Oktoberfest Selections (2019)

Ouch. That's the most expensive Märzen I've seen by some margin.

 

I paid $17.99 for a 12-pack of this year's SN Oktoberfest. There is absolutely ZERO justification for paying only $1 dollar less than that for < half the volume of beer (144 oz. vs 64 oz.). No way.

 

@SudsDoctor we're certainly not able to compete with Sierra Nevada on price. Lager is typically the domain of huge breweries for a reason.

In the time and tank space it takes to make a marzen, we could have easily cranked out a couple of triple IPA's and charged north of $20 per 4pack. Making this beer is not financially smart, it's something we wanted to do because we love it.

 

You didn't have to justify your price (I assumed the reasoning behind it). I only said that I couldn't justify PAYING IT.
If I come across a single can somewhere for ~$4 I'd give it a try though.
.

 

Had the Cape May o-fest when I was in Jersey last weekend and thought it was outstanding. Also just picked up Zero Gravity's, and given their history with lagers I expect it to be a banger.

Great Flats brewing out of Schenectady makes one of the best marzens I've ever had in my life. A tad hoppier than is average for the style but I don't mind that and the flavor is so robust and beautiful I can't fathom anyone else would either.

Very excited to try Grimm's too.

 

No, guy, you said "There is absolutely ZERO justification." Those are your words. Don't try to spin it now that you got replied to.

 

I really enjoyed Neshaminy Creek's Oktoberfest last year. I haven't seen it yet this year though.

 

I thought it was pretty bland too. But I also thought it was too sweet - everyone's definitely got their own tastes.

 

While not specifically labeled an Oktoberfest beer (they call it a 4 Grain Marzen Lager), Stickman Brews has a beer "General Merriment" that is pretty good.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42081/308860/

Looks like they have cans of it available right now.

 

Please go back and read my original post again...more carefully this time. What I wrote was...
"There is absolutely ZERO justification for paying only $1 dollar less...". Which puts the onus on me, not them. They're free to charge whatever they deem necessary...and I'm free not to pay it.

 

I’m with you @Ranbot loved that one. I bet it makes a return.

Edit: just checked their Instagram site. They canned it again!

 

I'm not going to clutter this thread up with a semantics argument so this will be my last post on it but -- you don't know what the words you are using mean. The word 'paying' doesn't dictate ownership in that sentence, it's a direct implication that nobody should be spending that amount on a marzen.

 

Captain Lawrence put out Marzen Attacks! last year, and while not traditional, I've definitely been scoping their website to see if it comes back this year. Rushing Duck does a good one every year, however. I'm glad to see someone mention Great Flats b/c i just picked up a growler from them yesterday.

 

Hunterdon has neshaminys for distro this coming week for any NJ people. From what I remember it was a very good one.

 

If you're on the South Jersey Shore, try Somers Point Brewings' Tony Martzen. It's very good! Unfortunately, you can only get it at the brewery.

Up north, I'm a big fan of Czig Meister's Oktoberfest, which can be had in cans.

 

Tonight I drank a couple pints of Urban Village Brewing's (Philadelphia) Oktoberfest. Pretty good - not too sweet, and medium bodied. It's got at least some distribution, I picked it up at my local beer store.

 

@jonphisher I enjoyed it last year, too. This year's is every bit as good, perhaps even better. Perfect balance of toasted malt, slight caramel note, crispy mouthfeel. Light herbal hop bitterness from the Tettnang...I remember reading somewhere that they do the whole "brew it in March, lager it until fest season" thing and it really shows. Great beer, you could tell they took care and time when making it

My only two minor criticisms are:

• I'd prefer if they filtered it out a little more; I don't appreciate the recent "trend" of all beer styles being left unfiltered. It's pretty ugly lookin' for a marzen.
• The new can artwork is pretty hideous. I miss the old label. I mean, it's pretty cool showing personified hops celebrating Oktoberfest...the inclusion of the projectile vomiting one is a little too cringe-y for me. Maybe if it was a South Park-themed beer I'd dig it...I guess it could be worse though, at least he isn't shitting his pants like an Against The Grain brown ale label

 

The mention of long lagering piqued my interest. According to their website they lager the beer for 5 months. A bit strange that it looks like beer at the height of primary fermentation. I would really like to know how these unfiltered lager beers end up so cloudy. Are modern lagering vessels simply designed for filtered beers and the sediment at the bottom of the lagering tank is inevitably drawn off along with the beer when emptying the vessel?

 

Yeah, I'm curious too. I'm sure there is an answer out there. Perhaps horizontal tanks are better (or worse) suited for the job or maybe these cans I got were filled from the bottom of the bright tank? Regardless, the beer tasted great which is the most important thing at the end of the day


PS- It did have a much fluffier head when I first poured it. I sipped down some of the froth and poured a little more...I certainly didn't do the foamy head any justice with my pic/pour

 

I bet if you let ethos’s cans sit a week or so in the cold it’ll clear up. I notice that happens with a lot of smaller breweries lagers. I think the only places with legit filtering are the bigger guys. I know neshaminy has centrifuge but that does always clarify beer. After OH does too.

I’d bet if you poor another one in a week that has been sitting in your fridge it’ll look different. I could be wrong. Just going off past experience.