Tonight's challenge was conducted using only authentic Octoberfest beers. These amber marzen brews were imported from Munich, Germany, home of Oktoberfest. These offerings are from 3 of the 6 major breweries that offer Oktoberfest beers. These breweries all have rich traditions and have been brewing their craft beverages for centuries. All of the beers reviewed below were brewed following the German Beer Purity Law. Germany doesn't mess around with brewing traditions!
Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest
Pours a chestnut brown with 1 finger's worth of white head. Carbonated bubbles constantly rise from the bottom of the glass - It‘s kind of mesmerizing. Aromas of malt and caramel, slightly floral. Sweet caramel flavor with some nutty tones. Medium body light carbonated mouth feel. Slightly dry finish with notes of raw grain.
Hofbrau Oktoberfest
Pours a pale gold with a short lived thin white head. Has the deliberate skunky aroma that is typical with beer poured from a green bottle - think Heineken. Honey sweet flavor with hoppy bitterness. A light body with bright carbonation. The finish has notes of grain and is a little on the harsh side. What's unique is how mild the skunky (again, a deliberate technique) flavor comes through in the taste despite the overwhelming aroma.
Spaten Oktoberfest
Pours amber is color with a short lived white head. An almost absent aroma, just a hard to distinguish hint of floral perfume and slightly skunky. Green bottle. Flavor notes of malts and caramel, slightly nutty. Light body, light carbonated mouthfeel, dry finish with notes of grain.
The Winner of Chin Chin’s 2012 Oktoberfest Challenge is - Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest. While Spaten Oktoberfest was a close second with many similar qualities, Hacker-Pschorr's full body and big flavor gave it the edge. A glass raised to all these fine German brews and the importers who make the enjoyment of these beers possible in the USA.
Prost!!!
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