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Marzen / Oktoberfest Discussion

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Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Lighter Festbier styled beer, and lots of grainy pilsner notes. Very much like a Munich Helles with a bit of tannin and a touch of toasted malt character, almost no sweetness, not my jam.
 
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Bells Oktoberfest

Toasted / caramel / biscuit like malt character, light sweetness, mild bitterness, extremely drinkable in that I could drink a few pours of this one without getting worn out. Just about perfect for what I was looking for tonight, but not the most complex / expressive variation on the style.
 
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BuckleDown Oktobefest

Very similar to the Bells version, but with a bit more melanodin malt character and a bit more sweetness. Probably my favorite Chicagoland version at the moment, not much I can critique about this example. Toasted / nutty / caramel malt character, bready malt backbone, light hopping, clean fermentation profile, and super fresh.
 
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Great Lakes Oktoberfest

Good but nothing oustanding compared to the previous 5 I had tried this evening. Sweeter with more caramel malt character, sweeter finish, and a slightly off finish that was bitter and cloying. Want to revisit on a fresh session, but probably my 2nd least favorite of the night.
 
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Imperial Oak Das Boot

Toasted / nutty / caramel and melanodin malt character, light hopping, clean finish, but it didn't clear like it should have. Only as minor issue (appearance), but it takes something away from the clear character of the other 5 I had tonight. Love my local brewery, and I know it will only get better next year.
 
This thread delivers. Love it. Inspired me to go buy a smattering of German and German-style beers. First up was

Love the simplicity of this beer. Light sweetness and clean finish.
Next up....

Crisper than the Weihenstephaner, likely due to Sierra Nevada's love for hops.
 
For some reason I've really dropped off on this style. Maybe I got too craft beer snobby but I think it's because the local options winnowed down to a lot of terrible local examples or the same couple imports on tap, which are usually my least favorite.

The local German grocery store sometimes carries Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, which is my favorite, but they get like two six packs and they go almost right away. Nobody else carries it for whatever reason.
 
For some reason I've really dropped off on this style. Maybe I got too craft beer snobby but I think it's because the local options winnowed down to a lot of terrible local examples or the same couple imports on tap, which are usually my least favorite.

The local German grocery store sometimes carries Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, which is my favorite, but they get like two six packs and they go almost right away. Nobody else carries it for whatever reason.

Luckily, Hacker-Pschorr is easy to get here. I think it's the best, and it always flies under the radar. I love Ayinger, too, but H-P just scales back the sweetness a hair. Definitely not Festbier territory, but a tad drier.

I crushed some Weihenstephaner Festbier this past weekend. That one is always great to get to before the light-colored bottles take their toll.
 
I always liked Great Lakes Oktoberfest, but this year it has been my favorite thus far. Picked up a sixer of Sly Fox Oktoberfest which is always a favorite. Will report back after I do quality control testing.

GL was on point this year. Sweetness was dialed back just enough this year, it seems.
 
So much love for that SN Oktoberfest. Turns out we're not getting it here :oops:.
 
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