Local-ish Oktoberfest beers

I've had more imports this year than ever before. I don't know if I'm just getting older or what, but over the years my preferences have been drifting away from big/intense/sweet flavors to the more restrained side of the spectrum. The 2017 version of me would have backed up the truck for Rev's Okto. This year, I certainly enjoy it, but I'm good with one sixer.

This might be the first year that I've really started to appreciate the German beers (uh oh, polluting my own thread here). In prior years, they'd be in the middle of the pecking order, but this year I just burned right through my Weihenstephaner and Hofbrau.

Getting back on topic, it looks like PW just released one and I'll be swinging by On Tour this weekend for a crowler of theirs.

 

Well, the Hofbrau is a festbier style, which is going to be lighter, less toasty, and crisper than the Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen. Pick up the pale Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (damn these confusing names!) that @FBarber mentioned for a more apples-to-apples comparison.

Since we’re already off topic, I tried the Sierra Nevada tonight and wasn’t impressed. Too hoppy and had a distinct “orange-flavored hard candy” quality. Reminded me of something my grandma would have in a glass bowl on the mantle.

 

Had a Spiteful Okto tonight:


It's not bad but there was something just a tad off about it. Heavy on the caramel and had a pronounced citrus note on the finish with some undifferentiated spices. It's like they were shooting for the Ayinger flavor profile but it came out a bit muddled. Anyway, I quoted @HawksBeerFan because, while I don't rank Rev high based on what I'm looking for in an Octoberfest beer, subsequent beers have increased my appreciation for the quality and consistency of Rev's version. In a head-to-head shootout, Rev is definitely the winner.

 

Well, the shooting in tonight's ballgame might be cold, but the competition for Top Okto is heating up with a stealthily good entry! I wasn't expecting to rank Pipeworks so high, but this is wonderful. As you can see from the pic, it has a pretty deep amber hue with slight cloudiness. It reminds me of how unfiltered beers looked in the days before THE HAZE took over.



Rich feel and a slightly creamy body. Taste was malty but balanced, there was some caramel but it didn't dominate or overpower other flavors. It was reminiscent of breaking off a hunk of dense, high-quality bread. The finish was pretty dry, giving the beer a refreshing, crisp quality. It is ridiculously drinkable and didn't have the heaviness I expected from its appearance in the glass. My top locals have been Lagertown and P3, Pipeworks is definitely in that echelon. Definitely going to do a blind shootout between those and maybe a German Märzen for the hell of it.