Octoberfest 2023

Just curious what everyone is enjoying for Octoberfest beers this year. Surly has been one of my favorites.

Tried New Glarus’s OktoberFest, I was not impressed at all. Again, Schell’s and Paulaner are my go-to.

OktoberFest and Pumpkin Spice coffee. That screams fall walleyes

ganderpike wrote:

Pumpkin Spice coffee

I tried a bag of Caribou Coffee’s pumpkin flavored coffee the week before last. It was terrible. You can smell the pumpkin flavoring but it has no taste in the coffee when you make it, and the coffee itself is very weak. Will not be buying or drinking that again.

Millstream Brewing Oktoberfest is very good. Had some over the weekend at Fall Festival in Braham MN. Give it a try

gimruis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>ganderpike wrote:</div>
Pumpkin Spice coffee

I tried a bag of Caribou Coffee’s pumpkin flavored coffee the week before last. It was terrible. You can smell the pumpkin flavoring but it has no taste in the coffee when you make it, and the coffee itself is very weak. Will not be buying or drinking that again.

Holiday Harvest Spice for me. More important than remembering bait for me. Any other time of the year it is not acceptable.

My go-to is Schells, but I dont mind a Sam Adams either. With that said, I enjoy most Octoberfest’s, its my favorite type of beer.

Schells, Sam Adams, and Leinenkugels are currently the most prominent ones in my beer refrigerator.

There’s two different styles of beer sold as “Oktoberfest” – a Marzen, which is darker and maltier, and a Festbier, which is lighter with more of hop bite – both good but most people have a preference. Lots of the big German brewers make both styles, so it pays attention to check labels.

Both Schell’s and New Glarus are Marzen style, so while excellent beers, they just might not be your jam. Sierra Nevada has an excellent Festbier in 12pk cans that I’ve been buying a lot, good luck finding something you like.

Spilled Grain brewery in Annandale just won gold for their Oktoberfest. They are also having a big Octoberfest party at their location this Sat. I’m going to try and make it out there.

Mike Johnson, I tried Surly Octoberfest for the first time yesterday, it was good. Has anyone on this site seen any Becks Octoberfest the past two years? Maybe they stopped making it. It was my favorite.

Sam Adams is my favorite with Schell’s a close second.

Nothing beats a Paulenar on tap.

I like a Hacker-Pschorr Octoberfest with just a twist of lemon.

Schell’s is by far the truest Oktoberfest beer that I know of. That’s where I normally go to, but I like trying them all. Third Street Brewery in Cold Spring also makes a pretty good Ofest beer, although it’s a little on the lighter side of a normal Ofest.

x100 on Schells. Oktoberfest Marzens are my favorite type of beer, and I like to think that’s not solely due to my German heritage . Paulaner and Sam Adams are solid second choices.

ganderpike wrote:

Tried New Glarus’s OktoberFest, I was not impressed at all. Again,

Glad to hear. I had some on the counter the other day but aborted when that store wanted to scan my DL. My go to has always been Hacker-Pschorr.

It looks like the one made by Spilled Grain is a Marzens style:

US Open Beer Championships
2023 Gold – Bearded Man Old Ale
2023 Gold – Oktoberfest Marzen Lager

I hope to get out there and give it a shot on Sat.

suzuki wrote:

Glad to hear. I had some on the counter the other day but aborted when that store wanted to scan my DL.

Just curious Suzuki, why is scanning your ID a no go? One of the stores I frequent went to doing that to make sure not to sell to minors, same at some c stores buying cigs.

As for Octoberfest, you guys enjoy. I prefer not to chew on my beers!

John Rasmussen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
Glad to hear. I had some on the counter the other day but aborted when that store wanted to scan my DL.

Just curious Suzuki, why is scanning your ID a no go? One of the stores I frequent went to doing that to make sure not to sell to minors, same at some c stores buying cigs.

I personally dont like giving out so much private info for a simple purchase. They are more than welcome to look at my birthdate if the gray hair doesn’t tell the story but I’m not giving them all the info on my DL just to buy a beer. I have only encountered 3 stores that do that and I quit buying from them.

My favorite mass market Octoberfest is Spaten Octoberfest. At local breweries, Sylvan in Lanesboro had an excellent one last year and I think is about to release again. Spilled Grain is great, so appreciate that tip.

For those who visit Costco, I noticed a few days ago they were clearancing out Surly Octoberfest and, I think, Paulener.

zooks wrote:

There’s two different styles of beer sold as “Oktoberfest” – a Marzen, which is darker and maltier, and a Festbier, which is lighter with more of hop bite – both good but most people have a preference. Lots of the big German brewers make both styles, so it pays attention to check labels.

Both Schell’s and New Glarus are Marzen style, so while excellent beers, they just might not be your jam. Sierra Nevada has an excellent Festbier in 12pk cans that I’ve been buying a lot, good luck finding something you like.

That’s good info to know! I’m gonna check next time I go shopping. Thanks!

Shells has always been my favorite, with Sam Adams a close second. Problem it seems to me that these breweries can’t make it taste the same two years in a row. I do not like the Shells this year at all.

Gilgetter wrote:

There’s two different styles of beer sold as “Oktoberfest” – a Marzen, which is darker and maltier, and a Festbier, which is lighter with more of hop bite – both good but most people have a preference.

I just learned that last week. Though I like festbiers, my preference is definitely Marzen. I went on the Schell’s brewery tour a few years back. There were a couple of guys from Germany so I learned the proper pronunciation of Marzen!

I have friends over in Munich now that were at Octoberfest this week. The pictures look like it is a good time.

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suzuki wrote:

They are more than welcome to look at my birthdate

They are checking to make sure you are not prohibited from using alcohol by court order. For example when you are on probation or have temp whisky plates from a DUI.

-J.

Summit Octoberfest pretty good!

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
They are more than welcome to look at my birthdate

They are checking to make sure you are not prohibited from using alcohol by court order. For example when you are on probation or have temp whisky plates from a DUI.

-J.

…and who knows what else they can see or store for information

It’s just like when someone asks for my zip code or phone number with a purchase – I either tell them I have no phone or make up a zip code. If I am trying to spend my money at your business, take my money and not my information please.

buckybadger wrote:

It’s just like when someone asks for my zip

Almost all Credit Card system require a Zip code to be entered. If its entered incorrect it often declines. Its just a security feature. Zip code is something that someone with a stolen Credit card is not likely to know. I would think if you often just make one up your credit card often would get declined. Asking for a phone # is totally different.

suzuki wrote:

I personally dont like giving out so much private info for a simple purchase. They are more than welcome to look at my birthdate if the gray hair doesn’t tell the story but I’m not giving them all the info on my DL just to buy a beer. I have only encountered 3 stores that do that and I quit buying from them.

I get it. I just figure they already have anything they really wanted and guess I’m just not worried about it anymore. I met with a marketing guy at one of the big companies that do that for a living, and he said you would not believe what they have available to them, he said there is not much that is not out there already. Scary thought but it is what it is at this point.

Jon Jordan wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
They are more than welcome to look at my birthdate

They are checking to make sure you are not prohibited from using alcohol by court order. For example when you are on probation or have temp whisky plates from a DUI.

-J.

Make sense. Thanks. As long as their are choices I will avoid it as long as I can. There’s a pretty big gap between scanning my ID and selling to-go cups at the bar. I prefer the Freedom associated with the latter. Back on topic. I bought some Hacker OF last night and cant wait to get it chilled for the weekend. Thanks for the reminder!

To quote a classic Kramer line from Seinfeld: These pretzels [posts] are making me THIRSTY! Great pro tip from @zooks on the two available versions. I rushed right out to my local liquor locker and picked up a sixer of 3 Sheeps (Sheboygan, WI) Oktoberfest Mårzenbier. Pretty delicious.
I have friends who have also attended Octoberfest in Munich and had a darn good time, and said it’s far different from the La Crosse, WI event.