German / Imported Märzens

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I suppose this aspect didn't 'stick' with you when you started drinking beer?

Yes, hoppy beers were (and still are) very popular with the US craft beer geek segment of the market.

The very first craft beer I drank was from a local microbrewery (Stoudts Brewing): Stoudts Gold. That beer was a Munich Helles (I was not aware of that specific beer style at that point in time). I absolutely loved that beer - much better than AAL beers for my palate. I suppose I am in the minority that my craft beer drinking journey did not start off with hoppy beers. FWIW I had my first Sierra Nevada Pale Ale probably a decade later.

Cheers!

 

I began exploring beer while living several thousand miles from family so they weren't a major influence. Also, European beers were not any of their regular beers, the memories probably stand out because they were special occasions when they would get together for holidays and such that folks would break out the fancy German beer to share. My dad did always have labatt blue on hand

I imagine that among your generation you are less in the minority. With my generation it appears that many of us were turned on by hoppy beers first. I don't know if that's changing now or not

 

Yes, it does seem that way.

Cheers!

P.S. And there is nothing 'wrong' with hoppy beers. Just one hour ago I finished bottling a batch of Citra/Mosaic/El Dorado IPA.

 

That sounds wonderful. I've been discovering that there is also nothing 'wrong' with non hoppy beers as well, over the last few years Its a damn fine time to be a beer drinker

 

Well, we did have some hoppy Pilsners back then

 

That’s interesting - I found it the other way around last year. I really enjoyed Weih’s last year and figured I would this year’s too.

Meanwhile, has Beni’s Festbier become more pale since last year?

image hoster

 

If push came to shove I'd say the same.

 

Based on your posts and this comment maybe you just don’t like the pale Oktoberfest style? Or it’s too much like a Helles so you don’t really consider it an “Oktoberfest” and that’s throwing you off?

Caramel malts?

And they called it “Wiesnbier” but it’s amber? That’s really going to throw folks for a loop.

Was it the Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen or Oktoberfest Bier?

It’s changing. They’re now drinking craft breweries’ seltzers.

Jever anyone?

Are you drinking in a dorm? A library?

 

My apartment building has a barroom/social space and I often bring my own beers here to enjoy.

 

That one came later in the decade for me. I'm thinking way back in the beginning, like '81-'82, those mini kegs of Dinkel Acker were the bomb. That beer then was very similar to how hoppy Troegs Sunshine Pils is today. Naturally, we were just kids and didn't really understand what hops were or how to analyze a beer; but we did know that it had bite, a big bite, and were hooked from the first sip.

 

Funny, I just had my first one of the season and was thinking the same exact thing. I drank quite a bit of it last year and remembered it being slightly darker. Not as dark as some of the amber versions, but not as pale as something like Hofbräu or Weihenstephaner. Went back and checked my review from last year and I wrote, "Pours a beautiful deep gold/light amber with brilliant clarity." This year is definitely more of a pale gold color. Wish I had a photo from last year to compare it to but I can't find one. I drank it after eating some spicy food, so I'm going to hold off on whether it tastes different or not for another time.

 

I think it's still a 'tweener, but might have been a bit more amber last year. And with a touch deeper flavor then as well.

 

Good stuff. I trust your judgement. I enjoyed it but couldn't get a good read on it. Still have three more cans. I'll report back next time I drink one when it's not preceded by eating fiery Thai curry.

 

I've always found the Weihenstephaner to be a bit lighter and thinner than HB over the past few years -- I honestly have found them pretty consistent over that time too.

About 4 or 5 years ago I remember having HB on tap and finding it very good, but then I had some bottles the same year that didn't seem any different than their Helles. But since then I've always liked the HB.

 

Have to say this is my favorite time of the year on the beer calendar. What could be better than drinking O'fest beers and reading this thread. Prost!

 

Fwiw, my impressions from last weekend

 

Below is my photo from last year and yes indeed it was not very pale in color:



I was not a big fan of that beer so I chose to not purchase any this year. Based upon your photo and that of @EmperorBatman this beer does look different this year vs. last year. As regards differences in flavor?

Cheers!

 

Beni seems to have gotten good marks this year, but it was praised as an underdog last year too. I can’t give an honest estimate beyond that I liked it, as I had it with chicken schnitzel in preparation for the Oktoberfest festivities this weekend.

 

Seems like "how was it with schnitzel" is a key element of assessing an Oktoberfest beer