OktoberFish
Flying Fish Brewing Company

OktoberFishOktoberFish
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From:
Flying Fish Brewing Company
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #376
ABV:
6%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,150
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 14.2%
Reviews:
155
Ratings:
422
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 08, 2023
Added:
Sep 13, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  80
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Fish113d:
Photo of Fish113d
Reviewed by Fish113d from Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served chilled into a tulip glass from a bottle.

Slight hazy copper color w/ 1/2" of eggshell color head that quickly turns into an oily surface layer.

Aroma reminds me of crisp sour apples along with some slight sweet caramel and roastiness, along with some earthen hops. Decent.

Flavor is slightly tart/sour citus flavors along with some apple flavor (apple peel actually) along with a bit of pine hops on the finish. Very tasty IMO and enjoyable.

Feel is nice. Well balanced between the smoothness and crispness along with the carbonation. No alcohol detected. Nice all around IMO.

I dropped the drinkability off a bit here, because I found this one to be rather sweet to which I enjoyed. However, I know not all people enjoy sweet brews, so I decided that I doubt I could drink a growler of it, so hence, a lower score here. However, I liked it for the most part.
Oct 23, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.27 by Overtonjd from New Jersey

Oct 08, 2023
Photo of dano213
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle purchased from the fridge as a single for $1.99. No bottled on date; it must be relatively fresh though.

Look: Very nice appearance. Perfect clarity with an amber color and a frothy, half-finger of very light tan-colored head.

Smell: The nose is pleasant. Nice mixture of subtle fruity and floral notes, combined with toasty, bread crust. I am getting an interesting sweet cherry note. Light caramel notes, with a nice nutty backbone. Also a nice vanilla note (cream soda-esque) and mild spicy/peppery notes.

Taste: That's pretty tasty. It's very drinkable. Up front, that cherry flavor from the nose comes through along with other malty and nutty flavors. The finish is clean and crisp and has a mild roasty bitterness with subtle chocolate notes. Nice light caramel and molasses notes linger on the palate after the bitterness has faded.

Feel: The body is medium, perhaps a bit on the lighter side compared to some other Marzen styles. Super crisp, clean, and drinkable.

Overall: This is my first Flying Fish Brewing Company review. I have had some of their beers before, but this is my first time reviewing one and my first time having the OktoberFish Marzen. I don't know why this isn't more popular. I think it could pass for a German Marzen in a blind tasting. I think that it is so easy to have preconceived notions when it comes to beer, especially for modern versions of traditional styles.

From the website:
We present this German style lager in celebration of the season. To be enjoyed with the fest fare and especially when paired with lederhosen.
MALTS - Superior Pilsen, Munich, Wheat, Aromatic, Blackprinz, Melanoidin
HOPS - Crystal, Horizon
YEAST - Czech Lager
ORIGINAL GRAVITY - 15.5P
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME - 6%
IBUs - 22
FORMATS - 12oz bottles, 1/6 kegs, 1/2 kegs
AVAILABILITY - Late Summer – Early Winter
Oct 28, 2022
Photo of rudiecantfail
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip glass. There's a best by slot on the label, but nothing is written there. But since it's the middle of August, this better be super fresh.

L---Absolute crystal clarity. Warm, amber color. Frothy off-white head had very good retention and left beautiful lacing. Perfect.

S---Malty leaning towards bread.

T---Follows the nose.

F---Airier than expected. Medium bodied.

O---A damn fine Marzen. The first one of the season for me.
Aug 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Nov 05, 2021
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.74/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours dark amber with an off white head. Head retention is good.

Smell: It has strong toast aromas.

Taste: It is a bit sweet at the start with some toast and dough like flavors. There is a bit of a cherry like element.

Feel: It has a medium body and is smooth.

Overall, an easy drinking German festival beer.
Sep 25, 2021
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

3.57/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle poured into a tumbler style pint glass.
Best by: 3/26/21

L: Clear, deep copper, thin almost white head, foam diminishes to a ring in about a minute.
S: Weak but nice malty bread and biscuit aroma.
T: Bread malt and spicy hop flavors, starts malty and medium sweet but dries to a more balanced finish, there is also a bit of mineral tang, aftertaste is spicy and bitter.
F: Medium-light body, High-ish carbonation, crisp with a hint of creaminess.
O: Decent marzen, easy to drink.
Oct 26, 2020
Photo of fivepilks
Rated by fivepilks from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Great October fest beer.
Oct 25, 2020
Photo of crazyspicychef
Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

2.92/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
Average American Marzen.
A bit sharp on the finish.
Not much aroma.
It's no German, that's for sure. There are better, and worse.
Oct 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.91 by saymike32 from New Jersey

Sep 26, 2020
Photo of ChuckDardenne
Reviewed by ChuckDardenne from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer pours out with more substance. The color is a deeper copper gold. Of course clear. There is a head color a deeper tan. The head mostly subsides within a few minutes. The smell it a little spicier than the other marzens I've tried. It is pleasent. I like the taste of this beer. Not overly spiced or syrupy. I clean fishish. So far this is my favorite Oktoberfest beer.
Sep 12, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Jan 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.81 by chiefz1 from New York

Jan 05, 2020
 
Rated: 4.04 by Blcookies from Nevada

Nov 13, 2019
Photo of GeorgianBayPackr
Reviewed by GeorgianBayPackr from Pennsylvania

3.36/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
There is a grainy & slightly hoppy quality to this beer. Not much malt sweetness; thinner/less heavy than others in this style. Good, but tasted more like a pilsener
Nov 07, 2019
Photo of Nass
Reviewed by Nass from Florida

3.12/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
The pour is copper colored. The taste is grains, caramel,whole wheat bread crust. The beer could use a little sweetness to round it out. There is a best by date on the label artwork. Cheers! B-
Nov 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Oct 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.77 by generalraider from New Jersey

Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by Swilliams987 from New Jersey

Mar 09, 2019
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

3.52/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Clear burgundy copper pour with 1.5 fingers of off-white head. Modest ring of lacing.

S: Toasted grains and sugars. A bit of dark fruit.

T/F: Just like it smells. Caramel and toasted grains... brown sugar. Sweet and earthy with a bit of spice. Not enough hops for balance. Light bodied.

O: An average Oktoberfest. Nothing special but not offensive either.
Mar 02, 2019
OktoberFish from Flying Fish Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 422 ratings