Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Aying, Germany

(500 ml bottle: $1.99 at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) Moderately sweet, malty and mildly caramely, with a gentle bitterness. This is lighter than most American Oktoberfests, and is less flavorful than even some of the other imported German Oktoberfests, but it still has a nice classic German maltiness. The nose isn’t especially aromatic either, but it’s noticeably malty, just with less richness and character than others I’ve had. Soft, smooth palate, well carbonated, easy to drink. Medium golden color seems pretty light for the style, and the moderate cloudiness was a surprise, but then I noticed a fair amount of sediment in the bottom of the bottle. Whitish head pours to about an inch, and has great staying power, leaving deposits lots of lace on the glass as I drink the beer. It’s not a great beer, but it’s a nice, simple Oktoberfest that tries to finess its way to your taste buds. I guess the issue is that when I’m in the mood to drink a German Oktoberfest, I’m looking for a solid maltiness, and this just comes up a bit short.

The aroma is grainy and has mild floral hops, incense, and caramel malt. The appearance is red/copper with a foamy head that turned a little clumpy. The flavor is very malty and has plenty of caramel and some honey. It’s a simple taste but good. The palate is just right for the style but finishes papery. Very nice and true to the style but, it did have a couple of issues.

Rated 9/22/02: Pours a somewhat cloudy amber color, the head is frothy, voluminous, the lace in large sheets. Malt nose, front is lightly sweet, the top is light, the finish is nicely hopped, a bit dry, light to moderate carbonation. A decent drinking beer, not great, but good. Ranks #899 on my current 1000 beer master list.

Pours a deep bronze/golden with off-white head. Thick quality malt aroma with a hint of spicyness. Flavor is very malty, and hint of sweetness, bready. It’s bitterness is extremely light, however it’s still balanced. However, it’s nothing great, especially compared to Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest.

Clear light amber body with a small frothy off-white head. Sweet dark malt aroma with a touch of spice. Very sweet light caramel and dark malt flavor.

Bottle: The aroma consists of light caramel, toffee, and earthy/herbal hops. It pours a bright transparent amber with a one-inch head that fades quickly to a minimal ring around the edges of the glass. The flavor starts with caramel and faint toffee. The finish has light-moderate toastinesss and light roastiness. Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation and slightly sticky mouthfeel.

Appearance: Served in an Ayinger glass, this beer pours a deep golden body with a frothy, off-white head. Very active bubbles. Smell: Light bready, toffee-scented aroma. Maybe some apples, too. Taste: Whoa, well, the malts are fairly played down flavor-wise. What remains is a restrained doughy flavor with a floral hoppiness. Noticeably more musty than other Oktoberfests. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation - nearly flat. Slight alcohol warming comes through in the finish. Drinkability: Not nearly as moving or stirring as some other Oktoberfests available.

Bottle pours light amber, small white milk froth like head, soft carbonation, with spotty lacing.   Malts and grain on the nose, slight caramel.   Very light tasting, malty with a subtle hop note.   Medium body and mouthfeel.   Finishes quickly, dry, with a slightly toasted malt flavor.   A pleasing Oktoberfest, albeit rather simple.