BeerAdvocate Oktoberfest Tasting! (Sep 16-Oct 3, 2023)

Let the fun begin looking forward to reading about and seeing what everyone is drinking over the next few weeks.

 

Still one of the best American offerings in the mid-Atlantic. Light toast, light sweetness, highly quaffable. Fantastic stuff.

 

Thanks for the thread @Todd. Oktoberfest arrived early at my casa and this year takes the prize for the most Oktos, Marzens, etc that I've had in one season...and we're not done. Ha! Some brewers release 'em pretty early. Excluded from the pic are Goose Island Okto, Braxton Oktober Fuel, Yuengling Okto, Summit Okto, and Great Lakes Okto (absolutely stunning). Summit & Great Lakes are both 6.5% and are mighty. I found Shiner Okto to be light and tasty and Leinie has a hint of cocoa. Toppling Goliath is bright and fresh, Lupulin has excellent balance, Schell's is easy drinking and well-rounded overall and Excelsior needs more R&D. These are in previous posts going back a few weeks. The last 2 here to enjoy, rate, and review are Ayinger and Hofbrau. Feeling pretty lucky to try all these fresh. Very happy with my purchases.

 

Slight malty sweetness with a bitter finish

 

Brooklyn Brewery Octoberfest

https://youtube.com/shorts/sAj7qT8mIVI

Sorry, didnt have a pic handy, but I had this link

 

Here's a couple that I've already had pre-thread. New Glarus Oktoberfest. This one's a okto that I either have to trek north a few hours to get, or on occasion get it muled back to me. One of my favorites. Toasty, roasted malt, with a firm bitterness to round it out. Crisp and smooth. The second is a local Oktoberfest on tap. Midwest Ale Works MAWktoberfest. Roasted malt, a little sweet, with a nice earthiness to it, and a crisp finish.

 

Well, I'll start with a Festbier - Oktoberfest Bier from Paulaner, the brewery that makes one of my favorite Märzens. Have had a few American Festbiers already this year, but figured I'd start this thread with a German version. I have found giving these beers a little warming rest before pouring works best for me, so I did that here.


Beautiful looking beer, to my eyes. Compared to what I have been experiencing with American takes on the style, this is much smoother and more malt-focused. It's nose isn't much, but has a slightly fruity edge to it; the taste is honey malt notes that balances out (I'll go with fall spice dried orange peel) things nicely. It has a medium dry finish with a faint linger of both malt and spice. A nice way to start my journey on this multi-week tasting thread. Prost!

 

I somehow only just realized you moved to Finland, and went down a bit of a rabbit hole of updates and the original thread I missed. Wild. I'm jealous.

Anyway, I've been trying some new to me Oktoberfests lately, starting with an ALDI Festlich Haus, which is a festbier made by Genesee under the Rock Wall brand. It was okay, but had some harsh off notes and caramels.

My favorite of the season so far has been Faustbier by Noble Creature. Also a festbier, it is far more expressive of its lighter malts with an endlessly satisfying mouthfeel while still being very drinkable. First pic is a lukr pour on-site, the second obviously being their can.

 

First up, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen.
I was put off when I opened the variety pac; they are all best before months of THIS year.

This has loads of bready notes, a caramel sweetness, near zero bitterness. Nothing like getting a pack from last year, eh?



Prost!

 

Okay, I'll play -- was gonna post this at the Fall Beer Sightings thread, but since we've dedicated...

2023 Roaring Table Märzen
(Pardon my blurry image, I guess my phone wanted to focus on the background yesterday)

16 oz. can into my tall Becher. Canned 9-1-2023. 5.7 ABV.

L -- Clear, deep copper-bronze with one finger of a dense, cream-colored head that settles slowly. 4.5

S -- Herbal hops, nutty, a touch of grain and caramel. 4.0

T -- Fleeting herbal flavor and bitterness up front, folding into a nutty, doughy, lightly caramel-to-melanoidin combo. Light herbal bitterness in the finish and aftertaste. 4.0

F -- Mouthfeel is soft to smooth, finishing lightly crisp and dry with a medium body. 4.5

O -- I have it on good authority that this recipe has been tweaked from its introduction last year, and I think it was for the better. More breadiness and smooth, elegant malt complexity. Easy to put back a liter or two. 4.25

 

Very bready, caramel sweetness, no discernable bitterness. Doesn't taste vibrant. Enjoy by May 2023.

 

I’ve had a couple the past few days. This one was really nice. Solid bitter middle with a mildly sweet finish.



This next one held up to about a year of ‘further lagering’ in the fridge. From Beat Culture.



Lightly sweet and bready. Good stuff.

Cheers!

 

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen has been consistently excellent throughout the years. This year is no exception. Impeccable balance and mouthfeel.
There must be a reason this is one of the most, if not the most, expensive from Germany.



Prost!

 

Happy Oktoberfest, BA Nation! At Levante Brewing Company’s “Oktoberfest “! Enjoying there, “Dachensmoke” Märzen! Thanks to @Todd for starting this thread! Prost!

 

Thanks @Todd for organizing this tasting. Very excited to participate in this tasting!!

My first of two is

Oktoberfest by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company



I chose Sierra Nevada. I felt this was too hoppy for an Octoberfest and similar to their pale ale. I detect notes of light hops and spice.



Munich Style Fest Bier by Jacks Abby Craft Lagers


The last is a festbier. I detect notes of sourdough biscuit along with a little spice and dry finish.

Jamming out to Jeff Beck!!

 

Victory Festbier



A local classic.

 

We didn't get distro of this classic last year in NH. Made up for lost time this year.



The various Oktos were plentiful since July, and I've burned through all but one of my stash!

 

Looks the part of a Märzen, taste has bread, toasted malt, a little fruity, light bitterness. Well brewed.

Prost!

 

Levante, “MidKnight Dragon “ Festbier!