The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
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The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast
Ep 131 - What Makes a True Oktoberfest Beer?
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The line between tradition and interpretation blurs when American breweries tackle the iconic Oktoberfest beer style. After recently sampling authentic German Märzens and Festbiers, we now turn our attention to seven American interpretations to see how they measure up to the originals.
What we discover is both surprising and revealing. While German Oktoberfest beers demonstrate remarkable consistency in their rich, malty profiles, American versions showcase wildly varying approaches—most falling short of capturing the essence that makes the German originals so special. The appearance might be there, with appropriate amber-to-copper hues, but the flavor profiles tell a different story.
Our journey begins with disappointment as the first three American offerings (Lakefront, Schell's, and Raised Grain) present appealing aromas but deliver minimal flavor, scoring in the low 2.0 range. The middle entries introduce more character but veer off in unexpected directions, with Sierra Nevada's collaboration with German brewery Störtebeker leaving a peculiar dryness that departs from tradition.
Only when we reach the final two entries—Lake Louie and New Glarus Staghorn—do we find American interpretations that begin to approach the authentic Oktoberfest experience. The Staghorn, with its smooth finish and balanced malt profile, earns our highest score at 2.7/5, yet even this falls significantly short of the German originals that scored up to 3.6/5.
What becomes clear through our tasting is that brewing an authentic Oktoberfest isn't simply about matching color and alcohol content—it requires a deep understanding of the malt balance and brewing techniques that German brewers have perfected over centuries. While none of the American versions are bad beers per se, they often miss the mark on what makes an Oktoberfest truly special.
Whether you're a seasoned Oktoberfest enthusiast or new to the style, this episode offers valuable guidance on navigating American interpretations. If you can't find German imports, New Glarus Staghorn and Lake Louie represent your best options for experiencing something close to the real thing. Listen in as we analyze each beer's strengths and shortcomings, and gain a deeper appreciation for this classic autumn style.
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Grab a beer and pull up a chair. Welcome to the Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. It's making me thirsty. Hello there, my name is Jason Fabus and this is my polka band, West Coast Prost. We're going to do a little number for you that I think you might know, so if you're sitting at home, sing along with us. Here's the Beer Barrel Polka Ready boys. Oh yeah, One, two.
Speaker 2One, two, three. Now, if that doesn't get you in the mood, Mike, nothing will Nothing will.
Speaker 1Hey, you are correct. Hey. Hey, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to the Northwest Beer Guy podcast. This is Mike, the Northwest Beer Guy, and, as always, I'm joined by Jim. Hey, buddy, how are you Doing good? How about yourself? Another fine day in paradise. Well, I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty intrigued today, again, just because you know, a couple of weeks ago we did the German Oktoberfest. Yes, we did, and I think we can safely say they tasted very similar. I mean across all three. You know Oktoberfest, festbier and Marzahn, if you want to say that, you know, I know that's typically your Oktoberfest, but they were very similar in taste. Color they were different, but they were similar in taste. Right Now we're going to visit the American versions. Yes, I am pretty sure it's going to be. They look similar and taste vastly different.
American vs. German Oktoberfest Expectations
Speaker 2I think, you're right, I'm going to take your word on it just because we have tried these in the past years but, I thought it'd be good to maybe circle back around again. Oh yeah, because I know taste buds kind of get what's a good word overtaxed by some of the beers we've tried. So now we've got a clean slate. We've tried some German Oktoberfest, now we can try some American, and now we're going to be able to tell all the listeners exactly what's the best and sort through all this.
Speaker 1There you go, yeah, and these are again the 2025 versions, and now there could be a couple maybe I'm not sure that we haven't had. I know there's some we haven't had on the podcast before. Okay, yep, but yeah, I'm thinking it's going to be interesting, you know, because just thinking back, like I said to the germans, they were all very I don't want to say in the box, those people, they're all in the same lane.
Speaker 2Yes, so as far as flavor went, and but I think how that helps us, those that set the bar for us, because those are from germany and that is exactly how I think the original makers of the beer wanted their beer to taste, correct. So now we're going to be able to see did they meet that bar or did they fall a little bit short?
Speaker 1yeah, see how they tweaked it. Yes, in the right and wrong way.
Speaker 2Yes, let's let's hope in the right way.
Speaker 1Well, the thing I'm noticing too. Remember then we had a number of them that were in bottles and then like one can, where this time they're all cans except one bottle right, oh, so good, catch right off the bat too.
Speaker 2Yeah, kind of interesting. I don't know if you see the abvs too.
Speaker 1I mean, we're all oh once again they're within, you know, 0.6 of each other, right, all seven of them, all seven them. So that's kind of interesting. So at least they're that part, they're staying together.
Speaker 2Yes, and I think they're the overall, because I think when we did the research, between five and 7% and these all are so, at least for the first check in a box, there were then They've met that yes. Because this does not include. The one that we keep looking for is the Marzon, that's bourbon barrel aged. Yep, exactly that might be on a future episode.
Speaker 1Yeah, we got to keep looking see what we can come across. I'm hoping like crazy we can find the same one we had last year. Yes, we had two last year, so hopefully we can find them both.
Speaker 2Right, it'd be nice if we found three or four, but two would be fine.
Speaker 1Fine, we're not asking for much right, exactly all right.
Speaker 2Well, what do we got?
Speaker 1first, let's get going. So the first one we have is by lakefront brewing out of milwaukee miliwake, miliwake, and this is their octoberfest marzon lager lager. Amber, red color and multi-body makes this an excellent german style lager. And this is 5.6 percent abv and it's got a guy and lady dressed up in their lederhosen and their dirndl I believe is how you say the dress. And again, the blue and and white diamond pattern, which is synonymous, synonymous with october fest I think our next beer actually has that same item at the top too, with the can.
Speaker 1So that's a good sign. Yeah, you know, that's kind of one of those.
Speaker 2They're getting a .10 or .1 for following in line with the German style, so that's a good sign. It seems like yeah at least that carried over, so that's good.
Speaker 1All right, so let's pour this out here. We're back to our Prost taster glasses.
Speaker 2Yes, that's post All right. Well, it looks like beer.
Speaker 1Yes, it's not quite as dark as I was expecting. Yes, I mean it is kind of a reddish color, I guess, but it's darker than some of the German ones were.
Speaker 2Yes, that smells like an American Oktoberfest Very malty in aroma, Not bad though. Not much flavor though.
Speaker 1No, it's got for the amount of malt aroma. I was expecting higher malt taste. You know what I mean. Yeah, there's not a lot of flavor. Not a lot, really Kind of a little bit of a disappointment. Yes, I'd still drink it, but it still kind of leaves me wanting more.
Speaker 2Right. I mean I don't think you're going to. I wouldn't turn it away because I mean the finish is smooth, there's no bad aftertaste, but there's just not a lot of flavor.
Speaker 1No, and there's like and I don't know how to describe it On the tail end there is a little bit of a I don't want to say skunky, but it's just a little hint of something. It's not. I shouldn't say skunky, it's not skunky, but there's just a little flavor maybe, but I just wish there was more flavor. Yeah, what are you thinking on the score?
Speaker 2I'm gonna go like a 2.3 I'm setting it up, so I don't kick myself.
Speaker 1You're already thinking about it again. Aroma very good. Color was was decent, you know for for an american oktoberfest flavor just was a little little low, I guess. I guess for the amount of the aroma, like I said before, I was expecting more multi-flavor and it just didn't have it Right.
Speaker 2So I guess I might be going against how we've always done it in the past, where the beer stands alone by itself against all other beers. And I might be a little biased now, since I know what the German beers at Marzahn are tasting like, so I might be comparing mine to that. Then it would go significantly lower.
Speaker 1Right If I knew that's what we were going to do. No, I'm just saying I'm going against what we've always done. So.
Speaker 2I might have some bias in my scoring Yep, so I'm actually going to go a 2.0 for the exact reasons you said. The aroma was good, but the taste, I mean there wasn't a lot there.
Speaker 1No, and I did look. I should have looked this up before we drank it, okay, but no, this is the 2025 version and they did not have I'm looking on untapped, ladies and gentlemen and they didn't have a description under that, but they had it under the normal. You know what I mean for this beer, and it says it's a radiant, copper, orange hue and rocky off-white head of our traditional Marzon-style lager comes from generous amounts of munich malt. Caramel malt aromas complement the german lager yeast's slightly floral aroma. Mount hood hops balance the substantial malt body, while the lager yeast add a subtlety to the flavor, making this a great rendition of a classic german lager prost. A lot of that I didn't get.
Speaker 2Yeah, I don't know, I'm not fully bought into that.
Speaker 1I I would agree a hundred percent with you, dude. I just I wish it had more flavor. Yeah, that's the the main thing we we're always looking for flavor, yeah, and I know we're always sticklers, so to speak. That's kind of our big. What we like to see is the flavor taste. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2and yeah, it could use a little more, yeah that's a little bit of a disappointment, yeah, but at least we maybe we'll work our way up to better ones. So we start a little lower.
Speaker 1It could be, it could be. So we're hoping. So well, I guess we might as well just jump into the next one. Yeah, I mean because we gotta get some flavor supplies.
Speaker 2That was just like water, basically right.
Second Tasting: Schell's Oktoberfest
Speaker 1So the next one we have is from shells brewery and that's in minnesota, minneapolis, new alms, minnesota, yep, all right, and this is a 5.8 percent and 20 ibus. Now once again on untapped. They had a description for this one. It says the october fest or marzon march, march member from the german episode. Yes, uh type of beer was originally brewed in march and laid down in caves before the summer. Weather rendered brewing impossible. Stocks would be drawn upon heavily during the summer and exhausted by October. In Germany, this tradition has come to be associated with one specific style Oktoberfest Bier, b-i-e-r, b-i-e-r, b-i-e-r. Let's see, in keeping with true German tradition, august Schell Oktoberfest beer is brewed just once a year, brewed with the perfect balance of pale Munich and carapils malt, with Liberty and Pearl hops to create a rich, smooth taste.
Speaker 2Nice. Well, that's a lot of words.
Speaker 1Well, again, the thing that's kind of cool is some of the questions that I bomb at usually were a couple weeks ago that we talked about it and here it is in this beer that they talked about it.
Speaker 2That's good. So we're wrapping it together and educating.
Speaker 1Once again, you entertain and educate there you go.
Speaker 2Well, the head is a little bit golden. Yeah, a little bit different.
Speaker 1It's not white, no, and this one's a little bit darker, a little bit darker than the first one right, I would say this is getting more to that color that we're used to. Yes, again, multi-aroma yeah, not a lot of aroma, but no a little bit.
Speaker 2That's got a different flavor. See, this is what I was talking about before.
Speaker 1The german ones are all kind of in the same lane for flavor and the american ones are all over the board. Yeah, it's not a lot of flavor, but no, but it's not what I, if you blind taste, tested this, I would never.
Speaker 2I probably would have a hard time guessing. This is an Oktoberfest. Yeah, because I mean the flavor's so muted. Whatever that is, I'm not. I can't describe exactly what that flavor is. Is it the maltiness maybe? I don't know.
Speaker 1It's kind of yeah, I don't know if yeah.
Speaker 2Just leave it at that. I know it's going in my mouth and I know there's water going in there. You feel like you're swallowing something, but I can't really describe what the flavor is.
Speaker 1No, that is odd dude. These have the look and aroma, typically of what we consider an American Oktoberfest, but not the flavor so far.
Speaker 2Man, we haven't even scratched the surface on the German Marzans. Right Now we know we can actually say that we might be subject matter experts in tasting yeah.
Speaker 1But this doesn't taste like it and unfortunately right now the German Oktoberfests are winning handily Hands down Right now.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean I can't say it's watered down, but I just don't taste there's no flavor.
Speaker 1Oh, and to me, on the back end it's got a little bit of a.
Speaker 2Something weird, you know there's something, something odd there.
Speaker 1Yeah, and they had a lot of words in their write-up. Yes, it was a very nice write-up. I give him credit by far on that one. But ooh, what kind of score are you thinking on that bad boy, my?
Speaker 2predicament is it's not a bad—I don't think it's—it's not horrendous. Could I drink it? Yes, but knowing what I know now about what a Marzan should taste like, I don't think that is a good representation. I could be way off base. I'm just putting it out there. I didn't. There was no flavor. I mean, I think there's actually less flavor than the first one. I'm going to have to say a 1.9, and not because it's bad, but just because it's not a good representation.
Speaker 1I agree a hundred percent. I just that finish on the flavor. It was just bad. I again, like you said, could you drink a can of it?
Speaker 2Yes, would you drink a can of it.
Speaker 1I don't know Jury's out on that. I'm going to do a 1.9 as well. I just I don't know what it is. Maybe it's a bad can. We could hope we could give them the benefit of the doubt on that. But yeah, I'm not. The first two are not.
Speaker 2Especially now that we have a very good understanding of the flavor spectrum for the German ones. Now I guess maybe we're and that's why I said maybe we're a little biased now that we know that.
Speaker 1Yeah, now, speaking of I should have brought this up earlier to you, but I did have a listener reach out, oh, okay, and on social media when I posted the picture of the German beers that we had. Okay, and I will have to look it up and I'll let you know, because he had said, oh, you should have had this one and I had never heard it. And I'm like I said, well, that's a bummer. I said we couldn't find it here, right, so I'll have to let you know which one. It was Okay, but I thought that was pretty cool.
Speaker 1That's nice, yeah, that he reached out there. Let us know, because if we can find them, sometimes that's a little difficult, but we'll see what we can do.
Speaker 2I've been searching my favorite honey holes to see what I can find. So I've been searching high and low to pick some of these up.
Speaker 1Yep, like I said, it is interesting when they start coming out. Well, I mean, they've started coming out, but it's like you see one or two and then it's just a flood. Yes, so we'll see what happens there.
Third Tasting: Raised Grain Doc-toberfest
Speaker 2So anyway, all right, so what do we got next?
Speaker 1now we got a big old stovepipe. There we go. All right, can. This is by raised grain, okay and this, this is their.
Speaker 1I'm gonna look up the info here. It is 5.9 and it's got a weird name to it. It's got a weird name. Oops, sorry, I'm trying to figure out. Nope, not that one. Talk amongst yourselves while I look Do-de-do-de-do oh boy, I tell you you'd think we'd be more professional than this. Oh, there it was. Where'd it go? All right, now I'm with it. 5.9% ABV and 22 IBUs. Okay, and this is Raised Grain Brewing and they are out of Waukesha, wisconsin. You see what the name of it is? Yep, doc-toberfest, doc, yes, okay, oh, it's the same thing on the can as what's on untapped. Precisely delicious, as you would expect a German lager brewed by two doctors to be, oh really, malty, smooth and crisp. The perfect brew any day. Let's hope so. So we'll see what if it has a medicinal taste since they're doctors?
Speaker 2Yeah, are they doctors like MD or they're like? Yeah, that's a good question, jim, I never would have thought of that. Or DVM like doctor, veterinary medicine, what exactly?
Speaker 1are you a doctor of and don't say loves. Oh, look at that, all right. Well, it's got similar color to the first two, so it's similar and, like I said, this is in a pint can, so again, you're a little more pot committed when you take this one.
Speaker 2Now the head is much whiter than the first two. It Now the head is much whiter than the first two. It's whiter, it's not as golden as the first two yeah, that is kind of interesting.
Speaker 1Not a lot of aroma, pretty muted, yeah, of course, now remember, the German ones are kind of the same.
Speaker 2So let's see.
Speaker 1There is like they might have. I feel like a whisper of aroma and flavor. For a second there, I thought we were oh this is getting to what we're and then gone and then just kind of a, it's a whisper.
Speaker 2Yeah, there's not a lot.
Speaker 1You know three cans in here. You might've ruined me. I might be a strictly German Oktoberfest guy now.
Speaker 2Yeah, this doesn't. You're not going to be scared of this, but there's not a lot of flavor there again.
Speaker 1Yeah, I'm trying to figure like that initial. When you first swallow you get that kind of what you'd expect, right a little bit. I mean it's muted, but it's you, it's there, and you think, oh, here we go, and then it's just gone.
Speaker 2It is like, wow, this is man I don't know, dude, this is, this is crazy, this is just this is crazy.
Speaker 1I don't understand. I just I'm scratching my head, I don't get it and you get to throw your score out first too.
Speaker 2I know that's going to be the.
Speaker 1I'm going to say this is better than the last one. Is it better than the first one? I'm going to say 2.1. Again, because I think it was on the right track track, but then the flavor dissipates real quick and you just, I'm expecting that big malty kind of flavor that we've known, yes, before, and it's just not there.
Speaker 2I'm disappointed. I thought some of these were going to be better. I'm just not getting the flavor that we're come to expect. And if you're gonna you know, buy a can of beer, especially oktoberfest it only comes out once a year you you're going to want some flavor. I'm right. I'm on the same score. I'm a 2.1. It's better than the first two, but only by the slightest of margins. Right, right, I agree it's not bad. It doesn't taste bad, there's not a bad finish, but there's just not a lot of the Marzon flavor that we're looking for could drink them.
Speaker 1And again, would you drink them? I'm sure you would. You know I, if somebody goes, hey, you want one of these, sure, if that's you know, not a problem. But yeah, it's just I don't know.
Fourth Tasting: Third Space Brewing
Speaker 1So far they're kind of we're three strikes and we're yeah, we got four more tries we're we're not doing good yet, no, no, well, you know, we're trying, trying the best we can, all right, well, so what do we got next? All right, so the next one, and let's see if I can get this info to work, right? Uh, oh, there's on the can. There's something on the can. All right, all right, this is by third space brewing. And does it say where they're out of should be milwaukee?
Speaker 2I think, I think you're yep milia walkay and big letters on the side.
Speaker 1There we go and this is their Oktoberfest Marzon-style lager and it says multi-lager beer, perfect for brisk weather and a festive ambiance.
Speaker 2I don't think we're, we don't have a real festive ambiance in the studio here.
Speaker 1Will that affect the flavor? Nah, oh, Throw on your lederhosen and find your. Can you read that last word? That's a big, long German word and I'm not exactly. Oh is that the.
Speaker 2Yeah, whatever that is gil kite, commute kite what?
Speaker 1is that the? That's not the. No, that's not the. Is it the top? No, I don't know. We'll have to look it up. Hopefully it's not a swear word.
Speaker 2No, I think it's a, it's part of the wardrobe, I think I think so, I just don't remember which one.
Speaker 1Okay, let's see what we got here. There we got a little color, a little more color. Yeah, maybe with this one will like actually might actually get us there reach us to where we were expecting to go.
Speaker 2Again, you can get a little bit of aroma, but not a whole lot.
Speaker 1There's a little bit of flavor there, a little more. It's a little more malty, I think, a little bit more malty. Yeah, it still does have a little bit of bitterness to it. Oh, I do do some research here Quick research, so that German word.
Speaker 2It's a concept embodying warmth, coziness and contentment, often experienced in good company, good company excluded. Present company excluded With a sense of belonging and social acceptance. Oh, okay, wow, nice, that's a lot of words.
Speaker 1Yeah, why did it say that? Because they had to put like four sentences in there and they could just use one word. Wow, nice, that's a lot of words. Yeah, why did it say?
Speaker 2that Because they had to put like four sentences in there and they could just use one word, right See? So the finish on this seems to linger a little bit.
Speaker 1Yeah, and, like I said to me, it's got a little bit of bitterness on the very finish. I don't know what that's from, but it's just kind of, you know, different, a little different, but it's getting closer. Yes, I give him credit. It's getting closer. The needle was stuck on the side here and I was like inch it, it's trying. Now it's like a quarter of a tank instead of almost on E it's trying to get towards halfway.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's working.
Speaker 1I don't know if we got to halfway yet. I don't think.
Speaker 2But it's just that it lingers. Yeah, and it's not the Marzon flavor that's lingering, it's the malt, or?
Speaker 1something, something lingers. We got a lingerer. Yeah, what score are you going to give this one?
Speaker 2Well, I do have to say there is some flavor. Is it the Marzon flavor that we know to be accurate? No, is it closer to a flavor that the first three did not have? Yes, so I'm gonna have to say a 2.2, I guess. So far, for me it is the best one so far, but it's. It's still not there, I don't think. But it's, there's flavor. The first three did not have any flavor. This has a little bit, so I guess that's what I'm going on okay, uh, I'm going to, uh, beg to differ.
Speaker 1Okay, I'm gonna go at 2.0. I just that, finish on it. That bitterness, it that's. What stands out to me is that and and I can't. When I taste it I get that brief maltiness, but then that's quickly overcome with that bitterness, yes, and I just kind of correct so I'm going to go 2.0. Again, it's not terrible, we're not saying that at all, but I just, you know, there's something, there's just something. Yeah, and compared to those and again, we shouldn't, if you wouldn't have brought up comparing it in my head to the German beers, but those were definitely, yes, good.
Speaker 2Very good.
Speaker 1Very good, and right now that yeah, we haven't found one, that's close to them yet no unfortunately Darn it.
Fifth Tasting: Sierra Nevada Collaboration
Speaker 2So we're off to the next one. Yeah, so my fingers are still crossed that we can eek something out, maybe. Maybe there's a chance we can do it.
Speaker 1Possibly, you never know. I mean, we've heard of this beer of this brewery, okay, you know. I mean, so I'm hoping that this uh gives us a little something extra here. So this is sierra nevada, okay, and this is their october fest, limited fest beer, all right, and they've also got these great big long Storchbechter Braunfactor, ooh say that twice, really fast.
Speaker 1Yeah, 6%, okay, 26 IBUs. So what that word mean, I'm not sure I have a description, though. Ah, it says our authentic German Fest is a collaboration with oh, that was the brewery. Oh, whoopsies.
Speaker 2All right.
Speaker 1So it's a collaboration with Storbecker, or however you pronounce it, an award-winning German brewer internationally recognized for quality and innovation. This modern fest beer leans into a rich, smooth malt backbone with notes of fresh-baked bread and honey. Traditional German hops provide balanced bitterness and herbal spicy aroma rounding out the crisp, clean finish. Prost, prost.
Speaker 2So we're going to have some honey and some herbs. Well, at least one of the people making the beer has made an october fest beer before. Yeah, okay, so now at least we're. Maybe we are moving into the right direction so we'll see.
Speaker 1Hopefully they they brought some of that experience, yes, uh, and such to this. Now, this is our first fest beer, okay, today. So again, it is a little bit lighter in color, a little lighter, which we would expect, because the fest beers, especially well, even the german ones, were kind of that lighter color. Now they can, you know, like we always said, it was the blue and white diamonds, this is black and yellow for, and diamonds and diamonds, yeah so and the head is very white Very white, very white.
Speaker 1It's got a little closer aroma to what there's not a lot, there's not a lot.
Speaker 2But you do a little bit, there's a little bit.
Speaker 1For a fest beer. For an American fest beer, this is kind of what I would expect, yeah.
Speaker 2It's not super hoppy, but you can get a little bit of that. Yeah, there's no bad finish. I don't taste anything bad.
Speaker 1Yeah, I don't get that bitterness like I had with the last one, I mean this one on the end you do get kind of that little bit of a hoppy. I don't know if I'm getting honey. Yeah, what they said about honey. I don't know if I get that at all, but you know, it's a little bit more of a not how do I say it kind of not a not good right bitterness.
Speaker 2You know what I'm saying. Yeah, and I wonder if the honey is making it a little smoother. It could be. It could be now because I don't really taste the honey, but it's making a little smoother maybe I don't know it could very well be, I don't know.
Speaker 1It's, uh it not bad at all. None of these have been terrible.
Speaker 2Even our scores aren't the greatest, but they're not terrible in any way, and I honestly can say that I haven't had a beer from the Stortenbecker brewery before, so I don't know how the other beers taste. We have had some Sierra Nevada before and they've always seemed to be pretty good and they've been around a long time.
Speaker 1They're a big craft brewery, so I don't know, I guess, uh, you're first boy. Where do I put that? Uh, I guess I'll go 2.2, 2.2. Yeah, I haven't used that yet. No, the next two I'm gonna really be mad because, but uh, again, I just, I don't really pick up a hint of honey, which is good, because typically I don't care for honey beers, but that's not really what stands out to me. What's lingering for me is kind of that little bit of a hoppy flavor.
Speaker 2Almost like a dryness. Yes, my mouth is like a little bit dry. There you go, perfect, but it doesn't taste like a hop. So I wonder that's what's weird. I mean because it's not hoppy, but your mouth is dry, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what's causing it, because I guess we haven't had many Oktoberfests that have been hoppy like that Right.
Speaker 2But I know this is a fest beer, so again, I'm still kind of like. So I guess I'm actually going to say a 2.4. I guess then, for me, the reason why I say that is so, of these first five, this probably has the most flavor. Is it the right flavor? I can't say that it is, but it's the most flavor, yeah. So I'm kind of reverting back and I'm stepping in and out of my rules. I guess it's not bad. I don't think you could be scared away by it, because it's not. It doesn't have a terrible taste, it's just a little different.
Speaker 2It's just like that dry. Could I drink a six pack? I don't know if I could. The other ones I think I could, just because there was no bad aftertaste but there was no flavor. But this one I don't know if I could drink it right anymore.
Speaker 1Yep, I hear you and, like I said, it's just that dryness that it's different. And again, this was our first. I don't know if we have another one, but a fest beer, right, you know. So it should be a little different than the other ones, but it's still when that, when that has the most flavor, so far it's.
Speaker 2That's scary a little bit. Yeah, we still haven't made a single yet. We're still well. We've had some fall balls?
Speaker 1yeah, we were following them off. You know we're hanging tight.
Speaker 2We're still at the plate, but we haven't really hit anything.
Sixth Tasting: Lake Louie Oktoberfest
Speaker 1But unfortunately we just haven't quite got plate, but we haven't really hit anything, but unfortunately we just haven't quite got Solid content. Yeah, we haven't found our pitch to hit yet. Oh, and I lied, this is a fest beer as well. The next one is next to each other. There we go. That worked out, yeah, so this one. The next one here is by Lake Louie Brewing, and they're out of Verona, wisconsin.
Speaker 1They moved Because they were an arena and then they got bought out by Wisconsin Brewing Okay. And then they got rid of the Wisconsin Brewing name and went under Lake Louie because they had better distribution. Oh, so this is their October Fest Beer. Okay, so this is their October Fest beer. Okay, the description says a malty and light lager based on the traditional German style of beer that will bring music to your mouth. And this is 6.4% ABV. And it didn't say what the IBUs were on it. I guess there is some. There's more on the can. I don't know if you want to. Should I give her a whirl? Give her a whirl Because, again, they write things in micro print.
Speaker 2All right, here we go. We love Oktoberfest beers. I think I'm saying it right Be-i-ers, be-i-ers, but our brewers were flummoxed.
Speaker 1Hmm, flummoxed.
Speaker 2Yeah, they were confused, okay good answer when choosing between a traditional Marzan and modern Festbier. So they split the difference and crafted an easy drinking lager with a malty backdrop using German heritage malts. I was like German, you can't.
Speaker 1That's like ambiance. You can't put that in a can.
Speaker 2Okay, it's as tasty as the festive sounds of the tuba section in a umpah band. Oh, there we go.
Speaker 1All right.
Speaker 2Nice and he's got beer spirit spilling out of his tuba. Oh yeah, his tuba's full of beer. Wow, I don't know if I can drink that one. That dude can party. That can party. That's like the biggest beer bong we've ever seen.
Speaker 1Yeah exactly, so this should be a good comparison to the last one to see. Yes, right off the bat, this one is a little bit darker in color.
Speaker 2Yep, even the head is even a little bit. Yeah, it's not the pale white like the last one no.
Speaker 1So I'm kind of intrigued here. All right, fingers are crossed, pretty much no aroma. What is the deal with no aroma lately? They're afraid I guess must be all right. Well, that's got a little more of a malty. Yeah, there's some flavor. That's interesting to compare those two, they're both fespiers, but they taste vastly different. Yes, Interesting.
Speaker 2This one doesn't have a dry finish. No, this one might be the best so far. That's kind of where I'm leaning right now, and I'm not saying that to be derogatory. I just I don't. It might be, because I mean, we're just like incrementally working our way up.
Speaker 1It is odd, dude, because you remember the scores we gave, the German ones, they were all in the threes when they were or three or higher Up, where twos and I think our highest one was like 3.6.
Speaker 1Yeah, we haven't had anything yet that even remotely close to that, but this one is definitely. I think this is one is probably the best one so far, which is is good they've had. Uh, lake louis has some really good beers. Yes, you know their warp speed scotch ale is really good. So this, yeah, I'm impressed with this one.
Speaker 2It's I'd even say I'm gonna go out on a limb, I'm gonna say 2.5. I think we found one to hit the middle. Okay, um, is it where the german beers are? No. Is it got some flavor? Yes. Is it a bad flavor? No, and it doesn't have that dry aftertaste. So I'm just trying to nitpick back and forth. I think it's still okay. I think it's okay.
Speaker 1I think you could drink this yeah, I agree, I could definitely drink this. I'm gonna go at 2.6, oh yeah I'm really going crazy you're really up there I, I like I said I think this is closer to the flavor that I was expecting. Yes, you know. So, yeah, good job, lake Louis, because, like I said, I could drink, you could drink a couple of these. Yes, I could definitely drink a couple cans of this and not be like you know halfway through the second one.
Speaker 2The only thing that I vaguely remember from the German Fest beers is they seem to have a little bit more of a floral aroma, you know, a little bit more, and these two did not have that.
Speaker 1Yeah you're right there. The aromas was almost nothing, right?
Final Tasting: New Glarus Staghorn
Speaker 2so yeah so that might be the one thing. If they do make these, maybe they could add a little, just so, if they're going to go with a Fest beer, I'd maybe, you know add that part to it. Yep, I would agree with you there. All right, so we're up to our last one now.
Speaker 1Yep, and I know we've always had some good beers from this brewery oh, yeah, all right, so, and they don't have a, I'll go back to the original. Okay, now we have, now we got some info. Yes, now this is their 2025 version as well. Okay, this is by new glaris, nice, or, as a lot of other states are, the Spotted Cow Company.
Speaker 2Oh, yes, because they like Spotted Cow.
Speaker 1Yes, this is their Oktoberfest and it is called Staghorn Oktoberfest. All right, 6.25% doesn't say IBUs. Okay, here's what it says on untapped, 100% natural great Midwestern and European malts, the world's most expensive hops, fresh yeast from Germany and clear Wisconsin water make our Staghorn Oktoberfest Wisconsin's real red. Hmm, you will find absolutely no additives, preservatives or artificial agents of any kind in this beer. Wow, staghorn is brewed using the time-honored methods to release the smooth flavor of our roasted malts. This october fest combines a smooth, amber body with a clean, crisp finish. Be sure to hold this one up to the light of any harvest moon and enjoy wisconsin's real, real red. All right, now they have, uh, and I don't have any of these. Uh, they have pairings on here. Uh, swedish meatballs, friday fish fry, hearty roast beef. And then cheeses should be green fields, cow milk, semi-soft washed rind saxon cream, rind Saxon Creamery.
Speaker 2Don't have any of that either. Well, if you just make some of that food, I'll be happy with that. I'm sure you would. So, yeah, all right.
Speaker 1Well, after all that, let's hope that it tastes good, I'm hoping, and this is the only one we had in a bottle, yes, so All right.
Speaker 2Well, let's's our fingers across for the last one, that we get one good one.
Speaker 1Yeah, I'm hoping, because with a write-up like that, you know the fact that there's no preservatives and or artificial flavors or anything. Is that red? Uh? Well, yeah, kinda, it's kind of, you know, ish red, ish amber, ish reddish. I guess I'd say amber. But all right, that's just me, okay. All right, you get a little bit of a little bit of an aroma not a huge amount, A little bit.
Speaker 2That's not bad. It's not bad.
Speaker 1I was going to say it's definitely closer to what I was hoping that they were all going to be.
Speaker 2I mean, the finish is smooth. There's not any real flavor that's sticking out, right. So it's all kind of working together really good. There's no bitterness to it, right, might be the best one of this category.
Speaker 1Yeah, I guess we saved the best two for last. Yeah.
Speaker 2Which is good. I mean, it's not bad. I mean, if you offered me a couple of these, I think I could taste, I could drink them. Oh yeah, for sure. I agree with you on that and like the first three really lacked in flavor. Then we did step it up, but it was kind of a weird flavor. Then we went to the Festbier's, who had a different flavor.
Speaker 1This one is it's not there, but it's pointing in the right direction. It's pointing. Yes, with the German ones. Yep, I would agree with you there. So you get to go first. Then I do like this one. I think this is probably the best one. I'm going to go like a 2.7. All right, I think it's just slightly better than Lake Louis, but it's definitely, I think, the best one today.
Speaker 2Right, I echo everything you said. I mean it's good. I mean, is it 100% accurate? German Marzahn? No, but I think that of this category and of these beers, I would recommend, if you're a first-time Oktoberfest drinker, maybe start with this one, because this is the closest. If you don't have access to the german ones. This is probably the closest of this group towards the german. I don't know, what do you think I'd agree?
Speaker 1I agree with you 100. I think we ruined ourselves with that german one because, like I said it was, it set the taste expectations right, uh, and going into, you know we had talked about it before even then that that the american versions, the flavors, are all over the board, right, you know it's, it's just kind of crazy and yeah, I'd say I'd start with this one. If you've never had an oktoberfest, you know people may still be like, oh, that's really malty or really strong or something, but it's, it's, you're gonna like this one better because there really isn't any bitterness. Drinks really smooth, and you know 6.25. Yeah, you know you can drink a couple of them. Oh, yeah, you know for sure. And uh, be fine. So yeah, I agree with you, man yep, and I forgot my.
Speaker 2My score is a 2.6 oh, okay, so that is my, my best one of the day too, so perfect.
Speaker 1So, yeah, I guess, uh, again, we totally ruined ourselves.
Wrap-up and Final Thoughts
Speaker 2We should have saved the german ones for last, maybe because well, but I think on a good point for the listeners is we, we know, I mean we can actually talk intelligently about the Oktoberfest beers. Right, did we kind of spoil ourselves? Yes, but we're telling at least the listeners have a very good idea now what we're talking about when we talk about some of these Oktoberfest beers, because I think, knock on wood, we might be able to have another episode of some Oktoberfest beers in the future. Okay, yep, to see how they measure up too. I mean, this wasn't. I mean especially, you can just look at our scores. We didn't measure up to the German ones. No, no.
Speaker 2This was a little bit of a letdown and again, like I think you said numerous times, none of these were bad. They're not offensive anyway, but they're just not to that level the German beers that we say are. I mean, that's the gold standard by the Oktoberfest beers, and if that's where they're aiming for, some have some work to go to get there and others are almost there. Yep.
Speaker 1I agree with you and like we said earlier, I think the Staghorn and then the Lake Louis, I think, were the top two by far and I guess I'd look at those first and if you get a chance, try any of them. But if you have never headed to Oktoberfest, I would A look for a German one first. But of this group I'd look for the Nuclearis, staghorn and then the Lake Louis, and then you'll at least get a decent representation.
Speaker 2Yes, and I do think on our horizon we might be able to find, you know, because it is getting turn and fall. Yep, I did find some more squash type-ish.
Speaker 1Oh boy.
Speaker 2Squish beers yeah, we might be able to wrestle up a few to make it our podcast. Okay To see, because I know we did have one, a couple, yep, yeah, one was last week. Okay, we did one on Pumpkin beer. Do I say the P word?
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah yeah, I can say the pumpkin word?
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah, so it was a squash. Now maybe we can find some more, because those ones last week were actually decent. Yeah, they were pretty good, so I don't know. Somebody's going to have to twist our arm or the audience, not real hard. To see if we can do something, because this didn't turn out like I had expected.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's still something, like I said, american companies try to take a little hint from. I know you're trying to make your own kind of niche and such, but sometimes if it ain't broke you shouldn't try and fix it, you know. So, yeah, and like I said, jim, I will. Uh, when we get done here, I'm gonna look up what that gentleman said online. Okay, the one that we missed, all right, and we'll have to be on the lookout for another time to see if we can find it all right, and we put it probably put it in the comments.
Speaker 2So rake and see what yep perfect we can definitely do that.
Speaker 1So, all right, well, right, well, hey, jim, thanks for digging up some American Oktoberfest. No problem, a couple of fest beers Fest beers, you know and, like I said, we will see if we can find some other ones that maybe are a little bit better. Hopefully how do I say this? Better, so awesome. Well, ladies and gentlemen, thanks for listening and, like we always say, I hope your campfire is always warm and your beers are always cold. See ya, bye. 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 front request Until next week. I hope all your campfires are warm and all your beer is cold.
