[Robert]

First O-fest I've tried this year, and, sad to say, it won't be my favorite one of the year.  It checks all the boxes.  There's really nothing wrong.  But that's it, like if Watson the computer wrote the perfect Mozart sonata.  Then again, it is a recipe from a brewing school.  Will still please a lot of people, "beer for drinking, not for thinking." 

(I rarely do get thrilled by SN's O-fests, but really liked last year's.  Anyone recall who the collaborator was?)

[tommymorris]

Brauhaus Miltenberger was the  2017 collaborator.

Re: this year’s. It tastes fine. I am enjoying my 6-pack. But, I will say it is a bit boring compared to some prior years.


- formerly alestateyall.

[Robert]

Brauhaus Miltenberger was the  2017 collaborator.

Re: this year’s. It tastes fine. I am enjoying my 6-pack. But, I will say it is a bit boring compared to some prior years.


- formerly alestateyall.

Thanks for answering my question on last year, Tommy.  As for this year, yeah, boring is my only objection.

[dannyjed]

I think last year's was better also.

[KellerBrauer]

I cannot say I have ever tried the Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest.  I happen to be a huge fan of the Sam Adams Oktoberfest.  In fact I have been working on a clone the past few years.  That said, I’ll try the SN Oktoberfest just as a point of exploration.

[hopfenundmalz]

First O-fest I've tried this year, and, sad to say, it won't be my favorite one of the year.  It checks all the boxes.  There's really nothing wrong.  But that's it, like if Watson the computer wrote the perfect Mozart sonata.  Then again, it is a recipe from a brewing school.  Will still please a lot of people, "beer for drinking, not for thinking." 

(I rarely do get thrilled by SN's O-fests, but really liked last year's.  Anyone recall who the collaborator was?)

Miltenburger is know as Faust in Germany. That didn't appear on the label as ABInbev owns the beer trademark for Faust in the USA. AB used to make a beer labeled as Faust, and has kept that active. Beer trivia.

[Robert]

Miltenburger is know as Faust in Germany. That didn't appear on the label as ABInbev owns the beer trademark for Faust in the USA. AB used to make a beer labeled as Faust, and has kept that active. Beer trivia.

Now, that is appropriate; everything with ABInBev smacks of a deal with the Devil!   

[The Beerery]

I tried it.
My impressions were as follows..

"So. My take on it.
It screams ‘Merica. It’s more bitter than it should be and the malt is muted. However, with that said it’s made really well. Not my cup o tea though. I prefer the real deal.
After my second. I think it’s got hints of “boozy” as well"

To me it takes like every other beer SN makes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as they made good beer. I just hate when American breweries try to make Marzens, ofest's, well any German styles really. Because they all fall short in the malt flavor, and overall harmonious balance of the beer. In the American beer the malt is never soft and fresh, and lingering as it should be, so it pushes the hops forward, and throws the balance out of whack. That is always what screams, "America's failed representation of German Beer" to me. You can use the same ingredients, but if you don't use the same process, the results are always going to be different.

[MDixon]

I'm the other side of the fence. I had three last night and found it delicious. Plan on at least another three today. Really got my juices flowing for O'fest beers this year.

I think it is quite malty. IMO everyone should stack it up against their favorite O'fest in a blind taste tests. Now to be fair what I am drinking was packaged on 07/23/18 and may have been made in NC as opposed to CA.

[dannyjed]

I'm the other side of the fence. I had three last night and found it delicious. Plan on at least another three today. Really got my juices flowing for O'fest beers this year.

I think it is quite malty. IMO everyone should stack it up against their favorite O'fest in a blind taste tests. Now to be fair what I am drinking was packaged on 07/23/18 and may have been made in NC as opposed to CA.

I have to say that I liked it and it's much better than most American Oktoberfest beers (and I got it two weeks after packaging), but I REALLY liked last year's version.

[James K]

I got this instead.

[denny]

Just picked up a 6 pack of the SN.

[Phil_M]

It's looking like I'm not going to be trying this beer...when we finally got it on shelves here it was already 10 weeks past the packaging date. 

On that note, we FINALLY got the Guinness Anniversary beer on shelves...you know, the one they brewed LAST FALL to celebrate 100 years of Guinness in America...

[narcout]

Just picked up a 6 pack of the SN.

Funny, I bought some yesterday as well.

I really liked it.

[denny]

Just picked up a 6 pack of the SN.

Funny, I bought some yesterday as well.

I really liked it.

Yeah, it's a classic Maerzen style Ofest.