Best 2017 Oktoberfest, So Far

I had an Ayinger 500 ML bottle tonight and it tasted fine to me.

Unless Spaten goes to brown bottles, I won't be purchasing anymore. Got a sixer and the bottles are slightly skunked.

Had a bottle of SN Oktoberfest but that was after a bunch of other beers, at first glance it came off as an amber ale, but I need to revisit.

 

Sorry, a bit late on this one.

Not particularly, but they also weren't that great. Then again, I wasn't looking for diacetyl when I had the bottles...perhaps it was the power of persuasion from reading this thread that caused me to taste diacetyl in the draft? Again, it wasn't riddled with diacetyl, far from a "butter bomb".
Regardless, none were great, small bottle, big bottle, draft...although I did pick up one additional single (0.33 L bottle) of Ayinger just out of curiosity.

I had Spaten on draft yesterday and it honestly wasn't world's better than the Ayinger draft, but overall it was still more enjoyable than Ayinger's. It definitely became breadier/sweeter as it warmed, so the second half of my pint was much better.

Also had the pleasure of drinking Weihenstephan's on draft yesterday and Victory's Festbier in the bottle. The Weihenstephan and Andech's Spezial Hell drafts were damn close, I want to say the Weihenstephan was a bit drier...but tough to say from memory, I should really take notes on some of these. And Victory's tasted damn good (I think?), at least it went down quickly anyhow. I'll be grabbing another single or two of this one to reassess.

Finally, I had a 10 oz. sample of Element's Altoberfest on cask, which was interesting, a 10 oz. sample of Brooklyn's Octoberfest which was ok...but my palate was fried at this point on Saturday, so who knows. I also had Uinta's Fest Helles which honestly wasn't good at all, was a bit harsh overall from the beginning to the finish, and no real presence of that sweet graham cracker/white bread characteristic that is dominant in the great pale Oktoberfests.

I've also already had about 18 different Oktoberfests (maybe more) in the last two weeks or so, some of them more than once, and some of them in bottle/can AND draft...so maybe I'm a bit burned out? Nah...

Winners so far...

Amber Oktoberfest: Still saying Paulaner Marzen on this one, I've had a few bottles now with the draft coming up. It has the richest bread-like malt characteristics of them all...if I had to nit pick at all, perhaps a TAD too sweet with the need for a touch of hops in the finish, but it's damn good.

Pale Oktoberfest: Weihenstephan/Andech's/***Paulaner for this one. Maybe a touch of astringency or harshness in the finish for the Andech's and Weihenstephan, but that's being super nit picky, because they're both outstanding.

***I had Paulaner's only once, on draft. It was delicious, but it was one of the last beers of the day after a long day of drinking. It's in my cross hairs for another draft soon hopefully.

Prost!

 

I agree with you but I wouldn't go as far as say it's "more like a pils". In my opinion it's a bit closer to a Vienna Lager. This third release is probably my least favorite by Sierra Nevada so far, which is not to say it's a bad beer it just wasn't as good as the last two versions.

 

My reaction was the same - as long as I approach it as a Vienna, I get more enjoyment from it.

 

I haven't seen 12 packs of Paulaner Weisn since I left Arizona around 2015. You would think moving 2,200 miles closer to Germany, especially to a region with a much larger German-American contingent (I'm looking at you, Pennsylvania) would mean you'd see more of it but apparently that is not the case. I haven't seen any of those swing-top Hacker-Pschorr Festbier bottles for a few years either. I guess they never brought it back after their limited edition run....


[h/t http://thebest-beerblog.blogspot.com via google images]


Can any Tri-State area BAs comment on any Paulaner Weisn sightings? It is easily their best beer, in my opinion (their darker Marzen bier is a bit too sweet for my liking). Any help is appreciated!

 

My favorite was the Sierra Nevada until I had Fat Heads Oktoberfest last night. That's good stuff. Also Lancaster brewing's is really good.

 

A 10oz sample? I know we're talking about beers served by the liter at times, but I don't know any bartenders that generous with their "samples."

It's interesting that you included Andechser Spezial as a pale fest beer. It's listed here as a Helles, but the Andech's site calls it a festival beer (which all makes sense though... I just didn't see it that light before). I liked Spezial better than Vollbier but I only had Spezial once and it was draught.

 

Ha, should have said "pour", I suppose it was a bit tongue in cheek because Oktoberfests are served in liters, so 10 oz. is really more of a sample.

I think this is the third year in a row I've had it, this is the only place I know of that carries it. I want to say someone over in the Germany forum said Andech's brews it year-round, not just for Oktoberfest, but don't quote me on that.

I simply included it there because it fits, and it's definitely the same style as the other pale Oktoberfest beers.

What did you mean by "which all makes sense though... I just didn't see it that light before"?

You didn't see it in that light before, as in in that way, or you haven't see the actual beer LOOK that light before?

 

I was food shopping at my local Wegmans (King of Prussia, PA) and as I was leaving the store I walked past the beer store located in the Wegmans and I saw Paulaner Weisn on the shelf: a can & mug package. I did not see (or look for) 6-packs.

So, it is available in PA now.

Cheers!

 

I love this set. The "problem" though is that I now have like 5 of these Maßkrugs that take up tons of space. Don't get me wrong, I love getting a huge stein and a liter of Weisn, but 1 liter of Weisn just isn't enough. If you see any 12 packs, let me know

 

Bottle King is carrying that set too. I didn't see any 6 packs, but wasn't looking for them either. It might be worth a call anyway.

 

Thanks. I'm going to try contacting [email protected] and maybe they can point me in the right direction.

EDIT: Look what I found: http://paulanerhpusa.com/beer-finder/paulaner-beer-finder/

 

I mean that I didn't think of their Spezial as a Festbier until your post - but it makes sense. As far as it being year round, I don't remember when I had it, but I wanna say it was in the summer (and that glass tasted fresh).

 

I will be shopping for food in another week or so. I will look around and see what they have.

Cheers!

 

Sorry bad news, the FH has shot up to $11.49 a sixer at Wegman's KOP. I thought $7.99 was cheap for a FH beer ha ha! I noticed that they did have some singles in the mix a six area too, though, so if you would want to try one that is not a bad idea.

 

Yeah I agree...after a few more it definitely is not pils like in malting...

 

Lionville Bevearge in Chester County has Paulaner Wiesn as of 2 days ago.

 

Hmmm.... looks like Firestone Walker axed Oaktoberfest? Too bad, I thought that was one of the better US ones.

 

About a week before I grabbed up a Paulaner Wies'n 12 pack here in Illinois, I saw it in a small grocery in Wisconsin... dated best by March or April of this year! Made me double-check the pack I found here and am happy to say it was new stock.

I think you're correct, unfortunately.

 

Nice! I love that beer so much I probably would've accepted the old stock, lol

That's awesome. Was it in a 6, 12 pack format or those gift packs you see everywhere? Really appreciate the help either way.

I'm really glad I didn't buy that tallboy at the store when I saw it!