Denver Metro Marzen/Festbier sightings

Saw prosts and Breckenridge while out and about today. It begins.

 

I picked up a sixer of four noses a few days ago. It is the only one I've seen. That said, this is absolutely my favorite beer season and I am stoked as hell!!! I love Ska's, and hope to have several sixers of it in addition to many more.

 

I'm really hoping to see la cumbres marzen again. I love that beer.

 

Ska's is around as of this weekend. It's one of the better ones, especially considering how readily available it is. My plan is to keep an eye on Comrade and S26. They make the best ones on the eastern side of town. Beyond those two, Bierstadt's is always going to be killer. For another widespread option, I like Odell's. I always feel obligated to Try Left Hand's, and for the last 5-6 years it has missed the mark and tasted sugary. Hopefully they'll reformulate it and go back to what it was around 2014. It's like they got in a sweetness war with Sam Adams and lost.

 

Man, I couldn't disagree more about odell. I thought theirs was on par with Sam adams.

 

Sam Adams from the last couple years (which is actually good) or from like 4-5 years ago?

 

Had to be about five years ago on both.

 

Shelves are currently overflowing. Is it me or are there even more local breweries than usual with a marzen/festbier?

Odell is always solid but especially on point this year. Also enjoying Weldwerks marzen.

 

Lagers are hot at the moment, so I think basically everyone is making one now. Plus, our distro has increased a bit so we're getting more from other regions, too.

I haven't tried it yet, but Cerebral has a foeder one that they're even serving from Franconian-style clay mugs. I don't make it there very often, but I feel almost obligated to swing by and support the concept.

 

Looks like they're starting to hit the shelves again. Lots from out of state. I'm seeing von Trapp, Toppling Goliath, Wizeacre, Half Acre, and others.

 

S26 is on tap in the taproom and in liquor stores now.

 

Comrade - 9/15
Bierstadt - 9/16

 

Is the crooked stave one I've been seeing the past week new or is it old stock floating around?

 

I assumed new stock. But looking at the can the date might be 3/9/23. Hard to read.

 

New one. Had it last week at Keystone Beer fest and the rep said it was dropping that week. Then I bugged them about bringing back Coffee Porter for 10 minutes

 

This is definitely the time to be wary of old Oktoberfest stock mysteriously showing up on shelves. Ran into some Left Hand Oktoberfest cans last night that were best by 11/24/22. They weren't on the shelf 2 weeks ago, either.

 

Lol, just bought a sixer of LH. I'm drinking one now, and it is fresh and damn good (better than I remember). I don't think it's massively sweet. I should probably drink another to find out, lol.

So far, I've had Ska, Upslope, Drydock and Firestone. Ska has been my favorite (always is), but Firestone was close. I would say the Upslope brings up the rear, but it is solid.

Fuck, this is my favorite beer season by a mile. I need to track down some Bierstadt.

 

I'm looking out for Xmas beers..

 

Ska is up to snuff for certain. Sierra Nevada is great this year, and as of now is my fave so far.