Vienna Style Lagers and Märzen/Fest Beers

94 Oktoberfest, Goose Island Brewing Co. (IL). (11/06)

Deep reddish amber brown color. Cocoa, roasted nuts, dried meat, delicate spice aromas follow through to a supple, dryish medium body of sweet dark caramel, bittersweet chocolate, nuts, dried orange peel, toast and date flavors. Finishes with a tangy, sweet dark chocolate-covered orange peel and crème brulée fade. Rich and delicious.

93 Oktober Fest-Märzen, Privatbrauerei Aying (Germany). 5.6% ABV (10/07)

Amber color. Intense focused aromas of spicy banana bread, dried fruits, oily nuts and toffee. A lush, smooth entry leads to a rich, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body of chocolate-covered cherries and nuts, caramel, lemon curd and mild clay-like hop flavors with a long, velvety finish. Impressive and eminently drinkable.

92 Lager, Olde Saratoga Brewing Co. (NY). 5.8% ABV (10/07)

Deep amber brown color. Dark honey roasted nut, burnt sugar and delicate anise aromas. A round, frothy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body of dates and raisins, caramel, orange honey and dark roasted nuts. Finishes with a lingering, sweet mocha and lemon curd fade. Very tasty.

92 Hofbräu Oktoberfest, Hofbräuhaus München (Germany). 6.3% ABV (10/08)

Pale golden amber color. Brioche, toasted nut, grilled lemon and clay aromas follow through on a lively, chewy entry to a dryish medium-full body with plush carbonation and baked apple and citrus accents. Finishes with a very long, tangy and astringent nut bread and citrus marmalade fade. A very zesty Octoberfest beer that will cut through greasy and spicy food like a knife.

91 Oktoberfest, Great Lakes Brewing Co. (OH). 6.5% ABV (10/08)

Brilliant amber color. Sea salt, cheese rind and yeasty dough aromas follow through on a rich, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with a seamless smooth carbonation and notes of dates and toffee. Finishes in a long, rich cocoa, buttered raisin nut toast and lemon zest fade with comforting warmth. A delicious and flavorful Octoberfest to savor, not quaff.

91 Oktoberfest Beer, Penn Brewery (PA). 5.8% ABV (10/08)

Bright amber color. Toasted cheese pastry, mild baked citrus and honey aromas follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with soft integration of flavors and light toast and citrusy hop fade. A dry, crisp and refreshing märzen.

90 Original Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Brauerei (Germany). 5.8% ABV (10/08)

Rich copper color. Vibrant caramelized nut and toasted pumpernickel nut bread aromas follow through on a rich, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with layers of praline, fig and orange soufflé notes. Finishes with a smooth, even, earthy hop fade. A delicious and balanced Oktoberfest designed to provide refreshment for the long haul and lots of pub grub.

90 Oktoberfest, Lakefront Brewery (WI). 5.5% ABV (11/06)

Deep amber color. Sweet toffee and cream aromas. A lively entry leads to a frothy, lightly sweet medium-full body of caramelized nuts, lemon curd and delicate spices. Finishes with a long, crisp and fruity fade of milk chocolate, dates and nuts. Yummy.

90 Foxtoberfest, Fox River Brewing (WI). 5.7% ABV (10/07) %{Brewpub}

Copper chestnut color. Roasted coffee and burnt nut toast aromas follow through to a heavy roasted grain palate with burnt nuts and singed lemon rind flavor and a quick finish.

89 Rocktoberfest Lager, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.8% ABV (10/08) %{Brewpub}

Rich deep amber copper color. Vibrantly fruity aromas of caramelized apples, pears and apricots follow through on a supple entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body with raisin bread toast and peppery spice accents. Finishes with tangy dried fruit and toffee fade. Unusually ale-like for the style, but fun

89 Oktoberfest, Granville Island Brewing Co. (Canada). 6% ABV (11/06)

Brilliant caramel color. Sweet toffee and crème brûlée aromas. A round entry leads to a lightly sweet medium-to-full body of caramelized roasted nuts, brown sugar and orange peel flavors. Finishes with a sweet toffee and burnt sugar fade.

89 Oktoberfest Märzen, Paulaner Brauerei (Germany). 5.8% ABV (10/08)

Rich amber copper color. Vibrant aromas of brown sugar, hay and roasted nuts follow through on round, supple entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with citrus custard and praline notes and a clean, crisp, earthy hop finish. Nicely styled and balanced for long sessions.

88 Steg 150 Lager, The Lion Brewery (PA). 5.5% ABV (10/07)

Deep amber color. Sweet fruit nut fudge aromas. A round, frothy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of cocoa-dusted raisin and date bread flavors with a creamy lemon frosting, delicate herb and river stone fade. A pure, bright, refreshing quaffer.

88 Spaten Oktoberfest, Spaten-Franziskaner Brau (Germany). 5.9% ABV (11/06)

Rich deep amber color. Sweet toffee and roasted nut aromas. A round, frothy entry leads to a smooth, medium-full body of tangy orange marmalade, brown sugar, spice and rye bread flavors. Finishes with a tart citrus, molasses, sea salt and mineral fade of earthy hops. Nice balance and drinkability.

88 Samuel Adams Octoberfest, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 5.3% ABV (10/08)

Brilliant copper amber color. Banana bread, roasted nut and crème brûlée aromas follow through on a frothy entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with even wet grain, melon rind and mineral notes. Finishes with a dry, apple butter and white grapefruit peel fade.

88 Oktoberfest, Sprecher Brewing Co. (WI). 5.5% ABV (11/06)

Brilliant copper color. Sweet caramel, brown sugar, melted chocolate, nut and dried apricot aromas. A rich entry leads to a dryish, smooth medium-full body with chocolate-covered citrus and apricots, rye toast and nut flavors. Finishes with tangy, sweet citrus and oily nut fade. Tasty.

88 Oktoberfest Lager, Mendocino Brewing Co. (CA). 5.7% ABV (10/07)

Brilliant deep amber color. Shy aromas of chocolate-covered lemon peels and nuts have a slightly soapy edge. A round frothy entry leads to a dryish medium body of toffee, lemon cream and floral bath oil flavors. Finishes with a lemon oil, toffee and cream fade.

88 Märzen, Etna Brewing Co. (CA). 5.4% ABV (11/06)

Deep copper color. Roasted nut and brown sugar aromas. A chewy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium full body of raisin, brown sugar and roasted nuts. Finishes with a dried citrus, cocoa, charred nut and peppery spice fade.

88 Beck’s Oktoberfest Lager, Brauerei Beck & Co. (Germany). 5.2% ABV (11/07)

Pretty deep copper color with a lacy head. Praline and raisin toast aromas follow through to a soft, frothy and dryish medium body with nice baked citrus, orange honey and roasted nut flavors with a crisp refreshing bittering hop fade. Well done and quite quaffable.

88 Baltika #4 Original Dark, Baltika Brewery (Russia). 5.6% ABV (10/08)

Deep reddish copper color with a taupe mousse. Haystack, fennel, melted brown sugar and dark roasted almond aromas follow through on a vigorously froth and round entry to a fruity sweet medium-to-full body with candied apricot and honeyed cinnamon raisin toast notes. Finishes with a caramelized orange, maple sugar and woodsy nutshell fade. A confected, chewy lager; try with Korean BBQ.

86 Point Oktoberfest, Stevens Point Brewery (WI). 5.1% ABV (10/08)

Bright light copper color. Light toast and lemon yogurt aromas follow through on a crisp entry to a tangy, light-to-medium body with a touch of praline and citrus rind. Finishes with a tangy green apple, nut bread and orange marmalade fade. Light and refreshing.

86 Oktoberfest, The Lion Brewery (PA). 5.4% ABV (11/06)

Deep amber color. Roasted nuts and dark caramel aromas. A round frothy entry leads to a tangy medium body of caramelized nuts, chocolate-covered lemon and orange peels and a touch of molasses. Finishes with a supple fade of caramel, cocoa and figs.

86 Michelob Märzen, Michelob Brewing Co. (MO). 5.1% ABV (10/08)

Amber color with a blanket of mousse. Mild aromas of orange rind, nut and chocolate croissant follow through on a smooth, silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with velvety carbonation and excellent integration of flavors. Finishes with a crisp, slightly fruity candied grapefruit peel, mossy hop, hard bread crust and dried peach fade. A tasty and easy-drinking märzen that is sure to please the crowd.

86 Balto Märzen Lager, Clipper City Brewing Co. (MD). 5.9% ABV (10/07)

Hazy amber color. Sweet and somewhat pungent baking spice and lemon curd aromas have a soapy edge and follow through to a dryish medium body of lemon custard, raisin bread and sweet salt water taffy flavors and a candied citrus fade.

85 Negra Modelo Dark Lager, Cerveceria Modelo (Mexico). 5.4% ABV (10/08)

Rich copper color. Burnt sugar, nutshell, apple and mocha aromas are mild and follow through on a brisk entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with a red clay accent. Finishes with a honey nut cereal and tapioca fade.

84 Oktoberfest Lager, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. (CA). 5% ABV (10/07)

Slightly hazy deep amber color. Fermenting cocoa nib, horse mane and dried tangerine aromas are unusual. A round entry leads to a mercurial, fruity medium body of slightly sour dried fruit, malted chocolate, yogurt and raw honey flavors with a quick old cream and toffee fade. Interesting, but somewhat off the mark; try with stinky triple cream cheeses.

84 Oktoberfest Bavarian-Style Lager, Upland Brewing (IN). 6.8% ABV (10/08)

Medium amber color with a slight haze. Orange soufflé, wheat grass and peppery spice aromas follow through on a rich, lightly prickly entry to a chewy, dryish medium-full body with caramel fudge, clay and wet grain note. Finishes with a clanging wave of pine needle, grapefruit rind and pepper dust. A potent, almost imperial version of the style.

84 Märzen, Great Basin Brewing Co. (NV). 5.5% ABV (11/06)

Dark copper color. Caramelized roasted nut, dried apricot, sour cream and mocha aromas. A soft entry leads to a dryish medium body of cooked mashed raisins, sour dough, custard and caramelized nut flavors. Finishes with a tangy, slightly sour, dried fruit, molasses, cocoa and roasted nut fade.