Spaten Oktoberfest Beer
October 9, 2009
I’ve been reading Scott’s Oktoberfest beer reviews on The Brew Club with considerable interest, and was pleasantly surprised when recently I stumbled across some genuine German Oktoberfest beers.
These go back to the origins of the original Munich Oktoberfest which was first held in October 1810 to celebrate the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later to become King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Since then the “Oktoberfump” (as it was originally known) has moved its date to start in late September and runs until early October.
In 2008 the Munich Oktoberfest welcomed over six million visitors who consumed some one and three quarter million pints of fine Bavarian lagers, accompanied by over a hundred roast oxen!
The festival actually starts at noon on September 20th when the Lord Mayor of Munich ‘taps’ a keg of Oktoberfestbier from the 600 year old ‘Spaten’ brewery and announces “O’zapft is!” – “it’s tapped!”. So I thought it would be appropriate to review this year’s offering from Spaten.
Traditionally Oktoberfest beers were ‘Marzen’ beers, brewed in the spring and then ‘lagered’ through the summer ready for consumption in the autumn. But on initial pouring it was apparent that this ain’t a Marzen, they’re usually a distinctive burnished gold colour, closer to a ‘Vienna’ lager than a pale pilsner, this is a pale gold.
When Scott reviewed Spaten’s Oktoberfest Bier last year he described it as “kind of a dark golden color” and that (despite his spelling of the word colour) is what I was expecting. Quite frankly, this looked as though someone else had already consumed it and (ahem) recycled it.
There was no nose to speak of, and while the head was full and frothy it soon subsided leaving a distinctly average beer. There was a reasonable malty flavour hiding away in the background, but what was missing was any hoppy ‘bite’ to balance that malty sweetness.
I was, like Scott “unimpressed”.
The Spaten Oktoberfest is brewed to a respectable 5.9% ABV, but frankly, I think if I was looking for a stronger lager, then I’d probably head for Carlsberg Elephant.
But I’d more likely stick with a good 5% lager like Staropramen and maybe have a second one!
Rating: 
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Posted in 2 Star Reviews, European Beers, Lager, Seasonal Beers, Views from a Brit
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October 9th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I’m glad they don’t use Oktoberfump anymore. The marketing people would have a real hard time with that one! Nice review Bob, I skipped the Spaten Oktoberfest Beer this year!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Left Hand Oktoberfest Beer =-.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I wish I’d skipped it. It’s even worse when you buy it in the green bottles, a mistake I made this year, which gives it that “skunky” flavor. I just don’t understand why they do that, or who that flavor profile appeals to.
I did a round up of some Oktoberfests and other fall seasonals here: http://i-love-beer.blogspot.com/2009/10/big-beer-weekend.html
.-= Lee Nichols´s last blog ..Big Beer Weekend =-.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Hey Lee, thanks for stopping in. I wasn’t impressed w/ Spaten last year, and as we can see above Bob wasn’t impressed w/ it this year! Thanks for the link, sounds like something worth checking out!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen Beer Review =-.
September 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
A very fair and accurate assessment by Bob the Brit and other reviers.
I can attest that the 2010 Oktoberfest batch is bland and tasteless.
The Oktoberfest was one of my favorite seasonal draft beers. The quality on the bottled batch is non-descript. It is a sub-average beer nowadays.
September 20th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@JC- Glad you agree, I just wish we were agreeing that it was a good Oktoberfest rather than a bland one!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sierra Nevada Tumbler 2010 =-.