German / Imported Märzens

It would appear that you are correct here. Below is a photo of the O.E.C. facility and there is a tank in the pictures:



P.S. I never heard of O.E.C. until you made your post.

 

If anyone needs a size calibration reference, the frame around the tank is the size of a shipping container.

 

While not as clearly spelled out as the Czech system, the strength/color = style concept has been mostly what I've observed in Germany and Austria, too. I try not to think about any of it too hard. At this point I know more or less what to expect and it's pretty rare that anything deviates much.

I've had mixed results with the B. United cans. They're fresh tasting and in such limited quantities that I know they haven't been sitting around for months/years. At the same time, the beers from them taste stronger than I expect. Not boozier, just more "concentrated." Almost like they need to be diluted a little. With some items I guess it's more of a good thing. With others (like Schlenkerla Helles), it's a different beer than I want/expect.

 

The tanker beers are canned in CT, but I believe they also import canned beer from brewers via more normal shipping. In other words, not every canned beer from B. United is canned by B. United (as far as I know... could be wrong). I assume that the can sizes are a giveaway (16 and 12oz vs 11.2oz). @JackHorzempa , OEC is sort of a brewing and blending/aging project that's a branch of B. United.

Except when they have. I've seen old product on the shelves. Expensive cans of Altbier don't exactly fly off the shelves. The advantage is that you can actually tell that it's old with the date stickers... well, assuming that the can holder is still there and hasn't been tampered with. Their date stickers are worthless when their beers are being sold at stores that break everything down into singles (and B United product fits in with such places more than places that heavily deal in bulk purchases).

 

Chris, you are 100% correct here. You can go to the B. United website (link below) they provide two lists:

· TANK CONTAINER CANS filled in Oxford, CT USA

· CANS filled abroad

Cheers!

http://www.bunitedint.com/information/collections/cans/

 

I have solely purchased the B. United cans as four-packs but your point here is well taken. Since these beers are both pricey & of beer styles that are not popular selling beers to the general public retailing them as singles does make sense. And the fact that the individual cans are not dated sucks!!

Cheers!

 

To add to that, the product coming out of OEC is a fascinating indication of the shifting landscape. Years ago, if you told me OEC would be making pilsner in 16oz cans (and with people posting pics of such cans on WBAYDN), I'd think you were bonkers. Their terrain used to be more concentrated on things like this:

@JackHorzempa @FBarber

 

The OEC Pilsner reads a bit ‘different’:

“Notes: Oak Fermented - Dry Hopped. Our Pilsener is brewed using a traditional German Double Decoction mash and hopped with German Hersbrucker $ Spalt hops. Fermentation starts in open tanks for one week, followed by oak for an additional three weeks. It is then lagered for several months and finally dry hopped.”

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/34667/414167/

Chris, have you tasted this beer? If so, whatcha think? Would this beer be a regular purchase for you?

Cheers!

P.S. I noted that @FBarber is a fan of this beer:

“Overall this was an outstanding pilsner - hits all the right notes and was incredibly drinkable. The can I had was not dated, so I am not sure how old this can was, but I feel like the hop aromas were a bit muted for a dry hopped beer.”

Sounds like OEC is consistent in not dating any of the cans coming off their canning line.

 

Nope.

 

Does OEC provide the same dating system as B. United (sticker on the four-pack holder)?

Cheers!

 

I gathered that from your beer review post.

I have a strict policy of refusing to purchase any beer that is not dated. If the brewery can't be bothered to properly implement dating then I can't be bothered to monetarily support them.

Non-cheers to not dating bottles/cans!

 

Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores (O.E.C) http://wp.oecbrewing.com/ales-concoctions/
B. United is their distributor and uses their canning facilities, not sure what the relationship is (partner, contractor, owner?). I've ordered the coolship lager & black lager online and both are very, very good, but I've never seen their products on a shelf.

 

But neither is any brewery's "Bottled/Canned on" (or "Best by" for that matter) date code which fills their packages on site - the transit time with a bulk shipment is likely considered part of beer's aging/lagering when the container is filled (well, hopefully it is) - that is to say, the tanks should be filled before the beer is "finished".

When a retailer breaks up a case or sixpack of a beer which is dated on the packaging rather than the individual container, they SHOULD put that date on the can/bottle or, at least, the shelf tag.

Yeah, I'm really dreamin' now, huh?

 

I didn't really care for the oak aged pilsner, but agree 100% about the coolship lager & black lager. Both were excellent beers, better than I expected TBH.

 

Bill, did you obtain these beers as part of the B. United NY shipping deal? Did you purchase four-packs or individual cans? Was there something specific about the oak aged Pilsner that was 'bothersome' to you?

Cheers!

 

Yes, it was through their NYS online store. I bought a 4 pack of lager and 2 packs of the black 16 oz cans at $4/can (looks like the black is sold out) and would purchase regularly if on the shelf. The Pilsner had an astringent aftertaste like biting into a stick (I know it's oak aged ). The oak is a good idea, but for my taste it was a little overdone.