leinenkugel oktoberfest bottle

last updated 11/16/2015: Closed for 2015!

Oktoberfest-style (or Märzen-Oktoberfestbier) beers have an interesting backstory. Basically, these beers were made in March and stored carefully so that there would be good, bacteria-free beer all summer. At the end of summer, when all of the new hops were ready to be kegged, brewmasters had to quickly empty the remaining beer to make room for the new brew. What a task! I guess that was the birth of the Oktoberfest.

bbb oktoberfest
Broad Brook’s Oktoberfest

According to the German Beer Institute, Oktoberfest-style beers: “are always well-aged, sometimes for three to four months… usually deep amber in color.” The alcohol content ranges between 5 – 6.2%. Oktoberfest beers are usually among my favorites, and I’m starting to understand that it’s that aging/maturity of the beer that I am looking for the most. It reminds me of the explanation of aging rum in different types of barrels to get different woodsy/earthy flavors into the brew.

In the first few weeks of September, I’ve sampled several different Oktoberfest style beers, and I plan to sample many more before the season is done! I’ve tried at least 12 oz of all of the Oktoberfests on the list below. I’ve ranked them by my favorite.

It was tough to rank these! There are not a lot of differences in taste between many Oktoberfests. I’ve noticed that some are lighter and a little sweeter, while others are a little earthier. From the list, I wouldn’t drink Sam Adams again this year.

  1. Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest (bottle)
    I debated with my husband on whether to give this the #1 slot or not. There are a few reasons why I decided that it deserved the top slot. It’s an amber marzen, and it was brewed in Munich, so it follows the German brew laws. I found it to be simple and very clean. This year-round Oktoberfest (shenanigans!) is worth trying.
  2. Back East (draft/can)
    At first, I gave the top spot to B3, but then I tried Back East. It’s right in the middle of the sweet and earthy beers, and I find it to be a good Oktoberfest beer. They are very close, but I think I like the slightly more earthiness of Back East.
  3. Berkshire Brewing Company (bottle)
    Holy Oktoberfest! I have to pause before sending this straight to first place just yet – Back East is fantastic! However, I tried this while on the road. BBC’s Oktoberfest made it all the way to a specialty beer shop in downtown Boston. It’s a delicious example, so much that I plan to head up for a visit to the brewery and try it on draft.
  4. Broad Brook (draft/can)
    It may not be number 1, but it’s still a top contender. It is slightly sweeter than most Oktoberfest-style beers on this list. I was drinking it more until the 6-Balls altbier came out.
  5. Sierra Nevada (bottle)
    I’ve had this a couple times now, and it doesn’t disappoint. I chose it over Hooker at the store. The only reason this beats Harpoon is because of the earthiness of the beer. It tastes almost like they age it a little longer in whatever gives it that mature, earthy/woodsy flavor.
  6. Harpoon (draft/bottle)
    In a bottle, this wasn’t bad, but it had none of the earthiness that it turns out I like. However, what a difference going to Harpoon Brewery makes! Having it on draft really changes the beer. I still feel it was missing that earthy flavor, but it was one of the most mellow, drinkable of all the Oktoberfest beers.
  7. City Steam O’fest 2015 (draft)
    Maybe it was the ambiance, but I loved this Oktoberfest! It was on the lighter, sweeter side. I had this one in November, when I began to gravitate to sweeter Oktoberfest beers. I didn’t love it enough to move it higher than Harpoon, but it was close. Some in our party may have been a little hungover, which may have impaired the overall appeal slightly.
  8. Jack’s Abbey (bottle)
    I ordered this at a great italian restaurant in Boston. It was a classic Oktoberfest. I have a feeling it deserves a higher placement on the list, but I’d like to try it again with different food.
  9. Hooker (bottle)
    I dropped this below Sierra Nevada. It’s a little too earthy for me, but I’d like to try it on draft to be fair.
  10. Two Roads (draft)
    This Oktoberfest tasted more like a pumpkin-Oktoberfest fusion. I rarely like pumpkin beers, but I found this to be an excellent tradeoff. It had an all-spice finish… maybe some hints of gingerbread. While normally not my thing, I found the blend to be pretty good overall. I can’t put it higher on the list, because I feel it strayed too much from a truer Oktoberfest beer, but anyone with appreciation of both styles should try this.
  11. Leinenkugel (draft/bottle)
    I did enjoy this more than any other Leinenkugel beer (not a favorite). Like all their beers, I found this one to have a little too much sweetness and it was a little too citrusy for me. If a 12 pack were on sale for $12.99, I would buy it. It just doesn’t really scream Oktoberfest to me.
  12. Sam Adams (draft)
    I was not a fan. I found it to be sour, and it was missing flavors. I found it to be too dark for this style of beer.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *