German / Imported Märzens

Your backgrounds don't help, but I'm still not seeing a difference.

 

Maybe it's just a lighting issue playing tricks on my memory. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Top taken Saturday morning, bottom on Sunday afternoon

 

Well, when you start drinking in the morning thru the next day, what do you expect?

Kidding of course, but since it's the same day, and probably from the same pack of cans, you can see where lighting and surroundings can give an allusion.

Nonetheless, any difference between those 2 pours is really picking nits.

 

I barely had time at the store today the the only Oktoberfest I saw was from Sam Adams and I skipped it. If I am gonna try to the style for the first time in 20 years I think I can do better than Sam Adams. Not sure I want the SN solo one they did this year either. Guess I'll keep my eyes out for the foreign stuff unless anyone can recommend a real good USA marzen that is fairly available. I might just look for some Ayinger... I would have tried the Sam Adams or SN varieties if I could get singles but they were only moving 12 packs and I am not buying 12 beers I have never tried.

 

Yeah, any perceived difference seems to be within the margin of error.

 

I’ve been on the search for Ayinger Oktoberfest but I can’t seem to find it. My local liquor store promised it today, but he said the shipment got swiped up by another store, as his distributor doesn’t seem to have had it.

Frustrating - I live such a beer desert in my neighborhood. I was really looking forward to this one, too!

 

You didn't find out where that other store was?

 

He didn’t say, he figured it was a large grocer which probably claimed priority over his small shop.

 

Time to do some grocery shopping?

Cheers!

 

Call the distributor and ask them who they sold it to (granted, some aren't particularly "consumer-friendly").

 

I don’t know any in the area that carry Ayinger. The Whole Foods stocks most of the Munich brands (except Hacker-Pschorr and Augustiner), and the Ayinger which they do have is normally the Ur-Weiße. Maybe it’s worth another search, though...

 

I should get that information. On the other hand, Ayinger’s importer Merchant du Vin is very clear on where their beers go, so I could ask them too. They previously helped me find some Altbairisch.

 

I would suggest you fire with both barrels here.

Cheers!

 

A large grocery store is where I found it. My two smaller stores never got it, and one of my stores is only a half mile away. Those big box stores must carry some weight.

 

This is a modern, lighter interpretation of the style - Oktoberfest or Festbier? I don't think you could refer to this is a Marzen.

 

there beer finder is pretty accurate I found a 4 pack at a liquor store near my work. I know you said before your a student without a car but might be worth a Uber ride I really enjoyed the 4 pack this year.

 

But it *would* be a Marzen in Germany as the term is an original gravity designation there these days.

 

I bought a 6pk a couple weeks ago, and that was my take as well. Just ok, and very Americanized. Bitburger’s marketing of it confirms our suspicions- this is pointed squarely at the American market. Take a look at the malt composition too.

https://www.brewbound.com/news/bitburger-brewery-releases-festbier/

 

As an update to the search: I found the missing Ayinger at a Trader Joe’s, as Merchant du Vin showed on their website. There were tons of cases in the store. Bought two 4-pack - it cost a bundle, but as my favorite brewery I know it’s entirely worth it. I can’t wait for it to cook off enough to try!