Oktoberfests / Marzens

Same label- but what I recall about the appearance is more like the way you described the Winter Spezial (maybe a touch more amber than golden) than what you pictured there. I suppose I could be mistaken about that (although those reviews still strike me as curious), but the 'lighter' impact on the palate is something I remember much more strongly; I even commented on it at the time last year. At this point I am willing to wait for this year's version and see if it rings a bell.

 

The market research firms that monitor off-premise sales list "Samuel Adams seasonal" as the #1 craft "beer" since they typically gather those sales from UPC bar codes (thus "seasonal" rather than the individual labels because they all share the same barcode I take it), so there's no easily accessed figure for just their OctoberFest (< as they spell it) that I've ever found. I'd imagine it's easily the best selling US-brewed version.

 

I must admit that when I first tried the style, I didn't get it. I actually wrote a review or two I keep meaning to delete. I've since come to appreciate the more subtle flavors that lagers -- marzens in particular -- offer.

 

Don't look at the top 250 list. Problem solved. You'll then find that we like them just fine.

 

This, of course, sent me looking for your review(s). I think you should leave them up, personally. They could serve as a valuable testament to others who might initially be unable/-willing to search for the nuanced flavors in more subtle styles. Cheers for being so forthright about this.

 

SurlyFest is pretty awesome. I always forget to stock up and regret it after.

 

The top 250 doesn't mean shit. Plenty of styles are not represented on the top 250, but that does not mean they are looked down on or not respected. I think there is plenty of respect and general appreciation for the style but respect and appreciation does not land you on the top of any favorites list. People rate on a hedonic scale, if you want the gaudy scores you better have a beer that will make people step back and say "wow".

Let's be honest, talking about a well crafted, perfectly balanced lager is not going to hold many peoples attention. This is not because they don't appreciate such a beer, its because its kinda boring. We all know what types of beer garner hype and drive these forums. We could not confuse a lack of hype, conversation or scores with a lack of respect. When BA looks down on something, its much more obvious.

 

You are correct, as someone who receives said reports

 

I agree. Drinking 4-5 half liters of a well-crafted, perfectly balanced lager is much more interesting than talking about it -- especially with beers that get better the more you drink of them. Because as everyone knows: more is better.

 

Yeah, this tells me we weren't drinking the same beer -- the HB Maibock I've had I couldn't even reach to find a way to call the palate "light."

As I mentioned before, it really struck me more as an Amber Märzen than a Maibock, except maybe being a bit higher on the ABV scale.

 

Huh. Well- I look forward to trying that version, then .

Putting that aside- let me ask you guys who've enjoyed these types of beers in Germany a question. How does Einbecker Mai UrBock stand in relation to most other Mai Bocks or Heller Bocks? Is it about right, or on the hefty side?

 

Michael, maybe this is worthy of a thread on the Germany forum?

Cheers!

 

UmiZoomi Beer . . . AWESOME !

 

Sing in the same tune . . . Marzen's a lager we can drink em' together.

 

Definitely more heller with a touch of amber, but nowhere near as dark as HB, and on the lighter end of the body spectrum… but you have to find it fresh. Einbecker is like Augustiner in that it prices itself right into shelf withering.

 

As a retailer I can assure you that Spaten is, in fact, available year round for us in San Antonio and the other southern markets I looked into. Oktoberfest is classic Marzen and fantastic to boot. No reason for old stock.

 

It is fantastic. Well balanced. One of the best I have ever had. I actually think that Barktoberfest is in the same league though.

 

I had it for the first time this past season (GL recently available in NJ) and agree. This was my favorite one of this year's crop, and I'm a big fan of the style. I also like the Sly Fox one -- a close second.

 

It's more typical of what you would expect from a Maibock. Pale and very sweet, although when fresher the hops are still there and luckily keep it from being a 1-note. I've never had much luck with the Einbecker bottles once we initially started getting them out here in CO. The very first ones were good, but I'm not so sure the ones from that first batch aren't still the ones on the shelf.
Disregarding the oddball from HB (which is easily my favorite), the other Maibock that really impressed me was the one from Spaten. My wife and I + another Denver BA ended up trekking to a lesser known biergarten called Waldwirtschaft for some maybe 5-6 years ago. Maybe there was a little bit of the "Red Stripe effect" (and probably a little bit of inebriation) going on after wandering through a weird Munich neighborhood, but it was stupendous.

 

i allways look forward to late summer because i know octoberfests are on there way. my personal favorites are great lakes, summit, some fresh ayinger, spaten and dont forget the kaiser by avery.