Controversial Beer Opinions (Round Two)

Yes more malty, more classic hop flavor, and slightly heavier feel. The last few years I've run through many of the German mainstays in Oktoberfest style beers: Paulaner, Ayinger, Spatan, Hacker Pschorr, and Hofbrau. I found them all thin, some were skunked, and overall just stale tasting.

I think there are many American breweries that are amping up the malts and body. Letting the hops shine a little more. All while still staying true to the style. I haven't seen any with rye or weird adjuncts. Maybe it's the process, maybe it's the ingredients, but I am now preferring American Oktoberfest beers.

 

So, IOW, fresh has surpassed skunked and stale! Now THERE'S a controversial beer opinion!

Used to be #4 in the list of best Oktoberfest beers on this site (until someone decided it was retired... the last I knew it was taproom only, not retired, but ...):

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/32620/

 

Keep in mind that German brewers might have exactly the opposite goal as what you find appealing in the American beers. Some are likely striving for a far higher level of drinkability at high volumes. Don't underestimate how tricky this can be to pull off in a satisfying way.

(BTW - On a more personal note: There are some American versions of "Oktoberfestbiers" that I like much better than some German versions and vice versa... but when you say "America has surpassed Germany" it just sounds like something an extremely ridiculous and deceitful politician would say. )

 

I've spent a fair amount of time in Germany and have enjoyed most of their Oktoberfest beers, but must agree with you. This year I'm seeing a lot of Oktoberfest beers on the shelves, in fact more than I can ever recall, so I've been giving them a try and have been very impressed by a lot of them.

Locally here in Southern California the ones by Enegren, Three Weavers, Brewery X, Smog City and a few others whose names escape me at the moment are as good as anything I've had in Germany.

 

What do you think of this years Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest compared to the 2019 Bitburger collab?

 

There are lots (and I do mean lots) of American craft breweries that produce Oktoberfest beers as seasonal products and while some of those beers are consistent with what you described there there are others that emphasize balance (i.e., not more malty, not more hoppy, etc.). Those are the types of American brewed Oktoberfest beers that I prefer and luckily I have choices here as regards brands. Having stated that, last week I purchased my second case (24 cans) of Sly Fox Oktoberfest for the season and we haven't reached October yet.

While it is indeed a 'plus' that the American brewed Oktoberfest beers are fresh, it is not solely a freshness thing. American craft breweries can indeed produce very high quality Oktoberfest beers. Needless to say but "surpassed" is a subjective judgement but I personally will not be arguing with you here.

Cheers!

 

That is a good point. I think people forget American tastes are usually bolder than European tastes, especially when it comes to beer. I'm sure it's not popular in Germany to drink three 24oz steins of 8% DIPA. But a 4% super drinkable munich lager is!

Hence the "Controversial Beer Opinion" title

I'm not saying Germany isn't vastly important to where modern day American craft beer is now. I'm just saying if given the choice, regardless of style, I will choose the American offering over a German one 99 out 100 times. (That 1 time would be Weihenstephaner Hefe)

 

Really? How do you explain the the over 50% market share of just the top 9 best selling beers in the US (Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, Corona, Modelo Especial, Natural Light and Busch Light)?

Are there any true Munich (i.e., brewed in the German city) lagers at 4%? That's a lower alcohol content than the typical US "light beer".

 

@jesskidden I didn't think it was much of a stretch saying American craft beer drinks prefer bolder flavors and higher ABV than your average German beer drinker. Thanks for setting me straight

 

Most American made Marzen / Fest beers are MAJOR failures, and at times go as far as being an insult to the German originals.

 

If you don't like the beer style or understand the style, you shouldn't rate it.

 

Quite the insult there. Good work.

 

I thought we had collectively moved on from the “bro, ‘murica shits all over Germany/UK/etc” phase here on BA around 3-4 years ago? I remember once someone on here who’d just been to England, saying they’d tried some cask bitter, it was ok, but would be a lot better if they hopped the shit out of it and doubled the ABV (not tongue in cheek).

 

I think the only way to ultimately decide for yourself is to actually head to the country that they’re brewed in and try it there. Importing takes a long time compared to domestic distro, and shit can be handled/stored poorly.

Imagine you’re living overseas and you get a 5-6 month old US Oktoberfest that’s been through hell and back on the way there. Bet you’d drink the fresh German stuff and think it was way better than some stale US garbage.

 

This thread is hard to go against anything that anyone says. Because it’s controversial opinions so no rights or wrongs. I tend to disagree with you @JuliusPepperwood.

To say Americans have surpassed is a bit of an overstatement IMO. Then again I guess it depends what surpassed means. This is how I look at it though, they have been brewing said styles for decades, centuries, etc. so to say that somehow American brewers surpassed that in a fraction of the time is kind of strange to me. The history and things learned over so much more time to me would lend to better, truer to style beer. A new mechanic isn’t as good as a veteran one whose been doing it for years and years...

Surpass again I guess is a subjective term for beer since we’re talking preference. Just wanted to share my controversial opinion on your controversial opinion.

 

Nope.

 

Details, details.

 

. Thanks for the great laugh to start a Sunday morning.

 

I'll stay with my stodgy old Munich Fall beers, thank you. Hacker-Pschorr strikes me just right.