Too late for Octoberfest?

Cheesefood · Sep 4, 2005

I'm hoping that if I start up an Octoberfest next week, it'll be done before the end of October. Is now too late to start thinking up Octoberfest beer ideas? My friend is coming in from out of town next weekend, so I was going to get him to help me since he's a big fan of beer and cooking. Unfortunately, the only bottles of Home brew I'll have for him are my last two bottles if IPA and my current batch of PBR (Pretty Bad Recipe) that I just bottled yesterday. So it'll be a bit green when I serve it, and it's not too good to begin with.

Sasquatch · Sep 4, 2005

Well, if you think that a beer needs about a week in primary, about 2 in second, and something like 3 in bottles, you've still got time. If you think it needs a really long time, then I guess you're a bit late. In Germany, of course, the Marzens are brewed in, well, in Marzen, which is about 6 months ago.

El Pistolero · Sep 5, 2005

Like Sasquatch said, Octoberfests are traditionally brewed in March, so it's a little late in that respect. But still, you've got seven weeks, which out to be plenty of time, as long it's not too "big", and doesn't have too much in it that will require a long time to mellow out.

Cheesefood · Sep 5, 2005

Hmmm...so it's Oktoberfest Light or no 'Fest. I'll create it next year.

Besides, I need to start on my X-mas Ale soon. Obviously, it can't be too big but I can come up with something tasty and refreshing in three months.

As for the 'Fest beer, I think I mmight try something fun and use half Scotch Ale yeast and half of an Octoberfest yeast to see if I can create a "Scotchtoberfest". Simpson's fans will appreciate the idea.