American Made Marzens

Saint Arnold Guten Tag (available year-round too).

 

Not counting the Sierra Nevada collaborations, the top ones that come to mind:
Olde Mecklenburg
von Trapp

 

Last year's surprise fest-bier (or Marzen if you want) was Cumbre's Oktoberfest. Amazeballs.

 

New Glarus Staghorn, Metropolitan Afterburner and Dovetail Festbier are my go-to Marzens.

 

I am going to include all Oktoberfests, so not just Marzens:

Utepils Receptional (Festbier) - Minnesota brewery
Indeed Oktoberfest (Festbier/ Marzen hybrid?) - Minnesota brewery
Bauhaus Schwantoberfest (Marzen) - Minnesota brewery
Surly Oktoberfest ((Festbier/ Marzen hybrid?) - Minnesota brewery
Great Lakes Oktoberfest (Marzen)

And based on past work, I expect Sierra Nevada to be added. Hopeful for Founders too.

And another Minnesota one I have heard is great and will try this year is Beaver Island. Minnesota is great for lagers in general.

Edit: my profile pic actually shows me drinking the Bauhaus Schwantoberfest

 

I used to enjoy harpoons a lot but haven’t seen it in a few years.

also Great Lakes, Von Trapp, and victory festbier

 

Based on other responses, I maybe should try Victory and Left Hand again. Too many!

 

I look forward to Sierra Nevada's Festbier the most, but my favorite is Bell's.

 

I was lazy last year and thought it would stick around. Me hunting in late September, “we sold out, sorry.” This year I won’t make the same mistake.

 

Local: Jersey Girl Oktoberfest, Ramstein Oktoberfest.

Elsewhere: Smuttynose Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Neshaminy Creek Creekfestbier.

Additionally, I thought the Jack's Abby Marzen Kellerbier that they released earlier this year in March was better than their annual Copper Legend Oktoberfest.

 

Urban Chestnut O-Katz is a good Missouri one. Otherwise, I remember New Glarus Staghorn being fantastic.

 

I always buy at least one 6er of Schell's Oktoberfest. I know some think it has been surpassed in MN. I don't.

I consider the Utepils to be a bit of a Festbier/ Märzen hybrid. I also found it to be on the bitter side, perhaps too much so. A good beer, though.

You didn't mention Surlyfest, but I never considered it to be other than a fall seasonal rye IPL (even though it is the #4 ranked beer of the style on this site - something I consider to be an affront to the style.) I haven't tried their Oktoberfest beer yet.

We agree on Schwandtoberfest... it's very good Märzen-style beer.

I haven't tried the others you mentioned.

Regionally, I also like Capital Oktoberfest and Millstream Oktoberfest.

 

good call! I forgot about neshaminy.

 

I think we have discussed Schell's before and that I don't really like it because of an aftertaste that bugs me. But I also recognize that lots love it, so just my palate. And the Utepils is my favorite, so obviously opinions differ.

I don't think SurlyFest is made anymore, or at least not canned. Which is a shame because it was a fun alternative to traditional Oktoberfests.

But you reminded me that I need to get Millstream too. I have heard that mentioned many times, both on this site and by various store employees. Another beer I need. Shit.

 

Last year I drank a six pack of shiner Oktoberfest it was pretty good but I did like Sierra Nevada better

 

Avery's The Kaiser, and Flying Dog's Dogtoberfest worked for me, though I'm no big fan of the style.

 

Sam Adams has always been one of my favorites. I have fond memories of drinking cans of it on the plane last September on my first trip to Europe. I bought a large pack of bottles at sams last year and still have some, so it’s nice to be able to drink it before this year’s batch arrives.

 

Just listing my local favorites (too many to count nationwide):

Live Oak Oaktoberfest
Real Ale Oktoberfest
Thirsty Planet Smittlefest
Rahr Oktoberfest
Karbach Karbachtoberfest (I know, BMC, but it's still good)