Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen

Pours a brownish amber crowned by a frothy white-tan head. Aroma wafts malt, caramel and alcohol. Taste is malt with a slightly hoppy finish; medium bodied and well balanced. doesn’t knock you over but an above average beer. Pairs well with mild chili or cornbeef on rye.

Beer of the month at Winking Lizard. Clear amber pour with a big beige head. Nose of caramel malt, lager yeast and a touch of crisp hops. Sweet and caramel malt flavor with some noble hops contributing to a dry finish. Flavor is a little more full than the nose would suggest and I like how they avoid the overly sweet finish that some o-fests have.

Solid beer in all respects. Decent head, no lacing, amber color, malty aroma, well-balanced taste with nice malts, some dark fruits present (dates), but subtle, nice hoppy finish... It’s good, but I gotta say that nothing really stands out about it. It’s not ’average,’ but more like ’spot-on’ for the style, and it’s really good, but again, nothing really stands out about it, which is probably why it’s really good. It’s what a Marzen *should* be!

Had on tap. Pours with a foamy head that dissipates rather quickly. Has a nice carmel color appropriate for an Oktoberfest. Taste is part bready, part bitter - not very complex, but very drinkable. Has a somewhat sweet finish.

Not one of my favorites in this category. Aroma of barley malt and yeast, color is opaque orange/amber. Flavor is mostly malted, palate is fizzy and has a carbonated sting.

12oz bottle capped at a work ’Oktoberfest’ dealio. Can’t quite tell for sure by looking through the green glass, but it appears to be a lighter brown color. I will say that Spaten has a very traditional looking label. Nose is a touch skunky with bready malt backing. Touch of brown sugar notes along with some earthy floral undertones. Very malty in taste with some grassy/hay flavor around the edges.

On tap this Oktoberfest pours a dark amber color with a foamy head. Aroma of malts, molasses and caramel. Taste was a rich malty flavor with sweet and earthy finish. This one doesn’t taste nearly as skunky as many in this style tend to do. Not bad - much better than I was expecting.