American Made Marzens

Lot of talk about off premise, but anyone seeing Oktoberfests on draft? Have breweries pushed production to entirely off premise? I would have expected to see some on draft by now, but not seeing a lot here in Northern Virginia. Not sure I'm ready to dine at an establishment here yet, but have found the lack of Oktoberfests on draft interesting.

 

Thanks again, and I did pick up that pack of Unter Dog today. Verdict is: mild but pleasant, and very enjoyable overall. I put up a more detailed post in New Beer Weekend #6

 

I'm drinking one right now too. Cheers!

 

I’ve noticed that here in MA. I feel like they don’t really come out on draft until September.

 

All the examples seem to be ambers. Has anyone come across a good American pale Oktoberfest?

 

Victory in the past made a Pale Oktoberfest that they labeled as Zeltbier (translates to Tent Beer). I have had it several times but only on draft and IMO it was a very good beer. I doubt it will be brewed this year since it is a draft only product and the pandemic situation.

Cheers!

 

I know carton brews festy, draft only. But apparently someone in the carton thread that it will be canned this year. He saw it via comments on Instagram by carton on a post, not sure which one. I have not had it so I cannot say if it’s good or not.

 

Was there for release day +1 and it did not disappoint. My favorite release from OMB.

Their Munztler is a Vienna Lager and a close second.

Perhaps the most overlooked is their baltic porter. Exceptional.

 

Smuttynose used to do a pale Oktoberfest. I have no idea if it's still brewed or not. Clocked in a 6.7% ABV and very heavy on the malt. Definitely approached helles bock territory. Used to remind me a little of Hofbräu in that regard.

 

I'm visiting relatives in WI. Had my first New Glarus Staghorn last night. Color is not that dark. Foam formation and retention are excellent, the word Schaum came to mind. Aroma is Pils malt, little hop aroma. Flavor was Pils, Low Vienna or Munich malts. The finish clean, just enough bitterness to dry the palate. I would put it between a Wies'n and a Märzen Oktoberfest.

Very nice, what one would expect from a German trained brewer.

 

No roastiness this year? May have to give it a revisit.

Oh, bottle or draft?

 

Bottle. I didn't pick up any Roasted notes, the bottle label says "smooth roasted malts. Will sample more tonight, look for roast notes, and give my wife a sip as she is sensitive to roast malt flavors.

 

Slight toasty flavor in the finish.

 

Okay, but I separate toasty from roasty -- Guinness Stout and Köstritzer Schwarzbier are roasty (almost astringent, bitterish, burnt malt. HB Dunkel is toasty -- like toasted bread with that melanoidin character.

Oktoberfest really shouldn't be roasty. In years past I've gotten a roasted character from Staghorn that has kept me from finding it a good Okto to my palate. OTOH -- NG's Two Women has been quite bready in a melanoidin character that I wish NG could have adapted to Staghorn -- maybe they have?

 

Toasty to toasty, but I had to look for it. My guess is that it is for a color addition.

 

So, color additives *can* add flavor too?

I've wanted to see if I could find a small container of Synamar to see what it tasted like.

 

It depends. If added during Vorlauf the flavor is minimized, compared to adding in the mash. Synamar is cold steeped Carafa, so less flavor, but many say there is some.

 

Our local Notch makes a pale Oktoberfest.

I honestly don’t really remember what it was like last year, but they’re the best lager brewer in the northeast in my opinion, and their Export Helles is excellent.

 

And it's fantastic this year as well

 

NJ slant below...

The Wegman's near me (Bridgewater) has the best Victory selection of just about any shop in my area (Bottle King in Hillsborough comes close), and the only place I've seen (and purchased) Java Cask. I had Victory's Festbier for the first time in a few years last year and liked it more than I recall, so at least a sixer of that one will make it to my fridge at some point. Seems to be one of the few beers they are doing as bottle only and no cans.

Cape May Brewing's Oktoberfest is really good, it leans sweet, but I found it to be the best one in 2019 so it was the first one I bought this year (2020). WIth their increased distribution, their beer I think gets into PA now.

I'll probably grab some Bell's Octoberfest (despite them spelling it with a "c"), based on many of the comments here and how much I've enjoyed their beer since they arrived in NJ.

I saw a couple mentions of Jersey Girls' Oktoberfest, too - had that two years ago and was very pleasantly surprised. Lone Eagle (Flemington) makes a solid Oktoberfest that has gone by different names, My Favorite Marzen, Marzen but was good under both names.

Ramstein is canning their Oktoberfest this year, but releasing it only at the brewery. Debating if I make the hour plus trip for that (been far, far too long since I enjoyed a pint of it), although some shops with growler fill stations occasionally carry Ramstein, so I'm hoping one of those shops closer to me will get it. I'll again pound the pulpit that Ramstein should bottle their Oktoberfest, especially in 2020. The quality of most of their output for German beer is so high, they should be on the same level as Jack's Abby...whose own Octoberfest last year was delightful.

Carton is canning their Festbier, Festy for the first time this year. In past years, Festy was a draught only beer they released at the brewery and local Oktoberfest celebrations. Hopefully the cans hit NJ distribution because they are an hour in the opposite direction of Ramstein for me.

I'll close with adding to the chorus that Great Lakes makes one of the best US Okotberfests/Marzens.