German / Imported Märzens

I almost always get the big 3 Amber Märzens to try side-by-side. They're my 3 favorite imports for the season; I like Spaten the best (always have) and usually find Paulaner and H-P near to identical -- and they're all right in-line for the style.

In the past few years Spaten has been pretty consistent. One year, maybe 5 years ago, something was off; lighter in color and lacking in malts, but they rebounded the following year -- and ever since, IMO. They always seem to carry a decent melanoidin character -- as does Paulaner and H-P, though I find them drier overall.

Really never found Spaten's Okto hoppy in any big way, but thinking back I may have thought it was a little hoppier last year. I bought a six-pack that I'll probably crack into tomorrow, though it was bottled in February, so I imagine it's not the latest shipment to hit the U.S. for the season.

 

sad, but true

 

No Ayinger?

 

If I can find Ayinger fresh, and at a decent price, I'll usually get a .5 liter bottle, but it doesn't wow me like it does others -- and the 4-packs are almost always priced beyond my budget.

I actually like Jahrhundert better than the Okto. Again, when I can find it fresh.

 

I like Paulaner's the best out of the 3-4 year-round available amber marzen imports (which is my preference for the style) but Weltenburger 1050 was a decent surprise given that I found quite a few bottles under the 6 month mark up until recently in stores. It's just shy of too sweet on the malt but it got the job done when Paulaner/Spaten/Hacker-Pschorr was between re-stocks.

It may have just been my own ineptitude but I had a hell of a time finding Ayinger last year in DFW. None of the Total Wines seemed to have the 4 packs but instead had the 16.9 oz single bottles that were snapped up almost entirely before I knew they were available. All of the other spots I tried, I never even saw it get a spot on a shelf. Hoping for a better chance this time since it seems like they might finally have it back together again with this year's batch.

 

I have 1 Ayinger bottle left from a 4 pack I picked up last week (no reading glasses, no research) as an impulse buy. The date code is L9073 which decodes to the middle of March 2019.
It is enjoyable for what it is. I can't review these being this old but they are a long way from a drain pour, which I do not do....and I finish what's on my plate.

Cheers.

 

I like all the usual German ones available around NE Ohio - Ayinger, Spaten, etc etc - just picked up some Hofbrau Fest brew yesterday.....great stuff as always!

 

Indeed! When there is depth to the flavor while still being balanced and easy to drink, that's a beer that checks all of the boxes for me.

 

This situation was reversed in my area, I only saw 4 packs and not the 500ML bottles, I held out thinking my stores would eventually get in the 500ML bottles, but it never happened, unfortunately.

 

While I know it is still late July, this is my lineup for the evening. I'm excited

 

I’ll send you some Sam Adams Octoberfest. That’s an amber Oktoberfest.

What size is that mug?

New Paulaner bottles?

I also beat you to the punch, had my first Oktoberfest of the season yesterday afternoon. Weihenstephan OktoberFestbier!

 

Yeah, their whole lineup got new bottles this year. I also grabbed their Hefeweizen and a Salvator. Just a single of each, as I'm revisiting.

Haven't seen Weihenstephaner yet.

 

I see that shape of bottle and immediately think 16.9 oz. Then I remember they are the stubby 11.2 oz. bottles. C'mon man, if you're going to rebrand just give us the larger format too! Especially for the Oktoberfestbiers, those puny little bottles just don't do it for me.

 

I drank plenty of fresh Paulaner last year, it was quite excellent. Also drank a good bit of Hacker-Pschorr and Ayinger. Liked all 3. Enjoyed them a great deal.

 

You're supposed to pour three of them into a Maß.

 

The Oktoberfest beers launch here September first. This will be the first year that I can remember when Spaten and Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier won't be sold here. Their absence seems really strange given how they are two of the big sellers each year, I'm not sure if the issue is the monopoly or ABInbev didn't bother entering the tender process this year for whatever reason. Anyhow. This year sees the return of Paulaner Oktoberfestbier however, which has been missing in the last few years so I'm looking forward to having that again. Plus Hofbräu, Weihenstephaner Festbier, Karmeliten Festbier and Zoller Hof Festbier. All of those have been sold here before and are solid must buys. New for this year is Höss O'zapft is (5.2% abv and 12.6% plato), which calls itself an Export helles, and based on the original gravity I would agree with that label. I'm hoping it's good as an Export helles at least.

Should be an interesting season even if some key brands are missing.

 

Ah-ha! That must be why German brewers give their exported beers shipped to the US 1 year - 18 months suggest shelf life periods. Gives the beer time to be shipped across the Atlantic to the US, sit around on US retail shelves until Nov. 1st, and then be shipped back to Germany's Märzen Oktoberfest-starved beer drinkers while still in code!

 

They must get lost on the way back, because we never see them!

 

.3L mug