Best 2017 Oktoberfest, So Far

Looks like Union Beer (NYC & LI) distributes Urban Chestnut.

 

The same tavern that's promising O-Katz has the Zwickel on tap right now -- my first sampling of that one vom Faß and it was damn tasty.

 

Not that this helps you, but I was able to score a case @ Bensalem Beer and Wine in Bensalem, PA.

My advice: try contacting their customer service email address. They had a rep get back to me and he pointed me in the right direction.

 

Had a Straub Oktoberfest at a bottle share about 2 weeks ago, and would wager to say it was among the best of the style I've ever had. Maybe a little too sweet to be in the lines of a traditional marzen, but I loved it.

 

2017 Sierra Nevada o'fest = horrible
2017 Jekyll o'fest = horrible
2017 Blue Point Ofest = too much hops for an ofest, but is a very good beer
2017 Hacker-Pschorr Ofest = AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!
2017 Paulaner Ofest = AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2017 Weihenstephaner Ofest= still not in stores??? looking to try it....
2017 Yeungling Ofest - disregarding their GMO corn they use, the taste is ok.
2017 Spaten Ofest - decent taste, a little too hoppy for the brew's category
2017 Goose Ofest - not good, really a bad attempt, not even a good beer taste
2017 Victory Ofest = really a bad attempt, had the "biscuit" maltiness that tasted as tho' they had added "biscuit flavor" to the brew and it had, as do most craftie brews, WAY TOO MUCH HOPS FOR AN OCTOBERFEST- really not good. Remember, Octoberfest's taste is due to the malt, not the hops. If you want a LOT of hops, go get an IPA, dont make an IPA and call it an Octoberfest. That is like rooting for the Red Sox and saying you are a Yankees fan , doesnt compute.


several more to try, looking forward to Weihenstephaner and Shiner along with a few others.........

 

Weihenstephan Festbier is out. I saw a palates worth of cases at the store the other day

 

Grand Teton Fest Bier is okay.

 

Karbach Karbachtoberfest was pretty good.

 

So, are you a parody account? Judging by your reviews and this post I have to believe this isn't real. Is this a bit, and I just don't find the bit funny?

 

While I agree with the premise of not brewing an IPA (or ESB, or Brown Ale) and calling it an Oktoberfest, the three comparisons in your list are pretty contradictory. There may be hops in Spaten, but the character is far from IPA-like and not all that different from the other 2 Munich Oktos.

 

I love the Sierra Nevada and Great Lakes OFests (like always), but I also really enjoyed the Jack's Abby OFest I had this weekend. Fantastic take that also has the benefit of coming in pint cans. Wish I could get that in KY!

 

So, did he limit the viewing of his profile after you posted your question? I really wanted to read his reviews.

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/user/beers/?ba=Beerwithoutallthehops

 

and @BigJim5021 -- I never thought I'd see an attempt at building the lowest rDev on BA.

 

Apparently, the ratings are "1" or "German".

 

O-Katz vom Fass -- very nice. Sort of between Bell's Okto and Ayinger. Might have to splurge for two.

 

Did I say "IPA like"? No, I mentioned Spaten has a distinct hops presence - and it very well does - for an Octoberfest, which is known for its MALT, not its HOPS. I still like Spaten and that is why I say the taste is decent.

This is the funny thing about commenting on this site, my comments were about my opinion of the beers I drank. Now I am being "corrected" for what I tasted? Yet, others on this site say a beer is "sweet" and others agree with them. Sweet?? No, the beer may "seem" sweet when comparing to other tastes, but I guarantee it is not actually sweet as one would find with hard candy or other actually sweet items. Sam Adams "Cherry Wheat" is the closest I have found to "sweet". So, it would be better for them to say that. Rather than describe a beer as "sweet", they should say it isnt as bitter as others they have tasted.

Thanks for your comment. Octoberfests are about malt, although I have found few on this site who understand that detail.

 

not sure what is so difficult to understand. I tasted beers and gave my opinion, which I find many others doing on this site. parody? not sure what you are implying. I tasted some beers and gave my opinion. Octoberfests are about malt, not hops. not much else to say.

thanks.

 

actually, it is more about the hops overload that USA crafties seem compelled to shove down our throats. several "octoberfest" I have tried this year could easily fit in the IPA category as well. hops allows the stuff to stay on shelves longer which makes the brewers and store owners real happy. I am thankful that we may finally be seeing the end of this hops overload. i have read, on this site alone, several people commenting on the overuse of hops in beer today. obviously, if you like hops, you will disagree. I dont like hops, but understand they are needed in beer and have commented on that point on various reviews. I appreciate hops, but dont need an entire truckload in every bottle, apparently, some people do. not sure why the context of my reviews is an issue, rather than the beer being reviewed. I have seen quite a few goofy reviews on this site. oh well........

so, yes, my reviews favor malts and that, generally favors German brews. thanks.

 

It was the going to extremes with the beers you don't like that got my attention. Having ~3/4 of your ratings (just eyeballing and estimating) rated 1.1 or below is a bit more extreme than merely "favoring" malts, I would say.