Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

I gave it a whirl. I kind of like their Octoberfest this year (I'm not going to buy a ton of it either though), the Dunkelweizen was forgettable, but I wasn't really paying too much attention to it either being at a BBQ...that being said, the Spaten and Paulaner I had were still quite good, granted I had those first. See below from another thread about my thoughts on the Bohemian Pils:

"Oh, I just remembered, I bought the Sam Adams Fall Can Variety pack for a party this past Sunday.

I really dug the Bohemian Pilsner in there, maybe just a bit too hoppy, but otherwise a beautiful, clean (and crystal clear), moderately balanced lager.

Seemed a bit more German to me than Czech, but a nice sessionable beer."

 

How would you describe this year's beer as compared to previous years?

Cheers!

 

The comments are correct IMO about UC. Great biergarten, just needs a few hundred years for the shade trees to grow... I prefer UC over OMB.

I would like a colab with a Bayreuth brewery for Weisse. Maisel / Keller

@Domingo - heard you were in Muenchen at some places at the same time as @BayernTrips, surprised you guys didn't meet.

 

On my end of things, my wife and I had 2 strict day trips we HAD to stick to (Bamberg/Salzburg) but the other days were left open intentionally. My wife's not a big fan of strict planning since it makes vacation feel a little like work. We pretty much just woke up each day and winged it based on the weather and how we were feeling. I don't want to put anyone at the mercy of our daily whims

 

Far less cloying and sweet than year's past, making it more drinkable. It also tasted more like an actual Oktoberfest, tasting more bready than overly sweet and caramel-forward.

This isn't to say it DIDN'T have caramel notes, I think I could still pin it down in a blind tasting as Sam Adam's installment of an Oktoberfest, but it was more subdued this year.

However, as it warmed it did become more cloying, but still a decent drinker. Again, not something I'm going to run out and buy a case of, but I wouldn't mind having it again. I had a single bottle prior to purchasing this mix pack, and if it tasted like it did in year's past I might have thought twice about buying it.

 

Last week, later in the evening, I had a draft pint of Sam Adams Oktoberfest and my 'reaction' was 100% consistent with what you stated here. I was unsure of myself since I have already had a few beers prior (including a couple of DIPA beers). I was hoping to get a chance to drink another pint of Sam Adams Oktoberfest on a fresh palate but that did not happen.

I personally will make an effort to try another pint(s) of Sam Adams Oktoberfest this year to confirm that: "tastes more like an actual Oktoberfest".

If Boston Beer Company implemented a 'change' in brewing this beer for 2017 that is great news for me but I wonder how this will go over with regular Sam Adams Oktoberfest drinkers? My wife has a good friend (Debbie) and she is not much of a beer drinker but every year she buys at least one case of this beer (and usually multiple cases over the season). Next time I see Debbie I will have to ask her what she thinks here.

Cheers!

 

Definitely give it another whirl, I'd be curious what you think on a fresher palate. They likely brew multiple batches of this beer, so it might be one of the few fresh Oktoberfests still kicking around in October.

As far as a recipe change, I don't recall noticing it tasting different the last few years, however, I want to say the lowered the ABV to only 5.3% in recent years. Quite low for an Oktoberfest.

 

You do not think the change of "Far less cloying and sweet than year's past" is due to a recipe change? What else would cause this difference?

Cheers!

 

Oh no, that's not what I meant. It would definitely be a recipe change.

I was just implying that I think they have changed it recently due to the lower ABV. This year's would simply be an additional change.

 

I also feel the Sam Oktoberfest tasted less sweet than previous years. At least the last few.
Most years we'll do a mini-tasting at Old Chicago since they do 1/2 pours of roughly 7-8 different Oktoberfests for the season. The Sam (and recent versions of Left Hand's) have always been the sweetest by far. I haven't done anything like that this year, but I'm curious where it will fall. Ayinger (or one of the local ones like Bierstadt) has been our fave almost every year.

 

Please report back your findings on Ayinger. There have been a number of BAs stating they perceived diacetyl in the Ayinger beers they drank.

I have only had Ayinger once (so far), a draft pint, and I did not perceive diacetyl in that beer and I am very sensitive to diacetyl.

Chris, my recollection is that you too are sensitive to diacetyl.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, diacetyl is usually a major no no for me and even more so my wife. Never gotten any from any bottles of Ayinger before. I once got some from an old keg (in Munich), but I think that was unrelated. Admittedly I don't drink a TON of Ayinger since it tends to sit around, but I drink at least a couple Maerzens every year sans any butter.

 

Me neither and for 2017 it has been a 'no' so far as well.

Based upon the posts of a number of BAs it appears that this year things are different for Ayinger Oktoberfest beers. The fact that Ayinger refuses to date their bottled beers makes the 'detective work' here extra challenging.

Cheers!

 

The lack of bottle dating does make my wary of Ayinger's beers. I feel pretty safe buying Celebrator, but the others I'm stuck basing my decisions on the amount of dust on the bottles.
I suppose the pils is new enough where it's probably not that old, but I bet a lot of those bottles sit for the next year.
With the Oktoberfest, I know of at least one store in my area (that I stopped shopping at) that would put out a bunch of last year's bottles in August. They were known to do that with some others, but luckily the bottle dates give 'em away.

One of the most disappointing things about German beer in the US is that we actually DO get a lot of Germany's finest beers. Mahr's, Uerige, Shlenkerla, Hofbrau, Augustiner, Andechs, Ayinger, Weihenstephaner, Jever, Rothaus, etc.
The catch is that most of them are in such poor shape when I see them that I almost wish they weren't here. I know that other regions don't have these issues as much, but in CO it's definitely buyer beware.

 

I tried the Helles Weissbier and original Hefeweizen from Cedar Springs (Kusterer) this past weekend at the MBG U.P. Fall Beer Festival. I thought they represented each style well and were quite enjoyable. Granted, I only had 5 oz. pours of each so not enough liquid in my opinion to generate an overall impression of the beers but each was solid nonetheless. They were my first beers of the festival so my palate was relatively untainted.

Also highly recommend Dovetail as others have suggested here. Some of the best German-inspired beers I've had stateside. Their lager is magnificent.

 

I did a little local research and found out that our distro for Ayinger is one of the more reputable businesses -- I doubt they're trying to pass off year-old stock, but who knows? Maybe they can't read any dating codes either (though Ayinger does have that notched label sort of code that distributors are supposed to be able to translate).

Anyway, I just poured the latest bottle of Fest-Märzen I gambled on and it tastes devoid of any diacetyl this go-round. I know just where I bought this sample, as well as where I bought the less-than favorable samples, but that still doesn't explain the draft sample I tried. I'd blame bad tap lines, but that tavern is usually pretty diligent at keeping their service lines clean. Though I suppose kegs from Ayinger could be as badly marked as bottles...

Nonetheless, I've found better Ayinger with that lightly sweet, toasted breadiness we've all grown to love and crave.

 

I have the same issue in Southeastern PA.

I have also noted that over the last 5-10 years the section of my beer retailers dedicated to German imports gets smaller and smaller on an annual basis. If this trend continues in another 10 years or so the only 'German' beer for sale will likely be Becks.

Cheers!

 

Out here I don't think it's the distributor but the stores that pull shenanigans. I've seen similar things with Pumpkin beers and even Winter warmers. The reputable places might keep them around for closeout sales, but at least a couple stores out here will just put last year's out again...sometimes intermingled with new stock.

On tap, Old Chicago has the Oktoberfest yearly but they and the Rhein Haus (mainly just the weiss...which I feel is "meh") are the only places I see much Ayinger draft. Most of the better import-centric places out here stick to Elite Brands and they don't have Ayinger in their portfolio. Like the Paulaner folks said, we're not really a strong import market either. Cantillon and 3F sell before they even hit shelves, but those are the only two.

 

The spot I bought the off-flavor Ayinger at was a big, warehouse-type of likker store. The good sample was bought at a smaller retailer that doesn't have a lot of storage space, so they probably don't keep stock around too long (I should ask them about leftovers at seasons' ends).

OTOH -- I saw Ayinger Okto, in small quantity single bottles, at another smaller retailer this past summer and knew they were time bombs. And I bought one a year ago from a smaller spot that had kept the bottles in their coolers -- didn't help much, big gusher and oxidized flavor.

I guess that's why the diacetyl threw me this year -- I've had stale Ayinger Okto in the past and it was always more cardboard than diacetyl. Very odd.

 

I was talking to a former distributor the other day. I told him about Weltenburger abd Andechs and he brought them both in. He got out of the business. He said they just don't sell.