Spaten Oktoberfestbier Ur-Märzen - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

BDIMike

Ohio

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light copper color that is completely clear and see-through. However, there is heavy carbonation that creates a thick white head that retains well.
Smell is a little different than most oktoberfest beers. I get a bit of the usual caramel malt, but that is dominated more by a strong European hop smell.
Taste is more usual for the category than the smell. Caramel and other types of malts dominate the taste, but there is a good hop tinge at the end.
Mouthfeel is the best part of this beer. Medium-thickness with a really excellent smoothness, almost silky smooth.
Drinkability is great, as it is with most Oktoberfests. I have had better versions, but as usual this style has a good balance and is brewed to be able to drink all day with massive quantities. I'm in.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2009 00:52:27 | More by BDIMike

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

05-23-2013 13:09:34 | More by kvnstfrd

timoteo833

New York

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

05-18-2013 02:08:14 | More by timoteo833

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

05-16-2013 20:43:29 | More by ElizabethEleanor

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a finger of head on a clear, dark straw colored body. Low head retention.
The aroma is a mild grain and barnyard, though what's there is nice.
Nice flavor: mild malt sweetness, a little woody and mild bitter finish.
The texture is crisp with fizzy carbonation.
A fine enough drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 03:44:06 | More by Fatehunter

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

05-14-2013 01:34:46 | More by aty11b

xip

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

05-12-2013 19:38:12 | More by xip

Tumble

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-11-2013 02:03:03 | More by Tumble

tubeyes

Texas

4/5  rDev +12.4%

05-06-2013 22:50:00 | More by tubeyes

ZehrAlte

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

05-05-2013 14:22:57 | More by ZehrAlte

BKLRIBS

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-04-2013 02:05:49 | More by BKLRIBS

PoppyParthenonE

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

05-04-2013 01:53:36 | More by PoppyParthenonE

DemDumplingz

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

04-23-2013 21:15:37 | More by DemDumplingz

jmgault1

California

4/5  rDev +12.4%

04-22-2013 06:50:21 | More by jmgault1

civicm87

New York

4/5  rDev +12.4%

04-20-2013 15:57:13 | More by civicm87

cyclonece09

Virginia

3.71/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 330 mL bottle into a 14 oz "pint" glass. Pours a translucent light red with a small white head. Smells of dark grain with a hint of sweet caramel or candy smell. Tastes of dark grain with nice balance. This light bodied beer goes down great and has a nice level of carbonation. Overall a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 03:14:50 | More by cyclonece09

EricReynolds

West Virginia

4/5  rDev +12.4%

04-16-2013 18:50:43 | More by EricReynolds

Number3red

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

04-14-2013 01:32:38 | More by Number3red

Bromine

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

04-12-2013 11:06:16 | More by Bromine

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

04-09-2013 15:39:14 | More by JuliusCaesar

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I poured this beer into a standard pint at about 55 degrees F and it was light copper in colour with a light tan one finger head that keeps as a fairly full head throughout the drink and leaves excellent archway looking lacing on the glass.

It smells mostly of caramel malts with a hint of apple and some biscuity yeast maybe. I'm not getting any skunky aromas as this was in a green bottle.

The tastes and the aromas are pretty straightforward. The beer starts off with a little carbonation bite then mellows to caramel malt sweetness with hints of apple and mild dark fruits, some bready characteristics and finally a well balanced finish that is only slightly hoppy, dry and peppery. It's a bit warming going down and the alcohol is mildly apparent, barely noticeable.

The beer is fairly full bodied or just under and has a mostly sweet, but not syrupy profile. The carbonation is moderate or slightly above which seems to accentuate the mild hoppy finish.

Overall, this is an excellent beer. In my book it is probably approaching world class and I could see how one can call it that. I think it may be a little thin and therefore I am only going to give it like a 4.3 out of 5 or so. Not shabby at all! Very good. I would seek this out again as it is sessionable even though the alcohol is noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 01:44:49 | More by WissBrauSean

2beerdogs

California

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

04-07-2013 06:17:00 | More by 2beerdogs

louiebianchi

New York

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

04-05-2013 23:13:12 | More by louiebianchi

Michaeldmanley

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

03-25-2013 02:41:52 | More by Michaeldmanley

BGsWo22

New York

2.75/5  rDev -22.8%

03-20-2013 22:48:53 | More by BGsWo22