Fall Beer Sightings (2023)

L2055 means it was bottled on the 55th day of 2022. This years batch will start with L3.

 

I don't know whats up with Spaten in my area. Last year, Spaten Oktoberfest never made it onto shelves around here and I hope thats not the case again this season.

 

Yeah, their import/distro system has a glitch. I hear there's trouble up in Minnesota this year too.

Again, blame that whole "year round" availability.

 

I got some in October I think, at M&R Glastonbury. Everything I saw before that was old.

 

Same in my area. 12.2023.

I'm sure they'll taste fine, but I have so many Oktoberfests in my fridge right now and so many others to purchase, I'll just wait to see if something fresher comes by.

I'll also have it on draft!

 

The 10.2023 wasn't bad either. Yet.

I had a 04.2021 from my stash the other day that had fallen off a bit. Afraid to try the 2019.

 

Nice!

 

Yet to see Spaten in my area of NE OH, but just picked up Paulaner yesterday, and have Erdinger and Weihenstephaner, and Ayinger and Hofbrau as well....good stuff as always! Picked up a few domestics, and some pumpkins as well....my fav time of year!

 

Planning on picking up some Southern Tier's Harvest tonight along with SN's Oktoberfest to bring to a friend house tonight. Can't wait to crack into some Fall brews this weekend!

 

The spaten near my work at the dc/maryland border has a best by date of 10/23. The distributer in the county I live in told me they will not be receiving any due to supply issues the same excuse as last year. This used to be the first marzen that would show up here and always was bottled in may. I wouldn't be surprised if this stopped showing up in the usa all together.

 

Anyone try New Trail’s Barrel Aged Double Zombies yet? Sounds interesting.

 

We have batches best by 6/2024 here in northern Illinois. Your distro is being lazy.

 

Is it definitely this years? (curious if its dated)... even tho its a winter ale and its sufficiently spived/high ABV it shouldn't be awful, but 14.xx... etc.

 

I’m sure this has something to do with it. Your area seems to have lucked out everything I see posted across the us shows dates closer to what I’m seeing.

 

Well, I have seen the 10/2023 also -- I've been blaming the year-round availability.

If it makes you feel any better, we didn't see it here at all last year. Came in late from the importer and the area distro refused delivery because he didn't think it would sell so late in the season.

 

yes I remember us talking about this last year. In my area we received bottles best by 7/23 in October last year I bought a case. I feel like spaten is a dying brand in America. Their importer sucks compared to the other importers of German beer. They have no social media presence no USA website or beer finder. Still using green bottles while all others marzen/festbier switched to brown bottles and cans. I’m not bashing the product because it definitely is my favorite marzen. Hopefully ab will eventually sell spaten to someone who gives a shit.

 

AB-InBev is probably your red flag for the importer and US presence, but if you read some of those who have traveled to Munich over the last few years Spaten seems pretty absent there too.

It's a sad circumstance for such a historic brewery, but I'm happy I can still get the Premium, Optimator, and Ur-Märzen (again).

 

Has anyone come across (fresh) Benediktiner Festbier this year? (Or bitburger for that matter? Same family of products I believe)