Midwest Made Oktoberfests

Went to the Utepils Oktoberfest and their festbeir was great by the liter!

 

Tyranena Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest. bought a six pack, never had it before. It's ok. For all you German brewed o-fest lovers maybe give this one a try. Lite body, not sweet, grainy, wheaty with hop spice towards the end. somewhat crisp over all

 

I'm a fan of the malty richness of Oktoberfests, so I much prefer the darker, maltier varieties, even if they end up with a touch of sweetness. The reward of the complex multi-flavored malts is worth it to me; in fact, I don't consider just a little sweetness to even be a downside (as long as it is not dominate).

My preferences for the the Midwest Oktoberfests I had this year are are in this order:

1. Schell's -- Rich malty sweet aroma, complex malty flavor, just a touch of sweetness
2. Capital -- Rich malty aroma not as sweet as Schell's, very nice malty complex flavor, just a notch below Schell's
3. Bauhaus -- Spicy malty aroma, somewhat sour malt flavor, not as complex as Schell's or Capital
4. New Glarus -- Aroma fainter and not as rich, simpler flavor, slight touch of bitterness
5. Fair State -- A bit hoppy with malts aroma, slightly citrus, spicey and a bit sour flavor. Weakest malt flavor.
6. Central Waters -- Mild flavor, with just a hint of bittering in the middle and a malty, relatively simple-tasting finish.
7. Third Street -- Aroma a little weak, thin body, somewhat bland. Not bad for a lower ABV beer, but gives up too much for the "session" label to really compete with the rich Oktoberfests.

Caveat: this is strictly my preferences, not a rating to style or anything other than "what I like".

 

Anyone had the Hoops Oktoberfest? Can't wait to try it.

 

1) Capital
2) Titletown bent tuba
3) Schells
4) Lakefront, taste best very cold, lake front Lager's means must be kept cold, short shelve life
5) Lazy Monk, a little different
6) New Glarus Staghorn
7) Summit
8) MKE, odd earthier yeasty finish
9) Barley John's cave dweller, taste better half warm, kind a tastes like a heavy Mia bock, boozy
10) Old Style ok but seemed slightly skunky past it's prime. bought warm on the shelve
11) Indeed, nothing special ok but lost
12) Tyranena, more of a pale style not bad just not my type
13) Central Waters last years winner went bad
14) Boulevard 47 ??? on tap at world of beer st paul ok but tasted like a berry beer ??
15) Potosi, dank skunky maybe got warm and cold too many times

Note I only included WI - MN beers for the most part. I had plenty of others from other parts but did not include them. But still 1 thru 3 would be the same anyhow. I am like MNAle in my style preference
Off topic, anybody use O-fest beers for cooking? I have added as little Capital to slow cooker stew it seems to do ok, complements carrots and Worcestershire sauce.
I am slow cooking Camel stew right now, added about 4 oz of Capital. 2 pounds of Camel chops, Carrots, Potato, Onions A few Goat meat Chops.plus water & seasoning.

 

Had a Millstream tonight. It might be my favorite. Got a couple 6ers of Staghorn. Tasty but my kid thinks so too and it is disappearing. Those are the only Midwest brews so far. Looking to try Great River.

Enjoying SN, Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Hacker, and not the style but like the Surlyfest.

 

IMO, the better midwest Oktoberfests are Leinie's, Great Lakes and Thirsty Dog Barktoberfest. Id throw New Glarus Staghorn in the list too but its not available to most people.
Personally, I think Leinie's is better than GL but thats me. Like most GL beers, I find GL Oktoberfest to be too hoppy. IMO, a good Oktoberfest is supposed to be malty with a hint of hops, not dominated by the hops.
Of course, Im a Wisconsin homer, so I may be a bit biased about Leinie's and New Glarus.

 

I threw together the top 100 Oktoberfests brewed by breweries in states covered by the Midwest and Great Lakes forums, based on scores at the other site. Add about four tenths to half a point to translate from RB to BA standards:

1. Free State Octoberfest (KS) - 3.62
2. Surly SurlyFest (MN) - 3.59
3. Dark Horse Oktoberfest Beer (MI) - 3.58
4. Urban Chestnut Oachkatzlschwoaf (O-Katz) (MO) - 3.51
5. Calumet Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.49
6. Half Acre Lager Town (IL) - 3.47
7. Fair State Festbier (MN) - 3.47
8. The Civil Life Oktoberfest (MO) - 3.44
9. New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest Beer (WI) - 3.42
10. Revolution Oktoberfest Revolution (IL) - 3.42
11. Metropolitan Afterburner Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.42
12. Haymarket Oktoberfest Marzen Bier (IL) - 3.41
13. Great Lakes Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.39
14. Capital Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.39
15. Capital Fest (WI) - 3.38
16. 5 Rabbit Vida y Muerte Muertzenbier (IL) - 3.38
17. Buckeye Martian Marzen Lager (OH) - 3.37
18. Short's Noble Chaos (MI) - 3.37
19. Boulevard Bob's '47 Oktoberfest (MO) - 3.36
20. Hoppin' Frog Oktoberfest Froggy Style Lager (OH) - 3.36
21. Goose Island / Spaten Keller Märzen (IL) - 3.36
22. Excel Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.35
23. Fifty West Blaketoberfest (OH) - 3.35
24. Sprecher Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.34
25. Three Floyds MunsterFest (IN) - 3.33
26. Smokehouse Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.33
27. Karben4 Oaktober Ale (WI) - 3.33
28. Bauhaus Brew Labs Schwandtoberfest (MN) - 3.32
29. Barley Johns Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.32
30. People's St. Boniface Germanfest Lager (IN) - 3.32
31. Schlafly Dry-Hopped Marzen (MO) - 3.32
32. Taft's Masskrug (OH) - 3.31
33. Great River Oktoberfest (IA) - 3.29
34. Rochester Mills Oktoberfest (MI) - 3.29
35. Buckledown Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.29
36. Das Bierhaus Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.29
37. Land Grant Lawnraker (OH) - 3.28
38. Rocky River St. Festivus Marzen Bier (OH) - 3.28
39. Schlafly Oktoberfest (MO) - 3.27
40. Goose Island Oktoberfest (AB-InBev Recipe) (IL) - 3.27
41. Black Husky Jodlerkönig (WI) - 3.27
42. Fort Street Eleven! (MI) - 3.27
43. Wolf's Ridge Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.26
44. Brewster Bros. West River Lager - Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.26
45. Kuhnhenn Oktoberfest (Octoberfest) (MI) - 3.25
46. Burnt City Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.25
47. Emmetts Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.25
48. Titletown Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.25
49. Lunar Martian Maerzen (IL) - 3.25
50. Mickey Finns Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.25
51. Fat Head's Duke Of Lager Fest Bier (OH) - 3.24
52. Columbus Festbier Lager (OH) - 3.24
53. DryHop Elektra (IL) - 3.24
54. Off Color Waddle (IL) - 3.24
55. Hinterland Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.23
56. Mother's Old School Oktoberfest (MO) - 3.23
57. Great Dane Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.23
58. Lake Superior Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.23
59. Elevator 1810 Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.23
60. Cheboygan Winter Marzen (MI) - 3.23
61. Old Bakery Oktoberfest (IL) - 3.23
62. Augusta Marzen Oktoberfest (MO) - 3.23
63. Fitgers Adventurefest Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.23
64. MadTree Marzens Attack! (OH) - 3.23
65. Schell Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.22
66. Wolverine State Wolverine Oktoberfest (MI) - 3.22
67. Pollyanna Fruhauf (IL) - 3.22
68. Tighthead Oktoberfest Marzen (IL) - 3.22
69. Lineage Dr. Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.22
70. Delafield Cask Conditioned Whiskey Barrel Aged Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.22
71. Two Brothers Atom Smasher (IL) - 3.21
72. Rhinegeist Franz (OH) - 3.21
73. Elevator Munich Märzenbier (OH) - 3.21
74. KC Bier Festbier (MO) - 3.21
75. Shoreline Novemberfest (IN) - 3.21
76. Thirsty Dog Rye Bark (OH) - 3.21
77. Maumee Bay Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.2
78. Solemn Oath Oktoberface (IL) - 3.2
79. Fat Head's G'suffa! (OH) - 3.2
80. Zauber Octoberfest (OH) - 3.2
81. Empyrean Aries Märzen Oktoberfest (NE) - 3.19
82. Delafield Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.19
83. The Livery Oktoberfest (MI) - 3.19
84. Port Huron Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.19
85. Fort Street Eleven Angry Men (MI) - 3.19
86. Leinenkugels Big Eddy Über-Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.18
87. Millstream Oktoberfest (IA) - 3.18
88. Sun King Oktoberfest (IN) - 3.18
89. Vintage Octoberfest (WI) - 3.18
90. Lake Louie Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.18
91. Utepils Receptional (MN) - 3.18
92. Barley Island Miller's Marzen Fest (IN) - 3.18
93. Woodburn Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.18
94. Bell's Octoberfest Beer (MI) - 3.17
95. Summit Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.17
96. Upland Oktoberfest Lager (IN) - 3.17
97. Tyranena Gemuetlichkeit Oktoberfest (WI) - 3.17
98. The Brew Kettle Oktofest (OH) - 3.17
99. Weasel Boy Das Frettchen Oktoberfest (OH) - 3.17
100. The Freehouse No. 15 Oktoberfest (MN) - 3.17

 

12welve Eyes Oktoberfest (St. Paul, Minnesota) and Surly Oktoberfest (Brooklyn Center/Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota) (not to be confused with SurlyFest), both new this year, are two of the best Oktoberfests I've ever had, although I'll admit I'm usually not a fan of the style.

 

Looking at the top 100 list above. I take it that the ranking goes back in time of complete past history, not just this years ( 2017 ) ratings. This will effect the ranking for sure. # 94 Bells seems to ranked low to me. I thought it is above average beer for 2016 and 2017. I wish I could try this one: 41. Black Husky Jodlerkönig (WI) - 3.27

 

Correct. There aren't nearly enough people rating Oktoberfests these days (outside of the Pollyannas at Untappd) to have a meaningful 2017-specific list, and it would take much too long to put together regardless. Because of RB's Bayesian weighting formula, the list is dominated by beers with many ratings (and therefore likely to be reasonably widely available within their markets) and true standouts from breweries with limited distribution.

 

I did a side by side between Capital 'Oktoberfest' and New Glarus 'Staghorn'. Body color is very similar, longer lasting head on Capital, richer and stronger aroma with Capital, more complex malt taste with Capital, 'Staghorn' has more bitterness at the end. 'Staghorn' has slightly thinner mouth feel.
Overall, I prefer the Capital 'Oktoberfest'. This is a very tasty fall festival beer.

 

Great comparison, I completely agree with it.
Note in my ranking above, if I were to change anything I would move #12 Tyranena up to about 7 or 8 , after drinking a few more bottles It's better than I first thought

 

"(outside of the Pollyannas at Untappd)" LOL I like this comment and fully get your point