same H-P Oktoberfest they've been exporting to the U.S. for (basically) ever. Have you never tried it? To me it's much drier than Spaten's Okto, but still tasty. Over the last few years the H-P and Paulaner Amber Märzen seem to have morphed into the same beer -- I tried them side-by-side again this year and there's really no telling them apart.

 

Ayinger Ofest is here in St. Louis. It's in 4 packs this year. I haven't bought any, but wife did buy me a case of Paulaner best by 5/17. I bought a case of the HP last year but liked the Paulaner better.

 

[QUOTE="steveh, post: 4960672, member: 3211"
This is the same H-P Oktoberfest they've been exporting to the U.S. for (basically) ever. Have you never tried it? To me it's much drier than Spaten's Okto, but still tasty.[/QUOTE]

Maybe this mother case threw me off. I have had the HP in the past, but it's been years. The Spaten has always been my go-to Okto over the years.

 

Looks like they rebranded their normal Maerzen. Never done a side-by-side, but I've always thought that it tasted similar to Paulaner. In fact, most of their beers tend to. I prefer the H-P hell and the Paulaner weiss, but they're still pretty similar to their ones from their sister brand.

The might actually be a fun challenge. A blind comparison of all of the Munich flagship brands for helles, dunkel, and weiss. It wouldn't be feasible over here, but it would be easy for those living in Germany.

 

They re-branded all of their 6/12-pack products (Export/Helles, Weisse, and the Oktoberfest Märzen).

http://www.packagingdigest.com/pack...ds-heritage-to-attract-millennials-2016-02-11

From their Facebook page--(the Weisse and Helles had the new packaging earlier this year).

 

I haven't seen it in Boston, it's usually one of the first. I think it was in four packs last year as well as the half liter bottles. I didn't think to look where the four packs are stocked though, so maybe we have it?

I think you mentioned that you spotted it in another thread and/or message...unless I missed something in this one.