The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
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The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
Ep - 129 - Munich's Finest: Comparing Authentic German Marzen and Festbiers
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Ever wondered what sets authentic German Oktoberfest beers apart from their American counterparts? We embarked on a flavor journey through seven genuine German brews to find out!
This special "Septoberfest" episode features something we've never done before – comparing exclusively German Oktoberfest beers side-by-side. We explore the subtle differences between Marzen, Festbier, and Oktoberfest styles from Germany's finest breweries: Erdinger, Benediktiner, Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, and Hofbräu. What struck us immediately was how remarkably similar these beers taste compared to the wide variety found in American interpretations.
The standouts? Spaten Oktoberfest Marzen took our top honors with its perfect balance and smooth maltiness, followed closely by Hacker-Pschorr's traditional offering. Among the lighter Festbiers, Weihenstephaner impressed us despite its unusual aroma. Yet we discovered that any of these authentic German options would satisfy an Oktoberfest craving – none scored below average in our tasting.
Between sips, we share fascinating Oktoberfest trivia: did you know the festival began in 1810 as a royal wedding celebration? Or that Munich's Oktoberfest sells a 57% ABV specialty beer for €600 per liter? We also explain why only six specific Munich breweries are permitted to serve at the official festival, which now attracts over 7 million visitors annually.
Whether you're planning your own Oktoberfest celebration or simply curious about authentic German beer traditions, this episode offers the perfect primer on what makes these seasonal classics so special. Grab a stein and join us for a virtual trip to Bavaria – Prost!
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Grab a beer and pull up a chair. Welcome to the Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. Hey, jim, are we at Oktoberfest?
Speaker 2I think so the hair date. Yeah, hey Jim, are we at Oktoberfest? I think so. The hair date.
Speaker 1Yeah, hey, yeah, prost yeah.
Speaker 2I don't know much German there, buddy.
Speaker 1No, that's about it, schnitzels and stuff like that. But yeah, there you go, hey, well, hey, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast. This is Mike, the Northwoods Beer Guy, and, as always, I am joined by jim. How you doing, buddy doing good man. So you know, we were talking about that. We're going to have our annual augustober fest, right, well, life got in the way and schedules didn't line up very well, so now we have septober fest, I guess. Yes, well, that doesn't hurt, though, does it? No, no, we're still getting there before the actual Oktoberfest. So that's good. Yes, now, I know we had mentioned before. You were looking around trying to find Oktoberfest beers, and I believe they started rolling in kind of heavy lately.
Speaker 2Yeah, I had to get in there quick, because they were going fast too, were they?
Comparing German Oktoberfest Beers
Speaker 1Yeah, there you go. I'm actually really excited about the ones you brought today because, well, I'll let you explain it.
Speaker 2Oh well, I know that the listeners know that we've tried a few oktoberfest beers in the past. Right, a lot, or, yeah, a few, a lot of times, yeah. So the one thing that I think we've been missing I could be is we've never really compared the actual German Oktoberfest beers against themselves. So I thought maybe there'd be a way we could do one podcast on that.
Speaker 1Yeah, you know, I think you're 100% right. We've usually had, you know, a few, and then a few American ones and things like that, but we've never concentrated just on the German Oktoberfest. So, yeah, that's cool. So what? We got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven of them, five bottles and two cans, and they're really heavy duty.
Speaker 2Yeah, Duty heavy, there you go. I think they start what at 5.7% and go all the way up to 6.3%. I figured they're probably going to be somewhat close.
Speaker 1Yes.
Speaker 2And I think what was interesting too and I don't, you probably are going to be able to correct me or somebody can but so that we have some october fest, we have some fest beer and marzon. So I don't know if they're all the same, because some bottles say all three words on the label. I don't know. I wasn't able to really decipher or find anything of. I did find a little bit, but I don't know if it really is going to help the listeners. I don't know if you know.
Speaker 1You know, cause I always hear Marzon and Oktoberfest are the same, and then Festbier typically the the American Festbier anyway are always like a little hoppier, but I don't know if that's the same over in Germany. Right, you know, and I think we'll just say they're all very closely related.
Speaker 2Okay, so they're all fitness category and maybe now, by testing these against each other, maybe we'll get a little bit different flavor and we'll be able to decipher it a little more. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1And now, looking at the names of them, a number of the breweries I've heard of before, you know, we've tasted some of them before. Of course, these are the 2025 versions, yes, but there's a few that I've never heard of, oh, you know, and so it should be interesting to try them out. Awesome, so yeah. And if you notice our little taster glasses, they say Prost, oh Prost. So see, we're in the mood here for some Oktoberfest. Oh, there you go, so should we start.
Speaker 2We might as well. I don't know if you saw the.
Speaker 1I saw that. I was hoping it was just description.
Speaker 2Oh, I did bust out some questions for you, great. Just in case you thought you might have been sleeping at the wheel.
Speaker 1Well, yeah, I was going to snap you back in reality here Okay.
Speaker 2That sounds good. We better try a beer first before we get into hard stuff. Which so closest to you, closest to me, is the lowest ABV.
Speaker 1Okay, so this one, and this is one of them that's in the can and it's a pint can, okay, and this is by Erdinger, weissbrau, weissbrau, and this is their. Erdinger Oktoberfest.
Speaker 2Does it say? I think that one was in.
Speaker 1Germany Brewed in I don't know somewhere in Germany. I apologize, folks. Look at a lady carrying a bunch of beers and a guy taking a beer.
Speaker 2It could be us. Could be us. Looks like a hat you've got hanging on your wall there, doesn't?
Speaker 1it Kind of, I don't actually have lederhosen but you know, the hat would be okay.
Erdinger Oktoberfest: First Tasting
Speaker 1The hat would be okay, the hat would be all right. All right, so we're gonna. We're gonna start her off. So now you said this one was 5.7, yes, and it says it's an octoberfest. All right, so we will check it out here. Well, it looks like an octoberfest, a little lighter in color, I think, than the american ones. Anyway, you know, a lot of those are kind of that, almost an amber type color, right? This one one's pretty light in color. Oh, there's a good aroma.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, you can smell that one, you don't have to worry about not smelling that.
Speaker 1One Good aroma. You know white head on it. That tastes pretty good, that's not bad. A little hop flavor, but not over the top or anything Right, just so you get a little bit of flavor with.
Speaker 2I think, yeah, yep.
Speaker 1That's for sure. I don't don't mind that one at all. No, I could definitely drink that Now being in a pint can? I'm not saying I would drink a six pack in one sitting. There you go, but that's, that's pretty good. You get a little bit more beer with that one. Yeah, exactly, Take us a few more minutes to get done with the can but I mean, the flavor is really good. I mean yeah smooth finish.
Speaker 2Where did you all of these?
Speaker 1I bought at woodman's oh okay, so that you're able to do build your own six-pack, or did you have to buy them? Buy six-pack a piece, buy six-pack a piece there. Yeah, that's always kind of the the tough part on some of these.
Speaker 2You don't see a lot of you know in the build your own six packs but I did go to festival and I bought two build your own six packs of octoberfest, so I have a lot of the american 2025 versions nice for maybe some possible upcoming episodes okay well, yeah, because we will have plenty of time for some more october fest, right.
Speaker 1So it's a rough job, but you know, we we got to do it each year, just so the listeners are up to date. I know you're forcing me to do it, so I'm going to have to yeah, you, yeah.
Speaker 2So what are you thinking on a score, first one out of the gate?
Speaker 1I do like that. I guess you know, when I first was getting into this one, I thought, okay, is it going to be more of the malt forward kind of version, like the US has a lot more of? This one, I don't think, is quite like that, right? Like I said, there is a little bit of a hop flavor to it, but not bad, I do like it. I'm going to go like a 2.6. I think it's a little better than average and I'm trying not to paint myself into a corner right off the bat, but I do like it and the artwork on the can is very nice. Yes, that's very good. And at 5.6? 5.7. 5.7. Like you said, you could drink a few of them even though they're in a pint can, right? Yeah, I think it's good.
Speaker 2And I think I could be speaking out of turn, but I believe these are all going to be relatively close in our scores. Sure, I don't think we're going to have one standing way out or one way so you're saying we have to go to a hundredth of a point. We might if it push comes to shove, I think, because these are all, since they're all german, I think they're all gonna technically probably should be very close in taste I bet you're right, it's gonna be interesting, yeah, so I mean I like the first one.
Speaker 2I mean, like you said, I definitely think it's definitely drinkable. I'll go with 2.6 on as well. I like it. I mean I definitely could have one, sure. So I did actually find a question that we're since we're talking about it okay did you know that during the oktoberfest in germany that beer from outside munich is prohibited?
Speaker 1really did you know that? I did not know that, okay, so so all of the like, the big beer halls and that are all right from Munich.
Speaker 2So the only beer that is sold at Oktoberfest is beer only from Munich's local breweries, and those breweries are six of them. Okay, what are those six?
Speaker 1Hofbrau there's one. Is Hockershore. There's two. Oh yeah, you put me on the spot. And um, toby's gonna be so mad when he listens to this, and there's some big name ones too, um spaten yep, oh, um geez, what else do we got it? It's uh, is it Paul Paulainer? Yep, I don't know how to pronounce that, so you got four of the six.
Speaker 1Uh, and you know what's the sad part? I've watched videos about the Munich Oktoberfest and they've, they've listed off all of the beer halls and their beers, and their beers, and I am just not um, and we don't even have we don't even have. We don't have the last two, we don't even have oh, geez, uh boy, I I'll take the four out of six and and be happy lowen brow really lowen brow okay and then augustiner beer, huh okay, so you know you only get minus 200 points.
Speaker 2Nice, I would have had a minus a.
Speaker 1I know you were really close. Let's see here. So Lowenbrau, I never would have even thought. I don't typically connect that to Oktoberfest. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2Right, it says the rule is set to ensure that visitors enjoy a taste of authentic Bavarian brewing, as Oktoberfest beers still have the original gravity along with the alcohol content.
Speaker 1That's crazy. I mean, those are all pretty big-name breweries all in Munich. Yeah, that's pretty wild.
Speaker 2Well, I'm sure they know they can sell a big amount of wine.
Speaker 1I'm sure that couple weeks of the year they're selling beer like crazy.
Speaker 2You want to make sure you're overstaffed for that weekend, exactly, all right. Well, now is this one for my significant other's family? It could be, I'm guessing.
Speaker 1This is by Benedikner.
Speaker 2Is that how you say it? Is that Benedikiner?
Benediktiner Festbier Analysis
Speaker 1Is there a Tiner at the end? B-e-n-e-d-i-k-t-i-n-e-r. All right, Well, I'll trust you. Yeah, However, you pronounce that it's a fest beer. They're fest beer. And look, they've got a party on the can. Well, look at that. That should get a tenth of a point right there. Yeah, they've got all sorts of like beard kegs and guys playing the horns and all that good stuff, all kinds of fancy stuff, guys and ladies, and all that, and this is brewed in Lichten. Oh jeez, I can't even pronounce it L-I-C-H-I-H-E-S-S-E, ooh so.
Speaker 2I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce that. Say that five times really quick. I can't even say it once.
Speaker 1All right, and I've had one sip of this other beer and I can't read it.
Speaker 2Now, this is another Fest beer, a Fest beer, so the first one was Oktoberfest.
Speaker 1Yes, this is Fest beer, so this will be interesting to kind of see. Like I said, you know, the American versions of a Fest beer are usually hoppier, so we'll see how this compares, how this pairs out.
Speaker 2Yeah, all right, looks the same color as the first one, pretty light, pretty light.
Speaker 1Pretty light. It does have a little different aroma, yeah, doesn't it?
Speaker 2Almost a little fruity, doesn't it? Kind of Is that hops?
Speaker 1or fruit. It's almost got a fruity aroma. That's interesting, that's not bad, that's solid as well. Yeah, wow, taste-wise it's got a weird, it's got a different. I don't know what that flavor is. Yeah, fruity than the flavor, but the flavor is definitely different than that first one. Right, definitely.
Speaker 2Oktoberfest and Festbier are made differently.
Speaker 1There is a difference between these Interesting. I wish it said. Of course, if it was on the can, it would probably be in German and we wouldn't really be able to read it. Yes, because they don't give a whole lot of information. No, and it says Festbierl yeah, only the brewery and the type of beer it is. Yeah, and then, of course, their picture. Whatever the picture is on the artwork well, at least they're having fun brewing?
Speaker 1oh, no doubt, no doubt so. And doing the artwork, it looks like they're having fun too, and that one's that one's good.
Speaker 2I don't. I don't have any anything negative to say. I mean that's, this is going to be so difficult, we're going to be splitting hairs. I think you got that right.
Speaker 1I mean, this is, and luckily you get to go first on this one.
Speaker 2So so I guess I do like it a tad more than the first one. I don't know if it's a little more flavor, I don't know, but I think it's not bad. There's nothing. I can't say anything negative about it. I'm just going to say a 2.7. I do like it.
Speaker 1It tastes good. The only thing I can say and again, this is really splitting hairs, because it's not bad at all it does kind of dry my mouth out just a little bit on the finish oh, that's it you're right.
Speaker 1Other than that, I think the flavor is a little bit better than that first one. The aroma was a little better, so I'm gonna do the same. I'm gonna go to seven, uh, and, like I said, the only knock I had was just that it kind of dries your mouth out a little bit on the finish, but I'd still drink it, you want to give me a little hit and then I'll read you another question.
Speaker 2You bet this is a multiple part question for you. Oh boy, okay. What year did Oktoberfest begin in Germany?
Speaker 1You know, the sad part is we talked about this before and I don't remember the actual year I was giving him something. I will give you his parts of the one. I'm pretty sure it did Okay 1846.
Speaker 2You're close. 1810. Oh, dang it. Okay. And it started not as a beer festival, but as what?
Speaker 1It was to celebrate the wedding. Okay, we got that one right.
Speaker 2Okay, and it was a wedding between who?
Speaker 1This guy and this lady.
Speaker 2Yes, Correct, or do you want more specific? Could you get just a touch more?
Speaker 1A German guy and lady All right, it was like, wasn't it like? Was it King something? And I don't remember their names. Dude, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2So he was the crown prince Ludwig Okay, who would later become king. Yes, and he was marrying Princess Therese of Saxony Hilbergerhausen.
Speaker 1That's easy for you to say.
Speaker 2See so her name, Princess Therese and Prince Ludwig.
Speaker 1Okay, I knew.
Speaker 2I was going to say I thought it was a prince, but then was like, well, wait a minute anyway. So that was only minus 500 for you. Not bad, I don't mind that. And then the reason why oktoberfest because they got married at the end of september, right, so that's why the yep festivals and that's pretty.
Speaker 1That's pretty crazy when you think about it, because it I mean the name oktoberfest is huge, but it actually started in september. Yeah, the end of september, right?
Speaker 2yeah, that's pretty wild so now, now I'm going to remember these because I tried to find some. I will have some other different questions, but at least now I'm getting you refreshed. So now you can bring these out.
Speaker 1Exactly, you see all your other. I didn't remember the wedding.
Speaker 2Yes, you did. You got it. At least you got part of it right, I got part of it right, and you were in the first bottle. Ooh.
Speaker 1All right, and this is by Pauliner, pauliner Munchen, oktoberfest, marzan Oktoberfest, so this is. The ladies on their bottles are a little like old school German. Looks like a monk there in the middle too, right, yeah, and that lady here a little bigger, that's a big German lady.
Speaker 2Yes, not like the first two cans.
Speaker 1No, not like my low-cut shirt.
Paulaner Marzen: Third Contender
Speaker 2We can't give a tenth of a point for artistry on that one. They got the wrong thing going there. Exactly these guys went more traditional, I think.
Speaker 1Or the other ones went more hip, all right, so this is the first one that said Marzon, all right. Ooh, this little bit different color.
Speaker 2Yeah, a little darker.
Speaker 1This is making me think that because the American it's more this color, Right, I think. So let's see if it's a malty like the US version, that's got a different smell. Different aroma, again Different aroma.
Speaker 2Little bit maltier flavor, right, not bad though no, not bad.
Speaker 1I mean, that's got a good smooth flavor. Yeah, yeah, I don't mind that. Wow, that's decent. We had a Fest beer and now we have an Oktoberfest Marzon, right, and they are all slightly they're similar but they are different.
Speaker 2They're not. I mean you can't say we're definitely splitting hairs.
Speaker 1Oh, those are similar to this flavor, more so than the first two Right, and did we say this is a 5.8%?
Speaker 2This is all. The next one, except for the last one, are 5.8.
Speaker 1Okay, no, I did not mention that.
Speaker 2So most of these are 5.8, which must be right Kind of the standard or so. Must be. Of these are 5.8, which must be right, kind of this, the standard or so for must be their bare minimum, then right, so you won the luck of the draw for the boy um score I do like that one.
Speaker 1I think I like it a little bit more than the first two. Uh, it does have a little bit of a bitterness on the finish, you know. So that's the only thing I can say. Maybe some people would find as a drawback, but again, it's very good. But I'm going to put it at a 2.8. Okay, I do think I like that. A little bit more malt to it and I guess, like I said, it's kind of getting closer to what maybe I'm used to from the States. But it's still very good and I'd put that up against anything from the.
Speaker 2States, and I think, just to echo what you said, like now I can the finish is kind of lingering on my tongue a little bit. Yep, it's not a bad thing, but I think that's the malt that you're talking about. So I like it too. I'm going to stick with it. I'm going to say a 2.8.
Speaker 1Oh, okay, nice.
Speaker 2So we're? We're staying right in there, locked up, all right, I see you flipped over your questions again. Yes, so we got another question, so I need you to bust out your English to German dictionary. Oh, boy. Okay, so the Munich Oktoberfest officially begins when the mayor of Munich taps the first keg of beer and announces what in German. I'll even give you half credit if you tell me what it is in English.
Speaker 1What it is in English, I'd like to say beer is served, but I know that's not it, and I know it's not prost either. No, darn it, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2Are you ready? Yep, I'm going to see how good my German is Okay. Oh, zapf is, and what does that mean? It's tapped okay, so makes sense. So you lost 500 on that one that's okay.
Speaker 1I think mine would be better. Beer is, beer is served. Let's see here how many?
Speaker 2I got one, two, three. Oh perfect, I'll save the next question. One for each beer, all right. All right, I tried to help you out. I hear you, because there was going to be much research on these, so I thought I could come up with some different facts, okay.
Speaker 1All right. Well, the next one we have is Say that five times Wein-stef-hiner. Are you sure? Why do they make the name so long W-E-I? So it could be Weinstephaner V-E -V. Now.
Speaker 2I messed up.
Speaker 1W-E-I-H-E-N-S-T-E-P-H-A-N-E-R, and can they fit any more letters in there? I don't think so. That's even longer than Giannis' name from the box.
Weihenstephaner: Smooth Despite Aroma
Speaker 2And this is their fest beer. So look at that.
Speaker 1So we got the october fest fast beer, marzon fest beer. So we're alternating, which is a good thing, right, and this is this a 12 ounce bottle, or is this?
Speaker 2one feels that's at 11.2 11.2.
Speaker 1I say it looks like it's. It's thinner, you know, and this, like I said, yeah, if everybody, when you look at the picture, you'll recognize the name. I just don't know how to pronounce it correctly.
Speaker 2So I think you did it about the best toby's not here, so he's our, our local uh german name guy. We'll reach out. Maybe he'll send us a text.
Speaker 1Yeah, oh that one looks like lighter again much lighter than the last one. Oh yeah, I say this is more like those first two, for sure in color, and this is the fest beer. This is their fest beer boy, that's got a stronger kind of a I don't want to say off-putting aroma, but it's almost got like a dirty side aroma it's different it's different, it's pretty smooth though.
Speaker 1Wow, that's the flavor that's flavor makes up for that. The aroma, I would say was definitely of the four, was kind of my least favorite on that one, but the flavor is pretty good.
Speaker 2Yeah, that is surprisingly good. I mean, as light as it is, I thought there would be not much flavor to it, but the color and the aroma are lacking, but the flavor is the flavor made up for it.
Speaker 1Yeah, that is smooth. I think that's really smooth, yeah, that is smooth.
Speaker 2I think that's really smooth. That's really. I think you could have a couple of those, oh yeah especially at an 11.2-ounce bottle.
Speaker 1Right, you can get more beer then, right? Well, eventually, I suppose, when you drink more of it. Yeah, so I got to go first too. You go first on this bad boy. I will say this before you go. You know, like I said on the US versions versions it's hoppier, this one's not hoppier. No, this is.
Speaker 2This is not as malty as that, marzon but it's a little closer to that, I think, than the other fest beer, right? Yeah, this is it's hard to describe, I mean because we're I mean now, we're splitting the hair, that we split the hair. We split the hair on. Yeah, we're running out of hair to split.
Speaker 1I was gonna say our. Our scores are gonna make it look like there's a wide gap and there's really not.
Speaker 2No, I mean I like this beer. I mean I think this is, I mean these got to be what traditional octoberfest beers in germany taste like. So I like it. I'm gonna say 2.9.
Speaker 1I'm gonna go out on a limb wow, I'll, I'm gonna stick with you because, same thing, I do like this and I think, since we can't go, we're not doing hundreds of a point, I, I do like it just a tick better than the marzon and other than that aroma. Right, the aroma was a little bit suspect, right, but the flavor more than made up for that one. So I could drink that.
Speaker 2I could drink a liter of that you know in those big stines how much of them the big ones are a liter. That's what's in there, yeah.
Speaker 1And you've seen on the videos where, like, the barmaids are carrying like six or eight, you know six, seven of them in each hand. Yes, yeah, they're tough I couldn't do that.
Speaker 2Yeah, they might beat up everybody. Oh yeah, you got that right. All right, so we got the next question. Okay, did you know that octoberfest they serve some strong beers?
Speaker 1did you know that? Uh, stronger than these stronger than these.
Speaker 2Stronger than these. Okay, they actually have one, that's 57% that they serve At Oktoberfest. Yep, oh, my word.
Speaker 1What's the name of that beer? 57%, and it's an actual beer. Yep, wow, jeep. I had no idea. I didn't even know they served anything like that.
Speaker 2So S-C-H-O-R, so that's Shor, shor, and S-C-H Shorsh, b-o-c-k. Shorshbok, shorshbok, shorshbok. So 57%. It costs over 600 euros per liter?
Speaker 1Oh my gosh, because a euro is more than a dollar, right? So if we go, you're going to buy us each one, right?
Speaker 2Yep. Buy each go. You're going to buy us each one, right? Yep, buy each one of these spottens. No, no, no, no, no, this other one. Then you can buy two of us.
Speaker 1The short, how in the world could you drink a liter of a 57 percent beer?
Speaker 2well, you're going to find out for us. You can report back on that one, yeah I had.
Speaker 1No, I've never even heard of that you never heard of that one either, so am I educating you, you're educating me and the listeners, I think, because I I had no idea that they had that kind of a beer there. I did not. Even in those videos that I've watched, they never mentioned anything about that. Well, now we're going to have to dig deeper.
Speaker 2I'm going to have to look that up because that would be Well. Especially they don't want to probably have a lot of people drinking that and why would you buy a liter of it? I don Get that. That's probably like a day drink, right, yeah, you're not going to be drinking until 12 packets.
Speaker 1A liter of that. I don't even think you could get done with a liter of that.
Speaker 2Well, you're definitely going to be stumbling out of it.
Speaker 1I'd say about 57%, so that's 114 proof. Okay, could you drink a liter of 114 proof bourbon? Well, that would really taste good and sipping on it, bourbon?
Speaker 2Well, that would really taste good, and sipping on it, but for 600 euros.
Speaker 1That's got to be closer to $700. Unless you're sharing it with all your friends. That's crazy. Yeah, jeez.
Speaker 2Okay, well, let's get back to what we can afford All right.
Speaker 1So we've got Spaten, All right. Oktoberfest. And it says you are I don't know if that's Marzon- so we're back into. Marzon, this one is in a green bottle. I don't know if that's 12 ounces?
Speaker 2I don't think so. I think it's 11.2 as well.
Speaker 1I should have looked before I opened it, so I don't spill it, but it's got that same kind of build to it, a little bit narrower bottle. Yeah, oh, color on this one is definitely what we're a little more what we think of as a Marzon.
Speaker 1Even the head is a little bit darker color, all right, so this is Spaten and it's imported. Oh, they said they're imported. So this is again, again, one that would be at the Oktoberfest in Munich. Yeah, that smells like. Does that smell? That smells good. Is that back to that? Smells what, like I'm normally thinking for an Oktoberfest? Tastes pretty good, that's pretty good this is interesting because I will guarantee we do American Oktoberfest episodes. The flavor is going to be all over the board. These are really really similar these.
Speaker 2even though we've had three different styles, they're still pretty close and I would like to know out there for the listeners how many other shows ever have compared German marathons, right, right and give the listeners like a different our point of view.
Speaker 1Yeah you know, and I just kind of kick ourselves Because last year we did what four or five episodes. I just kind of kick ourselves because last year we did what four or five episodes and we still we'd have a German or a couple of German ones in this one and one in this one, right, and we never thought about it, comparing them together, but this time it seemed like, when I went to the store, these were all like front and center.
Speaker 2Okay, they weren't, as the other beers, like the American ones, seem to be pushed back into the aisles, so these are more prominent, so they were showcasing these a little more.
Speaker 1Okay, right, well, it makes sense.
Speaker 2This is good. What do you think? I'm going to 3-1 on this one?
Speaker 1I'm jumping up a couple of steps there.
Speaker 2You're increasing the ante now.
Speaker 1I do like this. I think it's got enough of that malty flavor that you're. You know, if you've only had american ones, you're gonna. This is reminiscent right yep or should I say they're reminiscent of this. Yes, uh, the aroma was very good, very smooth, and yeah, I would. I could definitely drink a few of these yeah, I'm right up.
Spaten and Hacker-Pschorr Showdown
Speaker 2I like this is probably the best one so far. I mean, granted, we only have two left, but I mean I like this one too. Smooth finish, smooth flavor, very good, I, I like that one. Spaten did a good job. What kind of score are you going with? I get a 3-1.
Speaker 1Oh, okay. Well, ladies and gentlemen, sorry that we're copying each other's scores, but man, we've talked about it before. When you're splitting hairs on stuff, usually it's barrel-aged stuff that's by the same company. But these are good, these are real good. All right, hit me with another one.
Speaker 2All right. So the 2023 Oktoberfest was the biggest beer party ever.
Speaker 1Okay.
Speaker 2All right. So they saw record-breaking attendance, exceeding expectations with 7.2 million visitors. Wow, that's crazy. So I didn't think you'd guess that, no, so I'm just throwing the fact out.
Speaker 1When you first said it I was thinking what? Million, million, five, 7.5 million, okay.
Speaker 2So that was over the 18 days, yep. So give me your guess what 2022 was for total visitors.
Speaker 1Okay, so 2023 was the record Yep 2022. Okay, that was a year closer to COVID. I don't know if that's going to make a difference. Let's say I'm going to say it increased a lot. So I'm going to say let's go like 4 million.
Speaker 2Close 5.7. Oh, and then 2019 was the next one in there 6.3 million.
Speaker 1So 6.3, and then it dropped down.
Speaker 2It dropped back down.
Speaker 1So that might have been the COVID part there. Okay, interesting, that's a lot of people, that's a lot 7.5 million people over 18 days, so they average close to 500,000 people a day. Yes, oh, so we do. Have we got two beers left? Do you have more than two questions? I think the next one will go good with the next question All right, all right, well, let's save it for the next one, save it for the next one.
Speaker 2All right, oh, look the next beer. I got the next one.
Speaker 1This is by hawker shore are you hocking up the loogie? Yeah, this is. This is their octoberfest marzon, and it says original filtered fest beer. And look, there's the the lady like we're used to seeing on a horse though there that's some good artwork carrying another big stein of beer. What does it say on the back? Here, since 1417, 1417 through today Hockershore is considered the special beer for heavenly day-to-day moments. We call it Heaven in Bavaria, you call it Hockershore. Oh, oh, I give them credit. They got Ho ho. All right, I give them credit. They got a little thing on their bottle.
Speaker 2Finally, finally, the rest of them didn't, here it is. Say a word Interesting.
Speaker 1This is another one.
Speaker 2This is a Marzon. This is for the actual Oktoberfest.
Speaker 1For the actual Oktoberfest. I still say at some year we need to go. That would be really cool.
Speaker 2Is that on the?
Speaker 1bucket list. That's on my bucket list All right, so it's a tad darker. A tad.
Speaker 2Not a lot darker.
Speaker 1No, I'm trying to think. Compared to the last one, I think the Spaten might have been just a shade darker Right. Don't you think Yep Got a good aroma?
Speaker 2That's still good, that's still good, that's still good Interesting.
Speaker 1So let's see the Spaten. That was the October. Oh, that was a Marzon too, and so is this one.
Speaker 2So these are pretty close. I mean I can barely differentiate the two Right. I mean if I gave you a blind taste test of these.
Speaker 1Oh, If you gave me a list and just had taster glasses, I probably couldn't. I could maybe get. I'd say, okay, if it's a Mars on it, maybe darker, but that'd be. You know what I mean. That'd be it.
Speaker 2There's no way, in a blind taste test, you could separate these.
Speaker 1There's no way I could. Maybe you could, toby, maybe, but I think with this lineup it would be tough for anybody to blind taste test Any of these, test any of these and get all of them right. Right, I don't think you might get one right but, and that would be just out of pure luck, right, if you drink it now and then?
Speaker 2you did a blind taste test right afterward I probably still couldn't, couldn't get it. Oh, this is not bad it's not bad.
Speaker 1Uh, am I next or you're?
Speaker 2oh, you're next all right, so I'm gonna say a 3.0.
Speaker 1We did skip that number I do you know what, dude?
Speaker 2I'm upset because that's where I was going yeah, I asked if you wanted to go give your. I'm going to say a 3.0.
Speaker 1We did skip that number. I do like the Spaten. You know what, dude? I'm upset because that's where I was going. I asked if you wanted to give your score. Yeah, I was going the same thing. I do like the Spaten, just a little better. Yeah, it's a touch. This is still good. This one, I think, has just a little bit I'm not going to say harsh, but a little stronger flavor on the finish. Yes, and I really like how that Spaten was really smooth. So that's my difference and I'm sticking to it.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean, I can't really. That's the only thing. The Spaten was just a little touch, just a hair. Exactly Just a hair. It's not anything bad with the Hacker Shore, just a touch.
Speaker 1No. If all you had was the Hacker Shore or Hocker Shore. Yeah, I'd drink it.
Speaker 2Yeah For sure, there's no doubt there's not one so far. We've had that I wouldn't drink. Right, we haven't had a clunker. No, not at all. All right, speaking of clunkers.
Speaker 1You should have another question.
Speaker 2I got one final question for you All righty.
Speaker 1So we were talking about 600 euros per liter Yep.
Speaker 2What is the average price per liter for just the regular?
Speaker 1Steiner beer. I know it's kind of expensive, but you're getting a lot. Is it like 15 euros or 20? You're close. What was it?
Speaker 210.8. Oh, okay, so what's that equate to in America?
Speaker 110.8 euros, so it's probably around $15, depending on, I suppose, the conversion rate and such, but it's got to be about that.
Speaker 2But it's a liter Right. So that's what.
Speaker 1three I think a liter is. Is it three? Is it like 30?
Speaker 136 ounces 36 ounces, I think 24 to 36. So you'd have to drink those fast, fast too, or they get warm, right? You would think. And I know that they also was watching those videos they have, like, you know, at those beer halls you can order food, yes, and all that, and and it's. It's rather interesting because the the videos I've watched, you can pick the day that you want to be in.
Speaker 1Let's say, say you wanted to go to the uh hofbrau, okay, you pick the day, then you have the morning or the evening, oh, one or the other, so you have so many hours for each of them and that's each day. But when you buy it, it's not for the 18 days, it's for that one day and that one half a day, that one half a day. And I know a number of people have had. And I think, see, what would be interesting is, cause you're going to Germany from the States, you got to be there for at least a few days, yep, but you know everybody's like, oh, if you go, go for like a weekend and then do the other stuff, cause it's, you know, I suppose I could see how it could get old, yeah, but if we're ever going to get to go there.
Speaker 1What I would do they have, okay, let's do the Hofbrau one day. The next day let's go to Hockershore, because in those beer halls that's the only beer they serve is by that. Yeah, and it's not like I don't think you have like multiple versions, you know. Well, here's our Fest beer, here's our Oktoberfest, here's no, I think they have A beer. A beer, I believe. I think you're right, and so that would be interesting though, and I know each of the beer halls. When I watched the one video and, ladies and gentlemen, I'd have you look on YouTube, because that's where I follow them, but some of them they say, well, if you're looking more for like a traditional type thing, go to this one, this one. Here it's kind of a cooler looking inside and they do a little more, you know.
Speaker 2So each of them is just like, has their own little theme.
Speaker 1Yeah, so it would be interesting. And there's a couple a couple of them that they said that were kind of smaller, oh, but they're like, they're like the really cool kind of ones, you know. So there's less people, but it's kind of really a neat vibe to them.
Speaker 1So I'd have to watch it again to give you a little more input on what those people, what their thoughts were, okay, but it seemed like it was rather interesting because some of like the Hofbrau and Hockershore and probably these giant halls, right you know, and there's thousands of people.
Speaker 1And I do know that they said that you're not supposed to stand on the bench or the table and chug a beer, but I think every video there's pretty much somebody does it and then I think they get kicked out Probably some drunk Americans doing it, probably and then there's a hill there on the grounds and I can't remember if they call it the drunk hill or something, but apparently a lot of people go there and then get rid of a lot of beer.
Speaker 2They get rid of their beer, and not the way you normally want to get rid of it, I guess.
Hofbräu Tasting and Final Thoughts
Speaker 1Well, we better drink a beer on that, yes on that note. Yes on that note. So now and then, this, as you said, was the highest ABV one we had. Yes, 6.3. 6.3, and this is the Hofbrau Oktoberfest beer.
Speaker 2All right, and once again, 11.2 fluid ounces, so not quite as much as a 12-ounce bottle, correct.
Speaker 1And they've got some writing and it is small, so take our word for it yeah. And this is our last one of the category, last german one. Oh well, there we go, I got it. There's that. What I need to do is find I got like an antique bottle opener and I need to find my more conventional one.
Speaker 2Ah all right, that looks light in color this is definitely lighter, like the other fest beers. Yeah, this is not like those marzons no, no, not not in the lead.
Speaker 1Oh, what was on the? Oh, there's a, some horses, and see, like there's a, like a drawing of their, their beer tent, oh, yeah, at octoberfest. And then there's the, the uh, there's a ferris wheel because there's like a huge carnival right. That goes on there as well. Okay, this one definitely has a little more of that aroma Hoppier, kind of strange aroma. I could drink this one too. Yeah, this is not bad. This is so confusing.
Speaker 2Yeah, if anybody brings one of these for a blind taste testing, do you want?
Speaker 1to hey, even if you said what company made it, I'd be like, yeah, it could be any one of these.
Speaker 2They're so similar. I think the only thing that's different is each bottle or each of the labels are a little different. I think the only thing that's different is each bottle or each of the labels are a little different. Yep, I think that's the only thing different. But inside the bottle is all very close, very similar.
Speaker 1Well, you know, they have the purity law, you know, and all that, and I'm sure these all fall into that category, but they're real similar, yeah.
Speaker 2This is crazy. See, this is where it hurts, because this is we can double up, the double up.
Speaker 1I think I'm one of these, because I can't put this at two five right, yeah, we're gonna then it's gonna look like it was the worst one, and it's not. You know, we're gonna have to double up, I think, on this one okay, I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1I'm gonna go at 2.7 on this one. It's gonna be tied with the one, but it's still good and, like I said, I would drink it. If somebody brought a six pack or you know, at a cooler of them, I'd I'd drink it for sure. Uh, I do think that it is closer to the first two, right, you know, in my opinion, and uh, which is not bad, uh, but I do think that, uh, some of the other ones had a little bit better flavor. Again, like I said, I would, uh, I would go and sit in their beer tent and and drink liters it as well.
Speaker 2I'll say the same thing. I like it. I mean, I just it's so hard now to try to differentiate these. Even though our scores are a little different, I think they're all relatively close, yeah.
Speaker 1And as far as which one is the best one, I do, I did really like that Spaten. I think that that Oktoberfest was good Right, and then the Hocker Shore and again those are both kind of that little bit of maltier flavor to them. I think those two were the top ones. And then for Festbier I did like the Heimheimschaligmar Planer, yeah, or Weinhausen Planer.
Speaker 1The real long name, one that I'm not sure how to pronounce that was pretty good, so this was. I knew it was going to be tough, but I thought there was going to be this tough. Right, I thought there'd be a little more variant in like what the US Oktoberfest are, because they're all over the board in flavor. Where these were, they were similar and it was difficult.
Speaker 2So that would be awesome. So yeah, I'm like right in, I like the Spaten and the Hacker Shore, but I would definitely know, if I somebody gave me one of these other ones, I'd still drink it A hundred percent. I wouldn't turn it away because they're all. They're all good. So I'm glad we did try this.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah. And, like I said, this is the first time that we had nothing but actual German Oktoberfest style beers.
Speaker 2Well, you know, that's reminding me of something else. What's that? I did see at the liquor store a bunch of pumpkin beers, oh boy. So I don't know. Would you be up to trying for the listeners' sake?
Speaker 1Of course, for the listeners Right. I would definitely do that. Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2So maybe I could convince you, maybe in a future episode, maybe we could do that.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2Yeah, we could do that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we could do that. I mean, we did try the octoberfest beers, which I would. I'd recommend any one of these seven. If anybody sees them, you shouldn't be scared no, no, they were all very good.
Speaker 1You know, like I said, a couple of the aromas were a little bit, but the flavors were all. The flavors were all good and anybody could drink them. They not going to blow you totally out in left field for you know, for a weird taste or whatever.
Speaker 2Their ABVs are relatively low.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2So I mean from 5.7 to 6.3 is not.
Concluding with Future Beer Plans
Speaker 1Yeah, not bad, and these guys, they invented it. Right, they know what they're doing, you know. So I'd say you know. Like you just said, if you're at the store and you see some of these German Oktoberfest beers, any of them, try them. If you've never tried an actual German beer, try these because they're very good. Yes, then you can go into some of the American ones Because, like I said, not a knock on our US breweries, but sometimes you don't know what you're going to get when you crack open an Oktoberfest from the US.
Speaker 2Yes, these we thought we had known going in, but this just confirmed it by tasting Boy.
Speaker 1Were we wrong? You know, mm-hmm, so cool. Well, yeah, ladies and gentlemen, like I said, man, give them a shot. If you see them out there, buy them. Jim, thanks for picking them up. And you said you had to buy six packs of them also. I'm thinking we may have some garage beers in the future.
Speaker 2Yes, so I might be giving you some prizes later on.
Speaker 1Oh darn, that's terrible. I just can't believe you'd do that. Yes, just for you, buddy. Awesome. Well, cool man, Well, hey, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for listening. Like we always say we hope your campfire is always warm and your beers are always cold and prost october fest time. This won't be our last episode for sure. Uh, we'll be dipping in into the uh american versions and some other stuff.
Speaker 1Some other stuff might be coming around the horn yep, it sounds like we got pumpkin beers in the future, so we'll be checking those out as well, because tis the season it's getting. There's a little nip in the air, that's right, and I know I'm throwing this out there early. But if anybody out there listening knows of any actual advent calendars for craft beer, again, we tried Last year. I tried to find one, couldn't find one Actually I did, but it was the same one that I had before, right, which we did not have on the podcast. So that is a possibility. But we'll have Christmas coming up in the near future as well, so we're going to stay away from a certain brand that shall not be named if you remember, all right, just for your sake.
Speaker 1Awesome, cool. All right, ladies and gentlemen, thanks and see ya, see ya. Thank you for listening to the Northwoods Beer Guy podcast. If you have a question, a comment or a beer you'd like us to review, please feel free to send us a message at northwoodsbeerguy, at gmailcom. You can also find us on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. If you're on untapped, look up Northwoods Beer Guy and send a friend request. Until next week, I hope all your campfires are warm and all your beer is cold.
