Northeast Oktoberfest Thread

Magouns/Long Cross/Blackmoor all updated their tap lists yesterday (same owner):

Magouns:

Paulaner Wiesn, Ayinger Oktoberfest, Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier (they also had the amber in kegs last year, but not this year), and Andechs Spezial Hell (a favorite of mine), and Hacker-Pschorr Märzen.

@SunDevilBeer did the Weihenstephan kick ALREADY?

Long Cross:

Paulaner Wiesn, Ayinger Oktoberfest, Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier, and Hacker-Pschorr Märzen

Can verify this list, I went this past Sunday.

Blackmoor:

Paulaner Märzen, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, and then...Hacker-Pschorr Festbier???

Can anyone verify this is a beer we normally don't see in the States? We've historically only received the H-P Märzen on tap (one year I think we got the Festbier in swing top bottles).

Prost!

 

I hope not re Weihenstephaner. I only had a liter of it. I’m sure it’s still on.

I agree the Andechs is fantastic . May have to make an excuse to be in Somerville this week.

 

Blackmoor is using Untappd for their list and that beer listing appears to be the normal US amber Märzen... but it's impossible to confidently tell because Untappd is such a mess. I'm guessing it's a duplicate listing for the amber Märzen... or Blackmoor (and lots of others) are using it as such anyway. But anything is possible. Keep in mind that Hacker-Pschorr labels their amber Märzen as a "Festbeer" - which would explain the style choice for that particular listing. People on BA conveniently like to ignore that they call it a Festbeer because of the slight adjustment for American-ish spelling. Let us know if you go there.

 

I thought it was Untappd that gets the list from the establishment's website?

As I said, the same guy owns all three bars. And I was just at Long Cross and the list online is spot on.

One of his bars (Olde Magoun's) had the elusive Hofbrau Märzen last year too, which made me think it's POSSIBLE they have the H-P pale Oktoberfest.


Regardless, I'm heading there this weekend simply because they have Paulaner Marzen on tap, which I don't see much. Most bars just have the Wiesn. So I'll keep everyone posted.

But I think you may be right. I looked at Untappd's check-ins for the "Festbier" and they're all amber except for people from Europe.

Then again, when I was at Long Cross, their website said it was the Hacker-Pschorr Märzen (and it was), and the same owner has another bar that lists it as the "Festbier".

We shall see...

 

I can confirm. It is the amber Oktoberfest.

 

Anyone head to Back Beat Brewing last night or plan on it this weekend? I was in there a few weeks ago and I think they said they'll have their Oktoberfest for this weekend. I think it was going to be on cask too. They're doing Casks on Park too.

Didn't see it on their tap list online though.

 

Having Broad Brook Oktoberfest now. Cherry amber colored and quite malty, decent.

 

@SunDevilBeer Weihenstephan is alive and well at Magouns.

 

Thanks! May stop by this weekend for another liter.

 

Get the Andech’s for your first liter. Thank me later.

 

Notch’s Festbier cans are sneaking out. I picked mine up at Pemberton.

 

Ya, Pemberton had them last week. Snagged a four pack.

Ball Square has tons too.

On tap at Elm Street Taproom

 

Crafted in Holliston has some and they are also doing a big Oktoberfest tasting today. Can’t attend though.

 

This isn't a beer brewed in the Northeast, but one that I had in the Northeast. At our local Oktoberfest in south-central PA. This is a cross-post from the 2022 Oktoberfest Tasting Thread.


Beer #1 from our local Oktoberfest - Hofbräu Märzen
(cannot verify at this time if this was from Germany or the US)

I will probably over-rate this a tad on the brew's review page(s). Apologies there.
It was a beautiful day, there was a stream, and good conversation(s).


vom Fass (on/from Draft)
Glass: 0.5 Festmug


Look:
Beautiful clear copper. Initial 2-finger off-white head dissipates slowly leaving good lacing

Smell:
Lightly toasted bready malts with fairly strong notes of grassy and somewhat spicy hops and fresh hay.

Taste:
Lightly spicy hops start the sip and are quickly joined by toasted bread. Nicely but not heavily malty with a balancing bitterness. Finishes on the dry side.

Feel:
Smooth and somewhat crisp Body is medium to medium-light.

Overall:
A fine amber Märzen. Maybe not quite as good as HP, Paulaner, Spaten, or Ayinger, but that is like saying a BMW isn't as good as a Mercedes. This was my favorite at our local Oktoberfest today. I am glad to have found this on draft. I look forward to having another. **

I don't think that I've had an amber Okto from Hofbrau in over 20 years. Maybe 30 (really 36) years. And that would have been in München.

** I did have another, or rather half of another. And it was still as tasty as the 1st time. Now I look forward to having more tomorrow.

 

This showed up in the States last year too. Haven't seen it in the Boston area this year though.

 

Fort hose who like to mix in some N/A Festbiers on occasion, the Athletic's version is pretty decent.

 

Notch's Fest is glorious.

 

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but my favorite thus far in the Massachusetts area is Mighty Squirrel's Oktoberfest. It's literally perfect. Year after year, my vote is always for Berkshire's Life on Marzen, but I think Mighty Squirrel may have taken the cake for 2022.

 

Draft at Trillium Seaport had both a festbier and Oktoberfest. Enjoyed both

 

Picked up a 4 pack of Tucher festbier cans, 1st try for me. Tasty - more towards the weisn style I’ve come to prefer over the more darker caramelly marzens.