Classic Beer Styles: Oktoberfest/Marzen

[Edcculus]

Its about time I added another style to our continuing beer education course

With the upcoming festivities, I thought I'd do Oktoberfest.

First, a few links:
Style Guidelines for Oktoberfest
Homebrewtalk.com wiki entry for Oktoberfest
The Jamil Show - Oktoberfest


History of the style
Before the days of refrigeration, European brewers brewed through the cooler seasons since it was too hot to control fermentation temperatures in the summer. The origin of Oktoberfest beer is in the Marzen, or March beer. This was typically the last beer brewed in the season and aged, or lagered until the fall. Oktoberfest as we know it was first brewed in Vienna in 1840. Spaten Brewery also brewed a similar beer. Oktoberfest is similar to Vienna Lager, however it uses a portion of Munich malt for a darker, maltier profile

Tasting This Beer
Originally, Oktoberfest was a low hopped malt focused beer. Today, the style seems to be getting lighter and dryer. What is served at Oktoberfest celebrations is, according to Jamil Zainasheff, more of a strong Munich Helles. Many breweries have begun producing a beer more true to its heritage.

Oktoberfest has an initial malt sweetness and a medium to low hop presence. Some toastiness is present, but any caramel flavors are inappropriate. This is not a big beer. While it is malt focused, it should be low enough in alcohol and dry enough to drink in quantity. e


Commercial Examples
There was already a thread about commercial examples. My favorites are Paulaner, Ayinger, Spaten and Great Lakes.


Resources
I pulled heavily from all the links at the beginning of the post. All citations come from:

Mosher, Randy. Tasting Beer. An Insiders Guide To the World's Greatest Drink. Storey Publishing. [/QUOTE]

[bigred90gt]

Oktoberfest is one of my favorite styles. Spaten makes a great Oktoberfest.

[TexAg '01]

Another good one is the Paulaner. Also, for those near Houston, St. Arnold's makes a fantastic Oktoberfest.

[stobes21]

Oktoberfest/Märzen is an excellent style that is light enough not to turn off those accustomed to American macro brews but still complex enough that beer snobs can truly enjoy it.

I had an excellent rendition by Schlafly (the largest American owned brewery in St. Louis) at a pub a few blocks from where it was brewed. I haven't had enough of the style to compare it to other versions but I know it stands well on its own.

[bigred90gt]

Another good one is the Paulaner. Also, for those near Houston, St. Arnold's makes a fantastic Oktoberfest.

St Arnolds Oktoberfest is a pretty good brew. I like the St Arnolds brews, with the exception of the Lawnmower. For some reason, that one just does not go down well with me. Amber and Brown, in my opinion, are their best offerings.

I still have not gotten around to taking a tour of the brewery. I would love to, just havent had the opportunity.

A bit off topic, but have you been to TwoRows in Rice Village? What about BJ's in Clear Lake? Both excellent brew-pubs with great brews and good eats too.

[VonMises1881]

I too like Oktobers, just finished a Great Lakes and it was primo. However, one drawback I have with the style, as well as a few other styles I can think of, Hefeweizen being the first, is that there isn't a lot of wiggle room for brewers. Once you've had one good one, in my opinion, you've pretty much had them all. There are exceptions to every rule of course but unless you get into an "Imperial Marzen" or some such monster, then they're pretty much all the same.

Now some would say that's great, the style is what it is and we shouldn't be trying to turn it into a hop bomb or some imperial 10% dreadnought, and I have a hard time disagreeing with them. The only thing is when I'm out at a pub paying for something to drink I want to get a little more adventurous and Marzens don't really offer that opportunity.

Now that I've unloaded my wet blanket, I will exit.

[Edcculus]

Great insight Von. I think this is somewhat of the reason it is more of a seasonal brew now.

I'll try to make the next one a true humdinger. Something that everyone hopefully has an opinion on. The one beer that lends itself perfectly to the American ideal of excess, IPA! Lucky for me, they just did an entire edition of Zymurgy dedicated to IPA's!

[TexAg '01]

St Arnolds Oktoberfest is a pretty good brew. I like the St Arnolds brews, with the exception of the Lawnmower. For some reason, that one just does not go down well with me. Amber and Brown, in my opinion, are their best offerings.

I still have not gotten around to taking a tour of the brewery. I would love to, just havent had the opportunity.

A bit off topic, but have you been to TwoRows in Rice Village? What about BJ's in Clear Lake? Both excellent brew-pubs with great brews and good eats too.

The lawnmower does take a little getting used to. they describe it as a Kolsch but it seems a little tough. My favorite of theirs is a toss up between the Spring Bock and the Okto. the tour is definitely worth the $5. Plus, they are moving downtown this year so I'm sure everything will go up once they are in the big new fancy place.

Yep, been to both! Actually, several of the BJ's but the Clear lake one is the only one that brews. Actually, St. Arnold does a good bit of the BJ's brewing. Two Rows I have only been to once and that was several years ago. I can't seem to stay away from the Gingerman long enough to get to TwoRows.

[bigred90gt]

The lawnmower does take a little getting used to. they describe it as a Kolsch but it seems a little tough. My favorite of theirs is a toss up between the Spring Bock and the Okto. the tour is definitely worth the $5. Plus, they are moving downtown this year so I'm sure everything will go up once they are in the big new fancy place.

Yep, been to both! Actually, several of the BJ's but the Clear lake one is the only one that brews. Actually, St. Arnold does a good bit of the BJ's brewing. Two Rows I have only been to once and that was several years ago. I can't seem to stay away from the Gingerman long enough to get to TwoRows.

The Gingerman is a great little joint. My uncle and I used to go eat at TwoRows, of course enjoying the brews as well, then walk across the street to Gingerman, and some of the other bars (none of the others stood out like Gingerman, so I dont recall their names).

[rabinkapur]

The Munich Beer Festival, also known as Oktoberfest.St Arnolds Oktoberfest is a pretty good brew. I like the St Arnolds brews, with the exception of the Lawnmower. For some reason, that one just does not go down well with me. Amber and Brown, in my opinion, are their best offerings.


www.pillow.co.uk

[Rushman2112]

This was me at the Oktoberfest in 2006... What a great week, drinking beer every day and eating porky products...

[trot1984]

I've had the joyful experience of going twice. Augustiner had the best bier and Hacker-Pschorr had the best party tent.

[Rushman2112]

I've had the joyful experience of going twice. Augustiner had the best bier and Hacker-Pschorr had the best party tent.

Hmm... I seem to remember going into the Hacker tent but little recollection of leaving...

[Lucius]

Heavy Seas makes a very nice Marzen, although much better on tap than from the bottle. Seem to remember enjoying Brooklyn's Oktoberfest as well, but obviously the wrong time of year to get your hands on that.

Formerly know as Clipper City MarzHon before the brewery did a whole branding change.

Haven't had Flying Dog's. Despite being a local brewery I've been very disappointed with all but one of their offerings that I've tried.

[acesn8s]

Victory's Festbeir is a nice Marzen. Like Bigred90Gt, I like Spaten's marzen as well. I just wish they used a brown bottle. I've had some skunky bottles in the past.

[Edcculus]

Victory's Festbeir is a nice Marzen. Like Bigred90Gt, I like Spaten's marzen as well. I just wish they used a brown bottle. I've had some skunky bottles in the past.

Thats my big problem with a lot of German and Belgian beers. I can rarely get a good bottle of Saison Dupont because of this. If you are lucky, you can find a case of Spaten that hasn't been opened.

[acesn8s]

PA has some funky laws in regards to alcohol. It makes it easier to get cases and harder to get 6 packs or build your own six packs. So once I find a brew I like, I can usually get a case pretty easy. I just need to in the mood to get the case.