Falling for Oktoberfest beers

In My Glass

By Rob Kasper

September 17, 2008

Brewers get creative just in time for Oktoberfest. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis / September 5, 2008)

Oktoberfest is the most wonderful time of the year for beer drinkers. This sudsy celebration dates to the 1810 marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. In Munich, the Oktoberfest party starts Sept. 20 and runs for 16 days. In America, the revelry lingers well into October. Along the way, plenty of Oktoberfest beers - traditionally a Marzen-style lager with strong malt notes, nutty flavor and a crisp finish - are downed.

American brewers have embraced the fest and each fall turn out a number of Oktoberfest lagers. Lately, the fall seasonal brews in America have also included a number of autumn ales, and pumpkin-flavored brews. Recently, I was on a panel of eight professional beer drinkers who sampled all that Oktoberfest had to offer in a blind tasting.

There were 42 bottles of beer, disguised in brown bags, sitting on the tables. We were impressed with the German and American lagers, were less than enthusiastic about the autumn ales, and groaned as we tasted the pumpkin beers.

Here is what we liked:

Best of the brews

Best American Oktoberfest beers

Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Boston Beer Co. $ 8.49 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Republic National.

Great malt, clean finish, with all the flavors and aromas the style is known and loved for.

Mendocino Oktoberfest Lager

Mendocino Brewing Co., Saratoga Springs, N.Y. $6.99 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Legends.

This brew had excellent nutty notes, and was the bargain of the field.

Clipper City MarzHon

Clipper City Brewing Co., Baltimore. $8.49 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Republic National.

This is a year-round favorite that is now stressing its Oktoberfest roots; a classic Marzen.

Best German Oktoberfest beers

Paulaner Oktoberfest

Paulaner Brewing, Munich, Germany. $8.99 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Republic National.

Malty and crisp, this is a beer Ludwig and Therese would have been happy to serve at their shindig.

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen

Brewed and bottled by Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer, Aying, Germany. $4 for a 16.9-ounce bottle. Distributed locally by Reliable Churchill.

This brew has clean malt notes with a pleasing bite on the finish.

Erdinger Oktoberfest Weizen

Erdinger Weissbrau, Erding, Germany. $8.99 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Legends.

Who knew an unpasteurized wheat beer could taste toasty?

Best autumn ales

Weyerbacher Autumn Fest

Weyerbacher Brewing Co., Easton, Pa. $10.59 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Legends.

This is a clean, nutty brew.

Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter

Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, Pa. $8.49 a six-pack. Distributed locally by DOPS.

This easy-to-drink porter has smooth mouth feel and nice chocolate-malt notes.

Best pumpkin beers

Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout

Cape Ann Brewing Co., Gloucester, Mass., $9.99 a six-pack. Distributed locally by Legends.

This brew has pumpkin-spice aromas that are superseded by chocolate-stout flavor.

Southampton Pumpkin Ale

Southampton Publick House, Southampton , N.Y. $5 a 22-ounce bottle. Distributed locally by Sanders.

There is real pumpkin in here, but it still tastes like real beer.

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