Midwest Oktoberfestbiers (2021)

Uff-da is one of my all time favorites. Unfortunately, it appears extremely sporadically. Staghorn isn't bad, but it's not one of my favorite Octoberfest beers. Not caramel-ly, biscuit-y enough for me.

 

That’s pretty cool to hear about roaring table. Sounds like they have hit their stride and found their niche.

As far as new Glarus goes… This year staghorn taste a lot different to me. Especially when considering all of the years that I have truly enjoyed it. What are used to really love about staghorn Oktoberfest was the toasty & bready malt profile and a smooth lager yeast. It was a malt forward Oktoberfest and that’s what I really really enjoyed about it. This years seems to have an expressive fruity lager yeast that puts me off slightly without any toasty malt & not as bready either. So basically all the things I loved about staghorn we’re not present in this year‘s batch. With all my nitpicking, staghorn is still a delicious beer and Dan still makes excellent German style lagers.

 

Oh, don't even push that button...

 

Bring back the 8-pack returnables! I’ve had it with the 4x16s!

(You could still get Huber Bock in the early 90s, assuming it hadn’t changed from the 70s.)

I felt like Staghorn got better as it warmed this year. Nuance seemed to be the thing. But, as the French would say, it still lacked a certain I don’t know what. I feel a little like that about a lot of the regular rotation New Glarus these days. Dancing and Moon Man the recent exceptions in my mind. Not knocking them, but I used to love it all. Could just be me. Some Edel Pils or Hometown could change my tune fast.

I grabbed some Eagle Park M.C. Hammerschlagen, which I need to get to soon. I’ve never had anything from those guys.

 

This years Staghorn is different....thinner...lacks the robust flavor of previous years. I've had it in bottles and cans and its the same beer. Really drinks like a watered down version...definitely a fruity yeastiness that seems out of place too...

 

Glad you confirmed this. I was surprised of this. I know how staghorn tastes because I’ve been drinking it for so many years. This year is definitely different

 

I've been seeing Rhinelander 8-packs recently (not returnable anymore) -- not sure who owns the label these days. If it's Minhas (like Huber), I'd steer clear.

 

Maybe it wasn't the same beer, but Huber Bock was available in the early 00s for a very fair price at Marshall liquor in St Paul. Cases were a favorite purchase for a while, and then one day, poof, it was gone.

 

Huber still shows available on Mihas's website.
http://minhasbrewery.com/our-brews/craft-brews/huber-bock

Sals Beverage world shows it in stock, so maybe it is still around in IL?

https://www.salsbeverageworld.com/beer/Huber-Bock-Huber-Bock-w3720729bi

 

Anyone know which of the Munich "Big 6" Oktoberfestbiers are available in the US. As in the actual "festbiers" served on the Wiesn at Oktoberfest in Germany?

I've seen Paulaner's which is just called Oktoberfest, as opposed to the Oktoberfest Marzen. I think I've gotten Hofbrau's before as well.

 

Was looking to add some marzens to my open bottle order and came across Marz at 14.99 for a 4-pack of 12oz cans…They know they’re like $3-4 higher than everyone else?

 

Paulaner and HB are the only Munich Fests available here.

 

Don't do it. Ever since Minhas bought out the Monroe brewery the beer quality has suffered. I've gone back to give them third and fourth chances with the same takeaway -- big diacetyl troubles.

 

Any packaged Rhinelander beers are coming out of Monroe. They do have a line of beers under the "Hodag" label that are brewed at the brewery/taproom in Rhinelander.

 

Thanks, I was just looking into that. Saw they planned to open a brewery, but wasn't sure it was completed.

I was pretty sure I'd seen Monroe on the Rhinelander labels I saw.

 

Yeah, but $12 16oz 4-pack vs $8 12oz 6-pack... I just don't see myself going for it.