Octoberfest/Märzen side-by-side

[erockrph]

I don’t drink a lot of commercial beer, but I had a few Octoberfests in my fridge and thought it would be fun to do a side by side comparison.

First up is Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen. The picture below doesn’t catch the color quite right, it is a golden orange tone, and is gin clear. The aroma was mostly crackers and wheat toast, and the flavor was much of the same. It is malty rich, with enough of an acid balance to keep it refreshing. I definitely get a hint of a lactic flavor; not tartness, but as if I was drinking a Berliner Weisse before and hadn’t rinsed my glass.

Next was Ayinger Oktoberfest Märzen. The Ayinger had a faint haze and it really made the orange color pop. The nose was crackers and bread crust with a bit of nuttiness. The flavor was similar to the aroma, mainly wheat bread crust with a hint of toasted chestnuts. It was a bit richer than the Paulaner and had less crackery flavor, along with having a nuttiness that wasn’t in the Paulaner. It also had the same hint of lactic flavor.

Last was Sam Adam’s Octoberfest. The SA was gin clear with a darker, orange-amber color. The nose was largely wheat crust. Flavor was more wheat crust with a similar toasted chestnut note in the background that the Ayinger had. Of note, I get no notes of caramel, toffee, raisins, or sweetness. It has a nice acidity balance to help it finish, but zero lactic flavor. It isn’t quite as malty rich as the two German Märzens, but it is certainly in a similar flavor ballpark.

My big takeaways here are that the distinct characteristic separating the German beers from the Sam Adams is a distinct lactic flavor. I don’t know if I have the time or determination to start my own Saurgut reactor, but I will at least be trying out some Saurmalz in the near future.

My other takeaway is that Sam Adams Octoberfest was neither sweet nor caramelly in any way. Honestly, aside from the color and lack of lactic flavor, it holds its own with the German Märzens and is an excellent example of the style in its own right.

Left to right, Paulaner, Ayinger,  Sam Adams

[alestateyall (tommymorris)]

@erockrph

I don’t drink a lot of commercial beer, but I had a few Octoberfests in my fridge and thought it would be fun to do a side by side comparison.

First up is Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen. The picture below doesn’t catch the color quite right, it is a golden orange tone, and is gin clear. The aroma was mostly crackers and wheat toast, and the flavor was much of the same. It is malty rich, with enough of an acid balance to keep it refreshing. I definitely get a hint of a lactic flavor; not tartness, but as if I was drinking a Berliner Weisse before and hadn’t rinsed my glass.

Next was Ayinger Oktoberfest Märzen. The Ayinger had a faint haze and it really made the orange color pop. The nose was crackers and bread crust with a bit of nuttiness. The flavor was similar to the aroma, mainly wheat bread crust with a hint of toasted chestnuts. It was a bit richer than the Paulaner and had less crackery flavor, along with having a nuttiness that wasn’t in the Paulaner. It also had the same hint of lactic flavor.

Last was Sam Adam’s Octoberfest. The SA was gin clear with a darker, orange-amber color. The nose was largely wheat crust. Flavor was more wheat crust with a similar toasted chestnut note in the background that the Ayinger had. Of note, I get no notes of caramel, toffee, raisins, or sweetness. It has a nice acidity balance to help it finish, but zero lactic flavor. It isn’t quite as malty rich as the two German Märzens, but it is certainly in a similar flavor ballpark.

My big takeaways here are that the distinct characteristic separating the German beers from the Sam Adams is a distinct lactic flavor. I don’t know if I have the time or determination to start my own Saurgut reactor, but I will at least be trying out some Saurmalz in the near future.

My other takeaway is that Sam Adams Octoberfest was neither sweet nor caramelly in any way. Honestly, aside from the color and lack of lactic flavor, it holds its own with the German Märzens and is an excellent example of the style in its own right.

Left to right, Paulaner, Ayinger,  Sam Adams

Every beer I’ve had in my German Advent pack has a common flavor that I think is the same Lactic flavor you describe. It gets old after a while really. In many of the Helles it becomes dominant because there is not much else to taste.

None of my “German” beers have that. I would be willing to try acid malt to see if that leads to the flavor. But, I’m not sure I would want it in all my beers.

[fredthecat]

Every beer I’ve had in my German Advent pack has a common flavor that I think is the same Lactic flavor you describe. It gets old after a while really. In many of the Helles it becomes dominant because there is not much else to taste.

loooool, i dont know what else to say but 1000%. i think i drank too many pilsners/german imports this summer. i am unable to imagine even drinking anything like that, its going to take a few months i think at least before i get a taste again for pale continental lagers, even great ones.

[chumley]

Sam Adams Oktoberfest is indeed one of the best American breweries have to offer. Too many American Oktoberfests are too sweet or too roasty.

[denny]

@chumley

Sam Adams Oktoberfest is indeed one of the best American breweries have to offer. Too many American Oktoberfests are too sweet or too roasty.

You are the second person whose opinion I respect that have said that.

[brewthru]

“Every beer I’ve had in my German Advent pack has a common flavor that I think is the same Lactic flavor you describe.” Possibly attribute to shipping, handling, etc before reaching the glass and drinking?

That’s why it’s difficult at times cloning beers. We purchase a beer and drink not knowing how it was handled.

I will note the Paulaner Festbiers, IMO, do not exhibit the lactic flavor. I’m judging based on making a pils using some sour malt so I’m aware of the lactic flavor. In fact, drinking my homebrew Festbier clone right now and no lactic flavor at all.

[alestateyall (tommymorris)]

@brewthru

“Every beer I’ve had in my German Advent pack has a common flavor that I think is the same Lactic flavor you describe.” Possibly attribute to shipping, handling, etc before reaching the glass and drinking?

That is a very good question and I think the only way I can answer it is to visit Germany and drink a lot of Helles and Pilsners from the tap. Hope to get there soon!

[hopfenundmalz]

@brewthru

“Every beer I’ve had in my German Advent pack has a common flavor that I think is the same Lactic flavor you describe.” Possibly attribute to shipping, handling, etc before reaching the glass and drinking?

That is a very good question and I think the only way I can answer it is to visit Germany and drink a lot of Helles and Pilsners from the tap. Hope to get there soon!

You can pick up a little lactic flavor from the use of sauergut in the brewing process to adjust pH. It is not just lactic flavor, there are other things I get sometimes that are lemony. Very refreshing, but it should be at low levels, that make you say what is that flavor in the background. The sauergut is viewed as natural, and industrial produced lactic acid is not under the RHG.

I haven’t bought the Advent beer calendar. Not going to spring for beers from breweries I haven’t heard of.

Just got back from a vacation that included 4 weeks in Germany. Contact me if you want my recommendations.

[BrewBama (Dwain)]

@hopfenundmalz

…Not going to spring for beers from breweries I haven’t heard of.

…

That’s an interesting comment.  It just goes to show how we’re all so very different.

I intentionally seek out beers and breweries I’ve never heard of — especially when I travel. Granted, it can be a train wreck, but sometimes it’s a fantastic experience.

These beers could be contract brews or they could be gems hidden away like my favorite Woinemer Hausbrauerei.  Most have probably never heard of their brewery or beers but I simply love both.

[dmtaylor (Dave Taylor)]

In past years, I would say about 50% of the beers in the Advent calendars were produced by one brewery, with a smattering of other small independent brewers.  Similarly, in my experience, about half of the beers were fantastic, whereas about half tasted like iron/metal.  I think this might be due to inconsistent or ineffective internal linings in the cans.  For this reason, plus the high expense, I won’t buy an Advent calendar for myself… but if wifey wants to buy it for me, I also am not going to argue.  The 50/50 roulette game is fine by me. 

[fredthecat]

@dmtaylor

In past years, I would say about 50% of the beers in the Advent calendars were produced by one brewery, with a smattering of other small independent brewers. Similarly, in my experience, about half of the beers were fantastic, whereas about half tasted like iron/metal.  I think this might be due to inconsistent or ineffective internal linings in the cans. For this reason, plus the high expense, I won’t buy an Advent calendar for myself… but if wifey wants to buy it for me, I also am not going to argue.  The 50/50 roulette game is fine by me. 

just scanning my threads here, and this is an interesting thing in 2022.

#1 lol yes, there is a ton of weird branding by german breweries where one actual brewery license brews for different virtual breweries or they just release a ton of nearly identical pale lagers under totally different branding/naming. there was always a mountain of these german pale lager exports in korea and i eventually categorized which ones were brewed by which real breweries.

the tinny beer taste is an interesting phenomenon, considering i felt like i tasted it in some twist-off bottles this summer, and have obviously tasted it in tons of other canned beers, i had the thought that maybe it comes from inadequate/inconsistent cleaning of metal equipment (pipes, kettles, storage, etc). there are occasions where certain brands have it at times and not others. im no inside expert on industrial beer tasting, but i thought that could be the case rather than the cans themselves? maybe both on occasion. funny how it still isnt fixed even after so many years.

re: this advent calendar, i’ve had more than enough continental pale lager for a lifetime or three (doesnt mean i wont have more)

[hopfenundmalz]

@BrewBama

@hopfenundmalz

…Not going to spring for beers from breweries I haven’t heard of.

…

That’s an interesting comment.  It just goes to show how we’re all so very different.

I intentionally seek out beers and breweries I’ve never heard of — especially when I travel. Granted, it can be a train wreck, but sometimes it’s a fantastic experience.

These beers could be contract brews or they could be gems hidden away like my favorite Woinemer Hausbrauerei.  Most have probably never heard of their brewery or beers but I simply love both.

Yes there are many I’ve never heard of. There are many you haven’t either I would bet.

A while back i had read many of these were contract brewed and packaged fot this.

I do read online, and also take recommendations from knowledgable friends. That lead me to many very good places in the last 4 weeks in Germany, got home yesterday.

[BrewBama (Dwain)]

@hopfenundmalz

… There are many you haven’t either I would bet.

…

Oh absolutely.  I haven’t heard of any of them. I’ve been following Tommy’s review this year and check online for the brewery, beer, etc.

Welcome home. Of all the places I’ve lived, visited, and worked around the world, I miss Germany the most.

[hopfenundmalz]

@BrewBama

@hopfenundmalz

… There are many you haven’t either I would bet.

…

Oh absolutely.  I haven’t heard of any of them. I’ve been following Tommy’s review this year and check online for the brewery, beer, etc.

Welcome home. Of all the places I’ve lived, visited, and worked around the world, I miss Germany the most.

So did we, had to make up for lost Covid years.

[brewthru]

@fredthecat

the tinny beer taste…

Tinny taste is what I recall most about a Ballentine XXX in a can. Remember drinking in the 70’s and thinking “nails”.

[mdixon]

I happened upon a great deal for Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, and Warsteiner Oktoberfest. I had always thought Paulaner OM was a favorite, but Warsteiner was the best of the three with OM falling in the middle. Normally I drink my way through a range of O’fests, but never side by side. Since I had 12 packs of all three I did a SxS as well as one after another in various orders. Warsteiner was the best of the bunch each time.

[fredthecat]

@mdixon

I happened upon a great deal for Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, and Warsteiner Oktoberfest. I had always thought Paulaner OM was a favorite, but Warsteiner was the best of the three with OM falling in the middle. Normally I drink my way through a range of O’fests, but never side by side. Since I had 12 packs of all three I did a SxS as well as one after another in various orders. Warsteiner was the best of the bunch each time.

i think warsteiner has more character than a lot of industrial scale german beers. the only issue i have with it is that sometimes it can be tinny tasting. idk if its a (plain?) lager or a german pils, sort of in the middle, but i am always up for drinking a warsteiner. also an independent brewery still afaik

[erockrph]

Warsteiner Dunkel is one of my all-time favorites. I can’t remember the last time I had their Oktoberfest, but I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.