Sprecher Oktoberfest

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

The first thing that struck me about this beer is the palate. Nice and full and smooth. Smooth being the key word. Somewhat full bodied and sweet, with notes of caramel sugar. Mild maltiness to accentuate. Tasty beer.

A nice color, but w/little head. This flavor is hard to identify. I’m not sure if there is a little caramel and caffeine in this. Overall, this is a bit too malty, but excellent for the style (and dark for the style too).

16 oz bottle. Gotta love the Sprecher pint bottles...hazy light caramel-amber complexion, unfiltered? with a vast, beautiful off-white creamy head that lasts, and lasts...nose is piny and herbal and a touch peaty...fairly hoppy, somewhat thin body at first, though it develops some nice caramel at midpalate and an odd but not unattractive ashy burnt quality late...dry finish. Odd bird this, and somewhat of a disappointment from this above-average brewer.

Light on the malt which lead to little body and did nothing to balance the hop profile. Minimal aroma, lacking a decent head and a nothing on the finish. Very average.

Light aroma of, oddly, Phad Thai and minimal malt. Light amber color; it looks like a Vienna. Simple but appropriate malt flavor, however, it lacks body. OK for the style.

Aroma is very buttery and deep such that it’s not difficult to accidentally draw the liquid into the nasal passages. Flavor is strong and caramel malty, not enough hop presence but still very good for the style. Compared to [some] of the other mediocre Oktofest offerings I would recommend definitely giving this a try.

Original rating, 09/23/2005: 7, 4, 6, 2, 13 = 3.2

Pours a flat, caramel/orange with a nice, creamy head to start and a touch of particulate in the body. Aromas are well-malted with caramel and buttery nuts. Flavor is a bit dirty, with full-malted sweetness to start, ending mildly bitter. There’s a metallic presence to the ending... I think I’m going to start blaming the below-listed store for this. Maybe something is seeping up into the bottles from their shelves. It seems that 50-60% of the beers I’ve purchased there finish metallic. Or maybe it’s just my dumb luck. Anyway, the Oktoberfest is a nice offering and I’d like to enjoy it again... purchased from a different location.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Bridgeview, IL</font>

Re-rate, 10/05/2007: 7, 4, 7, 4, 16 = 3.8


Well, I just purchased an obviously fresher bottle over the weekend and I can say things took a turn for the better. Similar in appearance and aroma as before with an addition of mild nobles. No "dirtiness" nor metallics in the flavor nor finish, instead this stays focused on the sweet caramels and herbal bitters. Decidedly malty. Mid-bodied with a clean finish. Much better!

<font size=-4>Purchased at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/sycamo Discount Liquors, Sycamore, IL 60178</font>

I’m not a big lover of Oktoberfest style beer, but Sprecher does it right. Gorgeous dark copper with a rich tan head. The head & foam are thick and yeasty. Has the aroma of a caramel sticky bun. The flavor is a bit on the shy side, and needs more presence of malt. The hops appear late, but WOW, what an appearance!! Excellent finish and medium bitter after-taste. Good job, Mr. Sprecher!