Weihenstephan Oktoberfestbier - a tasty beer!

its great stuff

 

As far as I've seen (in Boston at least) is just these two. The label the last few years has just said "Festbier" though. Also a favorite of mine, incredibly drinkable.

 

That is indeed an excellent (and often overlooked) beer. Glad you found some in decent shape! Prost!

 

The Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier (yellow and blue label) seemed more akin to the Weisn style...the 5L kegs are a treat !

 

Yup- and I've been waiting on that one, but I'll also put in a suggestion for the store to get some of that Weihenstephaner. Can't have too much of a good thing.

 

Lowenbrau used to be the festbier style - don't know if they bring it in the US anymore - haven't seen any since the keg cans stopped coming quite a few years ago. I really miss that one.

Picked up a 12 pack of Warstiener Oktoberfest this weekend and it and it is the lighter festbier style. Cheap too at $12 for the 12 pack.

And what the heck happened to those Paulaner 1 liter cans that come with a mass krug - pretty sure the srp was supposed to be $6-7 without the mug and $7-8 with the mug - I started seeing a ton of them show in my area this winter/spring - and none under $15 with the mug. grrrrrr.

Edit: Just found a press release from last year - the version of the mug was supposed to be $11-12.

 

I grabbed a bottle because Id never seen Weihenstephaner Festbier. Poured it and enjoyed it, but I wanted it to be sweeter.

 

was it fresh? I love those beers but sadly when you see them still selling in august and they been there all summer you know its old as hell. Still some survive ok that long.

 

I'm drinking one right now and it's damn tasty. I love this style and I think the Weihenstephan version is spot on.

 

From my review of last year:

 

Perhaps you just needed to keep drinking to find the oomph .

 

Still selling? They're just starting to be re-introduced for the season around here. Are Florida retailers passing off year-old beer?

I keep an eye on the 3 or 4 different retailers I patronize -- there is definitely a season for Oktoberfests around here, only a few brands make a Märzen available year-round and they usually don't label it as Oktoberfest.

Within the last month Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, HB, Ayinger, Warsteiner (?) and various micros have started appearing on midwest shelves. I haven't seen any of them since last season.

 

Ahh -- but you know I'm not a beer drinker looking for that kind of oomph. Honestly, I thought the Weiehnstephan was just a little closer to a Helles than the HB or Paulaner Wiesn styles. Give me Köstritzer any day... If I could find it.

 

Happens every time with Ayinger, too (although that one is a lighter 'marzen' style beer)- the oomph comes on late into the first bottle and on into the second, "aah, there it is!". I just had some last night; too bad I can't indulge in more than that on a weeknight because it just keeps on getting better and better.

 

I have a fresh bottle of the Ayinger waiting for me at home. My trouble with the Ayinger is similar to Azorie's frustration -- the Ayinger seems to sit on shelves too long and can become stale fast. I've had sour gushers in the past that have been disappointing.

On the other hand, when it's fresh it's damn good. As malty-big as Spaten or Paulaner? Maybe not, but still has that more sweet character than the drier character of the Wiesn style Fest.

 

The ones I have are from a very recent display, and taste very fresh indeed. If they weren't so darn expensive I'd love to try going all afternoon with that one; maybe that's a reason why they linger on the shelves in some places ($4 a bottle around here). The beauty is, like I just posted, after a while it starts to come across as a lot bigger (and darker) than it initially seems. It's definitely made for the long haul, and fits nicely in between the Weisn style and more coppery marzens- pretty unique, as far as I could tell.

 

That's sort of how I've always felt about it -- though Spaten and Paulaner are looking a tad lighter this year too.

 

Ah fall is in the air at least it will be soon here in Chicago (today 94) Weihenstephen is great and one of my go to's
As for Munich style It is bascially the same bier I actually will be in Munich for Oktoberfest (my 17th time)
Cheers and enjoy fall

 

This thread is making me thirsty.................