German Beer Appreciation 2025

That would expain it for sure. The word "Hell" might be part of the problem.

 

Enjoying a very nice Munich-Style Helles from Schilling. Having been born on 2-10-25, this has stood the test of time via the long journey from one of the original 13 colonies all the way to my favorite beer store in Asheville.
Cheers!
Tom

 

I am always amazed at how fresh Radeberger beers come across the palate despite their age.
Lovely beer!
Cheers!
Tom

 

Paulaner Oktoberfest is very enjoy this year. No hit of sweetness. Just a nicely malty and nutty marzen. A nice change from heavy handed (on the sweetness) marzens that often locally pop up here. Cheers.

 

Paulaner Märzen is a textbook Munich Märzen: sweetish up front and finishing dry and clean. No candy caramel character to stunt your palate.

 

I used to buy twelve packs of Paulaner each year but stopped as I felt it crossed the line of the sweetness I want from it. I do enjoy some Oktoberfest beers that range sweeter, but this beer was always my standard bearer. I’m happy to find that it’s back to how I prefer it. I have plenty of seasonal beers so it remains to be seen if I buy a twelve pack. Cheers.

 

The Paulaner took 3rd place in our Oktoberfest beer tasting. In round one.

 

But you're talking about the lighter colored Festbier, right? Do you ever see the darker amber Märzen (as Paulaner labels it).

 

I haven't noticed a big shift in Paulaner over the years. I've always found it drier than Spaten -- even though I don't find Spaten cloying at all.

 

FWIW I like Spaten this year too.

 

In the past, what? 30 years? I can only remember one season that Spaten Okto disappointed me.

Something was off that year, color wasn't even right. But they got back on track the next year.

 

Unfortunately delivery of beer is inconsistent and I have doubts about the handling of beer by some distributors and stores. Spaten is one that has come in very skunky.

 

Probably the green bottle. I always take my six-packs from a closed case and never have a problem.*

*Decided to have one post-workout. Bottled in April. Smooth, toasty melanoidin with a touch more herbal hops than they used 20, or so, years ago, but packing that Munich malt character I like so much.

And no, no skunk.

 

Yes, the accursed green bottles. I grew up in down state New York and always hated Moosehead until I moved to Ontario and learned it was an okay beer but not skunky.

 

Same for me and Heineken. First time I had it fresh, without sitting under the lights on a shelf, was an epiphany. I always take green-bottled beer from a closed case.