Background – From The Ayinger brewery themselves “Beer in Bavaria has had an exceptionally high value since time immemorial. It is not just the proverbial “liquid bread” alone, but rather also the social “cement” of our culture, in which values such as conviviality, community, honesty, reliability and solidarity with the homeland play a major role. The deep roots in our region, continuously deepened over generations, form the nutrient base of the Ayinger Brewery. The quality of our beer, consistently awarded numerous prizes for its excellence, is consequently not just based on the select ingredients of our region and the capacities of our brewing art. Equally important is the spirit, the mindset, the very values with which we have performed our craft for over 130 years.”

Appearance – Now this is what an Oktoberfest beer bottle should look like. A great depiction of people drinking from the steins and celebrating. I always appreciate more effort going into these labels. Once poured I was shocked because you get a clear burnt golden color and not the amber that you would expect from a Marzen

Aroma – This is one of the most robust aromas I have experienced when drinking any Marzen. It is filled to the brim with malts and caramel with heavy notes of sugar bread. I love this aroma and it may be my favorite one so far.

Taste: The taste follows the aroma. You have huge malt and caramel notes with an overall sweetness. Not as balanced as other Marzens but I found that I enjoyed it, maybe I am getting tired of any bitterness.

Drinkability – This is a silky smooth brew with barley any bite. The beer itself is medium bodied and does not leave too much of a sugar laced film in your mouth. After one bottle it is surprising that it sits kind of heavy, but still its a hell of an experience.

Overall –  I really enjoyed this brew. The aroma and flavor are both excellent and this one goes down smooth as hell. It is a must try if you like Marzens.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I decided to pick Ogre Battle The March of the Black Queen on the SNES. This is an overlooked real time tactical role playing game. If you like this genre then grab a six back of beer and prepare for an epic quest.

Background – From The Devil’s Backbone brewing themselves “Inspired by modern German Oktoberfest bier, O’Fest will make you want to hoist a stein at your local bier hall and say “Prost!” We hear that means “cheers” in German. It’s medium-bodied, golden in color, and tastes smooth, malty & bready thanks to the contemporary blend of malts and hops. You’ll love it whether it’s October or Oktober”

Appearance – Now this is what an Oktoberfest beer bottle should look like. A great depiction of people drinking from the steins and celebrating. I always appreciate more effort going into these labels. Once poured I was shocked because you get a clear burnt golden color and not the amber that you would expect from a Marzen

Aroma – The aroma is bright and crisp, like a fresh wake up with notes of malt and apple. While it may not be heavy in the aroma the notes that you do get are all pleasant. 

Taste: The taste is crisp with notes of malts and bread but it is very light. It almost surprises me how much it doesnt feel like a marzen. This reminds me of the festbier style lager, but either way it tastes good.

Drinkability – The O’fest is an extremely easy beer to drink with a dry finish. It goes down smooth and at 5.9% it may be a bit too smooth. I love brews like this that are perfect for a warmer September day.

Overall –  I like what this beer is going for, even at 5.9% this feels lighter than most of the Oktoberfest beers I have tried so far. If it is available near you then I suggest grabbing a 6 pack. 

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I decided to pick Lego Jurassic World. Something about this beer made we want to go outside, and hell why not be outside with some dinosaurs. The lego games never disappoint and with this beer you will be able to enjoy yourself that much more.

Background – From Flying Fish themselves “We present this German style lager in celebration of the season. To be enjoyed with the fest fare and especially when paired with lederhosen. ”

Appearance – Standing out from most Oktoberfest beer this bottle sports predominantly red with the traditional blue and white checker style. Flying Fish even includes their fish logo with a nice little German style hat. Once poured you will notice a light brown amberish clear brew with little to no lacing and a tannish head.

Aroma – The aroma through me off at first because I had heavy notes of stale bread. As the beer warmed I noticed hints of caramel and toasted malts. It takes a minute to grow on you and once it does its quite nice.

Taste – The taste is just like the aroma where it starts one way and finishes in a different direction. The initial pop of sweetness takes you for a surprise but as the beer settles and warms you get that toast malt and bread flavor. There is also a noticeable amount of spice with this one so it doesn’t quite feel like a traditional Marzen.

Drinkability – The Oktoberfish has a medium to light body with a high amount of carbonation. The finish is mostly dry with hints of sweetness left on your lips.

Overall – The beer is nice because it maintains an overall subtle balance, however the spice makes it feel less like a Marzen than I am use to. It is still good and perfect for any fall day.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I decided to pick bioshock Infinite. A solid game but similar to this beer it didn’t feel like a typical bioshock game. So pair these two outcasts and enjoy yourself.