Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (InBev)
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Munich, Germany

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.

Clear light brown with a fluffy white head. Sweet slightly sugary molasses aroma and taste with a malty finish.

Dark amber pour sweet caramel aroma and taste with a slight bitter finish malty earthy roasted taste. A quality oktoberfest out of the bunch.

Deep amber color with some brown notes and sparse tan lacing. Spice and dark malts in nose. Medium body with a clean aftertaste. Very mild bitterness. Easy to drink.

Good Marzen but tends to get a bit sweet and lacks the depth of better version. I’m trying this beer against Ayinger’s version. This beer pours a darkish brown-amber, completely clear with a small, white head. Bubbles stick around nicely, though. The aroma is malty and clean but quite light. There’s no off note that can creep into lighter German imports. There’s a touch of apples and grapes detectable, as well. The flavor comes through more strongly vinous with a light but fruity malt. It gets just a bit too sweet in the finish, but I’m sure that I’d lose sight of that quickly if I were drinking it any quantity. While both this beer and the Ayinger would be easy to drink all night, I have to give the nod to Ayinger. Still, Spaten puts out a nice marzen with a relatively low price tag.