BeerAdvocate Oktoberfest Tasting! (Sep 17-Oct 3, 2022)

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by Todd, Sep 16, 2022.

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  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,518) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    STAFF Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

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    It's back! Willkommen to the official BeerAdvocate Oktoberfest Tasting thread, where we're once again encouraging everyone to buy, drink, and share (in this thread) as many Oktoberfestbiers, Märzenbiers, Festbiers, and Wiesnbiers (or whatever you want to call them) as you can! (I call them delicious lagers that I wish were year-round releases.)

    How It Works:
    • This thread will be active for roughly seventeen days (September 17-October 3).
    • Don't be shy! I encourage everyone to join this thread by posting a pic + a review (quick thoughts or musings) or story for every Märzen (dark lager) or Festbier (pale lager) that you try (at home or while you're out and about).
    • If you post a review in this thread, please post it under the beer's listing too and give it a rating!
    • For those of you on Discord, drop into the #wbaydn channel where you can post your pics and whatnot. If you haven't joined yet, I highly encourage that you do.
    And please spread the word by liking and sharing on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

    So far, I've only been able to find 14 different Oktoberfestbiers, Märzenbiers, and Festbiers:

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    ...but I'm ready and hope to find some more!

    Thanks in advance for participating!

    Prost! :beers:
     
    #1 Todd, Sep 16, 2022
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  2. redfox405

    redfox405 Pooh-Bah (2,318) Mar 4, 2012 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'm ready[​IMG]
     
    #2 redfox405, Sep 16, 2022
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  3. JonReif

    JonReif Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2007 Virginia

    Me as well…
     
    #3 JonReif, Sep 16, 2022
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  4. b9d9

    b9d9 Zealot (670) Nov 9, 2020 Germany
    Trader

    [​IMG]

    :beers:

     
    #4 b9d9, Sep 17, 2022
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  5. MHL81

    MHL81 Devotee (335) Aug 16, 2020 Illinois

    Spaten Ur Marzen
     
    #5 MHL81, Sep 17, 2022
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  6. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]

    Well, I just finished one. :slight_smile:
    Was going to open another Oktoberfestbier but now that I know about this thread I’ll wait to open it until this properly starts. Prost.
     
    #6 zid, Sep 17, 2022
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  7. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    The 2016 SN collab is the highest rated Marzen in my Untappd ratings, 3.75. My notes say not sweet, malty with some bitterness. Based on this what Octoberfest beers do you think I might enjoy. Most seem too sweet. FW oaktoberfest I thought was sweet but my rating said it was better than most. I thought Sam Adams was a sweet malty mess.

    I am open to any suggestion. Malt is ok but sweetness is not my beer thing. Thanks.

    Edit….I did really enjoy Victory fest last year. I thought it was earthy, spicy nice malty but no sweetness. Going to grab a six soon

    Enjoy
     
    #7 Giantspace, Sep 17, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2022
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  8. uncleotis

    uncleotis Pooh-Bah (1,637) Feb 17, 2015 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's got a walrus with an accordion and a mouse with a tuba. This has to be good. [​IMG]
     
    #8 uncleotis, Sep 17, 2022
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  9. Braunmeister_1943

    Braunmeister_1943 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,965) Nov 22, 2020 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG] Going big with the boot beer glass and booming beer to boot!:stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #9 Braunmeister_1943, Sep 17, 2022
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  10. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Where?
     
    #10 steveh, Sep 17, 2022
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  11. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    #11 steveh, Sep 17, 2022
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  12. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is what’s left of the two bottles I opened and then proceeded to discover this glorious news :beers:

    Happy Friday everyone!

    [​IMG]
     
    #12 jonphisher, Sep 17, 2022
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  13. Btls64

    Btls64 Initiate (155) Mar 11, 2015 Pennsylvania

    Monktoberfest
     
    #13 Btls64, Sep 17, 2022
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  14. beer_beer

    beer_beer Pooh-Bah (2,306) Feb 13, 2018 Finland
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Hoping to get these very ones in time for the tasting!

    [​IMG]
     
    #14 beer_beer, Sep 17, 2022
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  15. BitteNochEinWeissbier

    BitteNochEinWeissbier Pundit (779) Aug 19, 2021 Pennsylvania

    Are you looking for domestics or imports?
    Are you looking for Wiesn/Festbiers or amber Marzens?

    I went back and looked up the 2016 SN Collab. It was with Mars Brau and was more a golden Festbier than an amber Marzen. I liked that one too.

    For amber Marzens,on the import side any of Spaten Ur-Marzen, Paulaner Okterfest Marzen, and Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen should be up your alley. As should Ayinger Oktoberfest-Marzen. I should admit that I haven't had any of these from this year yet except the Ayinger - I was waiting for this thread to open. And for the Munich Oktoberfest to start.

    As you found, Victory Festbier (which is an amber Marzen and dark one at that) isn't sweet but earthy and grainy.

    For the golden Festbiers, again for imports, you might like Tucher (nicely bready/malty and not overly sweet) or Paulaner Oktoberfestbier (in blue cans). Hofbrau's Oktoberfestbier isn't bad either.

    The German Oktos tend to be more malty than sweet as a general rule.
     
    #15 BitteNochEinWeissbier, Sep 17, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2022
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  16. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Pretty excited for this. I only have 3ish on hand, but I do hope to pick up a few more.

    Going to try to find some local Cincinnati versions that are worth the squeeze. For those that know and see this, let me know your thoughts on versions canned!
     
    #16 Beer_Economicus, Sep 17, 2022
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  17. Blogjackets

    Blogjackets Grand Pooh-Bah (4,816) Nov 22, 2017 Ohio
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you’re talking the beer from Black Monk Brewery, I actually had one last week at the Scottish games at Edinboro University. Paired well with a meat pie :slight_smile:

    [​IMG]
     
    #17 Blogjackets, Sep 17, 2022
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  18. JonReif

    JonReif Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2007 Virginia

    Prost!
    [​IMG]
     
    #18 JonReif, Sep 17, 2022
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  19. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Been pregaming for this for about two weeks now…pics soon. Already went to the Idle Hand’s Oktoberfest. Today is Notch. Tomorrow Trillium’s and swinging by Dorchester brewing for their German flight. Next weekend is Bow Market’s (for Remnant Brewery), Nightshift’s and Sam Adams’ Oktoberfest festivals.

    Here's my running list of Oktoberfests so far this year:

    In italics are the standouts for me at this point.

    OVERALL BEST SO FAR: Hands down Spaten on draft

    Best in show (amber): Spaten on draft

    Best in show (pale): Andechs Spezial Hell on draft…might technically not be an Oktoberfest. Might be an Export Helles, but whatever, it’s delicious.

    Imported Pale Oktoberfest:
    Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (draft)
    Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier (draft)
    Tucher Bergkirchweih Festbier (draft and can) - only the draft was a stand out
    Andechs Spezial Hell (draft)
    Weihenstephan Festbier (bottle and draft)

    Imported Amber Oktoberfest:
    Paulaner Märzen (both bottle and draft)
    Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen (both bottle and draft) - only the draft was a stand out
    Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen (both bottle and draft) - only the draft was a stand out
    Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen (draft)


    Domestic Amber Oktoberfest:
    Jack's Abby Copper Legend (can)
    Idle Hands Brocktoberfest (both can and draft)
    Idle Hands Wiesenbier
    Zero Gravity Oktoberfest (can)
    Von Trapp Oktoberfest (can)
    Sam Adams Octoberfest (can and draft)
    Lamplighter Oktoberfest (draft) - only a sample at a beerfest
    Bells Octoberfest (bottle)
    Might Squirrel Oktoberfest (can)
    Toppling Goliath Oktoberfest (can)
    Founders Oktoberfest (can)
    Harpoon Octoberfest

    Domestic Pale Oktoberfest:
    Notch Festbier (can)

    Imported German Märzen (in strength only I think? pale in color)
    Rothaus Märzen Eiszäpfle (both)

    Domestic Austrian Märzen
    Schilling Konstantin (draft)

    Barrel-aged Oktoberfest
    None yet
     
    #19 AlcahueteJ, Sep 17, 2022
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  20. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Whoops. Forgot Schlenkerla Märzen on draft as well.
     
    #20 AlcahueteJ, Sep 17, 2022
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