Best 2017 Oktoberfest, So Far

I'm intrigued by this one, particularly since they collaborated on it with Camba Bavaria. What specifically did you like about the beer? The handful of reviews so far have been generally positive but there hasn't been much talk about it otherwise.

 

Had New Glarus Staghorn for the first time this year. Great stuff. Could use a touch more roasty character I think, but perfectly balanced and so drinkable.

 

It's been 2 weeks since I had it, and I didn't take notes. From memory: I found it less sweet and more balanced then other domestic versions (Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada) and I loved the malt used. I'll revisit this weekend around the bonfire.

 

I'm going off memory here (haven't had their Vienna for 2 or 3 years now) but their Vienna was darker in color, had a slightly sweeter, breadier (is that a word?) malt profile. Their Oktoberfest has a "spicier' hop note, whereas the Vienna had more of a traditional herbal/noble hop thing going on. I'd say their Vienna is much closer to the Vienna Lager style guidelines than their Oktoberfest is close to the Oktoberfest style guidelines (if that makes any sense)

 

Maybe you missed this from AlcahueteJ's post on the previous page:
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.”

Roasty flavors in an Oktoberfest seem to be an American trait -- it's my theory that the malts tend toward roasty because U.S. brewers use different malts than German brewers and/or don't mash the same.

It's that roastiness in Staghorn that keeps me from returning to it during the season -- makes it more Brown Ale than Okto Märzen to me.

 

Late to this thread, but here is my lineup of Oktoberfest beers for this year (plus the Central Waters, which I consumed before I took the picture... and wasn't inclined to buy more...)

I plan on posting tasting notes for 2 or 3 of these at the Sep 23 thread. I haven't decided which ones yet.

Of course, I have had the Schell's before, but all of the others are new to me this year.

I've tried all of these over the last couple of weeks except for the Bauhaus and Fair State.

Paulaner and Spaten were the only German Oktos I bought this year. I preferred the Paulaner to the Spaten. But, my Spaten is in green bottles... I'll check the date code when I get home. If it is last year's it is not really a fair taste, and I'm bummed that the distributors would do this.

 

Not to beat a semi-dead horse, but then I guess maybe you don't really like Oktoberfest style beers???

Surly states quite openly their SurlyFest is not true to style at all. In fact, they just call it a Dry-Hopped Rye Lager.

 

Thanks for the info. I've seen 6-packs popping up in my area so I think I'll give it a shot. "Less sweet and more balanced" is right up my alley.

 

Yes it was. 4.44 according to my palate.

 

It may be the best Pils I have had, I need to check out their Oktoberfest for certain.

 

Spaten went to a one-year-from-bottling best-by date on their label a couple years ago -- easy to decipher at the point of purchase. All of the sixers I've bought this year have been dated 06.2018 -- if yours aren't marked best-by 2018, of some month, I'd cry foul very loudly -- even assuming a best-by of 09 thru 12.2017 would be good, hard to argue with 9 months over 3.

Also, and I mentioned it before, I've been buying my Spaten sixes from the back of the shelf or direct from the unopened case -- no skunk troubles.

 

So I did a little local research and found out that the distro for Ayinger in my area is one of the more reputable businesses -- I doubt they're trying to pass off year-old stock, but who knows? Maybe they can't read any dating codes either (though Ayinger does have that notched label sort of code that distributors are supposed to be able to translate).

Anyway, I just poured the latest bottle of Fest-Märzen I gambled on and tastes to be devoid of any diacetyl this go-round. I know just where I bought this sample, as well as where I bought the less-than favorable samples, but that still doesn't explain the draft sample I tried. I'd blame bad tap lines, but that tavern is usually pretty diligent at keeping their service lines clean. Though I suppose kegs from Ayinger could be as badly marked as bottles...

Nonetheless, I've found better Ayinger with that lightly sweet, toasted breadiness we've all grown to love and crave.

 

I would because I drank the second bottle stubbornly.

The wegmans did not have the ayinger oktoberfest that I noticed last year so hmm? And I also saw on a bottom shelf some winter welcome and I thought that can't be.

 

Jacks abby copper legend was a straight up vienna lager this year I thought. =)

 

A few years ago, the local Old Chicago had 2 year old WW. Pissed me off as I find the fresh ones delightful.

 

I have three heads bells and dark horse for Sunday. I would say another good year for the style. =)

 

I like Oktoberfests, just haven't had that many yet - and not sure whether "true to style" means much more to Oktoberfests than it does Pumpkin ales. Seems like in many cases of both, breweries take a lot of liberties, even to the extent of just changing the label of one of their regular beers in the case of Oktoberfests. I expect Oktoberfests to be a bready/malty drinkable beer. I expect Pumpkin beers to at least have a picture of a pumpkin on the label

 

After my blind okto tasting last year, I've been enjoying Ayinger, Hofbrau, Weihenstephan, Bells, Sierra Nevada, NG Staghorn, Upland Oktoberfest, and my favorite, Urban Chestnut O-Katz.

 

I don't think you're missing anything if you haven't seen Sierra Nevada's yet. I've found it too sweet and nondescript. I've really enjoyed Spaten's and Weihenstephaner's Oktoberfests.

 

I'm far from an expert, but as far as I can tell there's two styles being offered; One is amber a huge malt bill, a bit toasty perhaps and very low on hops, finishes malty, like Ayinger. The others are like SN, malt, more hops, much lighter in color, less sweet. So both are Fest beers are and have very little in common. You can like both, either or neither, I much prefer beers like SN, and Weistephaner, I like lighter and brighter. One beer I definately want to go get is Mectoberfest, but getting to Charlotte is a hassle for a few beers, it's 120 miles one way for me.