Fall Beer Sightings (2022)

Haven't seen those. I got the typical 6 pack of bottles. Bottled in May.

 

Sort of similar, but Harpoon brews “Flannel Friday” each fall which is a decent hoppy amber ale.

 

The Costco Advent Calendar Euro 24 pack of 500ml cans is out. $69.99. It did not make it into my cart today.

 

That is still one I haven't had, Harpoon isn't as prevalent as it once was around here. If I do come across I'll give it a try.

 

Figured this is as good a place as any to put this. Here's my running list of Oktoberfests so far this year:

In italics are the standouts for me at this point.

OVERALL BEST SO FAR: Hands down Spaten on draft

Best in show (amber): Spaten on draft

Best in show (pale): Tucher on draft

Imported Pale Oktoberfest:
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (draft)
Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier (draft)
Tucher Bergkirchweih Festbier (draft and can) - only the draft was a stand out

Imported Amber Oktoberfest:
Paulaner Märzen (both bottle and draft)
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen (both bottle and draft) - only the draft was a stand out
Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen (both bottle and draft) - only the draft was a stand out
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen (draft)


Domestic Amber Oktoberfest:
Jack's Abby Copper Legend (can)
Idle Hands Brocktoberfest (both can and draft)
Zero Gravity Oktoberfest (can)
Von Trapp Oktoberfest (can)
Sam Adams Octoberfest (can and draft)
Lamplighter Oktoberfest (draft) - only a sample at a beerfest
Bell's Octoberfest (bottle)
Might Squirrel Oktoberfest (can)
Toppling Goliath Oktoberfest (can)
Founders Oktoberfest (can)

Domestic Pale Oktoberfest:
Notch Festbier (draft and can) - draft was only a sample from a beer fest, that will be corrected tomorrow

Imported German Märzen (in strength only I think? pale in color)
Rothaus Märzen Eiszäpfle (both)

Domestic Austrian Märzen
Schilling Konstantin (draft)

Barrel-aged Oktoberfest
None yet

 

six-packs hit here back in August. The cans were packaged in June.

 

Among the Oktoberfest/festbiere/Märzenbiere this year I have so far had Hofbräu, Paulaner, Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier, Ayinger Festmärzen, Irlbacher Volksfestbier and Weihenstephaner Festbier. All of which are beers I have had in the past, but this year Löwenbräu made a triumphant return after a couple of years absence. ABInbev's been in control of distribution of their brands in Sweden for a few years now after parting ways with Carlsberg and for some reason both Löwenbräu and Spaten Oktoberfestbier fell by the wayside in that process.

It's long been my favorite Oktoberfest beer and I still hold it up as my favorite. Rich and malty with a pleasant bright hop aroma and flavor and a refreshing hop bitterness. There's been two batches sold here so far, the first was bottled in late July (around 20th or so) and this latest batch is from 22nd of August, kudos to ABInbev Sweden for importing fresh beer.

 

Over a week later, and the the midst of the Okto Tasting, I find a couple of new Oktos as my local distributor.

Hofbrau Freising Festbier
Yard's Unterdog
Neshaminy Creek Creektoberfest (I think that's its name)
Susquehanna Trail Oktoberfest

I picked up samples of the 1st three.

 

I like and agree with Rothaus' take getting its own category. For me it's a bizarre but enjoyable little beer, looking exactly like their pilsner but drinking heavier than any imported pale. I have to make sure I get some before the end of the season.

 

Eiszäpfle tastes like a softer mouthfeel Dortmunder to me.

 

I just saw some Shiner Holiday Cheer on the shelf, so the Christmas/Winter beers are already rolling in. I checked for a date to see if it was old-stock but couldn't find one on the bottle.

 

I just got a "New Beer Alert" email from Total Wine. It has the Shiner Holiday Cheer. It is interesting to note that they list a 6-pak of 12 oz. bottles for $1.79. Yup, $1.79. At the bottom of the email, the fine print says "Prices advertised are correct at date of email send on 10/01/2022 and valid in WI - Greenfield only. Product prices are limited time and subject to change. Displayed products and prices may not be available in all stores and are subject to availability."

It's almost tempting to make the road trip to Milwaukee, just to see if they honor that price.

 

Good Luck,

Enjoy

 

Okay, who was it that told me Sam Octoberfest was better this year than it had been in the past?

Found the dwindling six-packs on sale locally, so I took the leap for my own reference.

Um. Same weirdly earthy house yeast character as Boston Lager right up front. Caramel malt dominance. Odd fruitiness back and into the aftertaste.

Okay, maybe not quite as sweet as years past, but not really a well-crafted Märzen. I don't understand why this is so popular.

 

It's $28.99 for a 28-pak at Costco. After that, a big giant MEH!

 

I blended a half & half with a can of Athletic Festbier and a bottle of Sam Octo -- actually makes the beers pretty palatable.

 

It's mid-October, at this stage I'm ready for the winter "ion" beers. Hibernation, Isolation, Old Jubilation, etc.

 

I get'cha, but Oktoberfest (style) beers remain popular with the masses thru the end of October here in Northeastern Illinois.

By November I'm planning to hibernate until February, so I'm getting my fill now -- might even sock away the favorites to enjoy while waiting for Maibock season.

Then there's Celebration, of course.

 

I think I've fallen victim to "seasonal creep" and have mostly had my fill with fall beers...even if fall only started a month ago. Well, that and the fact that the big brown winter beers are my favorite seasonals of the year. I'm more than happy to drink them from October until April, although the spring beers (which are usually trash IMO) tend to start rolling out in February now.

 

See, we're on a similar page with Oktoberfests (both styles) being my favorite.