Bell's Octoberfest Beer - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance – Served an amber-orange colored brew with a small white head. The head had a moderate persistence fading over time to give a light level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is bready and toasted malt with some spice and caramel sweetness as well. Rounding out the aroma is a very light orange citrus smell.

Taste – The taste begins of a nice lightly toasted malt aroma mixed with some stronger flavors of caramel and spice. As the taste advances it dries some a small amount as some of the caramel dissipates in strength and the roasted bready malts increase. While the caramel fades some a light citrus sweetness comes to the tongue and rounds out the flavor. At the end some lighter hop flavors of a citrus and earthy nature arrive at the tongue to leave a roasted light bitter flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average side with a carbonation level that is on par. Both good for the flavors and drinkability of the brew.

Overall – Rather sweet and malty with a great flavor profile and wonderful transitions. Drinkable and quite favorable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2012 00:23:32 | More by Darkmagus82

WynnO

Florida

3.23/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a nice view. A little too light for my eyes, but all in all, it's passable.

Smell was almost non-existent. Inhaling as if hyperventilating finally revealed some Caramel. No where near what it should be though.

Taste - a very nice front end, but it tapers off rapidly and becomes dry midway. Although...thinking...a half pint has increased the linger time :-) slightly more hops than other Marzens I have tried. Interesting.

It seems a little bright to me. Maybe Ayinger's version has tainted my palette too much??

Overall? I am increasing my scores a little now as this beer has gained respect as I have reached further down.

Try this one! YMMV but in my parts Marzens are a bit rare. I try every one I see. It's not world class, but Bells had done a decent job here.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2012 23:26:13 | More by WynnO

paulginva

Virginia

3.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: This beer, poured from a tap into a pint glass, produced a white 1" head that dissipated slowly leaving good head lacing. Carbonation was lively in a slightly hazy gold body.

AROMA: Not as much aroma as I expected. I detected a very slight bit of malt and a little fruity hops. That's all.

TASTE: Taste is much better than expected, particularly given the aroma (or maybe my nose -- who knows?). A light cereal grain taste together with some caramel and a light taste of fruit.

MOUTHFEEL: This beer had a light to medium body with a smooth texture, moderate carbonation and good body lacing that dissipated slowly. The initial flavor was moderately sweet with a slightly dry bitter finish that lasted for a moderate length of time.

DRINKABILITY: Nice balance to this one. The firm flavor was quite welcome after the modest aroma. This beer was repeatable, easy to drink and priced right -- three important characteristics for a beer calling itself "Oktoberfest." It's definitely not in the upper ranks of Märzens -- more around the middle, I'd say, but for spending a nice fall afternoon watching baseball, football or whatever your fall sports weakness is, you could do a lot worse.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 13:46:25 | More by paulginva

spdyfire83

Ireland

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

178th Review
Served in a half pint
On-draft at the mothership itself in Kalamazoo!

From notes.

A: Looks a proper autumn color - bold orange-red-brown (it'd be like mixing water colors to achieve the tint of this beer). Half (slightly frothy, white) fingernail head.

S: Nuttiness and caramel sweetness come through at the front followed by hints of malt, hops, and spice.

T: Follows the smell bit by bit, but I mostly get roasted caramel malt from this. Hint of sweetness, but that's about it. Wish there was a bit more flavor here, but it is not all that bad.

M: Medium bodied and well carbonated.

O: This beer is good, but not great. Decent for the style and enjoyable all-around.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 13:14:54 | More by spdyfire83

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bell's Oktoberfest has an orangish-brown body with a soapy, off-white head. Retention is OK, and scattered lacing remains on my glass as I drink.

The aroma has lightly toasted malt with some sweetness. A hint of grassy hops are in the background.

Bell's Oktoberfest isn't especially powerful in any department, but it does have a good balance of yeast, hops and malt (must be beer?). Up front is lightly toasted malt with a lot of bread flavors, and a little bit of sweet caramel in the background. Next comes a small dose of grassy hops and a modicum of bitterness. Somewhere in the between there is a lot of generically fruity yeast flavors also.

The mouthfeel is good for the style, landing in the middle in both body and carbonation.

Bell's Oktoberfest is definitely a beer that you can drink a few of, but it doesn't really distinguish itself in any way. Good, but not great.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2011 00:11:22 | More by Hojaminbag

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a sampler shaker pint. Poured yellow-orange with a two finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, grain, floral, subtle spice, and nutmeg. The flavor was of sweet malt, floral, spice, wheat, and grain. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. Nothing on this one really 'popped' for me in the nose nor the flavor. The flavors I did get were blended quite nicely, but this would have been much better with some added complexity going on. Worth trying though for the curious and fan a-like.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 14:37:42 | More by thagr81us

tykees88

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Copper clear color. Orangish brown hints of color. One finger head. Very pretty.

S- Smells like all those sweet and roasty malts that you would expect. Caramely.

T- Taste is good. It's mostly about the caramel malt sweetness. There is an earthy hop profile and that is nice too.

M- A medium bodied brew. Takes away from drinkability for me.

O- It's solid. Just a normal beer that bell's brewed pretty well.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 23:55:23 | More by tykees88

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

on tap at varga in philly

Pours a clear leafy brown color with some brighter amber hues. Thin beige head dissolves, leaving a few spots of lacing and little filmy retention.

Slight hoppiness in the nose, bready and biscuity malts. Touches of toffee and caramel. Somewhat muted overall.

Bready and citric up front with a faint touch of leafy hops. Bread crust and caramel in the malt. Some toffee sweetness. Finishes a little bitter and sweet.

Medium body, well carbonated, sticky and chewy on the tongue. Drinks pretty well, although nothing too explosive here.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2011 15:46:51 | More by xnicknj

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear darker amber color with two fingers of fluffy off-white head that is well retained.

The scent is of dominant roasted caramel malt.

The taste is also of prominent roasted caramel malt, there is also a moderate hop bitterness.

Medium body, very smooth, low to moderate carbonation.

This was a good representation of this style, a well balanced flavorful beer. I would drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 19:27:53 | More by BeerCon5

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.98/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draft at Bilbo Baggins in Alexandria.

The beer is nearly clear, and appears light orange in color. The head is thick and frothy, measuring a little over an inch thick. The aroma is somewhat muted and weak, though I have yet to experience a really assertive, bold aroma from a beer of this ilk. The flavor is nice, with a strong malt and grain presence, followed by a light dose of pleasant spices. Great feel on the palate. I could throw back a few pints of this. I would have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 17:52:06 | More by Huhzubendah

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a standard octoberfest orange-brown. Head is one finger, though retention is subpar.
S- Smell is slightly grainy, with caramel, toffee, and a raw nuttiness coming through.
T- It's a bit mild compared to others in the style. Light caramel, a bit of general malty sweetness, and just a wee bit of a raw almond character.
M- Medium body, medium carbonation, sweet finish.
O-It's an ok octoberfest but I'm left with kind of a meh feeling. Compared to Great Lakes or some of the German examples, this one isn't all that great.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 04:00:32 | More by jsprain1

NeutroMan

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Nevin's Pub in Evanston
Reviewed from notes dated 13 September 2011

Clear copper color. Virtually no head and no lacing. Malt aroma is grainy and metallic. Taste has similar bready/grainy malts, very clean. A hint of apple and caramel. Quite sweet. Minimal hop bitterness, although it becomes more pronounced as the beer warms. Medium-light bodied, carbonated and smooth. Definitely sessionable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 19:31:16 | More by NeutroMan

drabmuh

Maryland

3.2/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounces served in a shaker pint on draft at a local bar. Beer is amber / reddish and clear with a soft big white head of small bubbles, nice lacing, steady but low carbonation, nice retention, looks fine.

Almost no aroma, mild malts, some yeast. Disappointing.

This beer is drinkable, not much in the way for flavors but it is mildy malty with a nice not dry finish. It is easy going the entire time, nothing wrong with it but they forgot the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2011 02:33:50 | More by drabmuh

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tap from various bars and 12oz bottles into pint glass. Pours a clear light amber with a big three finger off white head and spotty lacing. Nose is yeasty biscuits, grass and caramel malt. Taste is sweet fruit, caramel malt and nuts with a dry grassy slightly bitter finish. Medium mouth feel. Not a favorite style, but a fairly decent brew. I prefer tap over bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 19:51:11 | More by CuriousMonk

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.33/5  rDev -35.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On tap in a shaker pint. Golden orange body with a wispy white head and sparse sticky lacing. Color is unexpectedly light.

The oddly tame nose (modest sweet and toasty malts) provides no hint of the scorching bitterness to follow. Hopped almost to the level of a west coast IPA, with the malts firmly in the background. Longish bitter finish. Way out of style for an Oktoberfest.

What a strange beer. It tasted nothing like it smelled, and the taste was completely out of style. Possibly the tap handle didn't match what was in the keg? Something definitely seemed amiss here. I hope to try this again sometime to see if the experience is different.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2010 14:33:30 | More by PDXHops

Lillenk

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had on tap at Grill One Eleven.

Appearance was very nice dark tan into brown with a nice white head.

Smell was a little lacking. Not a whole lot going on at all.

Taste was good. Octoberfest not typically my favorite style but this had all the classic characterists done well.

Mouthfeel was good, but i wouldn't see myslef drinking very many of these.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2010 19:34:07 | More by Lillenk

wowbragger

California

3.2/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Poured thin, with a minimal head. Had a distinct caramel color to it.

S - Very light malt scent, and not much else.

T - Had it served up a little colder than I think it should have been, slight hop taste but mostly a gentle malt flavor.

M - Very middle of the road, medium body. Not heavy, not too light.

D - Very easy to drink, goes down very nicely on it's own or with whatever you're having. Probably not something I'll seek out specifically in the future, as while there's nothing wrong with the drink there's nothing that particularly stood out in it either.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2010 21:58:06 | More by wowbragger

StoutHunter

Michigan

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had a couple pitchers of this at the hamilton street pub, thanks to keith for sharing with me. Poured from a pitcher into a standard pint glass.

A- This one pours that signature marzen coppery caramel with a thin white head the dissipated fairly fast.

S- Not too much going on expect for some slightly roasted malts and a slight amount of hops.

T- This one starts off with caramel malts, some bread aromas come out once it warms up and the hops was hardly noticeable. On par with most in its style.

M- Just right for the style, very crisp and refreshing, with good carbonation.

D- This beer was very drinkable, only planed on having one pitcher of it but after the first one went down so fast, we had to get another one and one after that to end the night.This beer went down very easy and had enough flavor to keep me coming back for more.

Overall i believe Bell's did a good job on this beer, nothing too crazy or bold going on here, but its an October fest and its not meant to be bold, just tasty and drinkable and this beer succeeds at both. Having had many bottles of this beer it was nice to try it on tap and i thought i was slightly better. My go to local octoberfest.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2010 02:51:46 | More by StoutHunter

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Had a glass on-tap at Tap and Table in Emmaus. The clear amber lager looked nice enough, but there was an odd floral and plastic twist to the caramel malts I just couldn't get into. Yes, there was the light bread and caramel character, but it doesn't dominate the beer like it should. The body is drinkable, but the flavor isn't.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2010 03:16:57 | More by tempest

alleykatking

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a pint yesterday with my meal. Review from phone notes.

A- Came to me clear light orange color with light amber highlights. Light white foam skims the top of the beer. No real big lacing but light skirts of it falling down the sides.

S- Light grain smell. Caramel malts come into play almost right off the bat. Light alcohol smell in the back of the nose. Everything is muted it seems like which I am kind of sad about. Also light bready malts come and go in waves.

T- Big bready caramel body on this. Light grassy earthy taste as well in the middle to front. Malts dominate the entire beer. Light alcohol taste on the tail end. Flavor is more crisp and pronounced than in the aroma.

M- Medium light mouthfeel on this one. Carbonation is good with the beer. Clean and crisp on the palate and in the aftertaste. Sweet malts left on the palate after the beer runs about.

D- Drinkability is good with this beer. Not my favorite style by far but Bell's makes it enjoyable. Will look for next year when it's fresh!

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 21:05:35 | More by alleykatking

Tone

Missouri

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

Pours a clear, golden/copper color. 1/3 inch head of a white color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of slight yeast, sweet malt, slight dry hop, hint of spice, and slight grain. Fits the style of a Marzen/Oktoberfest. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, grain, hint of citrus, pale malt, hint of butter, sweet malt, and slight hops. Overall, a decent blend, body, and appearance.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2009 02:25:49 | More by Tone

ClockworkOrange

Pennsylvania

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

I've only seen this beer on tap in PA, never bottles. I'm pretty sure Larry Bell won't send any of his lagers to PA in bottles. Why, I have no idea. Anyway, arrived in a standard shaker glass. Appears a hazed apricot color with about a finger of light rust colored head. Aromas and flavors consist of biscuit malt, sweet caramel, slightly fruity, somewhat spicy yeast, some peppery hops. Medium in both body and carbonation. Not really something I thought about the next day.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2009 04:42:02 | More by ClockworkOrange

chetripley

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I can usually expect some decent and reliable results from Bell's but I think I was turned off by the smell, spicier and more herb-y than most other Octoberfests. Good amber color and medium head, a lot of carbonation, but a little too spicy and bitter for an Octoberfest, mainly because I think lagers shouldn't have these characteristics.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2009 03:20:13 | More by chetripley

tpd975

Florida

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Golden brownish hue with a nice tight creamy head. Little retention or lace.

S: Nice sweet malts lots of brown sugar, toffee, with a dash of piney hops.

T: Malt forward like a good Oct beer should be. Lots of brown sugar, toffee, and light sweet molasses. Hints of noble hops and a touch of dark fruit.

M: Medium in body good carbonation.

D: Not the best Octoberfest brew, but another tasty offering by Bell's

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2009 17:10:08 | More by tpd975

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This Oktoberfest pours a clear, dark amber that is almost copper with a decent pale tan head. Aroma is malty and just a little spicy. Mouth-filling malty flavor has hint of hop bitterness and a touch of cloves. Rich, lively texture leaves a nice spicy finish.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2009 21:23:49 | More by Cyberkedi