Written by As Scott observed recently in his review of Left Hand Oktoberfest beer for The Brew Club, the purists would have you believe that a true Oktoberfest beer can only be brewed by one of the ‘big six’ breweries in Munich.
Well a Lowenbrau (literally “Lion’s Brew”) was first brewed in the Lion’s Inn (Zum Löwen) in Munich 1383; whether the Lowenbrau we now enjoy can trace its roots back to that original brew is a matter for conjecture, but you need to remember that that pre-dates Columbus by over a hundred years.
Lowenbrau was probably at its most popular in the nineteen seventies and eighties when it was brewed globally under licence – by Miller in the US, Molson in Canada and Ind Coope in the UK as I recall. A change of policy in 2002 (maybe they spoke to the brewmaster at Staropramen) means that Lowenbrau is now brewed in Munich and exported globally.
This has meant some subtle changes in the beer recipes, the Oktoberfest Bier brewed under licence in the old days was a ‘Marzen’, while today it’s paler, closer to the regular Lowenbrau brew, but still brewed to over 6%.
Lowenbrau was always a favourite of mine when I was younger, and I was looking forward to this, until I read The Professor’s comment to Scott’s review of Left Hand Oktoberfest Beer:
“Lowenbrau Oktoberfest has been a disappointment in recent years. 40 years ago it was a big favorite of mine when it was actually a Maerzen style beer.
As of a few years ago, after a long absence, Munich brewed Lowenbrau Oktoberfest is back in the US but it is unfortunately a different brew than it was; it is now merely a stronger version of their standard pale lager (unless they’ve changed something back in the last 2 years). The deep flavor of the old brew as well as the beautiful dark amber/copper color is gone.”
And The Professor is right, this is simply a beefed up lager, like the Spaten Oktoberfestbier I reviewed recently. It shows no subtlety, no complexity, no artistry in it’s brewing. I actually preferred the flavour of the Lowenbrau offering over the Spaten, but not by much.
Rating: 
I’m sure that when quaffed by the stein in a tent in Munich these beers go down a treat, but as examples of the brewers art, frankly they’re not worth exporting. What’s your take?
“… the Oktoberfest Bier brewed under licence in the old days was a ‘Marzen’, while today it’s paler, closer to the regular Lowenbrau brew…”
Correct on the second point, but regarding the first–I don’t ever recall seeing Lowenbrau Okoberfest during the period when Miller was making the Lowenbrau brand under license in the USA. I do know for sure though that the Lowenbrau Maerzen Okoberfest brew that I quaffed regularly in the early 70′s was _definitely_ Munich brewed. I still have a couple of the peeled off labels somewhere.
I don’t think that the disastrous Miller contract arrangement kicked in until the mid 70′s but when it did, there was no Lowenbrau Oktoberfest to be seen here in NJ …neither domestic nor imported, only US brewed versions of the regular helles and the dunkeles (and both of these were noticeably thinner and less flavorful than the real thing)
I would agree though that even the current Helles version of their Oktoberfestbier does go down quite nicely…it’s a very good beer…but I do still miss the richness of the old Maerzen version. Hacker-Pschorr comes somewhat close with their Maerzen.
I wish I had the chance to try a Lowenbrau Oktoberfest. Afte rall, it is my favorite style. I have gone through a few of them this year. Flying Dog Dogtoberfest seems to be my favorite. I am drinking another Left Hand Oktoberfest right now. It is good, but it just doesn’t seem to fit into that style I enjoy.
Either way, like the post.
Prosit!
.-= Good Burp´s last blog ..A man becomes a Brewmaster =-.
@The Professor – thanks again for filling in some of the background of this beer. I imagine that ‘way back when’ there weren’t so many choices as there are today. It is too bad though what happened, it seems to be a common thread in the beer industry. Maybe we’ll see it again someday like it was in the past.
@GoodBurp – We recently tried the Left Hand (link below comment) and I thought it was pretty good. A little more malty than hoppy, which I like. Have you tried Harpoon’s Oktoberfest? You might like that one.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Left Hand Oktoberfest Beer =-.
Agreed fellas.
As we discussed last year the typical Oktoberfest brew’s are meant to be Marzens and generally in country, the beers not served in the tents (the non participant brewers) do stick to the more traditional Marzen way.
What I’ve found is that the Fest beer is usually weaker to make it available for the masses. Maybe the big brewers in Munich are following the idea of normalising beer. I know that this is especially true with their exports.
Still the thing is, once you’ve had a litre or 6, it’s all just becomes beer
@Nate – Interesting observations. I just had the HB Oktoberfest and wow was it bland. I’m so used to trying the American craft Oktoberfests, and even the ones from Beck’s and Ayinger were much better. Would be a shame if the Festbiers were being ‘dumbed down’ but maybe that’s what the masses want.
Still, after 6 or so, who cares! Cheers!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Samuel Adams Octoberfest =-.