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.