Founders to release Oktoberfest

Give it another week (or so) and somebody will start a "Have you seen any Oktoberfest beers yet?" thread.

Cheers!

 

I mostly agree with you.

I tried their alt in 2017 and disliked it so much I have not tried it since. Maybe it has improved.

I haven't had the Tmave. Do they distribute that one? I've never seen it in stores.

I also rate the festbier and hefe below Schell's, but they are quite good. (But, then, I prefer a maltier festbier. It just seems to fit the season better to me.)

 

I remember having their Alt in 2017 and not being that impressed either. I had it on draft back in September or so and really liked it. I then bought a fresh 4 pack a few months ago and really liked that too.

Tmave is draft only unfortunately, and is not year round. Seems to be September to April.

I like the Schell's Hefe, but it is almost too yeasty. The clove is so high that I almost find it sickening at times. This is something I have noticed with US craft Hefeweizens in general. When I have Weihenstephaner, Hofbrau, Franziskaner, Paulaner, etc, I can actually taste the wheat. I find the Utepils Ewald to be closer to those examples, but the body still isn't quite right. No US example is IMO.

And I know I am weird, but Schell's Oktobefest is like my least favorite MN Oktoberfest. I find it has a sweet aftertaste that makes me want to stop drinking. I even prefer Summit's booze bomb over it. Sorry! I know many disagree with me, and that's cool.

 

I think this is a freshness, Pasteurization effect. I remember Weizen in Bavaria being very rich and spicy at many spots. Urban Chestnut's Schnickelfritz is very much like that. Sprecher's was more mellow, as is New Glarus' Dancing Man.

 

That being said, I promise you if I found some the next time I go by the package store... I'm purchasing...

 

Here's how I do mine:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/bratwurst-bbqd-in-beer.214041/#post-2806825

DO NOT boil your brats.
DO NOT poke holes in your brats.
DO drink lots of Oktoberfestbier with your brats.

 

I’ll probably house at least a 15 pack of this. Picked up 15 packs of Green Zebra and Centennial IPA recently and loved both, especially the price points.

 

I'm up to try a new Octoberfest, hoping some local places will brew some as well

And for the record, you can't beat a brat cooked on a smoker, my previous years fall party guests would all agree

 

I love most Oktoberfest beers so am looking forward to giving this one a try!

 

It’ll still be barbecue season when it comes out. Hendl and schweinebraten, anyone?

 

Yet, if it hits the shelves in August, it won't be the first Oktoberfest beer out!

 

Don’t give them any ideas!

I wonder if a Rauchbier would go well here.

You don’t grill outside in the winter in Illinois?

As others have mentioned, Solid Gold is likely it. For what it’s worth, it’s my one of my favorite craft adjunct lagers. I don’t buy it often though because I don’t really crave that style often.

Julyfest, err, Oktoberfest, is pretty much over in August.

 

Plus, it will keep them from bursting and distributing the meat into the cooking liquid.

 

Nice. Hopefully I'll catch this when I'm in GR in September.