Fall Beer Sightings (2022)

Well, hopefully your local beer retailers will receive Weihenstephaner Festbier soon. There are plenty of bottles in SEPA. I have yet to see the canned version; maybe this will be a later shipment?

Cheers!

 

Picked up my usual case of Hofbrau Oktoberfest and was surprised to see an April 14 bottle date on them when I opened it up at home. To my recollection, they’ve always been packaged in July. So I made sure to use my handy bookmark of the cheat sheet that @Jacobier10 created awhile back (which is particularly handy when it comes to Weihenstephaner’s convoluted codes)

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/date-codes-for-imported-usa-german-beer.658248/

Seems to be a lot of early bottling this year. Hofbrauhaus Freising and Weihenstephaner bottles both have May dates. And the Ayinger 375s are closer to last Oktoberfest than this year’s. That should be Feb 1 if I’m reading it correctly.

I have not seen the half liter bottles yet. Nor any Paulaner. For what it’s worth, the freshest import that I have found so far is the Weihenstephaner cans, which have a best by date of 6/9/23.

 

Our batch of hofbrau around here was bottle 4.20

 

Hmm. Mine are 165V -- or June 14th.

(bottle 08.59 -- whatever that means)

 

V for "Very Good" and U for "Undrinkable"?

 

Except that U was very good in 2021 and V will be past code in 2023.

Clear as mud?

 

I'll be heading to Ohio tonight to visit some family. Being from CT - Any solid fall brews I should search out while in the area? We're planning a visit to Great Lakes Brewing and Fat heads so far, any suggestions?

 

Hopefully @invertalon can provide you with some tips.

Cheers!

 

There’s not much outside of fresh hop ipas in October that is worth seeking out to me. Columbus Brewing Festbier is usually solid, but I’ve decided to stick to a few imports the last 2 years.

Great Lakes Nosferatu isn’t out yet. I’ve never cared for Fat Head’s Oktoberfest personally and after having one on draft Sunday, this year is no exception. That being said, they do make a lot of great lagers. They have Goldeneye Helles on tap at the brewery (Middleburg Heights) which is my favorite, along with a couple Czech versions. Goggle Fogger is always a great Hefeweizen if you enjoy the style. Nice variety on tap at the North Olmstead location now too. And I think the food is usually better there.

Definitely visit Masthead. Great beer and food overall. And they packaged their GABF medal winning Helles recently.

 

Did you see this thread in the Midwest forum? Maybe there will be some help in there.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/columbus-and-cleveland-area.668396/

 

Pulled up the pics I took at the store, 12 for $14.99.

 

I saw the same June date at a local store fwiw. Wanted to pick up a sixer but I need to clear some inventory in the fridge first. Fairly nice sized stack so will look to pick some up next week. Saw some mini-kegs there as well.

 

Interesting -- I wonder if they had the wrong price at Binny's.

Even if, I'm not looking to gamble on a whole 12-pack of Sam Octo -- too many sure things to blow my budget on.

 

The beer manager said they got those too -- to dangerous in my fridge.

 

https://www.binnys.com/beer/lagers/samuel-adams-boston-lager-813051

@Grounder -- Binny's doesn't even list the Octoberfest, huh? But the Boston Lager is listed at the same price. $19 for the 12-pack.

What store are you shopping?

 

Same here. I'd totally go for an $15 6/6 Octo/Fest mixed pack though.

 

Looks like I'm never going to try that Festbier because I really don't want their pumpkin.

Good thing I have Roaring Table, HB, and Paulaner to ease my pain.

 

SA is releasing it as a standalone this year:

AVAILABILITY
Limited (August - October). 6pk 12oz bottles, 12 and 24pk Sweater Weather Variety Pack

https://www.samueladams.com/our-beers/limited-release/lager/festbier

Strange move, as they will have three seasonal beers on shelves now + being able to get them all in the variety pack.

 

They said that last year too, but I never saw it. Haven't seen it this year, either -- only in the "sweater pack." (Which takes on a whole new meaning this year. )

I think their local distro here agrees with the "strange move," because I don't think they want to have 3 Sam seasonals out at the same time.

 

The Bitburger is good. The Paulaner is geat!