Oktoberfest suggestions

What happened to the special bottle cap for this beer? I'm losing sleep over this! I need to calm down.

 

Special bottle caps probably don't hold up well after 9 months, let alone a year -- no matter how special.

 

Anyone who is calling SN's Okto "cloying" has been on the hops too long!

Try starting with a Sam Adams and then switching to SN -- the SN will be a dry martini in comparison!

 

Who would criticize? You like what you like, everyone is different. I don't like sours, I wouldn't walk across the street for a Cantillion. So what, enjoy.

 

I am DONE with American Oktoberfest beers. With the exception of Sierra Nevada, they are sugary malt bombs and I will be giving away my remaining Goose Island. The SN is truer to the German style and is decent but not great. By comparison the German versions are compulsively drinkable. I can drink down a 6 pack of Hofbrau or Weihenstephan without even trying and Ayinger is liquid heaven.

 

If you're close to Iowa, cross the border, and get the Backpocket Brewing Hawktoberfest. It is a change up on the standard Marzen. The New Glarus Staghorn is also a great choice. Schell's Oktoberfest is also good.

 

Ayinger is a perennial favorite.
Can't go wrong with the original German offerings.
weihenstephaner festbier
Spaten Oktoberfest
Paulaner Oktoberfest
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest
Jack's Abby in MA, make a great Copper Legend. Doubt you can get that, but It's really good.

 

New Glarus Staghorn and Leinenkugels Oktoberfest. Dont be fooled by the fact that Leinie's is a pseudo craft beer, they make one of the best Oktoberfest beers you can buy.

 

Reminds me that I need to try O Connors and Smartmouth's recent Oktoberfest offerings...

but, I really enjoyed Ballast Point Dead Ringer a few weeks ago.

 

Just finished a Highland Clawhammer Oktoberfest. Delicious as always

 

If you can get it, which you should be able to since you're in NC, try Olde Mecklenburg's Mecktoberfest. I'd never had an Oktoberfest I actually liked until I tried theirs. Had a single last year and really liked it so I bought a whole six-pack this year.

 

I had a few Ayingers Marzen a few weeks ago. Followed that up with Mecktoberfest a few days later. IMO they were damn near clones, both were most excellent beers, I love Olde Mecklenburg beers. I still slightly prefer the SN brew though.

 

You try the Mecktoberfest yet?

 

Funny you should say that. I had Ayinger's Oktoberfest last year on draft and thought it was definitely better than all the others I'd had in the past but it still had that hint of biscuity sweetness that the style usually carries that I don't like (which is weird because I like biscuity sweetness in all other styles of beer). Then I had the Meck and, yes, it is very similar to Ayinger but IMO the sweetness is toned down to my liking more in the Meck.

 

Why no, no I have not... I guess I'll be stopping in. Need to stock up for this weekend.

 

I too am a fan of Ayinger Oktoberfest; I discussed it in yesterday’s New Beer Sunday thread: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-552.336717/#post-4084209

Cheers!

 

So I had some Warsteiner Ofest over the weekend. Not sure what was going on. My Father seems to love it. I caught a sort of Becks/Euro Lager skunkiness to it. Taste seemed okay. Ayinger or Weihenstephaner never seem to suffer from it. It has this distinct malt smell. Maybe its the hops? I've been homebrewing for years, and drinking beers for just as long. I am now finding it hard to describe what I am tasting.. I think even Stella has this flavor once in awhile. I pick up on it right away. Beck's is the only beer I will never touch again. Others I'll give a retry.

A local brewery in NM had a Oktoberfest Party this past weekend (happening next weekend too). Full 1L pours plus brats and pretzels, is just a super nice addition to our beer scene. The beer itself was about 5.4%. A lager, by their calling. Not quite to American Malty standards, so it was appreciated. Color was more of a light amber. No true breadiness, or distinct smells or flavors. It was drinkable but kind of just there. Not exactly a clean lager crisp bite. Good for a brewery being open just 2 months now. But also good enough for 2x L boot pours. So I can't complain or be too too picky.

Fyi, Ayinger got a full 1L pour this past Friday, just hours before the start of the Official Oktoberfest. It has such a unique smell, and flavor. The yeast and malts really go to work here. It has become my one and only favorite. I'm buying 10 more 500mL bottles the next place I see it.. Sorry SN. I think I drank too many too early on in the year. I went through too many. Same with SF. They just dont do it for me. I wont' change their rating/score. But i guess it happens. The only ones I feel I want more of right now are Ayinger and Weihenstephaner Festbier.

 

I had Great Lakes oktoberfest last night for the first time and it was horrible. Drain poured the second bottle. A terrible soapy perfume aftertaste that I just couldn't deal with. I have 3 bottles left if anyone wants me to send them to them.
I've talked to several people. Some being from Cleveland who told me something was off with this years batch. Not sure if anyone else experienced this.

 

weihenstephaner is my favorite. i really want to try paulaner's but i cant find it anywhere. as far as american oktoberfest beers go, i prefer sam adams over sierra nevada, blue moon, etc...

 

If you are in Milwaukee go to Woodmans--New Glarus Staghorn--Ayingers Festbier--Weinstenphan Festbier--Great Lakes Octoberfest and you will be set.