Wednesday, September 30, 2020
7 Beers for Celebrating Oktoberfest
The German Reinheitsgebot, that wretched old law liming all beer to just four ingredients and sucking all of the originality out of the brewing art for centuries, is just the kind of ridiculous government regulation that could make the tasting of multiple Oktoberfest beers a tedious job. And certainly, two weeks of drinking largely classical marzens — almost all of which were named "Oktoberfest" — was, in some ways, an exercise in differentiating caramel malts.
But the level of quality that is going into producing such beers these days is evident in how many of them pull out subtle flavors that leave big impressions and make the drinking experience both an easy and delightful one. And while the number of brewers producing Oktoberfest seasonals is limited — let's face it, this centuries-old style can't compete with hard seltzers for mass appeal — those brewers both inside and outside Colorado have come up with a few gems worth lifting in your stein if you join in any of the holiday celebrations planned for this weekend.
The best on the market: Seedstock Oktoberfest is a classical offering with a nose and taste of slightly toasted bread and a peripheral sweetness that is balanced out perfectly by the presence of hops that add crispness to the body without any Americanized tastes. It is both refreshing and filling in a way that presents its flavor in perfect balance.
The most joyfully traditional: Odell Oktoberfest has everything you hope for in a beer accompanying your brat: slightly toasted malts with a pillow of caramel at the bottom, no booze, no burn and just enough lingering carbonation to give it pizzazz without distracting from the flavor. It's pure without an aftertaste, and it's eminently drinkable despite a 6.1% ABV level that's a little higher than most.
The one with the kick at the end: Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest surprises you with an underlying peppery flavor that is assertive in ways you didn't expect. But it's a very good kick to the body of two-row pale, Munich and Vienna malts, and you remember this beer long after it's gone - and want to come back for more of it.
The one with extra sweetness: New Image No-Toberfest (named after the lack of celebrations in this pandemic year) goes its own way, like most of this Arvada brewery's creations. It's all in with a sweeter, bigger body that is heightened by its extremely rich caramel nose. It's almost got a muscular quality compared to its marzen brethren, but in that buffness there are a lot of intriguing tastes.
For those wanting a touch of bitterness: Wibby Brewing Wibtoberfest has an intriguing bitterness in its malt, like the leftover burn from a roast that you don't see coming. The body is very easy, but the bite gives it staying power and makes it just a bit more interesting. You might not think this a remarkable beer, but it is pleasurable.
For those wanting a big dose of subtlety: Bierstadt Lagerhaus Oktoberfest could be described as both an easy and full sipper. There are Nutella-like overtones of tamed-down sweetness, but there is less residual malt taste on the back end here than in any other offering in this list. This one isn't likely to leave you gushing, like the brewery's Slow Pour Pils. But it is likely that you could down three of these without thinking twice.
For those who don't want alcohol: Athletic Brewing Oktoberfest tastes much lighter in flavor and body than any marzen with booze in it, and that is jarring in an unsatisfying way the first time you try it. But for those who don't want alcohol, this is actually a refreshing option. And upon repeated tastes, you can find the underlying flavor, even if this lacks the crispness of other offerings on this list.
Labels: Athletic Brewing, Bierstadt Lagerhaus, New Image Brewing, Odell Brewing, Oktoberfest, Seasonal, Seedstock Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Wibby Brewing
