Midwest Oktoberfestbiers (2021)

Yes, been like a 10 year streak of never having it. I'd like to keep it that way.

 

This place is incredible what they do. Among the best in the country for the imports they bring in I would imagine.

 

Has anyone had Great Lakes. Binny’s is running a good discount on their stuff.

My main feeling about Oktos right now is… confused! There are so many, I don’t even know what the heck I’m looking for anymore and then what to expect when I take a chance on a new one. It’s clearly a style that takes finesse and, I’d say, doesn’t respond too well to novel interpretation.

I was going to grab a solid go-to today like Afterbuner, was tempeted by Great Lakes… and then grabbed Victory on sale kinda randomly because it also was on sale. (I do appreciate a sale.) I used to like Victory years ago when living out east, so what the heck, says I. Not Midwest thread appropriate, but it’s okay I think. Pretty spicy hop character. Good, I like it, but I can’t speak to how on style. It says Fest but also Marzen, so… not helping my confusion.

 

Since it finally seems like Oktoberfest weather I tried a few this weekend. Two of the three were revisits. I had Waconia Brewing Oktoberfest, Lupulin Brewing Marzen style, and Lift Bridge Brewing Marzen style. Might be personal bias but I enjoyed WBC's effort the most. More toasty and less sweet than the other two albeit larger than I would like it to be. Lupulin's was the weakest of the three. Still has the artificial flavoring thing that I commented on a couple years ago. I did enjoy Lift Bridge and was a pleasant new addition.

 

@DoppleDork -- if you enjoyed Victory you might want to try Bell's.

Don't let the whole Festbier-Marzen question deter you, the two versions are always worth trying, but there aren't many true Festbiers being brewed by American breweries.

 

I'll be swinging there again this month to try some of those out.

 

The Great Lakes Oktoberfest is a little lighter than others, but it's definitely an enjoyable beer. And for the $7.99 price at Binny's, it's well worth it. I would have to say it's a little lighter than Afterburner.

A very solid, true-to-style, Oktoberfest is Hacker-Pschorr's. That's my absolute go-to Märzen. For a number of years, Costco has had the best price on it.

 

To be honest, I don't really know what a true Festbier should taste like, Dovetail's Festbier has been a must-have ever since I've tried it.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45802/252929/

 

HB's Festbier, Paulaner's Oktoberfestbier (not Oktoberfest Märzen), and Weihenstephaner's Fest are 3 great examples.

Closer to home, if you're in their distro area, I've been recommending Crystal Lake Brewing's Fest (though, I haven't had it this year, so caveat emptor). And I can't recommend Roaring Table's Fest Bier highly enough -- it takes me back to Munich, and that's my biggest plus mark.

I haven't had Dovetail's -- to be honest, their mark-up on seasonals scares me off and past experiences with bad cans have kept me gun-shy on that format. Love their Helles on tap, so I'd try the Fest that way in a second.

 

@RickBelgique -- I completely forgot to recommend Urban Chestnut's O-Katz. More Fest than Marzen and highly drinkable.

 

Dovetail’s is sort of a hybrid, being a little closer to the amber Marzen style. I wouldn’t really put it up as an example of the Festbier style.

 

Venn Fest from Venn Brewing - "Venn’s take on a traditional German Märzen"
They call it more malty than hoppy, but it seems pretty well balanced to me, maybe even a bit hoppy for a traditional Marzen. I wish I had bought two more crowlers. Another great lager from Venn.

 

Triptych released Alpine Hat Party last week. It's a festbier. Very enjoyable. Running $8.99/4 pack. Highly recommended if in the area or you see it on shelves (no idea of distro on it). I may have drank a "few" of them last weekend.

 

My buddy just messaged me this morning saying it was very good as well. He also continues to rave about their lager game lately, so that's great to hear.

While I won't try that one, I did just order some Pipeworks Festbier. So looking forward to that.

 

He's not wrong.

 

First time having this one... fantastic beer!




Cheers!

 

Had Millstream Oktoberfest Marzen-style. Looking back at my review from 8 years ago and I can honestly say I enjoy this much more now. In my review I noted DMS but I do not get any of that now. Another Marzen I had recently was Shakopee Brewhaus Herbfest. A pretty bad beer just overwhelmed with diacetyl. I don't know what is going on at that brewery, they were capable of brewing pretty good beer, but not now. Have not had a good beer there since 2019.

 

Yoerg IMPERIAL FESTBIER 8.5% ABV is good, somewhat a bock or ????? not sure what style it really is. Lots a spice in it. A limited that will not last long.

FURSTEN TRUNK FESTBIER was the best of those I tried so far.

I am heading to Hudson tonight/ MKE burger has nice beers on tap, thou not Ofest beers

 

I had Millstream at the MN state fair and thought it was very good, better than Summit.
Schell's Oakfest beer was good too, But $10.00 for about a 9oz pour it better be good.