Weihenstephaner Festbier - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Pencible

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This poured a clear light gold with a little white head.
S: It smelled like sweet corn and honey, with some creamy wheat and a little grassy and lemon hops.
T: It tasted like light lemon and copper and grassy hops, with fresh wheat and sweet honey. It had a clean and bittersweet aftertaste.
M: It was watery with moderate carbonation. Fairly light body.
D: This was a nice wheat beer, but not very heavy for a fest beer. It had a clean and crisp scent and taste and body. It had a mellow finish, so it was easy to drink. Great for the first day of Oktoberfest, but not very unique from Weihenstephan's Hefeweissbier.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 21:50:12 | More by Pencible

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.29/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A-Pours a clear orange hue. Head is quite thin. Not much lacing.

S-Marzen all the way. Predominantly malty with a light noble hop hint.

T-More of the same except the hops are notched up a tad. Mostly sweet. Mild overall flavor intensity.

M-Thin and drinkable with enough carbonation to cleanse the palate. Semi-crisp.

O/D-Works well enough. Not my favorite style by any means but it works well enough.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 18:25:26 | More by VelvetExtract

wadecats

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

- Lovely German festbier on tap at the Dirty Truth, Northampton, MA.
It's no Mönchsambacher, but it's also very drinkable.

Orange/amber in color with super clear look and taste.
Smell is warm and...ah Geman malt smell - sorry, this is the next day.
Taste is super smooth where carbonation doesn't even come to mind when consuming this - no hop distinction - people were just throwing these down without much introspection or attention to the thing; guess this is part why it's a good beer. After a half a mug of this festbier you kind of have a metallic taste all over you pallet. Tastes consistent though out the temp change in your mug

Very unnoticeable carbonation but the malt creates a full and comfortable mouth feel.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2011 19:28:18 | More by wadecats

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Krug Park in Omaha, NE

Served to me in a Weihenstephaner weizen glass.

Beer features a 2cm head off-white head of fairly dense, small bubbles. Body is a transparent golden yellow color, with some visibly active carbonation. Not seeing much in the way of lacing. Just above average.

Aroma is very clean and fresh, with a well-balanced bready, slightly nutty maltiness just overpowering the Teutonic hops.

Taste is definitely malt-forward, gently sweet and bready, but also has some slight toast and biscuit flavors. This is tempered by mildly spicy hops in the back/finish that balance out the dominant flavors and provide a nice close. Aftertaste is faintly malty and sweet.

Medium to medium-light bodied with fairly gentle carbonation, making this enjoyable smooth, yet crisp. Dry finish.

Not an Oktoberfest, but of the lighter "festbier" type. Still, this remains delicious and highly drinkable, one that I hadn't had before, but will definitely add to my list to pick up next season. Note that I've had this on tap and in bottles, and thus far prefer the on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2011 16:39:29 | More by falloutsnow

codfeast

California

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap Crown and Anchor.

A: Gold in color, lighter than I was was expecting, thin head.

S: Malt and Hops, hints bread, biscut.

T: Like the smell, sweet malt, with a bit of bitterness on the back end.

M: Medium body, smooth, nice dry finish.

O: Easy drinking, good Marzen. Not a big flavor profile, but very well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2011 18:52:08 | More by codfeast

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap from a restaurant in Arlington, VA and from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Appearance is golden yellow with medium small white head. Nicely carbonated. Aroma gives off sweet malts. Taste is incredible malt, honey, grain. A slight bit of roast. Mild spicy hops and roast keep this balanced but this is a malt forward beer. Palate is malty sweet and crisp as can be. Hops bitterness balanced perfectly with the hints of roast malt to keep this from being cloying. Overall an excellent beer. This isnt what everyone considers an Oktoberfest/Marzen, but more a slightly stronger, malty'er version of a helles with the slightest hint of roast... a Festbier or Wiesen.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 19:46:24 | More by CuriousMonk

cpanossian

New York

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served vom fass in a tall tower 0.5 mug with a 1" head. Crystal clear gold yellow. Ample carbonation trickling up from bottom of mug. Clean fresh aroma and taste of well balanced malt and hops.
Stable in taste and mouthfeel over a long session - took my sweet time with this half-liter. Definitelty thirst quenching.
Weihenstephan is about 25-30 minutes north of Munich in the town of Freising. I had my Festbier and Kasespaeztle in their neat vaulted brick beer cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2010 14:21:10 | More by cpanossian

Wheelinb

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at The Stable in St Louis. Pours a golden yellow with a nice thick head. It smelled very bready and the taste was yeasty with a slight lemon taste as well. It sort of reminds me of a helles. It was not very remarkable but not bad either. It was fairly easy drinking but seemed to be filling so I don't think it would make for a good session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2009 22:36:58 | More by Wheelinb

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Enjoyed on-tap at the Buckeye Beer Engine. Apple juice colour with some white wheat. The aroma and tase of sour wheat. Below average mouthfeel. Not up to expectations for this brewery. Some astringency offset by sweetness from wheat. Drinkable in a pinch.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2008 23:49:32 | More by northyorksammy

DeepSix

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very light amber/cooper color. A bit of head was there at first, but disappeared quickly, with not much lacing.

Smells of mostly malt with some hop presence, a little grainy.

Light taste for a supposed Märzen / Oktoberfest. Would expect some a bit different, if just darker, can't seem to place what made it not other then that, not quite "dark". The sweetness of the style was there though. The mouthfeel goes with the lightness I was talking about, light body, mild carbonation, something I don't usually note in what this style is "supposed" to be.

Yeah this is a pretty good beer, but like others I ask is this a truly a Märzen / Oktoberfest? This site isn't the only place to call it that, where I got it (Max's) did, and the guy sitting next to me did as well when I asked him his recommendation for the style, so I dunno...anyway not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2008 01:38:27 | More by DeepSix

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Max's the other day.

The beer pours a light gold color, not what I usually associate with Marzens or Oktoberfest beers. The beer has decent head retention and OK lacing, and I get some nice roasty malt on the nose. The beer certainly smells like a marzen, even if it doesn't really look like one. On the palate this beer is very light, with not a lot of flavor. The beer is pleasant, but really pretty simple. It's certainly quite drinkable, but I'd like a marzen with a bit more flavor.

A good beer, if nothing special. I think Weihenstephan should probably stick to wheat beers (where they truly excel).

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2007 14:10:22 | More by johnmichaelsen

goindownsouth

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consumed vom Fass at both Hotel Lerner and Staatbrauerei Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany during my Bavarian sojourn in September of 2006.

Straw-golden in color, this brew left a pillowy head atop itself. This vanished to a respectable lacing along the side of my 0.5L mug all thoughout. Bready malty goodness and floral, earthy hops fill the sinuses. Very easy to drink, the balance of this offering was a pleasure to behold. The flavor was not overly malty in any way. Well worth the price of admission.

Zum wohl!

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2006 17:22:36 | More by goindownsouth

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Draught @ Papago Brewery

The beer pours a limpid golden amber color, the head is statuesque, and a brilliant white, creamy in texture and as it evaporates, the lace forms a tight and sealing sheet upon the glass. The aroma of sweet malt and a citrus like crispness dominate the nose, fresh, clean and inviting with a lightly sweet and malt laden start, the top is light to moderate in feel. Finish is pleasing in its hop spiciness, the acidity mellow, the aftertaste desert dry, and a fine drinking beer as is all of this breweries beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2003 14:46:21 | More by Gusler

EricSonOfTom

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12oz bottle at 49 degrees into my Stone Vertical Epic Ale glass (I’d call it a modified weizen glass). 7262 is printed on the bottle. The bottle also says “Oktoberfestbier” rather than “Festbier.”

Appearance – Pours a faded, clear yellow w/ a champagne-like swirl of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. Thin head that largely dissipates quickly, though a trace remains circumferentially along the rim. Moderate lacing.

Aroma – Apple and esters predominate. Subtle lemon/citrus. Light. Minimal hop aroma. Subtle pine essence.

Taste – Fruity and wheat taste throughout. Grain malt. Mild sour and acidic undertones. Moderately dry and bitter. Aftertaste is of fleeting apple with a subtle bitter character.

Mouthfeel – More creamy and full than I expected. Coats the mouth well.

Overall –Apple is the main thing I relate this beer to. I respect Weihenstephaner very much, and if I had only one of their brews to choose from, I’d reach for their classic hefeweizen, but this is a respectable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:32:51 | More by EricSonOfTom

Strix

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear straw yellow, good initial head and lacing.

Grainy, malty, bready, a fairly prominent skunky note.

Crisp floral hops with a background of fresh bread, lemon and pepper aftertaste. No trace of a skunky flavor.

Mouthfeel crisp and full.

Wonder if this is getting a little past its prime, but still a nice Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:02:54 | More by Strix

SmashPants

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: standard 500mL brown bottle, traditional German label.

Appearance: a slightly hazy golden yellow in colour, with a thin but lasting head.

Aroma: there are sweet bread and biscuit malts with an overtone of light floral hops. Note overpowering, but enticing none-the-less.

Taste: there is a good bread malt backing, but most of the flavour comes from sweet citric and floral hops. Not overwhelming, but a nice sessional.

Aftertaste: dissipates reasonably quickly, which is fine by me. This brew does go down quite easy.

Mouth feel: light to medium in body without being watery. Fair bit of carbonation per the style - brings the flavours across nicely.

Overall: a nice lager / pilsener with a few different malts and hops than one would normally see. A nice one for every now and then, I think - say, once a year in October :)

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:20:46 | More by SmashPants

KajII

North Carolina

2.85/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

[Suggested Glassware: Lager Glass]

The pour was a light golden yellow with a small (less than 1 finger) white fizzy head that quickly receded down to a very small collar and had poor spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a grain malt, herbal hops and a sweaty yeast with a light hint of caramel along with a mild fruity ester.

The taste was mildly malty with a light caramel sweetness and a strong grainy feel throughout, with the finish having a very light bitterness and a slight medicinal presence at the end. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a grainy bitter taste left behind to fade into the background very slowly.

Mouthfeel was light in body and watery in texture with a mild carbonation.

Overall this was a brew that did not offer up much flavor or anything else for that matter. Although it did have a good smooth drinkability and a very light feel, which would allow you to drink a few without feeling blotted...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 17:49:21 | More by KajII

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.23/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Very light, golden amber with a huge, foamy white head on top that settles to about a half centimetre tall one. The beer is very clear and the head leaves some very small amounts of lacing on the side of the glass.

Grainy aroma right off the bat followed by some orange peel and a hint of skunk. There is some light citrus, a grassy hop smell and some sweet malts.

Grainy again, some sweet malts and a few grassy hops that the nose hinted at. There is some sweetness along with a slight bit of skunk, some honey and orange plus some caramel.

Slightly skunky, a base sweetness and light bitter finish. The carbonation is about medium and the feel is very slightly grainy, all on top of a light medium body.

An average beer, about what I've come to expect from the majority of märzen or Oktoberfest beers I try. This one is easily the worst of the five Weihenstephaner beers I have tried to date, it doesn't bring much to the table and is pretty standard for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 16:27:30 | More by flyingpig

barczar

Kentucky

3.3/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy golden straw with a one inch thick dense egg white head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of lacing.

Aroma is grainy and slightly skunky, with subtle floral hops and bready malt.

Flavor is bready, fairly sweet, and reminiscent of corn adjunct. There's a tangy background note that is offputting. Seems lemony.

Body is fairly full, creamy, with carbonation on the high side. There's a bit of an astringent finish.

Not what I expected in am oktoberfest. Lacks malt complexity, and there's an off flavor. The more I taste and smell it, the more I think it's a yeast issue.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 04:55:26 | More by barczar

acelin

Kansas

4.45/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a German boot beer glass, for good measure.

Pours an orange/brown with a huge white head, and giant lacing.

Huge caramel smells, cracker, biscuit, dark rye bread, burnt sugar, some floral hops.

Beautiful festbier. One of the best. Can't imagine how good this would be fresh. Huge caramel malts, delicious dark bread with honey.

Mouthfeel is good. Fairly sessionable

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 17:16:19 | More by acelin

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from a liquor store in Byron Bay. From notes.

A - Bright and golden with a one finger white head. Good carbonation, good retention, minimal lace.

S - Honey, hops are there in a juicy fruit form, fruit juice, mango flesh.

T - Grain, honey, fruit hop again, mango nectar.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, nice sweetness to finish.

O/D - A nice, really easy drinking and flavourful Weihenstephaner beer. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in drinkability and smoothness.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 04:06:22 | More by tbeckett

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a nonic pint glass on 11/22/12

7262 printed on the label

This is much lighter in color and and has more clarity than I'm used to. Sun-faded medium gold and straw colors. Two and a half finger white head dissipates slowly. Speckled trails of lace.

Enjoyable little aroma here - bread, grass, hay, apple pastry and caramel. Very clean.

The taste is right in line with the aroma, though the grassy hops have a bit more say. Buttered bread and biscuit and light fruit overtones.

The feel is fairly light, enveloped with carbonation, but the body is substantive enough to be be satisfying.

This hits the spot for a Thanksgiving afternoon sort of beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 05:31:16 | More by Ryan011235

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into pint glass, bottled 5/14/2012. Pours lightly hazy golden straw color with a 1 finger dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big pear, apple, grape, light caramel, bread, toast, floral, and herbal hops. Pretty nice and pleasant aromas; decent balance and strength; but they are a bit too fruity. Taste of bread, toast, light caramel, pear, apple, grain, pepper, light earth, and herbal hops. Slight peppery bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of bread, light caramel, grain, light fruits, pepper, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a light creamy and very crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a nice Oktoberfest. Not really what I expected from this style example, considering that every other offering they make is spot on. However, there are some nice flavors with good balance; and it is extremely easy to drink. I enjoyed this quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 05:29:39 | More by superspak

CampusCrew

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hmmmm i had to check the bottle label to make sure i was drinking a maerzen... great lager but off style, but thats ok not all maerzens have to taste the same. Poured a dark golden. Like a pilsner. Not typical pils or maerzens aomas and flavors maybe a combo of the two... never the less its a well done lager... crisp flavorful and refreshing... i would drink again and i cant beleive this is the first time ive had this...

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 01:19:51 | More by CampusCrew

UnderPressure

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear, golden straw colored. Fizzy 1/2 finger head.

Very fruity esters. Some skunk. Pilsner malt aroma.

More complex flavor than I anticipated. Full maltiness upfront. Followed by a slight hop presence.

Light to medium bodied. Smooth mouthfeel with a nice feeling carbonation. Lingering slightly bitter finish.

This beer is really similar to a good pilsner. Not what I was expecting in an Oktoberfest, but a good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:14:04 | More by UnderPressure