New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest Beer

Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

(12 oz bottle, obtained in trade with marinaro500, thanks Joe!) I thought I would like this more than I do. The main reason why I’m not overly fond of this Oktoberfest is the sugary, perfumy character the flavor has. It’s moderately malty and caramely in the flavor, but the sweetness tastes sugary. I discern very little in the way of classic hops or bitterness, but I do get a floral, perfumy flavor and aroma out of this. The nose is also mildly toasty. Medium bodied, but the palate just seems a bit watery, especially in the short-lived finish. Dark amber color is nice. Pours a medium size off-white head that settles to a thin layer. Small streams of lace here and there.

Big bubbly head, light brown in color. Nutty, astringent aroma. Taste is sweet and nutty with some sourness and bitterness in the finish. Decent.

Solid amber color with a decent sized off white head. Nice roasted aroma with caramel and toast. Taste is also toasty with caramel and light spices. Nice medium bodied mouthfeel. This is one of the better O-Fest beers I’ve had this year. The flavors could use a bit more hoppiness to offset some of the sweet caramel and toffee.

2004 bottle compliments of Footbalm. I was very interested to try a non-fruit New Glarus, after being very disappointed by the Rasp. Tart. Pours a clear lightly rusty yellow-copper, small white head, lightly fizzy and mostly dissipating. Aroma of light roast, moderately dry caramel and some earthy yeast tones. Flavor starts out with a wonderful, authentic munich malt, caramelly and coppery, with tame, but flavorful yeast notes. Wonderful progression to the finish, via a spectacularly creamy, smooth body, medium to medium full. Finish while showcasing the even, balanced malt flavor, has some bitter hops which, while not too bitter, really aren’t necessary. This beer could just fade in to the distance with wonderful meaty yeast and malt, dry grainy caramel and hints of rum-raisin and sweet shortbread. The hops really seem to break up a blissful finish, but I have also been very anti-hops lately, to be fair. Superb stuff.

Polished rufous. Broken center of foam leaves a thick, tall ring. Toffeeish nose of meaty Munich malt, dates, and marmalade. Rooty malt and smoke hints. Fuzzy, tight spritz to the carbonation. Tangy Munich blankets the palate with notes of toffee and roast. Vaguely fruity with hints of toffeed apple and dates. Lushly malty and bready, yet beautifully dry and well-attenuated, with a pleasantly spicy hop spine and anise hints, which relentlessly hold the sweetness at bay. Grainy malt and gentle roast astringency punctuate the dry firmness of the body. Finishes shyly hoppy with lastingly rich date and bready malt flavors. Rock solid Märzen that would be perfect with a touch more hops.

Clear reddish-brown body with a thick off-white head. Malty nose with nut shells and roasty caramel. "Incredible spice boquet"? Is the dry nuttiness supposed to be spicy? One-dimensional flavor that tastes like roasted malt. Light malt roast and leafy hops in the finish. About what I expect out of an Oktoberfest: a malty, unexciting beer. I’d rate it lower but at least it has an assertive flavor.

A dark amber color with a moderate head. The aroma is caramel and nuts. The flavor is very malty and somewhat sweet with a nice hazelnut, caramel, and apple flavor. This one is a little higher up in the ABV dept than many oktoberfests Ive had but you can’t taste any alcohol. A nicely done beer. Facto is the man!

clear copper, nice off white head. spicy, earthy, fruity/jelly candy aroma. clean smooth flavour with soft juicy malts, fruit and a hint of alcohol. toast and spicy hop in the finish. quite tasty.