Oktoberfest - Yuengling Brewery

Maltoftheearth

Ohio

1.95/5  rDev -42%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This beer is a complete turd. It's a Yuengling lager with a bit more malt. Period. If they used Nobel hops you would never know. This beer is a serious let down. A cheap way to market different beer. A loser to stay clear of. No, on second thought, try it and have a laugh. Terrible effort.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2012 23:52:54 | More by Maltoftheearth

Reaper16

Alabama

2.03/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12oz. bottle served into a pilsner glass

Pours a light nutty brown color. It doesn't look too dissimilar from regular Yuengling, what with that amber hue and sudsy head.

The aroma is fine, I suppose. A little below average for the Marzen style. Lots of nutshell aroma. Pecans, mostly. It smells a bit dusty.

The flavor is all wrong. It tastes mostly like Yuengling lager. Yuengling must be a base recipe for this Oktoberfest or something. There's some nutty flavor here, but nothing of the grassy hop note that I associate with the style. Really, this is very awful. And I like regular Yuengling!

Overall, this beer flat misses the mark. This is a brief review from me, but there isn't much that I can say here. It doesn't come across like a Marzen. This is difficult to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 03:44:09 | More by Reaper16

MikeWard

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On draught at Roma's Pizza joint in downtown Pottsville on the evening of 9/21.

Brought to the table in a pint glass, which unfortunately was covered in advertising, masking the appearance somewhat. Light coppery coloring, with much carbonation bubbling on the sides. Head was small, but maintained.

Tried to get an aroma of something several times. Maybe the nose was off that night, but couldn't get anything.

Mouth was a bit on the thin side, with much carbonation.

Taste was okay. Nothing jumped out and wowed me. Seemed a bit bland. On the other hand, overally spicy fall beers can be a turnoff.

Overall an average beer. Not unpleasant, but nothing to single it out either. Doubt I would order it again. Roma's does have Guinness on tap, and the food is very good, some of the best in town

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 14:27:40 | More by MikeWard

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

2.53/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

i poured this one into a pint glass, It has a brown color body with no head just a very thin lace around the top. The smell is faint of malt. The taste is very sweet malt almost honey sweet. Mouthfeel is watery and light and overall i don't like this one too much .I wasn't impressed at all.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 06:29:15 | More by chefhatt

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.6/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

$2.75 special at a bar, served in a shaker pint...

A- Check, looks like a solid oktoberfest, maybe a little dark but still amber. Large dense white head. Coats the glass fairly well.

S- Light, toasted bread aroma. Finishes with an inappropriate butterscotch diacetyl, too noticeable.

T/M- A little sweet. Caramel bread. Almost has an ale taste and feel, rather than lager. Not near as clean as other oktoberfests. Light bodied, tingly carbonation, finishes heavy though.

O- Not a horrible beer overall, as it is very drinkable and cheap at a bar; but not a great representation of style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 18:35:14 | More by TheGordianKnot

bundy462

Pennsylvania

2.68/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Tan, clean, slight head.

S: Very clean to the nose. Some toasted grain, biscuity, slight caramel, slight hop.

T: Clean again. Toasty and biscuity without too much going on. Pretty unexciting.

M: Thin and clean.

O: Pretty much a "blah" beer for me. For a special release seasonal...disappointing.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 00:57:32 | More by bundy462

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Okay I want to run this o-fest beer straight into the ground along with the yuengling brand, but I actually buy yuengling once or twice a year because I appreciate what they are. I own a family owned and operated business and know the hard work. However I try to make what we do better each and every day and stride for world class all the same. Could yuengling produce a better quality beer? They could but maybe they like sticking to their roots. That's okay after all. I'll just be buying more Founders and FFF at the end of the day. But here's the review.

12 oz brown bottle with a unfortunate twist cap(yuengling need to become craft if they preach craft). A gorgeous label done in fantastic autumn season color. You think you are buying Oktoberfest anyway. Poured into a standard mug.

A - a good color shade of dark orangish copper. A head that's off white and extremely thin. Gone before you take the third whiff. The entire brew is very thin.

S - actually the only thing thats worth talking of in the marzen department. Sweet bready aroma with a hint of caramel sweetness. Typical yuengling yeast down within.

T - hmm.. A lot like a bottle of yuengling lager. Actually the exact same with maybe a slight hint of caramel.

M - thin and well thin. It's an easy drinker for sure, but I guess I've been drinking hard core craft beer for too long. Call me a beer snob if you'd like, but thats how I like my brew. A pretty crisp finish with a touch of lager linger in the back.

O - while I do appreciate yuengling beers, I can't say they are my go to or even something I even think about other than that rare occasion of not having time to go to my craft honey hole. This just isn't a marzen. You could make the excuse it's a good cheap brew, but the fact is I can buy a GLBC Oktoberfest 6 pack for .75 cents more. Or 2 bombers of brauerei aying marzen for exactly the same. I respect folks buying their weekend sixer of yuengling rather than buying any AB/ Bud/ Bud light, but the truth is.. There are too many damn good beer makers personally known myself for me to call this my favorite brewer. While my appreciation is there, my Wallot will not always be. This experience actually made me appreciate what Great Lakes sends down my way and trust me, Ive bought enough GLBC o-fest to take care of my marzen fix for fall 2012. Craft guys who try this will know what I mean and understand my standards of ales and lagers. Others who switched from bud to yuengling probably won't but hey those people won't be reading and writing reviews on brews anyway. This is worth a try for most though.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 21:31:39 | More by BradtheGreat7

smakawhat

Maryland

2.75/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a tulip pint glass. I didnt even know they made an Oktoberfest.

Really nice looking beer. Deep dark copper red and brown body, little rising carbonation, but a real nice fluffy and creamy head. Off tan white, lots of retention, pretty aggresive and dark looking beer.

Nose is really odd for a marzen. Mud. Dirt. No deep malt presence, a little bit of sweetness and yeast stickiness.

Palate really emphasizes the dirt aspect. Body is perfectly fine, coating and full, taste is right out of a sandbox and turned garden. Lots of dirt and earth, not in the hop vein. Weird sticky off putting lager yeast that seems common from Yuengling.

This is one weird Marzen, where is the malt and bakery like presence?? really not interesed in having this again at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 21:18:56 | More by smakawhat

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

2.78/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Amber color with off-white head. Limited lacing.

Smell is sweet honey, malt, all-spice and a little pumpking.

Taste is sweet malt up front. Honey and a hint of cinnamon comes through. Minimal bitterness.

Mouthfeel is watery. Very light with medium carbonation.

Overall this was just fair. Woudn't buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 00:39:54 | More by TrappistJohnMD

DIM

Pennsylvania

2.85/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

a: This was a clear, light cola brown. It pours with a small, short lived head.

s: Bready, lightly sweet malt with that distinct "Yuengling" quality.

t: It has the elements of a good O-fest, just not quite enough. Pleasant sweet bread and a bit of an unclean finish.

m: Light and fizzy.

o: Not bad and a good value.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 22:17:16 | More by DIM

delta490

Virginia

2.91/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Poured a 12oz bottle into a Sam Adams glass. Poured a nice deep amber with a creamy white head that lasts a while and leaves lacing. There is very little to the aroma aside from a slight sweetness. Taste is pretty much the same, with nothing distinguishing to it and a little bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is better, with a little bit of carbonation and a nice smoothness. But pretty bland overall, unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 17:22:14 | More by delta490

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.93/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

16 ounce pint - Taco Mac in Canton, Georgia.

Appearance: Dark amber-hued body, good clarity, and capped beneath a slim, white head.

Smell: Sweetish scent, fairly tame, with light notes of toasted grains and caramel flavoring.

Taste: Crisped grains with some toasty elements to it and a light hint of caramel flavoring. Faint, vaguely herbal hops, mildly bitter. Sweetish, faintly grainy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation with some tingle to it.

Overall: The caramel taste here, it's... it's just odd, and, maybe it's just me, but it seemed to have a falseness to it, like the added flavoring to that Saranac Caramel Porter. It's not an abhorrent beer, but it sure doesn't stack up against the better examples of the style (or even the not-so-better ones).

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 18:23:30 | More by ChainGangGuy

jak3676

Virginia

2.95/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Yuengling - Oktoberfest Bottled in Pottsville, PA.

I'm really torn on this one. It's not bad, and I'm generally a fairly good fan of Yuengling (decent cheap beer - did I mention cheap!), but their Oktoberfest misses the mark as an Oktoberfest beer.

It tastes like slightly stronger/darker than normal Yuengling. I don't get the märzen taste at all. By itself, compared to other mass market beers, I'd definately give this one high marks. But I think they totally missed the style guide here. Its like Michalob Amber Bock - I don't hate it, but it's definately not a Bock beer. If it just had a different label on the front I'd probably make a point of seeking it out again. I wonder if they actually bottled the wrong stuff or slapped the wrong label on the bottle?

It's not bad, but when I'm in the mood for a festbier, this one isn't going to do it. No sign of an ABV or bottling date to be found.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 20:41:15 | More by jak3676

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had a 12 oz. glass for $1.50 at the Emmaus VFW. I figured it'd only be appropriate to have a soft pretzel with spicy mustard and chipped in the extra dollar for that.

Aside from opening with an unplease toasty corn note, this was a fine, smooth amber lager. It reminded me a bit of Beck's Oktoberfest in that it only kind of resembles the style. It's not a bad beer, but I'd never stack it up against a Paulaner O-fest. I'd say it's worth a try, especially if you find yourself in a VFW.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 22:30:58 | More by tempest

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This poured out as a copperish looking brown color. The head was Kind of soapy looking and cream colored. The lacing and retention was minimal. The smell of the beer has some malty aromas with a touch of spice and a lager yeast in there as well. The taste of the beer is average to, seems like just a slightly different flavor than their Traditional Lager. The mouthfeel was smooth with a good carbonation and a solid dry finish to it. Overall I wasn't too impressed, it was fun to try and I was happy I did but I wouldn't have to go after this one like I do with Samuel Adams each year.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2012 16:47:00 | More by Knapp85

UnderPressure

South Carolina

2.98/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Orange amber color. clear. Thin fizzy head.

Sweet, grainy, malty aroma. Faint spicy hops.

A combination of pale and roasted maltiness. Some hop bitterness.

Light bodied, fizzy, with a somewhat dry finish.

This is exactly what I expected in an Oktoberfest from yuengling. Decent beer, not to threatening to light lager drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 14:23:03 | More by UnderPressure

bourbonbock

New York

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a 12oz bottle into a clean pub glass and got the following.

A. Crystal clear body with a nice amber color and one finger of off white head that recedes quickly to a cap. It looks a little watered down and clear.

S. I smell caramel, raisins, and a slight yeast aroma.

T. The flavor on this has two layers of malt flavor with a little cracker taste and a little nuttiness.

M. Thick and sticky but not a residual sweetness and slightly overcarbonated.

The old standby beer produces another affordable, easy drinking but not spectacular beer. I would definitely pick this up again.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 23:08:52 | More by bourbonbock

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge temperature.

L – Amber-brown color with a 1-finger cream-colored bubbly head that dissipates rapidly. No lacing. Clear with lots of carbonation bubbles.

S – Grainy, caramel, and toasty malt. Really similar to regular Yuengling lager with a little bit of caramel.

T – Sweet all the way through with mostly grainy malts with some caramel and toasted notes. Again, very similar to traditional Yuengling.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with good carbonation, a crisp and light mouthfeel, and a grainy-sweet and slightly earthy-bitter finish that seems to come more from grain than any hops. Malty sweetness lingers for a moment.

O – This misses the mark as an Oktoberfest and simply tastes like Yuengling Traditional Lager with a little bit more caramel malt. Instead of the rich, full-bodied malt aroma and taste that comes with good Oktoberfest beer, this is rather thin all the way through with a mostly grainy aroma and taste. Honestly, I’d rather go for regular Yuengling, but this isn't a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 22:35:05 | More by BlackBelt5112203

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a becker.

Pours a deep copper colored brew with a two finger inch thick foamy white head that leaves some nice lacing.

Smells bready with sweet toasted caramel malts and a hint of hops.

Tastes of toasted malt up front and a very mild earthy hoppiness. None of the flavors really make a statement though.

Light and crisp mouthfeel.

This is a very drinkable brew, but it just seems to be lacking any real punch. An easy drinking brew though. It is good to see Yuengling trying some other styles, but it could use a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 00:46:48 | More by ujsplace

plaid75

New York

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and pacing.

The smell featured caramel and bitter adjuncts.

The taste likewise consisted of a sweet caramel malt coupled with an earthy bitterness and boiled corn.

The mouthfeel was thin for the style.

Overall a below average octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 00:45:13 | More by plaid75

cpolking

Iowa

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to tone77 for this brew! The beer pours a deep copper, dark amber in color. There is a half-inch of thick, somewhat creamy, off-white head.

The aroma is malty and tangy, toasted and lightly nutty.

The taste is malty, roasted, toasted, a bit nutty, a light tang, and a moderate bitterness on the finish. A very drinkable Oktoberfest offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 02:48:20 | More by cpolking

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass, the beer is a clear medium amber gold, building a creamy white head, about one and half inches high. It dissipates within a couple of minutes into good lacing on the glass.
The smell is of malt, some banana and bread.
Tasting the beer, the malt and some banana flavors are up front. More malt and some caramel in the middle, and than some faint hops and more malt in the end.
Medium bodied, easy to drink beer. Nothing special, but also not a bad beer!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 01:14:38 | More by Hopfenpeter

JamesS

Indiana

3.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a very nice deep burnished orange, although with very little head and no lacing. Decent sweet malt aroma with a slight leafy-caramel tone. Decent flavor, very sweet lagerish malt; very clean and crisp; decent fall flavor but nothing deep. Goes down very very smoothly. On tap at McClafferty's Irish Pub.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 16:52:11 | More by JamesS

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Appearance - light amber pour, a hint of orange. A foamy finger of foam is sticky and a good finger's worth in thickness. A wall of lace hangs around the glass as the cap slowly recedes.

Aroma - sweet, bready, a touch of caramel. Pretty standard as OFests go.

Taste - grainy, a bit watery and even a touch twangy up front, but some malt character is there. Develops better on the swallow as the toastiness of the grain is expressed and moves in-palate. A light breadiness on the swallow, a clean finish, even an occasional touch of cinnamon at the end. Goes a little thin but has just enough taste to hold my interest...for now.

Mouthfeel - thin and almost macroish for a marzen. Body is too light for the style in my opinion, although some OFests are decidedly lighter in terms of color, body, etc. If this beer had more beef in the flavor department, I'd be less critical here.

Drinkability - all in all, an easy beer to knock back if you don't set your sights too high. A decent beer to get some crossover action from the BMC crowd.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 02:28:21 | More by brewdlyhooked13

kylehay2004

Florida

3.1/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Single finger head with little retention and some lacing on a clear amber with golden hues body. Aroma is very simple and mostly malty with little spice or hop character to make you think of a good marzen. Flavor is a touch sour. The caramel malts do not add much sweetness. The hops are mild and there are no spices add here to make this a good one for the genre. Medium body and moderate carbonation. Tastes like old amber Yuengling.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 23:37:14 | More by kylehay2004