Best 2017 Oktoberfest, So Far

Looked for some today, but no luck. I'm thinking my local distro is spreading old stock.

I've already had about 3 six-packs of Spaten this season and been taking them from the back of the shelf or direct from the case -- no skunk problems and still my favorite Okto.

 

Heh -- I actually thought twice, but knew I'd be seeing newer stock soon.

 

I'm not sure how anyone can claim that Spaten or Paulaner is the best Oktoberfest. There is nothing wrong with them but they are not the best not even close.

Anyway I gave up on finding GL or Ayinger, I bought Victory for the third time this year today and am going to say that the best Oktoberfest this year is Victory Festbier.

 

Based on what many guidelines have set for the style, Spaten, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Ayinger (most years) nail the characteristics.

Bready, toasty malt, sweet to dry, balanced just right with spicy noble hops -- bang. Bavarian import Amber Märzen. No caramel sweetness, nutty or earthy character, fruit esters; liquid bread -- nothing more, nothing less.

 

Great Lakes? What part of PA are you in? I like Festbier but it is different than many of the others IMO, as it has an almost chocolate-y taste. At first I thought that it was heavy on the caramel but as I drink more of it chocolate is what comes to mind...fitting with the color too.

 

I meant FH, you got me. The victory is sublime the best representation of malts.

 

That's all gravy but even Beer Advocate can't get the Oktoberfest style guidelines right. I go by what tastes best.

 

I'd love to see something along this line as a year round brew.

 

So far, I've had:
SA
Spaten
Weihenstephaner
Bell's
Ayinger (330 bottle, thanks for the heads up!)
Santa Fe
& of course, an SN.

SA is too sweet, for me.
Spaten was a bit skunky smelling, but, that dissipated, and flavor was fine.
Weihenstephaner is the one I'd want to drink as a daily go to.
Bell's is my favorite Märzen, thus far.
Ayinger was very balanced, and very dry.
Santa Fe was better than I was expecting. Nice balance between caramel and spice.
SN was very good, but, better at a colder temp; tightened and focused. I preferred last years batch.

 

6 packs

 

Was it their Bavarian Pils? That would be joyous.

 

You forgot diacetyl.

 

This got me thinking...Sierra Nevada's actual Vienna Lager (usually in the fall pack...*sigh*) is arguably my favorite Sierra Nevada beer ever, and it's definitely my favorite Vienna. And I find the two beers nothing alike.

For both of you and @tzieser did you find this year's Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest similar to their Vienna?

That's kind of two separate discussions. What the "best" Oktoberfest (amber anyhow) is according to the style, and what your favorite Oktoberfest is can be two different things. You're discussing the latter, which isn't necessarily inappropriate according to the thread title.

@steveh is discussing what the "best" is according to style guidelines. I hate quoting the BJCP, but their description of a Marzen is spot on...I bolded a certain part simply because I find it intriguing that they went out of their way to point this out.

Flavor : “Initial malt flavor often suggests sweetness, but finish is moderately-dry to dry. Distinctive and complex maltiness often includes a bready, toasty aspect. Hop bitterness is moderate, and the hop flavor is low to none (German types: complex, floral, herbal, or spicy). Hops provide sufficient balance that the malty palate and finish do not seem sweet. The aftertaste is malty, with the same elegant, rich malt flavors lingering. Notceable [sic] caramel, biscuit, or roasted flavors are inappropriate. Clean lager fermentation profile.”

 

Very impressed with Otter Creek's take.

 

I've never had their Vienna Lager, if I want the style I go to Devils Backbone or to Red Oak which is extremely local and weekly fresh.

I took it to be with a Mittenburg Collab it would be a style you'd find in Munich under a tent. Why would they brew anything else and call it an Oktoberfest? I do enjoy the bit of hops, but it's certinly nothing like a Pils, not close. I find it to be bright, and very clean, no biscuit, no crackers, not a super malty finish. It's why I'm half in on Ayinger which is the style I'd suppose, too much of the malt on the backside, makes it sweet from start thru the finish. SN you get the malt upfront and then the touch of hops and it finishes perfectly. It's just a really nice drinking beer maybe the should call it an Alt Beer.
But this would be a terriffic beer as an everyday drinking beer, it's easy on the palate but it's still fairly full bodied compared to an AAL.

 

So do I, but once again we prove that not all palates (or perceptions) are the same. I'm an unabashed traditionalist and to me the big 4 Bavarian Ambers are traditional -- and delicious.

 

I'll add the Overall Impresion section to that:
Overall Impression: An elegant, malty German amber lager with a clean, rich, toasty and bready malt flavor, restrained bitterness, and a dry finish that encourages another drink. The overall malt impression is soft, elegant, and complex, with a rich aftertaste that is never cloying or heavy.

 

Plus, those caramel and roasty flavors become wearying well before the end of the first liter - not exactly a positive attribute in a beer made to be consumed in quantity.

 

Not their Vienna, no, more like Devils Backbone crossed with Stiegl Goldbrau. It's not a rounded beer, it's more fine, and the hops are sharp and interrupt the malt character.

 

I'm a bit surprised by some of the opinions here on American oktoberfests, so I thought I would throw out my opinion on the American ones I have had.

So far this year I have had Bell's, Sierra Nevada, Great Lakes, and Fat Head's. Out of the four I like Bell's and SN and would not purchase again GL and Fat Head's. I'm a bit surprised by the love for those two.

Sierra Nevada stands out in blind tasting to its German competitors. Hoppy and a cracker like malt profile. I have not blind tasted Bell's, but I like it more than SN. I think it too would stand out in blind tasting though, as it has "more" malt profile than it's German competitors. I'm guessing there is a hefty dose of caramunich in Bell's.