The final Oktoberfest review for this year is the Firestone Oaktoberfest. Lets see where this California brewer comes in on the competition. Coming directly from their site.

“Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German Fest Bier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen and enjoy!.”

Appearance: I really like the dark blue label and the small shield with alot of detail. It looks intimidating and the Oaktoberfest really stands out.

Aroma: The aroma is very light, with notes of bread and slight malt character.

Taste: The taste is very light a clean. For a beer that claims to be aged in oak I get none of the characteristics. The malt is very subtle as well, I wish there was more here.

Experience: Very thin with a small amount of dry mouth after each sip. There is a slight spiciness but nothing too overpowering.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Firestone. This is a steam RPG, and obviously I went with the low hanging fruit of the name. But its a solid game that will go well with this perfect session Oktoberfest.

The Hacker Pschorr is the other grandfather to the Marzen style, coming from Germany. This beer adheres to the German purity laws and has a long and storied history. Coming directly from their site.

“Forbidden as it was to brew in summer, a stronger beer – the Märzen – was brewed earlier in March. It would finally be served at the Oktoberfest, under the “Heaven of Bavaria”. We have returned once again to the age-old recipe and recreated that gloriously smooth, honey-coloured piece of history from times gone by. And all is brewed with due reverence to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516..”

Appearance: Classic with the blue and white checkers and the German woman holding up a stein while riding a horse. Even the way the bottle is shaped makes you think this is going to be good.

Aroma: The aroma is heavy bready with touches of malts. Not too heavy but there is something here .

Taste: The taste is actually very clean with a little bit of caramel and some toasted malts. The taste won’t knock your lederhosen off but it will keep you coming back for more.

Experience: This is another prime example of a beer hall classic. Goes down smooth, not too heavy. I love it.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Pitfall. The classic platformer deserves a beer with a ton of history that will be easy to drink. Grab a six pack and avoid those pits!

The Warsteiner Oktoberfest is debatably the golden standard in the Oktoberfest style. Coming from Germany lets see how this one stacks up to the competition. Coming directly from their site.

“Celebrate German heritage with this authentic, German Specialty Beer. A truly German import brewed according to the German Purity Law, as are all Warsteiner beers, in limited quantities especially for Oktoberfest celebrations. This special edition has a well-balanced, mild and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol. So bring a bit of Germany with you to your next Oktoberfest celebration and bring a Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition..”

Appearance: Simple and classic like most of the label coming out of the Warsteiner brewery. I like how it looks like a German beer just from the label, it holds alot of history.

Aroma: The aroma is not that strong but what I got was malt, bready and a hint of caramel .

Taste: The taste is classic Marzen but its quite understated, caramel, malts, biscuits and a slight pepper finish.

Experience: This is what a Marzen is all about, easy to drink with a good mouthfeel. I can imagine myself in Germany now with some pretzels drinking boot after boot of these bad boys.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Galaga. Similar to this beer, Galaga helped spawn an entire genre and its a classic, it may be simple but damn is it fun. Grab a six pack and enjoy yourself.

The second entry this month from Sam Adams, we have their classic Octoberfest. Interesting that this is one of the few beers to spell Oktoberfest with a C. But I digress, this is the staple for fall beers from Sam Adams, so lets see how it stacks up. I have only had a few beers from this brewery so I am excited to see how this one turns out. Coming directly from their site.

“In 1810, the Oktoberfest tradition was born when Munich celebrated the Crown Prince’s wedding with a special beer and 16-day party. Our version of this classic style blends hearty malts for a deep, smooth flavor of caramel, creating a brew that’s perfect for the season, or whatever you’re celebrating. Smooth with a roasty sweetness, and light hop character..”

Appearance: Just like the FestBier from Sam Adams this can is very dominant in one color and that is orange. With there pumpkin beer following its a bit on the lazy side. Still, the can stands out, even if it is a bit simple.

Aroma: The aroma faint but what I do detect is burnt toast, caramel and malts.

Taste: The taste is spicy and sweet. Mostly malts and biscuit with the hop finish balancing it out nicely.

Experience: This is a very light Marzen with a dry and bitter finish. It is easy to drink and does not sit heavy at all, so you can go through 3-4 with no problem.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Streets of Rage of 3. This is the black sheep of the franchise so it needs a good beer to pair with its difficulty. Just don’t drink too many as you will need all of your whits to try and survive.

As a surprise entry in this months reviews I recently picked up the Two Roads Brewing Company’s fall mix pack. Todays review is their Ok2berfest, a cute spin on Oktoberfest. I have only had a few beers from this brewery so I am excited to see how this one turns out. Coming directly from their site.

“Modeled after the classic “Marzenbier,” Oktoberfest style that was traditionally the beer served at the Munich Oktoberfest. It possesses a smooth, toasty malt profile with a crisp character of traditional German hops.”

Appearance: Damn, Two Roads went all out with this can design. You have the blue checkered flag, a German man blowing into an alphorn and plenty of orange accents. If this doesn’t scream Oktoberfest then I’m not sure what does.

Aroma: The aroma is strong with biscuits and hops taking center stage. Once it warms I get notes of banana and clove which is a nice change of pace.

Taste: The taste is reminds me of a spicy apple juice. There is the typical malt and biscuit flavor, but I am sure that I taste apple juice with a spicy hop finish. Its an odd combo but I like it.

Experience: This is a very light Marzen with a dry and spicy finish. It seems that from the Marzens I have tried there is a split between dry or sweet finishes. I prefer sweet but this is fine.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers 2. This is an extremely expensive game, so I would suggest emulation. But it is a fun game that doesn’t get a ton of attention, probably due to its rarity and price. Grab a six pack sit down and enjoy yourself.

Now we are moving on to the critically acclaimed Great Lakes Oktoberfest. If I am being honest I have always enjoyed every beer I have tried from Great Lakes. However, I tend to find their reviews a little too high and a bit overrated, so lets see if their Oktoberfest is any different. Coming directly from their site.

“Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a real malt party, packed with toasty autumnal flavors perfect for hearty hoisting.

 FLAVORÜber smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).”

Appearance: I am happy that Great Lakes has changed their label. The original was boring and this one is colorful with a scenic view in the background. Huge improvement and I love to see changes for the better.

Aroma: The aroma is light but what I am able to detect is stale sweet bread with a malt finish . The aroma begins to pick up as it warms, but its never heavy.

Taste: The taste is mostly malts with hints of toasted bread. After the beer warms I got a little bit of clove, which is interesting for this style. Its not bad, but doesn’t feel like a Marzen.

Experience: This is one of the strongest Marzens I have tried (at 6.5%) and its surprisingly smooth. There is a bit of a bite and some dryness after the fact, but it drinks more like a 5.5% brew.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Halo 3: ODST. This game is loved but it has plenty of faults, especially how short it is. I think a strong beer with this game will enhance anyone’s experience.

The next beer we are looking at is from a Philly local brewery, the Unter Dog from Yards. Yards has always brewed quality beers and I have yet to be disappointed by anything in their collection, so lets see if the Unter Dog is just as good. Coming directly from their site.

“This Oktoberfest, we’re celebrating the city that never gives up with our new Märzen-style beer. Fetch a 6-pack today, sit back, and roll over with joy. Good boy!”

Appearance: The love this can, the German Shepard, the orange and tan, this is a great play on words too.

Aroma: The aroma is very strong with a ton of sweet malts and some notes of brown sugar sweet bread. I really love this one already.

Taste: The taste is a copy of the aroma, but it is very subtle. I wish the flavor profile was a bit stronger but what you get is still good.

Experience: The mouthfeel of the Unter Dog is interesting, it’s both flat and very creamy. Almost no bitterness or dry mouth after the can. I really like this style from Yards.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Call of Duty Ghosts. As soon as I looked at this can I thought of Riley and it was a no brainer. Ghosts is easily one of the most hated in the COD franchise and its a shame because there are alot of great aspects to this game.

The next beer we are looking at isn’t technically a Marzen. We are checking out the Sam Adams FestBier. This is a Festbier / Wiesnbier. Sam Adams does have an Oktoberfest beer, which we will get to later. So let’s see if what the FestBier is all about. Coming directly from their site.

“Malty w/soft sweetness, like a biscuit spread with honey.
A lighter lager with a higher ABV for bigger celebrations”.

Appearance: The baby blue is an interesting choice as it stands out for a beer can. However, this only comes in a variety pack, at least to my knowledge.

Aroma: The aroma is odd because it almost smells like stale bread and that’s when you get an aroma because it is super light.

Taste: The taste is very light with a slight sweetness almost like corn. There are some malt notes but I get no hop flavors at all.

Experience: Since this is only 5.1% I knew this would be a light beer, but the mouthfeel is incredibly thin. So you will be able to get through 4-5 of these bad boys, but only having one bottle is a bit of a disappointment.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Abzu. This is a chill under water game that lets you explore while trying to avoid sharks and other enemies. The FestBier can be easily drank for a few hours while you swim around and discover new areas.

The next brew we are going to look at is the Leinenkugels Oktoberfest. Jim and I have discussed Leinenkugel on this site before and even though many people talk down to this brand, we love it. So let’s see if they have what it takes to make a tasty Oktoberfest. Coming directly from their site.

“Our proud German heritage shines through in our homage to arguably the world’s greatest festival. A traditional Märzen-style beer, our Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest has a toasted malt flavor and subtle, spicy hop notes that make it perfect for celebrating fall in true German fashion. So let your steins runneth over.”.

Appearance: The classic Leinenkugel symbol over top a scenic German lake is a nice looking bottle. The colors are nice nd it is exactly what you would expect. The beer is surprisingly dark for a Mazen and the head is a thick tan with a decent amount of lacing.

Aroma: The aroma is thick and heavy with caramel and malts. As the beer warms up I get notes like candied apple’s. I really like what this beer is bringing to your nose.

Taste: The taste is just like a caramel apples but it is surprisingly thin with a toasted malt finish. The caramel apple flavor throws me off because it feels fake, but it does taste good.

Experience: Since this is only 5.1% I knew this would be a light beer, but the mouthfeel is incredibly thin. So you will be able to get through 4-5 of these bad boys, but only having one bottle is a bit of a disappointment.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Lakeview Cabin. This is an over the top violent and goofy 2D survival horror game available on Steam. This beer pairs very well because you have an interesting flavor mixing with a super light mouthfeel. Grab a six pack, rip off those pants and enjoy yourself.

The next brew we are going to look at is the Goose Island Oktoberfest. Goose Island has quickly become infamous with their barrel house collection beers, both with consumers loving and hating them. So let’s see how they do with a non-barrel aged brew. Coming directly from their site,

“Goose Oktoberfest is brimming with notes of toasted malt and freshly baked rye bread. This light-bodied German lager is clean and crisp with a fine noble hop character and mild earthy bitterness that is the hallmark of Hallertau hops. Raise a few steins of Goose Oktoberfest this fall and celebrate this time-honored tradition. Prost!”.

Appearance: While I am a big fan of the blue used for the can, this is a boring label. It suffers from the minimalist style that alot of breweries are going for. Once poured you get a huge khaki colored head with a decent amount of lacing.

Aroma: The aroma is primarily the caramel that you would expect from this style. Although I did notice some brown sugar once it warmed up. Nice aromatics from this one.

Taste: The taste is like a brown sugar apple, almost candied. Its interesting and surprising but the hop spiciness really comes through on this one. The flavor is all over the place, its not bad but it doesn’t feel like a Marzen.

Experience: This is a surprising Marzen, since there is alot of bitterness. Usually I expect a little bit of bitter, but man this one punches you in the face.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Anno 2205. This is a futuristic sim city clone that allows you to manage cities on Earth and the Moon. Grab a few cans and build away.

The next Oktoberfest brew we are going to look at is the Flying Dog Dogtoberfest. I have a hit or miss history with this brewery as they have made some really good beers and others I cannot stand. Let’s see how their take on the Märzen holds up. Coming directly from their site,

“Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients, this quintessential Marzen offers malty flavors of caramel and graham cracker sweetness with a finish more crisp and clean than you will be after a few days at d’Wiesn”.

Appearance: One thing you cannot say about any Flying Dog beer is that the label isn’t eye catching. The Dogtoberfest is no different, with two burly drunk men and an odd looking pooch this is another festive beer. Surprising that they chose yellow instead of orange, but still it looks great.

Aroma: The aroma smells like most Marzen style beers with malt in the front but this one has a little bit of a toffee in there too. Not too powerful but you do get some good notes in there.

Taste: The taste is interesting because all the typical caramel and malts are there but there is a subtle spiciness almost like a cinnamon graham cracker. Similar to the aroma its not too powerful but it is complex with the spicy and sweet balance.

Experience: This is a fuller bodied Oktoberfest with a bigger mouth feel. The finish is surprisingly dry which is not my favorite, but still I like the way this beer starts. After one bottle is doesn’t sit too heavy, which is always a good thing.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose All Walls Must Fall. This is a tech-noir tactical game set in a futuristic Berlin, where the Cold War never ended. There are a lot of tense moments in this game and you need a beer with plenty of complex flavor to complement what is happening on-screen. Grab a six pack and enjoy.

The PA Brewery that we talk about all the time, Yuengling. As the oldest brewery in the US Yuengling is synonymous with lager in the NE. Directly from their site,

“Yuengling is proud to offer our Oktoberfest as an homage to our German Heritage. Copper in color, this medium bodied beer is the perfect blend of roasted malts with just the right amount of hops to capture a true representation of the style.”.

Appearance: I am a sucker for the Yuengling logo, and this slight twist with the orange and brown looks great. Simple and classic looking, you can’t go wrong.

Aroma: The aroma threw me off. I detected stale bread, maybe it was an old beer, and some slight malts. But it was not very strong as the aroma only lasted for a small amount of time.

Taste: The taste leans much more towards sweet as it seems there is a bit more of malts in this beer. I like how much flavor is here, but it doesn’t feel like a Märzen.

Experience: This Oktoberfest sits a little too heavy for its own good and is surprisingly bitter, even though the taste doesn’t reflect the complexity.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Elevator Action for the NES. The cover reminds me of fall and that fact that its not a perfect game, but a unique arcade like experience lends itself to a beer you can sip for a while. Grab a six pack and avoid those agents.

“Friendship and camaraderie: the two keys to any festive event. And then there’s the beer. It should be full-bodied, yet infinitely smooth. Seductively malty, with a kiss of the hops for balance. This is our Festbier. Painstakingly crafted from German malts, decoction brewed for full flavor and carefully aged for depth of character. Subtly sweet with a delicate malt nose, our Festbier gains its impressive body from our use of all imported German malts and decoction brewing process. Gather with your friends for a festive moment of Victory!”.

Appearance: I love the addition of the boot, a staple in German beer drinking. Typical color scheme of blue and orange, but there is alot going on. This label makes me want to cheers in a beer hall with a huge pretzel in my hand.

Aroma: Strong aroma here with plenty of bready notes and thick malts. I love how heavy the aroma comes on, from both the pour and the bottle.

Taste: The taste is interesting because I get the caramel/malts but I also detect corn. Its tough to describe but its like a buttered roasted corn flavor backed by the breadiness you would expect. Very unquie, but not overpowering.

Experience: This Märzen has a little bit of a bite. While the initial mouthfeel is creamy and smooth there is a bit of a biting dryness when it is finished.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I chose Final Fight 3 for the SNES. This is my favorite Final Fight game and it is underrated. Fun, not super long and alot of replayability with some buddies. So grab a case and make a night of it.

“Grab a pack and let your fest commence! This rich Märzen lager features German malts for inviting aromas of honey and biscuity bread, flavors of caramel and graham cracker, and visions of sprawling beer tents. Smooth and balanced, Oktoberfest is here to celebrate.2021 Fall Seasonal”.

Appearance: The two colors you will see the most when looking for an Oktoberfest brew is blue and orange. Sierra Nevada went with the blue theme and I am not mad about it. With gold accents and the checkers style the can stands out. The beer pours a bit darker than typical Oktoberfest beers and retains a small tan head.

Aroma: The aroma blows my mind because I couldn’t smell anything. Usually I can pick up something, malts/breads/caramel/etc, especially from this style. I am not sure if I had a defective can but there wasn’t much here.

Taste: The taste mimics the aroma because it is incredibly light. The small amount of flavor I tasted was the malts, typical of the style.

Experience: Easily one of the smoothest Märzens that drinks more like a light lager. I could easily drink 3-4 of these bad boys and not miss a beat…until I have to pee.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I would suggest Revolution X for the SNES. This was an odd one off Aerosmith rail shooter that isn’t great. Similar to this beer it is easy to play, so grab a 6 pack and chug away as you listen to a great soundtrack.

Quick history lesson time. Celebrated every year, minus the past two due to COVID, in Munich Germany the first festival was established as a celebration of the marriage between the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The festivities lasted five days and included a horse race called Theresienwiese. This festival would be repeated every year which would include an agricultural fair and eventually temporary beer halls. Fast forward to modern times and this festival is celebrated in Europe and the US alike over a 15-16 day period, usually beginning in mid September. It is commonly reported that at every event over 2 million gallons of beer is consumed…this makes us proud.

Now lets talk about the beer itself. The Oktoberfest style is actually made up of various styles that are served during the festival. The dominant and most popular style associated with Oktoberfest is the Märzen. Interestingly enough Märzen translates to March beer which is now usually only served in September. To add to the confusion you may also see Dunkel’s, as well as other German lagers being labeled as Oktoberfest too. Either way you should be expecting a beer rich in malt with a caramel or biscuit flavored finish. Usually these beers go from 5.1% to 6% ABV. A great and easy drinking lager that is perfect for Fall weather and some warm Bavarian pretzels.

Now for this “contest” and I use that term lightly I will be comparing and ranking every Oktoberfest beer I can get my hands on. I have a solid list below, which will be updated with each review, but if I find anymore over the next few weeks I will gladly add more entries.

Be sure to follow along and comment on your favorite Oktoberfest, Prost!

Oktoberfest Beers to be ranked

• Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest: Score (4/5)
• Victory Brewing Festbier: Score (4/5)
• Founders Oktoberfest German-Style Marzen: Score (3.9/5)
• Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen: Score (3.8/5)
• Spaten Oktoberfest: Score (3.8/5)
• Neshaminy Creek Creekfestbier: Score (3.8/5)
• Warsteiner Oktoberfest Marzen: Score (3.8/5)
• Tröegs Oktoberfest: Score (3.7/5)
• Yards Unter Dog Oktoberfest: Score (3.7/5)
• Great Lakes Oktoberfest: Score (3.6/5)
• Two Roads Ok2berfest: Score (3.5/5)
• Sam Adams Oktoberfest: Score (3.5/5)
• Firestone Oaktoberfest: Score (3.5/5)
• Shiner Märzen-Style Oktoberfest: Score (3.5/5)
• Devils Backbone O’fest Lager: Score (3.4/5)
• Flying Dog Brewing Dogtoberfest Marzen: Score (3.4/5)
• Weihenstephaner Festbier: Score (3.3/5)
• Yuengling Oktoberfest: Score (3.3/5)
• Leinenkugel Oktoberfest: Score (3.3/5)
• Sam Adams Festbier: Score (3.3/5)
• Flying Fish Oktoberfish: Score (3.3/5)
• Funk Brewing Funktoberfest: Score (3.2/5)
• Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier: Score (3.2/5)
• Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Amber Marzen: Score (3.2/5)
• Goose Island Marzen: Score (3.1/5)

Submit your Tier List in the comments!

https://tiermaker.com/create/best-oktoberfest-beer-962416 (Retired)