Favorite Oktoberfest beers

Free State brewery out of Lawrence Ks. makes a good one.

 

I'm not a fan of the GL Oktoberfest either, but I've never considered it sweet like a Sam Adams, etc. I do think the malt bill makes it rather undrinkable, and my inclination is that it's the high Munich malt addition.

 

I believe we started this discussion once already this season.

 

Is it the malts or the proprietary yeast they use? I get a similar off flavor (to my palate) in all of the GL beers, but the highly-hopped, eatery, and stronger beers hide it well.

 

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

 

Nice list (I could take or leave the Victory though). Where did you get the Spaten from? I posted in another forum a picture of the bottles my local received, and they appear to be from last summer...any idea what the code was on yours if it was from the bottle?

I enjoy the Berkshire for what it is. It's definitely hefty, fuller, and has that trademark American cloying sweetness...yet it's not terribly cloying. I just consider it something different, and enjoy it for what it is. Also, Berkshire gets a pass from me because I've seen them do lagers quite well in the past (their Czech Pils this year was out of this world...I had last year's on cask and it was awful, certainly could have been the cask).

Yeah but this is the "Octoberfest" thread, not the "Oktoberfest" thread. I assumed it should be about American versions.

 

Are you suggesting The Boston Beer Co. started this thread?

 

Have you had any of the other beers from Sly Fox?

 

I love the Helles Lager, the Pikeland Pils, the Royal Weiss and the Grissette.

 

GL Oktoberfest, followed by Left Hands. I have yet to try SNs, so the order might get shifted.

 

I also prefer the pale festbiers. Can't stand most American versions. Weihenstephaner is very high on the list for me.

 

Definitely great beers for sure. I just had the 360 IPA the other day and it was awesome. I highly recommend trying it sometime.

 

For me, it's hard to beat a combination of the Sierra Nevada OFest and the Great Lakes OFest. Very different takes on the style and both amazingly well done. I could live the rest of my beer-drinking life with just these two beers and would never complain.

 

So far I like almost every Oktoberfest beer I have tried so far this year. I honestly think that with this year all the brewers are standing forward to measure excellence with this one style. I have seen variations in color and flavors that are demonstrative of the idea that this one style can display a range like any other. I also honestly think that I am observing a little good natured competition as to who can do this style the best this year. That makes for many fine pints. Homering for Ellicottville Fall Festival Lager.

 

Well as of this year I have tried both Sierra Nevada and Great Lakes Brewing Company's Oktoberfest. I like Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest a little better than the GLBC offering. Might have to revisit the bigger breweries examples too. Something about this style of beer though that I always enjoy.The flavor reminds me of going to beer tents , listening to some local band polka,and eating a brat of some sort loaded with onions and peppers.

 

need to try the SN and Weihenstephaner soon, hope supplies last, drink Ock's for the MLB playoffs

 

I most recently had the Spaten a few years ago with some friends at an Oktoberfest party, so I don't really remember. I might search it out again this year, but I'm sure that the SN Oktoberfest and a few bottles of Ayinger will tide me over this September/October.

I totally agree with you here. It's a different kind of Oktoberfest, but nonetheless remains well done, and I think better than many other US renditions of the style.

 

I was going to go out today and get a mix of Oktoberfests, since I haven't had very many even though I've loved the ones I've had. Something told me to check the forums for recommendations. Cheers, BAs!

 

Loved Sierra Nevada's.

 

Duck Rabbit makes a good one is anyone happens to be in their distribution area.