Best 2017 Oktoberfest, So Far

Here in STL the Urban Chestnut O-Katz (Oachkatzlschwoaf) is real tasty. And, the wide mouth cans are groovy.

 

I love Sum Schneider, but it's also out of the way for me

 

I've been trying to get that changed for so long... I think it says "Export" on the Ayinger's label (denoting strength) so someone plugged it into the old "Dortmunder/Export" niche.

DAB is about the only true Dortmund style beer I know of here in the U.S., and it's a rather thin shadow of its former self. If you tried a Jahrhundert along side a Weihenstephaner Fest I think you'd notice the biggest differences in body and mouthfeel. The Fest is more crisp and dry compared to the Ayinger.

 

Yeah, I understand of course (especially in regards to the pale fest beers). I point it out in order to devalue the importance of my own personal opinion though. If you try the Traunstein beer again, hopefully, you'll like it better this time.

I point out where BA style classifications might clash with (or add depth to) other classifications. I believe it creates a better picture of the realities rather than the contrivances. In some ways, the application of your line above could be taken as an understatement since there's only about 6 actual Oktoberfest beers despite the fact that there are tons with that label. Our style boxes are never going to be really accurate in these muddy waters, and this even applies to German "styles" despite the fact that Belgium typically gets all the glory in this department. The "not to style" comments in Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest reviews (to tie this in with your first line that I quoted) highlight the issues with how some approach the system.

 

The history of the beer served at the München Oktoberfest is one of evolution of the style. However, we mostly do not get the official Oktoberfestbier from the Club of Munich Brewers exported to the USA. Even the Munich 6 mostly export the darker, maltier style. (Which is fine with me, since I prefer that to the lighter ones.)

 

I think that's a little skewed; Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner import their "Amber Märzen" styles, Augustiner, HB, and Paulaner export their "Wies'n Fest" styles, although I've never seen the Augustiner myself. Löwenbräu doesn't export at all anymore (maybe to exclusive spots on Long Island, based on Jess Kiddin's research).

I think it's basically a wash, with Paulaner muddying the waters with two styles. Bastards.
H-P even did that a few years back with their special release of their Wies'n style.

You can throw in Ayinger and Weihenstephaner to keep the score even, but they aren't Münchener, so they really don't "count."

FWIW -- just grabbed another 12 pack of the Paulaner Wies'n for the weekend and into next week -- with the crazy weather here in N. Illinois, that stuff is drinking nice.

 

All true... I was too general in my statement. I meant "readily available in my local liquor stores".

I can get a paler HB easily, but that's about it. Of course, I also don't drive all over the Twin Cities metro to seek it out, either, but between 2 of my 3 "regular" stores, they have a pretty comprehensive selection of imported European beers, but their German Oktoberfests are mostly the maltier "export" versions. For example, I've never seen the Paulaner Wies'n here.

 

That sucks -- it's well worth looking for. No Weihenstephaner either?

 

Yes, it is there. I've never bought it, though. I ration myself during Okto season or I'd be drinking a 6 pack a night for 2 months! This year, I limited myself to 2 new-to-me German Oktos...Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen and Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen, along with 3 new-to-me's from MN and 2 from WI, along with repeat buys of Schell's and Ayinger.

Next year I'll try harder to track down some more of the German "official" (lighter) Oktoberfestbiers (or at least as close as we get bottled for export)... I haven't pushed too hard on that front previously because the HB was at the bottom for me of the 3 German Oktos I had last year (HB, H-P, and Ayinger).

 

In order of greatness..

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5.
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8.
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10.

 

Continued..

11.
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18.

 

Sierra Nevada is good this year, but I feel it was truly excellent about two years ago. Its a seasonal I will always try from them.

 

Haven't had Penn's but I love their beers so I imagine it would be great.

 

Best Oktoberfest I've tried this year is Sierra Nevada/Brauhaus Miltenberger collaboration, 4.21. Second best is Hofbrau at 4.07. I still have a few left to review but been drinking a lot of that SN/BM collaboration, so tasty.

 

Top three for this year*
1.) Ayinger
2.) SN
3.) Spaten

*so far, still have a lot to try!

 

Here's the Zero Gravity Oktoberfest. Surprised by the color. I didn't immediately care for the first can in the six pack... I really liked the second can. Guess the third will be the temporary tiebreaker. Sending this beer out to others here - I'm curious on their takes. Prost!

 

Sounds like a really interesting beer going by the product page. 14.6% plato, 5.4% abv, Vienna, Munich I and Munich II malt (they are using the Weyermann designations for the Munich malts I'm guessing). I looked around at their other beers and they seem to list specialty malts for those. If they are only using those three malts then that would make for a different tasting beer compared with one which gets its color from caramel malt or the like. The lower degree of attenuation is also interesting given the provided recipe information.

 

I have been having a problem with this year's SN Oktoberfest. I can't seem to stop myself from finishing a six pack way too quickly. Just delicious.

 

I discussed Von Trapp & Sly Fox Oktoberfest beers in today's NBS thread:

The Hills are Alive, with beer!?!

Von Trapp a few months ago started distributing their beer in the Philly area. I was gifted some Von Trapp beers in the past (Bohemian Pilsner, Vienna Lager and Dunkel). I enjoyed all three of the beers but IMO the Dunkel is particularly worthy of praise.

So, when I saw a 6-pack of Von Trapp Oktoberfest I enthusiastically bought one (quite some time ago). Now that the heat wave has stopped in my area it is a good time to drink this style of beer.

One the Von Trapp website they provide a description of this beer:

“Oktoberfest is brewed with a blend of light and dark Munich Malts, which not only adds to its depth but delivers a residual sweetness. Carmel and toffee notes linger but are balanced by the subtle hops additions in this beer. We use hallertau and Tettnang hops which adds a floral yet peppery aroma to this beer. It's our take on this traditional fest beer.”

On the beer label it states; “A full - bodied Oktoberfest lager. Dark in color with a fine caramel finish.”

It has been a while since I have posted in NBS a side-by-side tasting so I thought I would conduct one now with Sly Fox Oktoberfest. Some stats for this beer:

“Bronze Medal GABF 2013

This traditional Oktoberfest beer celebrates the arrival of Fall. It is a medium-bodied, smooth and malty brew made with German Vienna malts and German hops.

13.8 OG | 25 IBUs | 5.8% ABV”

Enough jibber jabber, let’s drink!!

Served in my Spiegelau Lager glasses:

Appearance

Sly Fox: Light golden amber; off-white head.

Von Trapp: Amber colored with an off-white head.

Aroma

Sly Fox: A combination of bready malt, some sweetness along with just a tiny bit of fruit and spice. The bready malt aroma is more pronounced in comparison to the Von Trapp beer.

Von Trapp: A nice but more subtle bready malt aroma.

Taste:

Sly Fox: Bready malt character dominates. The hops do not stand out explicitly but there is balance there; a moderate level of bitterness. The finish is bready with just a hint of sweetness.

Von Trapp: The flavor follows the nose with a pleasant bready malt flavor. The bitterness level is more pronounced in comparison.

Mouthfeel

Sly Fox: A medium mouthfeel and a medium-dry finish. The body is more smooth in comparison to the Von Trapp beer.

Von Trapp: A medium mouthfeel with a crisp, dry finish.

Overall

Sly Fox: I really liked this beer! It epitomizes the quality of good balance between malt & hops.

Von Trapp: I liked this beer. There is a nice/pleasant bready aroma/flavor. The bitterness level is a tad too high (lingering, bordering on harsh) for the style but I enjoyed drinking this beer nonetheless.

In my opinion, the defining feature of a well brewed Oktoberfest beer is good balance: a pleasant balance between bready malt flavors and Noble hop flavors. For my palate the Sly Fox Oktoberfest hits this mark with respect to the balance aspect but in all fairness I did indeed enjoy drinking the Von Trapp Oktoberfest beer.

Cheers to Sly Fox and Von Trapp for producing tasty Oktoberfest beers!

 

I really enjoyed Market Garden's Old Zahm Oktoberfest. Malty goodness and 6.5% ABV