Midwest Oktoberfestbiers (2021)

So excited for some Marzens and Festbiers

 

Dovetail posted their Festbier should be released in a couple weeks. Also, PW is labeled as a Festbier this year fwiw. Looking forward to both.

 

Am I the only one who has no clue what the difference between a festbier and a marzen is?

EDIT: rather than just google it & trust some beer blog, I will attempt to summon the maestro @jesskidden

 

Oktoberfest/Märzen style covers a broad spectrum from the darker to paler.

The earlier traditional Oktoberfest biers in Germany were dark malty lagers. Over time, the beer served at most tents at the official Oktoberfest have become lighter.

The darker versions tend toward being maltier, a bit sweeter, and with toasty melanoidin and even caramel-like flavors, whereas the paler versions tend to be more like strong Pilsners.

When people say "Festbier", they usually mean the paler versions (also called the Wiesn style).
When people say "Märzen" they usually mean the more traditional darker version.

Even many of the German brewers have adopted this naming distinction, at least on their beers intended for the USA market.

 

I drank two Midwest Oktoberfest beers this week, both of the traditional amber style. Fat Head's was good, but Masthead's was much more flavorful; it's now one of my favorite Märzens.

 

Ok.

What style does everyone prefer the most? Using @MNAle's simple description.

"Marzen" of "Festbier"?

I would go with "Festbier" myself.

 

I prefer Märzen.

The greater complexity and maltier flavor seems more of a fall beer to me. A lot of complaints that they are too sweet (and some are, but most aren't - for me) or too much caramel (but I don't mind that), but a well done märzen - like Ayinger when at its best - is sooo nice!

 

I really like both, and would select which one to drink based on my mood, ambient temp (festbier can be served colder), or what food I might be eating. All else equal, I'll lean toward marzen.

 

I’m gonna try mine tomorrow. I really liked the 1050.

 

If you come across Roaring Table's Festbier, I recommend it. Picked it up today and enjoyed my first can. It's my favorite local so far this year but still looking forward to trying a few more, including the PW one when it's released. I prefer the Festbier style as well but has anyone tried Hopewell's Endgrain?

 

From the brewery, which probably does not help you. Are you in the city? They said it was their largest distro run so hopefully you can come across some. Here are tags they mentioned as receiving it (and their RTB Pils likely too). Good luck!
@thebeerbazaar @ Beermiscuous @beermiscuoushighwood @goldeaglewine @ortmanns_redirontavern @binnysbev@ garfieldsbeverage @otooleslville @otoolesgurnee @yankeedoodleinn @tbcgeneva @tbcglenellyn @orangenbrewtap @beerheadbar_ @afterthoughtbrewing @302wheaton @cckkitchen @tuscanmarketandwineshop @wehavegreatbeerah @wehavegreatbeerpr @btlsandcansnorthcenter @btlsandcansedgebrook @zin.gastropub @kempsuppertap @caryalehousebrewing @lcfpd @hungry_mule

 

I bought this Saturday afternoon at bottles and cans edgebrook.