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

Fun fact: this was originally a Czech polka and the original Czech lyrics are actually pretty sad:



But the lyrics about rolling out the barrel are much preferred so that's what most people know. My family is Czech and I happened to figure this out while trying to re-learn the language and quickly realized the title "Škoda lásky" had nothing to do with beer fests. We still pretend it's a happy song though, it just doesn't sound sad enough to match those lyrics.

I ordered the Half Time Octoberfest box and it should get here Tuesday so I'm excited to participate in this once it arrives.

 

Well, this is new! Or maybe I just don't recognize the label?

Would definitely try this if I saw it.

 

Ayinger Oktoberfest-Marzen. Maybe my current favorite? Malty but easy to quaff with flavors evocative of the shift to autumn. I look forward to this one every year.

 

Cross post from NBW, adding in my notes as I think it's appropriate and welcome.

Pipeworks - Oktoberfest (märzen)



Purchased from the dabc for $3.50 no canning date

Poured at fridge temp into a dimple mug.

Pours a solid and hazy amber with a loose head with big bubbles. Settled into a thin ring. A tad disappointed over head retention, but it has a nice caramel glow when held up to the light. 4

Not a ton of aroma off the glass (likely my sniffer) but I get some balanced but leaning toward sweet malt and pleasant breadiness off the can. 4

Sweet malt, some caramel, darker bread crust and light hop earthiness. Classic comes to mind. 4.25

I think this a Goldilocks mouthfeel, just right carbo, softness and fullness, just right all around. 4.5

Overall this may be a new favorite of mine and I'll absolutely have to get my hands on another one to see if my initial review holds up. As an additional side note, this year's version at 5.8% abv also feels like a sweet spot. 4.25

 

Grains of Wrath has a well-deserved reputation for making some of the best IPAs in the Northwest. I'm happy to say they make a mighty fine festbier too. Malty, clean, and moreish, with a proper hop bite to keep things crisp. Would definitely drink again. Preferably in a Maßkrug.

 

I'm back and will be a few more times...
Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati provided me 12 new o-fests from the singles wall and I bought a four pack of Masthead on a hunch for 13 total. I could have swore there were no old, lingering oktoberfest beers on the singles wall a couple months ago, so I skipped the date checks and wound up with at least one oldie.


Duck-Rabbit Märzen

12oz bottle with a label that only goes out to a 2021 best by, so old labels or old beer. Poured into a mug at fridge temp, no ABV listed. The beer pours bright medium amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a thin ring and island. Slight lacing. The aroma is sweet caramel malt. The taste is semisweet caramel malt with a side of cardboard and moderate earthy bitter notes lingering on the finish. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, too much American caramel malt for me to try again, even if fresh.

There's my number one pet peave on oktoberfest beers. I abhore most of the beloved American classics because they are sickly sweet. I'll tolerate any level of maltiness or bitterness as long as it's noble hops with pils, Vienna or Munich malts. Call it American fall lager or whatever, just no caramel malt or C hops in my oktoberfest please. End rant. Sorry, I'll probably calm down after another beer or two...
Cheers!

 

Festbier by Occidental Brewing Co.

Light on maltiness and breadiness although the color would lead you to believe otherwise. Goes down easy!

 

That's a killer haul

 

Aldus Brewing Going Deutsche



This is a good one. Creamy feel, not too "caramel-y", bit of a grainy taste in the finish. Goes down way too easy.

 

The funny thing is there were easily 6 more new-to-me oktoberfest beers in packaging, but I felt bad breaking them up for singles, even though they will let you. Pipeworks is one of the beers I passed on actually. That haul will keep me busy for this season at least.

I never go to Cincinnati without a stop at Jungle Jim's.

 

Double Nickel Brewing (NJ) - Weltgeist. This one is a Feistbier style, and very good

 

Hidden River Brewing (PA) - They Still Come Back

Marzen style - nice toasted malt flavor, not overly sweet

 

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest. I enjoyed this one - nice biscuit, toasted grain flavor.

 

1872 Oktoberfest Lager - Short Fuse Brewing
3.66/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Dark copper color with a huge head of foam, three fingers maybe four. Drippy lacing around the glass. Aroma is bready and nutty with a yeasty twang.

Taste is malt forward, nutty specialty malt and dark bread crusts. Phenolic clove yeast note is a little jarring and out of place, alongside a fairly moderate hop bitterness that is equally odd for the style. Full bodied with ample carb, it's relatively drinkable despite the off-style characteristics.

 

Yuengling Oktoberfest




3.38/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

The beer pours a clear copper color with a fluffy beige/khaki head that dissipated quickly, leaving behind very little acing

The aroma is typical of the American versions of this style; mostly sweet, with some bready malts and crackers. There is also a generic hoppyness.

The flavor has a caramel sweetness with notes of crackers and dark bread, There is also a hint of spicy hops. Light bodied and moderately carbonated.

Overall, This is a dumbed down version of the style, quite drinkable but not terribly interesting

 

Couldn’t post last night cause of the site issues. I say it every year, the worlds most beautiful beer. Crystal clear, liquid gold; the combination this beers malt presence combined with its drinkability are my favorite aspect of this beer. Cheers everyone



I couldn’t do it justice with the pic this year, try as I might condensation kept coming back.

 

Don't have any images but do have a youtube link:



This is a great Märzen, highly recommended.

 

I was too busy watching NFL football yesterday afternoon to write a review, so I took some notes and a picture.

Those of you who are familiar with Jack's Abby know they use lots of hops in their Lagers, this one was no exception. I could not give high true-to-style points for the high bitterness, but I still enjoyed drinking it. Prost.


Munich Fest
Festbier / Wiesnbier | 5.4% ABV
Jack's Abby Brewing in Framingham, Massachusetts
3.99/5 rDev -5.2% | Average: 4.21
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An easy pour yielded a fat finger of creamy off-white foam with average retention, no lasting lacing. CLEAR golden straw body, golden yellow in sun light. fine rising bubbles support a lasting ring and cap.

Cracker and toasted wheat bread greets the nose with somewhat mild herbal/floral hops. Bread dough is noticeable with raisin and apple cider.

Neutral taste with above average bitterness, herbal hop flavor is moderate, overall bitterness is on the high side. As in the smell there is malty bread, wheat, cracker and a faint apple cider tartness. Bitterness builds to above average, white peppery with a hint of Cajun spice. Semi-dry at the finish-almost crisp-bitterness last and lingers, peppery and spicy.

Medium-light bodied with lasting, effervescent carbonation. The IPA level bitterness takes away (just a bit) from the balance, can't call this one smooth but close. Alcohol is hop hidden and it warms well. Jacks Abby, known for hoppy Lagers, went a little heavy for this style. Great looks and appropriate smell, it doesn't quaff quite as well as most.

 

Lakefront Oktoberfest Lager. An old favorite, so not a long review. Best by Jan-06-24. No ABV on the can.

Seems a little underattenuated this year, a somewhat cloying sweetness in the finish. Decent enough drinker.

 

Picked this up earlier today from Aldi, for only £2. Was not expecting much but it's actually pretty good.