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Author Topic: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015  (Read 8761 times)

Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #75 on: September 21, 2015, 12:23:40 am »

I'm far from a connoisseur of the style but I enjoyed the Left Hand Oktoberfest 6 pack I picked up last week. Just a touch less roasty and it would've been even better.

Yep it's pretty tasty. Fest beer is a varying interpretation- especially the USA varietals.....and everyone has their own + -.


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Offline Iliff Ave

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #76 on: September 21, 2015, 08:20:36 am »
I'm far from a connoisseur of the style but I enjoyed the Left Hand Oktoberfest 6 pack I picked up last week. Just a touch less roasty and it would've been even better.

Not sure if they distribute outside of Colorado but I tried Prost's Marzen on tap over the weekend. It was perfect for what I like! As mentioned a lot, many examples are overly malty and sweet. This was perfectly balanced. Considering they specialize in making excellent German beers, I shouldn't be surprised. I still have yet to try Sierra's version.
« Last Edit: September 21, 2015, 08:23:00 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline udubdawg

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #77 on: September 21, 2015, 09:07:01 am »
I'm far from a connoisseur of the style but I enjoyed the Left Hand Oktoberfest 6 pack I picked up last week. Just a touch less roasty and it would've been even better.

Not sure if they distribute outside of Colorado but I tried Prost's Marzen on tap over the weekend. It was perfect for what I like! As mentioned a lot, many examples are overly malty and sweet. This was perfectly balanced. Considering they specialize in making excellent German beers, I shouldn't be surprised. I still have yet to try Sierra's version.

I've not been very happy with the bottled versions of Prost's tasty on-tap beers, but I snagged a 6-pack of the Marzen at a liquor store before it was released at the brewery (didn't know that was a thing) and was very pleasantly surprised.  Liked it better than Sierra, probably better than Free State, just short of Ayinger, and my own.   ;)

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #78 on: September 23, 2015, 04:00:50 pm »
SN Oktoberfest must have a consistency issue, because the first few I tried were basically clean pale ales with Nobel hops. I just tried another and it was entirely different. Nice Pilsner malt coming through, just enough bittering to balance and a nice hop flavor

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #79 on: September 25, 2015, 08:22:20 pm »
I was lucky enough to grab the last 12-pack that the small package goods store near me had in stock.  Sierra Nevada Octoberfest is a nice take on the theme.  The grist is definitely a blend of American 2-row and continental malt, as the malt character sits between that of craft lager made with domestic 2-row and craft or continental lager made with continental malt.  Sierra Nevada Octoberfest is one of the spiciest lagers that Sierra Nevada has ever made from a late hop point of view.  That best part is that the beer is not the typical insipid caramelly-sweet blandness that many American craft brewers peddle to their customers during this time of the year.   In my humble opinion, caramel malt has no place in Octoberfest, Märzen, or Vienna.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2015, 10:27:56 pm by S. cerevisiae »

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #80 on: September 25, 2015, 08:30:55 pm »
I was lucky enough to grab the last 12-pack that the small package goods store near me had in stock.  Sierra Nevada Octoberfest is nice take on the theme.  The grist is definitely a blend of American 2-row and continental malt, as the malt character sits between that of craft lager made with domestic 2-row and craft or continental lager made with continental malt.  Sierra Nevada Octoberfest is one of the spiciest lagers that Sierra Nevada has ever made from a late hop point of view.  That best part is that the beer is not the typical insipid caramelly-sweet blandness that many American craft brewers peddle to their customers during this time of the year.   In my humble opinion, caramel malt has no place in Octoberfest, Märzen, or Vienna.


Yep, I agree on all points. Bland crystal malt O-fests are usually too sweet and often not drinkable past one pint. This one's a lot more interesting IMO. I'm really liking this idea of partnering with a different German brewer each year. Really cool idea.
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Offline brewday

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #81 on: September 25, 2015, 08:47:32 pm »
I continue to buy this beer and be impressed.  I just hope next year's version shares the 2015 approach.

Offline 69franx

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #82 on: September 25, 2015, 09:14:25 pm »
I finally found some 8/24 batch. Me and the missus put away a 6 pack last night. We both enjoyed it very much and felt that it was not what we are accustomed to in fest type brews. Nice and crisp, great hop flavors (more than expected, but even she liked this part) and easily "drinkable" as they say, left us wanting another. Luckily I did buy 2 sixers, so there is another left for tomorrow...
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Offline erockrph

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #83 on: September 26, 2015, 12:41:57 pm »
I just had this in a flight of O'fests at a local beer bar and it was quite good, although I did pick up the US 2-row flavor when I had it side-by side with some others. Goose Island's was probably my favorite out of the flight. Two Roads from CT had a nice one, but maybe a bit too much toast in comparison to the others. Weihenstephaner was noticeably lighter in color and seemed like it was primarily Vienna malt. It was also a bit skunky even on tap, unfortunately.
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Offline toby

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #84 on: September 27, 2015, 04:08:08 pm »
I finally found some 8/24 batch. Me and the missus put away a 6 pack last night. We both enjoyed it very much and felt that it was not what we are accustomed to in fest type brews. Nice and crisp, great hop flavors (more than expected, but even she liked this part) and easily "drinkable" as they say, left us wanting another. Luckily I did buy 2 sixers, so there is another left for tomorrow...
We did the same thing the other night.

Offline 69franx

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #85 on: September 27, 2015, 05:15:11 pm »
Nice glassware Toby. Ill have to break out mine as well. No SN, but Spaten and Hofbrau Haus
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
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In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline toby

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #86 on: September 28, 2015, 09:13:50 am »
Yeah, we don't have many steins but had to break those out.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #87 on: September 28, 2015, 10:14:05 am »
Yeah, we don't have many steins but had to break those out.
Toby, allow me to be OCD on the German stuff.  ;D

Steins are stone ware (ceramic) drinking vessels. stein=stone. A liter glass vessel is a Maßkrug, and smaller ones  are just "Krug".

Heading back late in the year, trying to get my Deutsch back. The wife becomes a little pedantic when a boot shaped glass is called "days Boot", which means the boat.  English to German Boot=Stiefel.

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Offline blatz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #88 on: September 28, 2015, 11:20:34 am »
"days Boot", which means the boat. 

good movie.



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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Sierra Oktoberfest 2015
« Reply #89 on: September 28, 2015, 11:24:05 am »
Jeff Rankert
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Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!