Favorite Oktoberfest beers

Ayinger
Hacker Pschorr
Spaten (on draft, I won't touch the stuff in green bottles)

 

Great Lakes is also my favorite. One of my favorite beers in any style.

 

Paulaner is my fave:

 

OMB Mectoberfest and Ayinger

Add in some college football on a crisp Saturday and some grill action >>>>>>perfection.

 

Now you got me drooling over here...

 

Like New Glarus Staghorn and Schells

 

I really enjoyed the Marzen style in Germany. My favorite wasn't at Oktoberfest, but at the Hofbrauhaus in Munchen the night before Oktoberfest.

I still to this day wonder if I was just "caught up in the moment" when I had that beer or if we rarely get high quality and fresh marzens here in the U.S?

Based solely on the BA rating of Hofbrau's Marzen (which is just above awful), it would seem there really is a difference having it fresh at the source.

 

I agree with so many of the above and I'm going to toss one in that surprised me:

Naragansett "Fest". It's a bit on the sweeter side with this slightly floral-honey aftertaste, and overall a pretty well balanced example at an excellent price point of ~$1.25 or less per pint (its usually about $7/sixer by me). I bought a 6 pack a couple years ago with low expectations and have probably purchased at least 2-3 dozen cans since. Definitely an above average 8/10 brew IMO.

 

Sixpoint Autumnation. Liked how they changed hopps every year. But I don't remember seeing it last year. They pull off a hoppy fest beer very well. Foolproof has attempts it last years was ok. Have not tried this year's.

 

Thirsty Dog Barktoberfest is another great Oktoberfest.

 

I don't know if SurlyFest counts, if not Sam Adams's Octoberfest is great, but New Glarus's Staghorn is out of this world.

 

Ayinger, Hacker-Pschorr, Great Lakes.

 

I'm not a big fan of this style, but OMB Mecktoberfest and COAST Oktoberfest are really good!

 

Same as last year

Paulaner
Ayinger
Victory
Weihenstephaner
HP

 

Left Handed, Munsterfest and the Germans especially Ayinger.

 

Incorrect

 

That beer was an IPA if anything

 

Frankenmuth Brewing has traditionally made a very good Oktoberfest. Not sure if this year's will be different now that they have a new brewer.

Sam Adams Oktoberfest is top-notch. Brooklyn's is solid, also.

 

I like many, but the one that stands out was the draft I had at the Cologne Christmas Market the last time I was in Germany. As good as it was, the fresh Weihenstephaner Hefe was the most amazing beer I've ever had.

 

I did a tasting last year that had three German Oktoberfests and three American Oktoberfests. There definitely was a difference in freshness between the two countries. The German ones were also lighter in color and heaviness.

Weihenstephaner was my favorite German one. I can't imagine how much better a truly fresh one would be.