Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

Posted up higher on the last page:

Just updated with the sighting.

 

I do my best to sample all 3 Munich Amber Märzen offerings each year... if possible. Spaten is still absent in my area.

 

4 packs of 12 oz. bottles, or half-liters?

 

Information on Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen via the importer (Merchant du Vin):

“Four-packs of 11.2 oz. (330 ml) bottles / six 4-packs per case”

http://www.merchantduvin.com/brew-ayinger-oktober-fest-marzen.php

Cheers!

 

Ahh ok, I gotcha now. You were just referencing that you had mentioned Hofbrau, not that you had seen it yet. You can probably see where my confusion was...carry on with Oktoberfest!

I believe Ayinger was 11.2 oz. bottles in four packs last year as well. I either never saw them at my store, or never purchased them. I like this format though, because I'm a huge fan of purchasing singles.

This allows me to try multiple Oktoberfests without buying the entire six and four packs. Speaking of Hofbrau...I look forward to my second bottle this weekend on a fresh palate hopefully.

 

I've only ever seen the half-liter bottles around here, but I'll keep my eyes open.

 

Ayinger Okto in the house. Full disclosure: I had an SN Okto just before this one, so the palate calibration is skewed, but it's pretty good. Again.

Smooth and easy drinking with just a touch of diacetyl this year -- again, my palate isn't clean.

 

Picked up a four pack of this myself on Saturday. I've had two so far, but the first doesn't count, it was the billionth beer of the day for me.

Had another yesterday and while I didn't pin it as diacetyl, there was a bit more sweetness to it, more so in the nose, but I could also taste it. Almost caramel-like rather than bready. But the dark bread notes and richness took over right away. Still delicious, and a bit of hop spice in the back end as well, along with a semi-dry finish.

Also snagged a few singles of Weihenstephan's. Delicious graham-cracker sweetness, so drinkable. I got a bit of hop spice lingering on this one too, I think I may be overly sensitive to hops oddly from having too many "New English-ish" IPAs lately. Counter-intuitive, but just a guess.

I've had two bottles of Hofbrau, one bottle on a completely fresh palate. And I've had it on draft. It's good, but it seems a bit off this year. The malt profile seems a bit subdued and isn't as rich and sweet as the Weihenstephan. But, every year some taste better than others, year to year and batch to batch variation I'm sure.

I grabbed another Jack's Abby Copper Legend to give this batch another go. But so far, the Weihenstephan and Ayinger are my favorites this year. And in terms of "favorites" each year, I like to separate the amber vs. pale, because they're different styles in my opinion.

 

I felt the same way with the HB. I remember trying it a few years ago (may even still be my review for their Fest) and thinking it wasn't much different than their Helles, but subsequent years it tasted closer to Weihenstephan. Now, it seems to be back to Helles.

Maybe I'll try the Helles and Fest side-by since I have a source for .5 liter Helles.

 

Interesting. I've always felt this style is really just an amped up Helles, so that part doesn't surprise me. I want to say I had their Helles within the last month or so, and it was great. Better than the Festbier I just had.

I saw a single of their Helles at the liquor store, if it's still there next week I may grab it. MAYBE the Helles I had was a bit lacking, but I honestly don't recall that.

 

Even so... wouldn't "amping it up" give it a different flavor character? Have you tried the Weihenstephaner Helles and Festbier side-by? Similarities -- yes, but greatly different character (at least to someone who doesn't drink IPAs regularly ).

FWIW -- HB Helles has been my go-to Helles since Spaten availability has dwindled. I find it pretty tasty (spot on to-style) when it's fresh.

 

I was able to have Schlenkerla's Helles on draft at Novare Res in Portland on Saturday and my goodness that beer is a show-stopper. .5L poured right up to the line in their branded Willi Becker glass. I get so used to just being able to find it in bottles, it's a real treat to find via keg. Wonder if anyone has ever seen this beer from cask/barrel?

I guess that might be more accurate in a thread entitled Frankenbiere bought and drunk so please excuse.

 

Never seen it from cask/barrel in the US. But I've had it multiple times in both the bottle and numerous locations on draft around Boston.

I've actually had a few bottles that were quite comparable to the drafts (all amazing). It's been awhile since I've had a draft, but I want to say it's a bit smokier than the bottle. This would make sense as I'm sure that is one of the first parts of the flavor profile to fade over time.

The last bottle I had though was a bit off. I forget exactly what was off about it, may have been smokier than usual (getting in the way of the Pils malt character), or even too perfumy/floral. It also could have been something else, either way, I want to say it detracted from the malt profile that I love in a Helles. But, with Schlenkerla you always take a risk with the bottles because they don't date them.

The draft is awesome, for any import really, because you likely have a better shot at it being fresh. But I find it carries a hefty price tag (upwards of $10, maybe higher some places) in the Boston area. Despite the sessionable ABV (4.3%), the price makes it not so sessionable.

 

Not side-by-side, but I agree, different character. Maybe not different actually, but definitely deeper, richer, and maltier all around.

To me, it's like having a Vienna lager next to an amber Oktoberfest.

Definitely. Hofbrau, Weihenstephan, Andech's, Spaten...all solid examples of a Helles.

 

I was this close to clicking the like button... but I've yet to find a fresh example of Andechs Helles, it always tastes slightly sour to me. And Spaten has just been disappointing to my tongue lately, seems to be a shadow of its former self.

 

Haha, it's cool. Bear in mind, that's not necessarily a list of my favorites, simply those that I feel are a decent representation of the style. I recall enjoying the last Spaten bottle I snagged, and previously on draft (been awhile).

I haven't had the Andech's in a long time, I've had a few drafts that I felt were thin. Actually, I don't recall if there's ever been a draft here that was spot on, maybe once recently.

The first bottle I had when they first hit the US may have been the closest thing to Munich I've experienced since I went. I don't recall subsequent bottles though, there haven't been many as they're hard to find fresh. I just stopped checking to be honest.

Oh, and the Ayinger Jahrhundert (despite it being labeled a Dortmunder) is right up there with the best of the best. Draft, bottle, whatever, it's always been awesome.

 

I agree. When those first bottles hit, they were as close to Munich as I've had on these shores. I think mine were still 3 months old, but you'd never have known it. We still get the Andechs beers, but the freshness is very hit and miss. Luckily with the doppebock it doesn't matter all that much. It's still excellent all the way up to a year old. Maybe longer, but I've never bothered to keep one that long.

 

I had that experience with Urban Chestnut's Zwickel, mostly via the aroma from my small Maßkrug.

 

I've never seen Schlenkerla Helles on draft at the Schlenkerla, does it ever happen? If so, is there a special day or time of the year when it's on?

 

Bottles only for as long I have been going there.