13 beer blind Ofest Taster

Yeah, that one's surprising -- especially considering that it's more to-style than Great Lakes. What were your "rules" for style? Because I can bet I see a of favoritism to what you like and don't like in a beer, opposed to what's correct to style.

To the Ayinger, I know that a few years ago I was finding old Oktoberfest on shelves and it had gone sort of sour. I wondered how everyone was thinking it was so good. But when it's fresh, it's damn good.

 

Thank you for conducting that test and posting your results. Blind tasting is the way to go and correctly identifying 7 of the beers is pretty darn good.

I had a Shiner Oktoberfest last night (my second of the six-pack) and it is indeed a high quality Marzen beer.

Cheers!

 

Just to show how different perceptions can be:
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/oktoberfest-tasting-party.121238/

 

Another test from Heavy Table: http://heavytable.com/toast-oktoberfests-2013/

 

Damn -- I never even saw Lakefront in my area this year.

 

What you were on was 114 ounces of beer I just did the quick math on this and that is almost ten beers! With a style that intentionally doesn't stray much from a 5% malty beer, it would be tough for me to do a proper ranking with even half that much consumed.

 

I have had all those except the two that are found almost everywhere, Leinie's and Shiner. I admit that I have only had two Shiner beers. I quickly concluded they were the Leinie's of Texas and passed them over since. I will give their O-fest a try.

Hacker-Pschorr is by far my favorite marzen. Would be interesting to see if it still was in a blind judging. And I also see Surlyfest has again changed styles, now it is a marzen.

 

Great list, although I'm curious where Staghorn would've fallen on it.

Would you mind explaining further? There's several that I haven't tried on his list, but am familiar enough with the style to know which types I prefer.

 

Great Lakes is the most obvious. It's too estery, too caramel sweet and roasty to the style, not to mention too strong. As I've often said, Great Lakes makes lagers for ale drinkers -- they just aren't as clean and straight malty as a good lager ought to be.

That said -- it doesn't make them awful beers, just not what I'd look for to style.

 

I think this year's Staghorn was actually less roasted in character than in years past, actually leaning more to bready and better to style. But like you, I had it early on in the season -- might have to see if I can find some more.

 

Right. Great Lakes is one that I have had (and reviewed, I think). Had the same impression, too big, too much alcohol evident. But the next four on his list don't really follow that pattern, do they?

Edit: After checking my review, I didn't really mention the noticeable alcohol in the review. But that has definitely stuck in my head each time I pass it over looking for Oktoberfests. I think it's a well-made beer, like all Great Lakes beers. I just don't love that take on the style.

 

Since 3 of the next 4 are perfect examples of the style, no, they don't follow any pattern except the reviewers own likes. Taking into consideration that 1 and 2 are considerably different from each other, and completely different from the Munich styles -- it doesn't make you stop and wonder?

Exactly what I think about it, and probably the majority of American takes on the style -- including Sam Adams.

 

I'm surprised you didn't like the Summit better than you did, it's a bigger, sweeter take on the style like GL. Any thought on that?

 

My favorite Oktoberfest beer is Great Lakes with Schell's being #2. Those are the two that stick out above the rest to my taste buds. GL may not be true to style but I really enjoy it.

 

Too weird I was just chatting with. A co-worker yesterday about Octoberfest beers as he's been havng a lot lately. I'm generally not a fan of them but last year really liked the Ayinger.