Midwest Made Oktoberfests

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by ZAP, Aug 12, 2017.

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  1. barrybeerdog

    barrybeerdog Pundit (941) Aug 17, 2012 South Dakota

    "Corn Belt" or "Bread Basket" states, which are economic geography terms

    economic geography terms + "Corn Belt" = GRAIN BELT:stuck_out_tongue:!!!!!!
     
    #21 barrybeerdog, Aug 14, 2017
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  2. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    ^^^Barry gets it! :slight_smile:
     
    #22 BottleCaps80, Aug 14, 2017
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  3. DriftlessFarmer

    DriftlessFarmer Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2016 Iowa

    I can see that the census bureau definitely agrees with you, but I don't think my definition is insane at all. I've traveled those areas extensively and find a lot of geographical and cultural similarities, tied back to the similarity in economics. The census bureau might not call it the Midwest, but they have a relatively similar culture that derives from a shared economy which is dictated by the geography.

    In those partial states, I'm pretty much excluding the mountainous areas (like the Ozarks, for example - much more in common with Appalachia), or the heavily forested places (northern Minnesota and Wisconsin; Southern Illinois/Indiana).

    I realize it's not the academically accepted definition, but I think there's an argument for it.
     
    #23 DriftlessFarmer, Aug 14, 2017
  4. DownyIsHungry

    DownyIsHungry Pooh-Bah (1,902) Feb 6, 2015 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I just had Beaver Island's Oktoberfest for the first time. It's very solid! I would definitely recommend.
     
    #24 DownyIsHungry, Aug 15, 2017
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  5. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Had a few others now:

    New Glarus Staghorn: Well done. Right there with Beaver Island.

    Central Waters: Muddied, too sweet

    Capitol: Enjoyable. Better than CW...a little sweetish and probably not to style but I like it.

    Also had Paulaner which I always love but won't include as I don't want to start a debate on if Germany fits in the midwest or not. Then again, it might be fun to read the back and forth!
     
    #25 ZAP, Aug 17, 2017
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  6. DriftlessFarmer

    DriftlessFarmer Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2016 Iowa

    It's not a cultural stretch. Lotta Germans out here.

    (I'm making fun of myself)
     
    #26 DriftlessFarmer, Aug 17, 2017
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  7. siouxbrew

    siouxbrew Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2007 Iowa

    Millstream
    Schell's
    Bob's 47
     
    #27 siouxbrew, Aug 17, 2017
  8. morimech

    morimech Grand Pooh-Bah (3,803) Nov 6, 2006 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Waconia Brewing releases their Oktoberfest this Saturday.
     
    #28 morimech, Aug 17, 2017
  9. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Upon further review...Staghorn is boozier and more along the lines of Summit. I'm getting a lot of Vienna malt from Beaver Island. Capital is the closest to a true German amber Ofest. I plan on a blind side by side with Paulaner. Central Waters is terrible.
     
    #29 ZAP, Aug 18, 2017
  10. Victory_Sabre1973

    Victory_Sabre1973 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,445) Sep 15, 2015 Minnesota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I enjoyed Beaver Island's tonight, and it was good. I picked up several Oktoberfest beers, and will give my full take when done.
     
    #30 Victory_Sabre1973, Aug 18, 2017
  11. mjryan

    mjryan Pooh-Bah (1,571) Dec 22, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    Honestly, what is a true German Ofest?
     
    #31 mjryan, Aug 18, 2017
  12. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    An Oktoberfestbier brewed by Spaten, Löwenbräu, Augustiner-Bräu, Hofbräu-München, Paulaner or Hacker-Pschorr! :sunglasses:
     
    #32 MNAle, Aug 18, 2017
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  13. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    There are others more qualified to answer this but to me (and I'm talking Amber Ofest, not the wisn lighter style which borders closer to a Pilsner in my opinion).

    -It should have toasted malts from Munich or Vienna malting. Not be boozy or sharp....not have too much of a hop impression (just enough to back the malt)....It should be clean drinking....it should lack apple fruit like notes or any fruitiness....I find the amber German version to have a hard water mineral like component and a little more depth to a richer but slightly less toasty malt (perhaps from decoction?) . Caramel and heavy sweet flavors are a no-no if you are talking true to style.

    Now I think even the ofests not true to style a lot of times are decent enough beers and quite enjoyable. But to answer your question that is what I think. Drink a Hacker-Pschorr or Paulaner and then some American one and you will see the flavor difference. Like I mentioned Capital is the closest I've found to that German flavor.
     
    #33 ZAP, Aug 18, 2017
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  14. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Thanks for your comments re: Capital and Central Waters. I'll see if I can pick up a 6-pack of the Capital.

    Checking my data base, I've only had 6 different beers of the style. Ayinger is my highest rated (and it is not even one of the "official" Oktoberfestbier brewers), and Summit is the lowest.

    I suppose I could also grab some Central Waters and another 6 pack of Summit for a kind of perverse taste test for who "wins" the bottom! :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #34 MNAle, Aug 18, 2017
  15. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I can drink Summit. It's just a little boozy and rich but not a bad beer. CW this year is not very good in my opinion.
     
    #35 ZAP, Aug 18, 2017
  16. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Anyone tried Urban Chestnut's Oktoberfest?
     
    #36 BottleCaps80, Aug 18, 2017
  17. Dizmal

    Dizmal Crusader (437) Oct 28, 2009 Minnesota

    Is Beaver Island distributed in the NW metro yet? I had the Ofest last year at the brewery when they had their Ofest in the back parking lot. I too was impressed with it then but I'm not heading up to St. Cloud anytime soon.
     
    #37 Dizmal, Aug 18, 2017
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  18. d18daddy

    d18daddy Initiate (143) Mar 3, 2015 Minnesota

    We go as far South as Otswego.
     
    #38 d18daddy, Aug 18, 2017
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  19. spark66

    spark66 Initiate (0) Jan 30, 2017 New York

    Picked up a 4 pack at the Urbandale Hy-Vee last week for $5.99. IMO a great Oktoberfest: Malty, smooth, and all around easy to drink. Plus it came in their sweet lidless cans!
     
    #39 spark66, Aug 20, 2017
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  20. MNAle

    MNAle Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2011 Minnesota

    Over on the Beer Talk forum, there is a thread about a Spet 23 Oktoberfest tasting.

    I'm considering participating.

    The Märzen / Oktoberfest beers in my database (meaning I have had them & rated them) are Ayinger, Schell's , Hacker-Pschorr, Bell's, Hofbräu , and Summit. (Since Surly does not consider their Festbier to be a Märzen / Oktoberfest, neither do I! -- despite what this site says it is...)

    Anyway, I'm thinking of including Schell's as the only repeat (for reference to prior ratings, more or less), plus another German beer, plus one or at most two MN/Midwest beers.

    I think the German beer will be the Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen, due to availability (even though that is an export beer, not the one they brew for the festival in Munich).

    For the MN/Midwest selection(s), it must be packaged for retail (can or bottle, in south metro liquor stores), not tap or growler/crowler at the brewery only.

    My candidates are (1 or at most 2 of these):
    Fair State Festbier Oktoberfest
    Capital Brewery Oktoberfest
    Utepils Oktoberfest (if available by then & they put it in cans)

    Comments?

    Anyone tried the Third Street Oktoberfest?
     
    #40 MNAle, Aug 21, 2017
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