Beck’s Oktoberfest Beer Review
September 21, 2009
Beck’s Oktoberfest makes it as part of this year’s ‘Oktoberfestathon’ where The Brew Club tries to sample as many Oktoberfest and Pumpkin flavored beers as possible before we become utterly sick of the concept. (Or when Autumn ends, whichever comes first!)
The Becks Oktoberfest isn’t one that I normally think of as an option, and I’m not sure why. Usually when I think Oktoberfest the math is something like this. German beer + Oktoberfest = Paulaner, Spaten or Hacker Pschorr.
According to the label on my Beck’s Oktoberfest bottle, and the Beck’s website, this beer is brewed according to the German Purity Law of 1516 so from that standpoint its legit, but how does it stack up to the aforementioned German brews in the tast department?
I had to use a lager glass for this beer – the slightly more suitable glasses were all in the dishwasher when I decided to have this one! The beer pours a very nice amber color, quite appropriate for the season and similar to the other Oktoberfest beers mentioned. The Beck’s Oktoberfest created a huge foamy head, just slightly off white in color that really took a good bit of time to fizzle out.
Taking a whiff of this Beck’s brew, it seems to be the malty breadyness that the other Oktoberfest beers I’ve sampled have demonstrated to differing degrees. The smell to me was dominated by malt, and a sweetness too, much like caramel. Quite nice I thought.
Getting on to the taste, I thought that the Beck’s Oktoberfest was very close to the aroma. Very malty and ‘bready’ with a caramel type of thing going on as well. The beer was smooth and while there was a touch of bite from the hops in the finish that I cold feel on the tongue, I really didn’t pick up much in the way of hops in the taste. Its in there, I just couldn’t taste it that well!
I’m going to have to do some research to see how Beck’s is considered among the beer nerds, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this particular Oktoberfest beer! I dig malty beers, and this one hit the spot! I guess in a way I think the Beck’s, while somewhat typical for the style, does typical very well and to me tagged all the bases.
At the same time Beck’s is fairly common in my area – its all over the place! If you’re looking for a real German Oktoberfest beer, it might not be the ‘best-of-breed’, but I think you could do much worse than a Beck’s Oktoberfest.
So, I’m going to give this beer a 3 star rating which is better than the Spaten, on-par with the Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest, but not as good as the Paulaner Oktoberfest which was my personal favorite. What do you think?
Rating: 
Have you tried the Beck’s Oktoberfest? Better yet, what’s your favorite Oktoberfest beer?
Prost!
Posted in 3 Star Reviews, Ales, European Beers
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September 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
I’m amazed I haven’t seen this before. I’m wondering if it’s made for the export market only. I’ll have to go beer shopping soon I reckon. I’m not a fan of the ubiquitous regular Becks, but I’ll try anything once. Maybe even twice!
Barry M´s last blog ..Kirsch Porter
September 21st, 2009 at 10:46 am
Barry, I see it in many places but I think it looks too much like the regular stuff to really stand out on the shelf as an Oktoberfest brew. You might just be overlooking it!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – Beer Review
September 21st, 2009 at 11:21 am
I’ve never seen this one before either. I am interested to try it but I really dislike Beck’s normal brew. Sadly they haven’t rolled out many seasonal beers around here yet. I really want some, but nothing yet. Not even Sam’s Oktoberfest. They still have Summer Ale on the shelves.
Nate´s last blog ..Sam Calagione and Dogfish Head
September 21st, 2009 at 11:41 am
Yeah, over here (I’m living in Germany this past year) they sell them by the crate, and they do all look the same when you’re faced with a wall of them
Barry M´s last blog ..Kirsch Porter
September 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Wow. Nate, I started seeing Oktoberfest stuff in mid-August! Where are you located?
Barry, maybe it is export-only? Do other German brewers roll out Oktoberfest beers? I think in the States its starting to become more of a popular trend than in years past so maybe it is special stuff for export. Weird.
Scott-TheBrewclub´s last blog ..Post Road Pumpkin Ale
September 21st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
They sure do. Blue and white check patterns seem to spread around this time of year
I’ll ask my colleagues about the Becks one and see if I can get a bottle. I’m curious!
Barry M´s last blog ..Kirsch Porter
September 21st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Over the weekend I did a blind tasting of 12 oktoberfest beers. Some pretty interesting results. It’s amazing how much our impression of a beer can be skewed by the brand. The three of us participating tried to guess each beer and we all guessed Paulaner to be associated with one of the best tasting. I’ll be posting out results int he next week or so, but the Pauliner received on of the worst scores and shocked us all.
Simply Beer´s last blog ..Beer Brawl™ 25 – Pumpkin Beer
September 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
@SimplyBeer – WOW. That’s something! I’d never be able to guess what beer was what especially with 12 of them on the table. Still, I’m curious to see the results when they get posted. Be sure to stop back and let us know when that post is up. I pet a lot of people would be curious to see how their own favorite Oktoberfest brew fares!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer Review-Tusker Kenyan Lager
September 21st, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I am in Lubbock, Texas which just became a wet town a week ago. No stores are selling it yet but they should be next week. I have to drive outside of the city limits to get beer and they just don’t have a great selection. Seasonals seem to be neglected at best. At least they have DFH Punkin Ale!
Nate´s last blog ..BR #26 Maudite
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 am
First time visiting your site and you spelled the word “taste” wrong. Uh…
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 am
Sorrie Jeff. Sumtimez speling is hard for me. I hope u kan forgiv me for hurting yor ize by having 2 reed such a perverziun of speling rulze. I will studie much harder two night and everie nite so ewe are happyer next tyme eu com heer. I kant beleeve I left out won lettur from the word ‘tast’! I think eye foregot allettur but eye dont no which goez there. Kan U reply bak and help me? Pleeze help me. Eye am verie upset that i did that. Eye wil never forgiv meyeself.
Skot-ThuBrueKlub´s last blog ..Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – Beer Review
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
This is the only marzen the Oktoberfest festival by me has each year. I had a good amount of it last year and look forward to having more this year.
Mike´s last blog ..Pumpkinhead Ale
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I like your theme. I’ll be honest though. I like my Keith’s beer and not really into all these other ones. Interesting though. I’ll have to come back here if I ever decide to try something different.
MacBros´s last blog ..Season Premiers!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I’ll be adding you to my blogroll too.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
You are now blog rolled. Just so I know where to find you again.
Cheers!
macbros´s last blog ..Season Premiers!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for stopping in! I do hope you’ll return someday and let us know how it goes venturing out. Hey, if you ever want do do a guest review on Kieth’s (I’ve never heard of it!) the door is open! TNX for the add!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Lucky Beer and Bintang Beer Reviews
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 am
A couple of interesting observations, firstly I’m somewhat frustrated that this has made it to the States but not to the UK… ah well, that’s global economics for you.
And secondly it’s interesting that Beck’s are brewing this beer. As I recall Bremen doesn’t hold an Oktoberfest, it’s a Munich/Bavaria thing (hence the blue an white checkers mentioned by Barry M) and hasn’t really travelled as far as Bremen.
I’m sure it will though, you can’t keep a good excuse for a party down!
Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Hobson’s Choice
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 am
Oh, it’s everywhere, Bob. I live in Münster, in the same half of Germany as Bremen. The local volunteer fire fighters ran an Oktoberfest gig a couple of weekends ago, complete with tent and silly drinking hats. There’s another one happening in a nearby village this weekend. This morning I passed a small local bar which was bedecked with Paulaner flags and big blue and white banners. The supermarkets have stocked up on Oktoberfest, or at least Bavarian beers. I’ll be out on the town tomorrow night, so I’m sure I’ll see more of the same. It’s ok with me, I guess
On consideration, it’s a bloody good marketing tool for the Munich, and indeed Bavarian brewers.
Barry M´s last blog ..Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 am
For some reason I can’t get into Octoberfest brews this year. Maybe I have to do a tasting like SimplyBeer to get the juices flowing. Every time I see one on the shelf I pass it by. Maybe my attitude will change with the leaves.
BTW, Scott, I think you spellnig is jest fin.
Jim´s last blog ..It’s the Great Pumpkin!
November 27th, 2009 at 4:13 am
I’m having one of these right now. It’s ok, but I wouldn’t drink it all the time or go out of my way to get it again. It almost has a tootsie roll flavor after taste