Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen

Brewed by Paulaner Brauerei (Schörghuber)
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Munich, Germany

Creamy head that doesn’t stand. Nice ruby amber color. Yeasty-alcohol nose. More bitter than sweet, but the sweet flavor builds as you go back, probably because the hop flavor clings. A good beer, but a little thin perhaps. I preferred Paulaner Oktoberfest slightly for the same money. Still, it’s a good sipping or pizza beer.

Amber pour with very little head. Malty aroma. Kind of a thin palate. Very nice flavor though.

(500 ml bottle: $2.49 at Bottleworks in Seattle, WA) It’s been a long time coming. Seven years since I last saw this beer on shelves, and I had to drive to Seattle to find it! The date printed on the bottle label is 06.05, so I presume that means it’s six months old. This is one of my favorite imported Oktoberfests, proudly and prominently putting on display the luscious, up front German malty character that I just can’t seem to find in any domestic release. It’s a bit more caramely and earthier than I remember, possibly due to the moderate aging. The moderate hop bitterness lends perfect balance, complementing the moderately sweet malts from sip to finish. Fairly dry maltiness in the nose, not much hoppiness, but a bit too earthy. Body is medium with nice carbonation and a fairly smooth palate. Could stand to be a bit cleaner and crisper though. I have the glass of beer on a small shelf on my desk, with a lamp off to the side, and this beer is nearly textbook in appearance. It is medium amber in color, shows a stunning clarity, and a dozen or so streams of very tiny carbonation bubbles crawl at a snail’s pace toward the surface. The head is ivory in color, but doesn’t show particularly impressive retention, rising to nearly an inch in height, but then settling to a filmy layer with five minutes or so. And there’s no lacing on the glass. Some of the domestic Oktoberfest releases are tasty in their own right, but they are Americanized versions. When I pick up an Oktoberfest, I prefer the classic German flavor on display here. I’d probably prefer the draft version in Germany, but I’ve not been afforded that luxury yet. Can only imagine, and dream...

On Tap- Taps a sparkling amber topped with a frothy head. A malty, biscuit nose is accompanied with floral notes, and some lemon zest. Caramelly, biscuit flavour profile is backed with zesty, spicy hops with a smack of lemons towards the finish. Nice and bitter with excellent balance. Strange time of year to find this on tap.

Copper color with a good size off white head. Sweet malt aroma with hints of yeast. Slightly sweet malt flavor with a touch of caramel. A little light on the palate, but a very drinkable beer.

Very attractive reddish to copper color. Not overly heavy or complex, but more than enough malty sweetness, mouthfeel and nose to do the style well - especially for a bottled brew. Easily drinkable. No lingering after tastes.

The 12 ounce bottle poured a beautiful clear orange-amber colored beverage with a modest smooth white head that was mostly diminishing but left good lacing on the glass. The aroma was a nice balance of malts and hops with an outstanding caramel character dominating with notes of honey and floral hops taking a back seat. The body was medium-full with soft carbonation and a smooth soft texture or mouthfeel. The flavor starts out somewhat sweet showing off the caramel. The sweetness lasts almost through the finish slowly being replaced by a light pleasant bitterness.

Clear orange with a good thick head. Aroma is somewhat sweet (caramel, honey, malty), somewhat spicy and somewhat skunky. Spicy and malty. A little sweet (definately honey), and it’s got a bit of a bite to it. Definately hoppy, and a little bitter. Overall, it’s pretty good.