Oktoberfest Tasting 2017

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by scottakelly, Aug 22, 2017.

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  1. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Last weekend I did my yearly blind tasting of Oktoberfests. Not as many in the rotation as before, but I thought getting a jump on tasting them fresh would be wise since the tasting I did last October had several of the beers clearly on the decline.

    So this year my winners were...

    1. Ayinger
    2. Hofbrau
    3. Paulaner Marzen
    4. Sierra Nevada
    5. Weihenstephaner
    6. Hacker Pschorr

    A couple thoughts...

    Not a bad beer in this group, but Ayinger was clearly the best and HP clearly the worst. Numbers 2 through 5 I could see going anywhere in the order depending on preference.

    I really convinced myself that I was picking Weihenstephaner #2 and HB #5. I was surprised that I had them flipped. When drinking cool I clearly preferred the HB, light sulfur ester and breadiness added some complexity. At room temperature I would take the Weihenstephaner, that beer shined more as it warmed.

    Sierra Nevada was the easiest beer to pick out. Hoppy unlike any of the others. A "cracker" quality to it unlike any German Oktoberfests, and common to the last three SN Oktoberfests, that I believe likely comes from the Steffi Pilsner malt.

    So if I find a few others, I might tee this up again in the near future. I really wish I would have included Spaten and Paulaner Wiesn, but alas they are nowhere to be seen yet this year. A few other American attempts would be a welcome addition to round 2 as well.
     
    #1 scottakelly, Aug 22, 2017
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  2. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    That's Interesting that Ayinger comes out clearly on top. It seems like the same happened in the spring when a tasting comparison of Maibocks was written up by someone. Apparently Ayinger has something good happening.
     
    #2 PapaGoose03, Aug 22, 2017
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  3. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
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    I am looking forward to seeing more. Honestly I want something a little darker but no toffee please. Nothing sweet. I would prefer sulfur to sweet or fruity. Nice tasting.
     
    #3 utopiajane, Aug 23, 2017
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  4. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Interesting that you put H-P at the bottom and Paulaner #3 -- to my palate they're identical, once again. Did you notice the Paulaner & H-P being somewhat lighter in color than last year? It's definitely lighter than Spaten (when you find it).

    Also, the Ayinger I've found (so far) was heavy in diacetyl. Not sure if the retailer is getting old stock (no dates on Ayinger -- thanks Merchant du Vin), but I was pretty disappointed.

    FWIW in my tastings this year (not blind, as of yet) I'd rate between Wies'n style and Amber Märzen:

    1. Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest
    2. Paulaner Wies'n
    3. HB Oktoberfest

    1. Spaten
    2. Paulaner/HP in a tie
    3. Sierra Nevada (put in the Amber category because the color is so close to Ayinger)
    4. Ayinger

    But I wouldn't walk away from any of them... well, maybe the less-than fresh Ayinger.
     
    #4 steveh, Aug 23, 2017
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  5. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    My recollection was that Paulaner and H-P were similar in color last year and a bit lighter than Spaten last year. I did not have Spaten to compare them too this year, but both were again very similar in color. To my recollection, they both seem a bit lighter than last year. After I replace photobucket with Imgur I will upload a photo. The flavor difference to me was very pronounced. HP was rather "flat" with no predominant malt character. Paulaner had a very pronounced Munich malt character mid-palette. I also recall liking HP better last year, so I'm not sure why it seemed so off to me this year.
     
    #5 scottakelly, Aug 23, 2017
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  6. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I'll have to do a side-by again this year, but what always seems to be the hallmark of Paulaner and H-P is a very dry character overall -- at least compared with Spaten that starts lightly sweet and finishes dry.

    I also get that similar dryness from Paulaner's Wies'n, though lighter in body.
     
    #6 steveh, Aug 23, 2017
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  7. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Just sampled both side-by-side and really couldn't tell a difference -- color, head, nose, mouthfeel, malt flavor.

    It wasn't until last year or the year before that I found them so identical, so I know they have been different, but not so much anymore.

    Here's my kicker -- both six-packs I have (Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr) have the same best-by dates of 04/18 -- meaning they were bottled in 04/17. If I can decipher the other codes well enough, it looks like they were bottled on different lines -- still, coincidence? I'd sure like to know. Wish we had a Paulaner and/or H-P brewery guy in our ranks.

    Edit: As I mentioned above, this is really no complaint because both beers are classic Amber Märzen and I wouldn't turn down either -- don't hesitate to buy either if you see them.

    2. Edit: As I finish both bottles I can pick out that the H-P may be a little less sweet up front than the Paulaner. This may take more research -- a dirty, thankless job, but... :grin:
     
    #7 steveh, Aug 23, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2017
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  8. RobHB

    RobHB Zealot (586) Aug 20, 2017 New Jersey

    Ayinger's was the best one for me last year so I'm looking forward to including it in my own tasting/sampling this year. For American Oktoberfests, Great Lakes is usually one of the best.
     
    #8 RobHB, Aug 24, 2017
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  9. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I bought two .5 liter singles at a reputable retailer last week -- both beers were heavy with diacetyl. :confused:
     
    #9 steveh, Aug 24, 2017
  10. Reemer686

    Reemer686 Crusader (451) Oct 13, 2014 Maryland

    Ayinger's Dunkel is my absolute favorite German beer. They most certainly have something good happening!
     
    #10 Reemer686, Aug 24, 2017
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  11. hilton8

    hilton8 Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2017

    Sounds so inreresting. Keep updating.
     
    #11 hilton8, Sep 22, 2017
  12. RobHB

    RobHB Zealot (586) Aug 20, 2017 New Jersey

    Had a local one last night I liked a lot. Lone Eagle in Flemington, NJ calls theirs "My Favorite Marzen." Good caramel and malt sweet/smoothness.
     
    #12 RobHB, Sep 22, 2017
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