North American Oktoberfest vs German Oktoberfest

[Oleson M.D.]

Imagine my surprise (shock?) when I sat down in the Paulaner restaurant, in Frankfurt, and ordered their Festbier. I expected it to be a Marzen style, but it was light in color, and more in the style of a Pils or Helles, with a little more malt profile.
It was a very good beer, much better than the Oktoberfest examples from the breweries on this side of the Atlantic.
There was a time when the Boston Beer Companies O-Fest was purchased every fall. But no more.

 

[DarrellQ]

For my taste anyway, I find that the Octoberfest made by Great Lakes Brewing more closely resembles the Octoberfest beers that I have had in Munich. Thoughts?

 

[PINbeer]

If you don't know Mean Brews, check him out. Recently brewed his Fest Bier recipe. Delicious!

 

[96Illini]

Great thread ladies and gentlemen, I've enjoyed reading / learning. Our brew crew just made a Mocktoberfest Vienna "lager" with this recipe. Bottled this weekend so we can drink during October. The flat beer tasted good while bottling. I may have a problem, but I can never resist drinking a few warm, flat beers on bottling day.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Saw a Gold Medal winning beer recipe, from the GABF, two years ago. It was 80% Pils, 12% Vienna, 8% Munich.
This should get you into the true Festbier class.
60 / 20 / 20 will not get you there.

 

[BrewersVocation]

If you don't know Mean Brews, check him out. Recently brewed his Fest Bier recipe. Delicious!

Yes!! Finally! Last night I had Warsteins Festbier and Breckenridge Octoberfest. The Festbier was on another level, very pale, super drinkable, less sweet.

 

[Broothru]

Can't add much except the year's Founders Oktoberfest German-style Marzen (15 pack of cans) was very disappointing. It had a heavy pilsener element on top of too much malty caramel. Normally I applaud "the 15 pack is the new 12 pack". Not this time

That's always been my impression of Marzen. Never liked them, but I just realized from @monkeymath 's comment that I never saw a Marzen in Germany on my many trips there.

Half Pils, half Dunkel of this Americanized beer is an apt description. I like a good Pils, and an occasional Dunkel is enjoyable as well, but this New World variation on a theme of Festbier just doesn't light my fire.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Wonder if it's actually Americanized, or just archaic in Germany (last I was in Germany I was late single digits and too young to have any direct experience or recollection), and had a resurrection internationally. Because the American "Oktoberfest" and the German Marzen that is imported into the US are seldom the same thing.

 

[Oleson M.D.]

Want to brew a good, award winning Festbier?

 

[Broothru]

Want to brew a good, award winning Festbier?
View attachment 744018

Nearly identical to a recipe for Festbier I've planned on brewing for some time, but "life" keeps getting in the way. Mine uses Weyermann in place of Ireks malts, and I plan to use Augustiner (-860) instead of WLP-830 Weihenstephan 34/70. Otherwise spot on.

Note to self: brew more, surf Homebrew Talk less.

 

[Lefou]

Imagine my surprise (shock?) when I sat down in the Paulaner restaurant, in Frankfurt, and ordered their Festbier. I expected it to be a Marzen style, but it was light in color, and more in the style of a Pils or Helles, with a little more malt profile.
It was a very good beer, much better than the Oktoberfest examples from the breweries on this side of the Atlantic.
There was a time when the Boston Beer Companies O-Fest was purchased every fall. But no more.

Agreed.
My former "go to" retailer couldn't sell the 28 bottle cases of Crystalbombs he had in stock last year, even when he dropped the sale price. A couple years back a guy ordered some O-fest Wiesn and neglected to pick up the cases the distributor dropped off. I saw them and promptly took the majority home. This past year I couldn't find any Wiesn, even after I asked around in several local shops. Evidently the distributors weren't carrying the stuff, so I compromised with the Hofbräu version instead.
The price for a case bordered on the ridiculous ... nearly $48 plus tax. THIS IS WHY YOU HOMEBREW!

 

[z-bob]

My favorite is Hoffbrau's Oktoberfestbier. And it happens to the the lightest color and highest ABV of the lot. (Costco sells it every September) I think it's really a Helles Export, but maybe even a little stronger. It's dangerously drinkable for 6.3%.

If you can get Leinenkugel's , look for this year's Collaboration Lager. (they don't call it an Oktoberfest) It also says Hofbrau Munchen on the label. It tastes to me like a real German festbier made with American hops, but at least they used the right amount of hops. It's darker than the Hofbrau O'festbier; about the same as last year's Paulaner version.

 

[Bobby_M]

My biggest issue with small American breweries is the constant over hopping of the style. I just had one in a taproom that had to be 50-60 IBUs.

 

[bellhp]

I'm drinking Paulaner Marzen Oktoberfest right now ... I picked it up on the way home from work due to the fact that I can no longer find Sam Adams octoberfest for sale locally I gotta say if this is representative of German Marzen/Festbier , I'll take the American style "Crystalbombs" anyday over this. Just my opinion but Sam Adams Octoberfest was a damn fine beer this year. I will be attempting to replicate this style soon , just received a variety of grains and hops in the mail today to test out my own "mocktoberfest" . Lastly Bobby, Americans over hop everything lately I agree ... totally ruined IPA's for me . Guess that's why i'm drawn to the sweeter/ maltier styles lately.

 

[TheMadKing]

My biggest issue with small American breweries is the constant over hopping of the style. I just had one in a taproom that had to be 50-60 IBUs.

Well when you have 20% crystal malt you gotta counteract the sweetness somehow!

 

[Oleson M.D.]

My biggest issue with small American breweries is the constant over hopping of the style. I just had one in a taproom that had to be 50-60 IBUs.

Grab a 6 pack (or a keg) of Alstadt Oktoberfest. One of the best examples available this side of the Atlantic. While they claim it's a Marzen, it is much more like a Festbier.
Very, very good.
And they won a Gold at this year's GABF for Munich Helles.
https://www.altstadtbeer.com/

 

[wsmith1625]

I made this recipe from AtlanticBrewSupply and it turned out great. I used WLP820 rather the their recommended yeast and it came out delicious. Much dryer than all the other marzens I've sampled this year with all the flavor.

RECIPE STATS
Est. SG: 1.055
Est. FG: 1.017
IBU: 23
SRM: 9.9
ABV: 5.0%

INGREDIENTS
9 lbs Munich Malt 8L
1 lb German Pilsner Malt
0.25 lbs Caramunich I

1 oz Liberty Hops
1 oz Tettnang Hops

WLP830 German Lager Yeast or BRY-97 Dry Ale Yeast

https://www.atlanticbrewsupply.com/March-On-Marzen-All-Grain-Kit_p_2850.html