Founders Ultimate Oktoberfest BBA Marzen

Saw this the other day. "Ultimate?" My ultimate Oktoberest Märzen would taste just like the original from way back -- not some added bourbon flavor and boozy ABV.

Yeah, I passed.

 

Some things you just don't do.

 

Believe it or not I’ll actually snag a couple singles if I see them.

I had Sam Adams’ barrel-aged Oktoberfest last year at the tap room. Just one or two 4 oz samples, but it was interesting for what it was.

I went in not judging it as an Oktoberfest, so I tampered my expectations. I don’t recall the bourbon character being overwhelming and up front like you get with a Bourbon County for example.

 

I'd do this too, except for the label they tagged it with -- and all the marketing pap they're spewing.

Many years ago, my favorite regional brewer, Kirby Nelson at Capital, came up with a cross between Oktoberfest and Bock (maybe Doppelbock) and called it Autumnal Fire.

Now, I'm not sure where the whole "cross" concept came from, but it was a big, malty lager that was delicious and the color of an Amber Märzen. It was probably a Doppelbock if you pigeon-holed it, but it was a touch sweeter and maybe not as dry.

Thing is, he didn't use anything but barley malt, hops, water and yeast -- and he didn't try to sell it as some innovative Oktoberest, just a good beer.

Brew me just such a beer and I'll buy it every year.

 

Right up my alley. More than a few four packs are fridge bound in this house. Super excited for this.

 

All sarcastic pessimism aside, did you try it? If so, what are your impressions?

 

I saw this on shelves recently and I was really confused. I’ve never seen a barrel aged Oktoberfest. Maybe it tastes good, I just can’t justify paying the cost of a 4 pack of this and passing on a 12 of paulaner or hacker pschorr for maybe a few dollars more. Plus it’s gonna be trouble filling up a liter stein with a 10% abv barrel aged beer.

 

I understand this dilemma myself, especially when it comes to locals pricing their Festbier at $18 a 4-pack (same price a local retailer had on Paulaner Fest 12s), but if it's an outstanding beer -- I might think twice. My trouble here is that I don't think Founder's regular Okto is all that good.

But that's *ultimate*!

 

If I saw it at TW, would buy in a heartbeat. They had a barrel aged malt liquor, ppl, and it kinda sorta worked.

 

Drinking Oktoberfest beer out of a snifter is never something I’d imagine myself doing.

 

-- No, but hard core drinkers would toss back a Maß of 10% beer!

 

I’ll have to try it to see how it tows the “traditional” line. But, being a fan of the spicy, sweet, “American” style Oktoberfest, I’m sure this will please me. I wonder how close this beer is to Founders “Oktoberfest”. A side by side may be in order.

 

Just a semi-educated prediction? Not at all.

As to "traditional?" Out the window. Barrel aged and 10% cinches that fast.

 

Understood. We’ve had this discussion before. I tend to like beers from both the traditional and American ends of the spectrum.

 

Liters of doppelbocks wouldn’t bother me

 

DKML was aweosme.

This, I’ll pass on. Not EVERYTHING needs to be barrel aged.