Topic Archives: Marzens
Yuengling Debuts Oktoberfest This Month
Yuengling has always has it’s roots in German brewing, as the Yuengling family came to settle in Pennsylvania from Germany. This month, the brewery celebrates their German heritage by releasing Oktoberfest their first ‘fest’ beer.
Yuengling will be holding an Oktoberfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania September 29th – October 2nd (Tickets), but the beer starts shipping soon. Octoberfest is draft only in quarter and half barrels. Yuengling describes their newest beer:
The copper-colored Oktoberfest is described as “a medium-bodied beer with a perfect blend of roasted malts.” In other words, it’ll pair nicely with any wienerschnitzels and bratwursts you might be grilling up this summer and fall.
Style: Marzen
Availability: Draft only, all markets where Yuengling is sold
?? ABV
Update October, 2012. Also now available in 12oz bottles.
SEASONAL RETURN: Point Oktoberfest
Stevens Point Brewing’s marzen finds it’s way here from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. This fall lager won a silver medal in the World Beer Championships in 2008.
Commercial Description:
Point Oktoberfest is an authentic Marzen Style Lager beer, a style reminiscent of the beers originally brewed for the first Oktoberfest Celebrations in Germany during the early 1800’s. Craft brewed using Hallertauer Hops and sweet Vienna roasted malts result in a full flavored, finely balanced beer brewed in celebration of the upcoming season.
Beer Rundown:
Hops: Tettnanger, Perle, Hallertau
Malts: 2-Row, 6-Row, Crystal, Vienna, 2-row Munich
Taste Expectations: Bready malts with light spice. Malts are sweet and linger a bit, without a heavy mouthfeel.
Availability: 12oz/6pks. Draft. August – October 31st, seasonally.
5.15% ABV
15 IBU’s
SEASONAL RETURN: Lakefront Oktoberfest
Following on the heels of Lakefront Brewing’s “Pumpkin Lager” is their other fall lager offering – “Oktoberfest”.
Commercial Description:
This traditional lager is brewed with generous amounts of Munich malt, giving it a wonderful orange hue with a rocky, off-white head. Light hop aromas balance out a slightly floral nose from the German lager yeast. Balanced hop bitterness offsets the substantial malt body, while the lager yeast adds a subtlety of flavor that makes this a great rendition of a German classic. Prost!
Taste Expectations: Malty of course – sweet caramel malts. You’ll also pick up a little bread & biscuit. A good solid American marzen.
Food Pairings: German food! Sausages and pretzels, buttery spaetzle or creamy soups.
Availability: 12oz/6pks. No draft specified.
5.7% ABV
CASK ALERT: Terrapin Pumpkinfest
Tapping Friday , October 1st is Terrapin’s newest seasonal – Pumpkinfest.
Quick Description:
Brewed with a mix of Vienna and Munich malts, and Vanguard and Hallertau hops. Spike Buckhowski (Head Brewer/ Co-founder) chose these particular hops, because they have a more bitter character and less aroma. In addition to these malts/hops, Spike whipped up a whirlpool of spices, including ginger, allspice, and ground clove. (Starting to sound like pumpkin pie?) The spices are heated, but not boiled. Boiling the spices raises the potential for unwanted flavors to enter into the brew. The coup de grace of this fest ale is the 1 lb of pumpkin used per barrel.
6.1% ABV
Taco Mac Metropolis – 10/1/10, 6pm
933 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
BEER SPOTLIGHT: Avery’s “The Kaiser”
It’s marzen season. Fall is technically here, and thus it’s malty lagers follow with it. There is an oktoberfest/marzen beer that is a stands out each year. It’s a big one, which is nothing new to Avery Brewing (Boulder, Colorado). This aggressive beer bears the name “The Kaiser”. This is no 5% lager.
Commerical Description:
The Kaiser sonce said, “Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world.” If the Kaiser and his significant other had tipped this bottle, we’d all be “sprechenden Deutsch!” We took all that is good in a traditional Oktoberfest – gorgeous, deep copper sheen, massive malty backbone and spicy, floral, pungent noble hops – then intensified each into this, an Imperial Oktoberfest.
Beer Rundown:
Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
Hops: Magnum, Sterling, Tettnang, Hersbrucker
Malts: Two-row barley, Vienna, Munich 10L, m-100, aromatic
Taste Expectations: Sweet toasty bready malts. Caramel malts, slight twinge of brown sugar. Nice and grainy too. Dark fruits, slight hint of raisin. It’s 10%, but the alcohol doesn’t make a star appearance.
Food Pairings: Fall soups, chicken, turkey, brats, dried meats, light cheeses.
Availability: Vintage dated 22oz Bombers. Limited draft. Brewed Aug 1st seasonally.
10% ABV
Harpoon Octoberfest
Fashionably late to the party is Harpoon Octoberfest. First brewed by the Boston, Massachusetts brewer in 1990, this fall lager has been brewed for 20 years this year.
Commerical Description:
The character and complexity of Harpoon Octoberfest comes from the malt and hops. When looking at a freshly poured Harpoon Octoberfest, you will notice the garnet-red color with a firm, creamy head. The beer’s color is from a blend of Munich, chocolate, and pale malt. The thick head results in part from wheat malt added to the grist. The hop aroma of this beer is not overpowering but it is present. Tettnang hops add a subtle spice nose that blends with the malt character. This beer is full-bodied, smooth, and malty. Willamettehops are used to provide a gentle bitterness and to balance any residual sweetness present from the malt. The finish is soft and malty with a mild bitterness.
Beer Rundown:
Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
Taste Expectations: Toasty malts. Caramel. Bread. Finishes with a nice hop bitter finish.
Food Pairings: Pork, Sausage, German fare.
5.5% ABV
30 IBU’s
SEASONAL RETURN: Victory Festbier
Making it’s seasonal fall return is Victory Brewing’s Festbier (Downingtown, PA). Festbier an all German ingredient fall lager that won a gold medal at GABF in 2007.
Commercial Description:
Seductively smooth, this medium-bodied amber beauty is akin to the great Oktoberfest beers of Munich. All German malts and whole flower European hops make this lager true to style.
Beer Rundown:
Style: Oktoberfest/Marzen
Hops: German Whole Flower
Malts: 2 Row German Pilsner, Munich, & Vienna
Availability: 12oz/6pks. Draft. Seasonal – Septemeber – November
5.6% ABV
Photo Credit: @Munkeyspasm
