Spaten Oktoberfest: have they killed it?

I have been able to score quote a bit of Spaten this year. Still hate the green bottles but it's tasting as good as I remember...I still prefer HB but this will do in a pinch

 

Double checking those dates?

Not exactly an apples to apples choice, and I like HB Fest, but I miss the Spaten Märzen goodness

 

I checked last night at work. We have 3 six packs left of it. The best by date is January of 23', so it probably is older stock, or even last year's.

 

You’ll know it’s this year’s because the code will start with “FU”.

 

Reading between the lines...... (or quote marks)

 

Still in Maastricht.... train to München tomorrow.....

Prosit!

 

Don't forget that Wurst stand!

 

Just to the left as facing the HP tent, correct?

 

You got it.

At least I hope you do! Have to wonder if it's still there.

 

Our local grocery store in Central Ohio is stocked with it. The supply stays because I think I’m the only one in town that drinks it.

 

Been my cry -- check dates!

 

I managed to find 5/23 six packs here in the Twin Cities at one spot thus far--but not my usual store for Spaten (Total Wine). The other spots I've visited had lots of 9/22 (Total Wine)

I was in Madison, WI and Onalaska (La Crosse), WI on Friday. Didn't find it at the spots visited in Madison (Steve's Junction Road, Woodman's Gammon Road and Total Wine).

I also stopped in to the Onalaska, WI Woodman's and no luck there either.

There was a big empty spot in the cooler at both of the Woodman's where the Ur-Märzen should've been. Nothing was sitting out with the other Oktoberfest displays either.

Feeling lucky I was able to find some of this season's batch.

 

I keep hoping the SE Wisconsin distros haven't written off the season like my local one did, and still put the Märzen on shelves when they can get it from the importer.

That said, my brother reported none at the Kenosha Woodman's today.

Who knows anymore. Been drinking the Spaten every season for about 30 years now and I'm pretty disappointed.

 

The distribution of Spaten in general seems very odd. Several years ago, I could always grab a six-pack of Spaten Helles (premium), but for the last couple of years, Spaten has disappeared. This year we have had more Oktoberfest choices than in the past, but no Spaten. Despite the green bottles, I have always enjoyed Spaten beer. I fondly recall drinking cans of Spaten in a train station in Munich back in 1994 thinking where to go next. Well, if Spaten had cans back in the stone age, we can't they have them now in the USA?

 

It really makes you wonder what the management at the brewery in Munich is doing--or what kind of direction they're getting from the higher ups. If they really did want to sell the brands, one could rationally assume that they would want to have their collective shit together.

 

While I agree with everything in your assessment, especially about Import Brands, don't forget that Spaten exports a different beer to the U.S. than they serve at the Fest.

But maybe this is another clue -- is the Märzen on the way out? Maybe we'll see Spaten Festbier from now on?

Be interesting to see if your connections mention anything about brewing for export.

 

I like Paulaner & H-P well enough, but they're not the same.

 

I read this while eating a scrambled egg and German sausage sandwich. I made a small little mess, involuntarily, just short of my plate. All's AOK now.....I'm a Spaten fan going way back.

 

I was in a bar Saturday night and had Spaten Okto on draft and I will probably be going to an Oktober Fest this Saturday at a bar that always has Spaten on draft. My beverage center has had most of the usual Oktober fest beers but has not had Spaten Okto in bottles.

 

It's been mentioned previously, but it does look like kegs got in country. There was a spot nearby me* that I heard had it a few weeks back -- and yeah, Märzen.

*Aaand... just found another spot advertising on draft -- and they usually offer crowlers & growlers! Forming a plan...

 

I just checked with the bar hosting the Oktoberfest in Albany. The bartender said Spaten Oktoberfest will definitely be on tap. He went on to say that the bar, Wolff's Biergarten which normally has Spaten Oktoberfest on tap year-round couldn't get it for a few weeks this summer due to supply chain issues and increased shipping costs.

 

Ignorance can be bliss when it comes to keg age. Maybe it will pay to follow your earlier advice but it's much harder to do with kegs. But even if you find out it's an old keg when you're there, I think you'll probably order it anyway over anything else. There are times when I go out for a specific beer... and even if I think it might be in bad shape, I get it anyway. I'm there to drink the beer regardless. Good luck.

 

When it comes to imported kegged beer, Dirty Harry says:

 

My plan is to ask questions, try a glass, then order the crowler.

But this place has a good, long rep for beer knowledge and handling.

Also, Algauer and Bell's are on tap... so there are options.

 

... or two.

 

Budget, man -- budget.

 

@bonsainut -- back in the early Okto season the beer guy at my local said he hadn't seen Spaten drops of any kind in a long time -- and Optimator is sold out at his store.

Really sounds like there's trouble getting it into the country -- whatever sign that might light up.

 

My bottles have 01.23 on them....not sure when they were bottled but they seem fresh and carbonated to me? That being said... they are now gone and I can't find anymore dangit

 

They were bottled sometime in January, 2022. Spaten bottles have a best-by date of a year from bottling.

 

Only 2 out of about 20 BevMos in a 30 mile radius show it in stock now.

 

Tell him to have Spaten stop using green bottles. And tell him they need to start canning the narzen (I guess that'll be for next season).

 

What @grantcty said -- and others have been finding May bottlings, which is typical for what's usually sent over for the season.

But I'd still take January bottling at this point!

 

I think Jess alluded to this merry-go-round above.

I got on that chat system a few weeks ago and they referred me to the local distro... who never responded to my email.

 

So around 9 months old then....they taste fine to me biut that's a bit disheartening.... That being said, it's the only German option local to me

 

Why is it disheartening? If it tastes good, it tastes good!

Or are you lamenting that you haven't seen new stock? I know the feeling.