Oktoberfests / Marzens

True, one of my all time favorite beers was the Oktoberfest brew from Spaten in Munich's Spaten tent. Was amazingly good.

 

not enough IBUs brah

 

Lots of beers styles are not found in the Top 250. There is a complete fixation on RISs and DIPAs, and a more quiet appreciation for more subtle or balanced styles like Marzens and countless other styles. A tend to think the fixation is more among younger beer drinkers, but of course I might be wrong.

In any event, time, disease and fat bellies will turn the tides at some point - since there are obvious downsided to consuming high gravity beers. I beleive as such that this is the catalyst of the session IPA that we are starting to see. I do also sense that some lager styes are getting a rebirth, such a pils' in more hopped up forms.

 

Unfortunately, a marzen probably won’t make the top 250 list until someone makes one dry-hopped with Mosaic

 

i bet if they make a douple imperial hopped marzen barrel aged with angel tears and pixie dust it will be all over the top 10.

but in all seriousness...love oktoberfests. great style. seems like people are obsessed with the big bold IPAs and stouts at the moment so might be hard for one to get in the mix. another argument for rating by style i guess. i dunno, i try not to get too worked up about lists and and rankings. i like to drink what fits my mood and surroundings. there are many situations id take a marzen over a top ranked beer and not think twice about it.

 

Imperial Marzen aged in Pumpkin Spice Latte barrels.

 

My own personal favorite style.

 

Good timing with this thread.

I believe Sam Adams Octoberfest was released this past week.

 

one of my absolute favorite styles as well. I wish there were a reliable year-round version I could enjoy.

 

Spaten is available year round here (DFW area).

 

This always gets brought up, but have you seen it lately? And if it still has "Spaten USA" on the label, it's very old stock.

I haven't seen 12 packs of Spaten beers since A-B took over importation. Doesn't mean they aren't making them, but who knows?

 

I think there are a couple of reasons for this. The main ones are:

A) American brewers can't brew a good Maerzen. They are usually waaaay too malty. A good one should be balanced. Even American brewers that usually do well with lagers can't seem to get this style right. German ones have often been sitting in transit and on the shelves for way to long. Thus, many Americans (even those that don't write off lagers), haven't had a good Maerzen.

B) As stated above, the goal of a good Maerzen should be balance and subtlety. The goal of a good one should be a solid, straightforward beer, not a unique, bizarre standout. That's not an insult to the style (one of my personal faves), but it doesn't lend itself to an "omglolblahblahblah this is the most amazing beerz I've had in my life I'm gonna brag about it on untappd" mentality. Hence, it doesn't get standout status.

 

Warsteiner on Draft at oktoberfest = amazing

 

Isn't that pretty much the definition of all U.S. micro renditions of a style?

 

The style is a more subtle one. No overly bold flavors. Good balance. Not something that's going to stand out when compared to a BCBS or Pliny.

 

Bought some 2 weeks ago. Don't remember what was on the label, but it didn't taste old.

 

See Victory Festbier for a great example of an American Marzen. But otherwise I tend to agree with you. That said, I still think American versions have their place in the cool months, despite not adhering to style