Beer Review: Samuel Adams Octoberfest

With the autumn season now here, I thought I'd take a look at some of the Marzenbier/Oktoberfest beers soon to be vying for your beer dollar. In the second installment of the Oktoberfest series, I review Samuel Adams Octoberfest.

I poured a 12 oz bottle with a best by date of Feb '09 into a standard pint glass. I would describe this as copper with a garnet hue, with good clarity and noticeably active carbonation.

This is malty in the nose. Not overly complex, just simple and sweet.

Upon tasting you immediately noticed the multi-layered malty goodness. This is hearty and rich, on the sweet side but never cloying. Hints of caramel, honey, and roasted grains play off of each other. This is crisply carbonated, there's certainly a lot to be said for getting a fresh sample. Imports can't touch this for freshness. It finishes nice and dry with a spicy kick from the surprisingly potent noble hops (abnormal for the style) to keeps things balanced.

The metallic undertone that is my primary irritant with most Samuel Adams lagers is also present here, but the depth and richness of this well constructed Marzenbier is hard to detract from. This has a medium, well-rounded body; somewhat viscous but with ample carbonation to keep it crisp and highly drinkable. Again, the word rich comes to mind. It's definitely more "rich" than it is "heavy", and each sip leaves you wanting another.

Some traditionalists will argue that caramel flavors are "inappropriate" for a "true" Marzenbier. Well I taste caramel notes, and I'm fine with that. It tasted good, and that's the point, right? With 5 varieties of malt (3 is traditional) and more assertive hopping than is common for the style, Samuel Adams Oktoberfest may not be entirely as authentic as its German counterparts. However, that's one of the great things about beer. There is infinite room for interpretation and innovation. Regional variations and innovative brewers pushing the envelope were what caused different beer styles to develop in the first place.

As part of the Samuel Adams Seasonal line, Samuel Adams Oktoberfest is the best selling American Marzenbier/Oktoberfest. For the connoisseur of finely crafted ales who feel all mass produced lagers are boring, this may be a good beer to test your convictions. This is a lager for the ale drinker; a testament to what a lager can be...rich, satisfying, festive, but never boring. Recommended.

Samuel Adams Oktoberfest is brewed by The Boston Beer Company and is available each year from August-November.

Beer:Samuel Adams Octoberfest
Brewery:Boston Beer Company
Style:Marrzenbier/Oktoberfest
ABV:5.7%
Score:88 (out of 100)