Best Oktoberfestbiers/Märzens

FWIW -- Erdinger is only an "Oktoberfest" in marketing terms. It's a Weizenbier and not what's usually celebrated with at the Oktoberfest. Erdinger throws the term on their labels for beers they distribute this time of year to "jump on the bandwagon."

I think you'll find that most Ami-Oktos are sweeter and more caramel in flavor than the Bavarian imports (note: Beck's and Warsteiner are not Bavarian).

As you liked the Paulaner Wies'n, you should try the Amber Märzen that's also available, more from the older Oktoberfest times.

Also, check this thread for more current Oktoberfest discussion (don't let the subject line let you think it's all SN talk).

 

Give Hofbrau and Weihenstephaner a try.

 

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen. My favorite so far. Don't let the Sierra Nevada hype fool you, it doesn't compare.

 

Sam Adams

 

Pale - Hofbrau
Amber - Spaten
In Between - Ayinger

American contenders - Sly Fox, Sierra Nevada

 

A good place to start is with the Germans, after all they created the style and have been making it for a long while now.

Currently I'm going through what just hit the shelves, Sam, Shiner, Leinie, Sierra, the usual suspects, which are good in their own right but the Germans are still first bat.

 

Pale – Weihenstephaner Oktoberfestbier

Amber – Sly Fox

In Between - Ayinger

Last I also greatly enjoyed Stoudts Oktoberfest.

Cheers!

 

@ABabbidge Keep in mind that the Octoberfest/Marzen style can have a wide range of light pale to dark amber malts and light to strong hop bitterness. The "best" will be based on personal preference as much as whether the beer is to style. That's why @TongoRad and @JackHorzempa gave "pale" "amber" and "in between" suggestions.

 

Ayinger Oktoberfest-Marzen has been my perennial favorite.
Weihenstephaner, Paulaner and Spaten are always good.
I find the Americans are a little heavier, but Jack's Abby's Copper Legend has been good, I Sierra Nevada (to my taste) is surprisingly good this year.
I'd give any German brewery a taste as well as any local that doesn't over hop everything.

 

Hacker-Pschorr for if your feeling like a German.

But if your ever in Illinois, try Buckledown's Oktoberfest, simply delicious.

 

Compared my usual favorites last year head-to-head and Ayinger and Hacker-Pschorr were about tied for me. For me, the US Oktoberfests just aren't as tasty. That said, Sierra's new collaborations, Victory Festbier, Highlands Clawhammer, and Port City were my domestic favs last year. In the minority in not understanding the love for Great Lakes...

 

Victory Zeltbier, great pale version, plus I love Hofbrau and enjoy Sly Fox's Oktoberfest.

 

I agree with SN's this year. Last year was delicious and this year is almost as good as last year's.

 

I really enjoy OMB Mecktoberfest (Charlotte, NC). They know how to do the German style beers well. Also, COAST Brewing (Charleston, SC) does a decent Octoberfest brew.

 

Still sitting on the back room. The ones out are SN and HP. Ridiculous, they've been on site for two weeks now. Weistephaner 1516 was something I don't remember seeing before, but I didn't see the bottle date. Last year Ayinger was first one out.

 

Penn brewery oktoberfest out of pittsburgh is hands down the best. Truly authentic and better than all the Germans I've had. They are a German oriented brewery so that's not a huge surprise.

I'm also a huge fan of victory festbier, though it's somewhat less traditional.

 

I liked Hofbräu Oktoberfest. I'm still waiting on the 2016 SN collaboration, but I've heard good things.

 

US: Revolution
German: Spaten & Ayinger