The Brü Revü – Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest is one of the highest rated traditional German Oktoberfest and for good reason. While the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a spot for me the Hacker-Pschorr may be the complete German Oktoberfest.  It poured a clear deep amber with a full white head.  The aroma was malt and malt only with caramel malt as the dominant aroma.  The taste followed suit with a perfect sweet malt that was fully committed to the nutty caramel malt profile with little to no hop presence.  It’s was a fully malt embraced beer that makes me want to be in the big tents in Munich hoisting a stein.  Hacker-Pschorr is excellent Oktoberfest that is a signature of the season.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Spaten Oktoberfest

The Spaten Oktoberfest is THE Oktoberfest beer for me.  On top of it signifying the classic Oktoberfest beer profile it was a gateway beer for me as well.  I started on the malty side of things and this Oktoberfest is a classic malt fest that sprang my taste buds into the wider world of beer.  So, the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a special place in my beer heart and I still love it to this day.  It poured a dark amber with a subtle off white head.  The aroma was all caramel malt with slight roasted malt, but definitely little to no hop presence.  The taste was an obvious malt forward profile with caramel malt and some nutty roastiness as well.  There was a slight spicy bitterness on the finish that keeps your attention.  While I’ll admit there is nothing over the top spectacular about this lager, it hits my taste buds in all the right spots.  It’s easy to drink with enough flavor to distinguish itself from a league of lagers and keeps me looking forward to Oktoberfest every year.

Spaten Oktoberfest

Beer Bums Meeting – October 2013 – Oktoberfest Beers

Ahh October and the return of fall, or soon I suppose.  This was our typical October/Oktoberfest theme and it never gets old, at least since it’s been a year.  I have yet to have the Ayinger and it was really good.  The Spaten Oktoberfest is one of my gateway beers, and it was great to revisit it.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen

Spaten Oktoberfest

Widmer Brothers Okto Festival Ale

Leinenkugels Oktoberfest

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest












 
Next Month, November – Red Ales

The Brü Revü – Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Brooklyn Oktoberfest is always an American example of the style that I look forward too every season. It poured a dark copper that had caramel and roasted malts on the nose. The taste was heavier on the roasted malts rather than the sweet caramel malts that are more common in the German versions. As it warmed the sweeter caramel flavors came through, but the roasted malts were dominant. Brooklyn makes great beers and their Oktoberfest is a good American version of the style.

Brooklyn Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Samuel Adams Oktoberfest

The Samuel Adams Oktoberfest is a surprisingly good interpretation of the style. I shouldn't be that surprised because Sam Adams obviously knows what it's doing, but for me a lot of their beers leave me a little, meh. The Oktoberfest poured a beautiful deep amber with a distinct malty aroma. The taste was a great malt mixture with a bit of the sweet malt and toffee flavors and a touch of that familiar Samuel Adams hop flavor. I really enjoyed this beer and it's malt profile hit all the right Oktoberfest notes for me. It's a widely available brew during the season and one that is worth picking up.

Samuel Adams Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Real Ale Oktoberfest

Real Ale Oktoberfest was my contribution to the latest Beer Bums Meeting and I chose it because it is easily the best local Oktoberfest.  I think the label pulled me in too, there's something about the silver, light blue and orange that caught my eye.  Enough of that though and on to the beer:  It poured a deep amber with plenty of malt on the nose which is in keeping with the style.  The taste had a loads of caramel malt with a slight nuttiness and a little bitterness on the end to keep it from being overly sweet.  The Real Ale Oktoberfest is an exceptional local take on the style and I found it highly drinkable and refreshing.  There is something about fall and when the weather changes that always makes me turn to the Oktoberfest’s and this brew from Real Ale really hit the spot.

Real Ale Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Hofbrau Munchen Oktoberfest

It's officially fall which is time for football and Oktoberfest beers. Hofbrau is one of 6 German breweries that supplies beer for the original Oktoberfest celebration in Munich and in Germany the term Oktoberfest applies only to those beers made by brewers in Munich proper Originally these beers were brewed in March using up the last of the previous fall's hops and malt and allowed to slowly ferment over the summer hence the name Marzen or March you see on many of the originals. Most Oktoberfest beers are malt focused with very little hop profile or bitterness. The Hofbrau is an excellent example of the style. It poured a lighter golden color than most German versions. The aroma is all caramel malt with a hint of earthy grassiness. The taste follows with a strong malt profile that has caramel and honey with a slight hoppiness in the middle that keeps it from being overly sweet. This was my first Oktoberfest of the season and I was thoroughly enjoying it. I got my start in craft beer on Oktoberfests and the Hofbrau makes a great example of the style.

Hofbrau Munchen Oktoberfest

Beer Bums Meeting – October 2012 – Oktoberfest Beers

October and Oktoberfest Beers with all American versions this year.  I really enjoy Oktoberfest beers so I liked all of these.

Harpoon Octoberfest
Real Ale Oktoberfest
Samuel Adams Octoberfest
Brooklyn Oktoberfest

Next Month, November – Pumpkin beers, for Thanksgiving

The Brü Revü – Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest

This is the second Rahr & Sons beer I have tried and now I am really impressed.  The Gravel Road and now their Oktoberfest have been solid and consistent beers that are making me pay more attention to Rahr & Sons.  Their Oktoberfest was part of our Bums Meeting and I remember it being a standout in that group, and it was even better when I returned to it.  The Oktoberfest pours a dark amber with a nice tan head and all the trademark sweet malt aromas of the style.  The taste is a good sweet maltiness with a slight hop and even a bit of Chocolate.  For a darker beer it was light on the palate and very clean and drinkable.  The Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest was an outstanding Texas Oktoberfest that I will eagerly await every fall.

Rahr & Sons Oktoberfest

 

The Brü Revü – New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale

I have always been a fan of New Belgium beers and as a larger craft brewery they make consistantly high quality beers.  The Hoptober is a newer beer for New Belgium and while it comes out in the fall with the other Oktoberfest beers it is not an Oktoberfest style but rather a hoppy Golden Ale.  Given the name you would expect its strong hop aroma and golden color.  It has a bright and clean body with a good hop taste and a hint of sweet malt for a good balance.  Overall the Hoptober is an easy drinking and sessionable beer that gives a nice contrasting option to the Oktoberfest styles available during the season.  The Hoptober is another fine offering from New Belgium.

New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale