Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen

12oz bottle. I had the octoberfiestbier at the source, and was interested to see the difference in the version that they export over the pond. Trader Joe’s still has six-packs in January, so lucky me. A darker copper brown, with a maltier and toastier aroma. Just way more malt and body, sweet and tasty. I wish they served this at octoberfest. Not outrageously better, but seems much closer to the style description than the lighter version served in Munich. (3.5) Rerate: 2008 version. Papery, stale notes in the aroma. Toasty caramel flavor. Just not as tasty as I remembered. More traditional than the beir at the fest, but not as drinkable.

old rating: 6/4/7/3/15 - 3.5
pours a clear copper with a medium size off-white head, some lacing.
smell of grain, malts, toasted nuts, some caramel, spice.
taste is sticky, heavy on the malts, few hops, spice, grain, end is thick and just a touch bitter, with a somewhat dry mouthfeel.

Overall, too "corporate" tasting. I have learned that for me, with German brews, the smaller the brewery the better the result. That being said, I find this Maerzen not completely unlikeable. It’s not my favorite style, so perhaps I’m biased. A color I can only describe as "fishy" leads into a nose of sawdust. The flavors are "woody" and there is a surprisingly nice finish on the palate. Fairly tasty overall, I do have to admit, but it’s so doggone one-dimensional that I can’t consider it more than basically average. I’m not sure if that’s a style thing or a Spaten thing.

Smells like copper, tastes boring. Drinkable, but not out of enjoyment. Boring.

Bottle into lager glass. Pours brownish-orange color with about a 1" off white head. Dissipates after about a minute. A pleasing malt aroma. Drinks slightly sweet but with a hoppy bitterness that sticks around, but not unpleasantly so. Overall, a rich flavor that is easy to enjiy. I’ll admit a weakness for this beer as it was my first Oktoberfest--style and opened my mind to new possibilities.

Amber-orange color, very little head or carbonation at all for that matter. Malty, sweet aroma. Smooth, malty Oktoberfest . Slightly oxidized, but I won’t hold that against them as I have had this beer fresh on many occasions.

I’m not sure what it is with this bottle but the taste is very metallic. I’ve had this on draft and it was great but the bottle leaves a really bad after taste.

Draft, Flying Saucer, Poured reddish brown. Tasted sweet. Good German beer.