Samuel Adams Octoberfest - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a coppery amber, with another fizzling head that leaves behind no lacing as it falls apart in about half a minute. Medium body and carbonation levels.

Smells faintly of caramel and nuts. But only just. The flavor is much more notable: I get nutmeg-laced bready and toasted malts with a striking absence of earthiness and plenty of extra caramel. In other words, this beer is somewhat sweeter than the usual Marzen on the market. But some folks like that sort of thing. It gets a cinnamon dusting sort of flavor garnish as the glass warms up towards room temperature. Another middle of the road Marzen in a market already full of middling Marzens.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 05:30:15 | More by WastingFreetime

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

3.03/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 fl. oz. bottle into a pint glass. For Brewery Fresh Taste, Enjoy Before - Mar.

Appearance: Pours a thin-looking, watery copper color. Head is somewhat weak and recedes quickly to nothing. Unfortunately, this beer looks like most bar-grade pints. Put this next to a Yuengling amber lager, and I don't think I could tell the difference.

Smell: Somewhat malty, but overall unimpressive. The aroma is very faint.

Taste: Slightly sweet cinnamon malt flavor. The taste is unoffensive and makes for an easy drinking beer. Decent, but not outstanding.

Mouthfeel: Actually a decently thick mouthfeel. Surprising for the way it looks and tastes. Probably the standout characteristic for this beer.

Overall: It comes off just too weak and watery for me. For some reason, I feel this way about a lot of Sam Adams beers. Craft for the masses? I'm ordering it at a Pizza Hut, but not too many other places.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 21:20:57 | More by JednoPivoProsim

carlborch

Michigan

3.13/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Brilliantly clear pour. Copper color and moderate carbonation. 2-inch tan head forms, but dissipates rather swiftly to a thin, creamy, covering. Malt, caramel and spice in the nose. Hints of bread, pumpkin pie, and dried fruit. Minimal Belgian lace. Medium body. Very nicely balanced palate with a pleasant lingering of malt and pumpkin-pie-spices. Tasty. The hop notes are high restrained.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 20:13:01 | More by carlborch

mscudder

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served into a mug.

A - A crystal-like rubyhue with a thin ivory head. Below average retention and lacing.

S - Strong toasted malts, light spices and grain. Nothing here to love.

T - Malts, sugar, light spices and a bit of juiciness. The taste is acceptable, but nothing makes me want to rush out and grab another.

M - Well carbonation with a nice medium body. Best part of the beer.

O - It is far from awful, yet there are just too many Marzen's that are way better. I remember loving this beer in my under-aged youth. Time has elapsed and my palette now says otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 03:15:03 | More by mscudder

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear red-brown with one-and-a-half finger, white, creamy head that lasted a couple minutes. Okay lacing.

S: Caramel malt, bread, mild.

T: Light to moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Toasty malt. Mild flavor.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp and refreshing.

O: There's nothing wrong with this beer, but the aroma and taste are mild and uninteresting. Not bad though.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 20:45:43 | More by SolipsismalCat

Vigilante

Nevada

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Pint Glass

A: Copper color with 1 finger foamy head which dissipates quickly leaving light lacing.

S: A faint smell of malt. Not much aroma at all.

T : Malt with nutty tones and a sweet aftertaste of Caramel.

M: Medium bodied with a slightly dry finish. Mouthfeel was a little too watery for my taste.

O: This beer is not bad but it is not great either. The weak aroma and watery mouthfeel was a really big turn off for me. I would still take this over an adjunct American lager and day of the week.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 05:24:46 | More by Vigilante

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a clear amber color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of smooth caramel notes with light toffee notes. Taste is very smooth with nice caramel malt notes and light toffee with balanced level of sweetness. Body has a smooth texture which is really nice with good carbonation. Not the most complex beer but really easy drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 20:12:39 | More by Phyl21ca

IrishHockey

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

For what it is, it's a solid beer. This is one of my go to beers during the fall. Not only is it a fairly good beer, but it won't break the bank either. How many times have you gone to your local bottle shop, found a beer on the shelf that's a style you like, from a brewer you like, only to be disappointed? This is a brewer some people love to hate for their success. Don't be turned off by the brewer on this one. Solid octoberfest. Enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 13:56:26 | More by IrishHockey

nqdell

1.5/5  rDev -59.3%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Living in the Pacific NW and in the mood for a seasonal spirit to drink during Monday Night Football after a long day of work on this particularly blustery October night.

Disclaimer, I never buy Sam Adams, been drinking beer for about 6 years I've had and enjoy pretty much everything. The reason is simple. I like to buy local and living in Pac NW, this might as well just be puddle water.

S: Bottled, pour into a glass, no head
A: Beautiful copper tone
S: None, maybe I'm plugged up
Taste: Now here is where I have issue, there is none, a mild malt flavor and where are the spices as advertised?
M: Not creamy, not dry, not anything unfortunately, slightly sweet

Overall: The reason I haven't bought Sam Adams in all my beer drinking years is mostly pride. I think they are trying to mass market a craft product, because you know, all beer makers have a beard and love their job enthusiastically. Let this be another great East coast example of commercialization. I'm sure all you Chowd's over there love drinking this stuff... during the humid summer's maybe. Come on over to Portland and you will learn what craft beer is all about because this is a complete farce.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 01:19:51 | More by nqdell

Kooz

New York

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Orange with a light tan head in a Sam Adams super-special glass. It is a pretty beer. I especially like how tightly packed the head is.

Smells faintly of hops and of malt. It's all faint, but nice. It smells like it will be smooth.

And boom goes the dynamite. This is a really smooth and mellow beer. Its slightly bitter from the first, but it mellows out as it coats the mouth.

Mouthfeel, as usual for Sam, is excellent. It's creamy and full-bodied with a pleasant aftertaste and nothing harsh. The carbonation is so perfect, it almost feels like a nitro draft.

I'm very happy with this. It may be passe at this point to sing the praises of the Boston Brewing Company, but I'm going to do it anyway: this is one of the beat Oktoberfests I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2012 21:20:29 | More by Kooz

donmonkey1

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Color is med. brown (like iced tea). The tan head is moderate and dissipates quickly. The lacing is nice at first but once the head is gone, that's it. Decent carbonation.

Smell: Not much smell. Nutty perhaps.

Taste: Not real strong but several flavors hard to describe. Raisins and nuts. Bready maybe. Enough hops to balance the sweetness but not noticeable in the taste.

Mouthfeel: Watery, lack of carbonation.

Overall: Easy to drink, good thirst quencher with a decent flavor. It's a quality beer that doesn't do much for me. I wish it was more flavorful. It's definately better than average though.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 23:09:03 | More by donmonkey1

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle acquired via the Fall Harvest Variety Pack, poured into a standard nonic.

A: Surprisingly dark orange/amber hue for a lager. Very translucent. A moderate white head on top that dissipated quickly. Carbonation readily visible.

S: Caramel malt. Toffee and bready notes, with a touch of barley sweetness. All at a moderate level.

T: Taste follows the nose. Caramel malt is outspoken here. A breadiness and lingering sweetness arrive somewhere near the midpoint and last to the finish.

M: Relatively light, but with considerably more heft than most others I've had within this style. Carbonation is exceptional.

D/O: The caramel malt really does it for me here. Perhaps my favorite example of a style that, by-and-large, I find to run too-thin-and-overly-sweet. The caramel/amber malt gives it some heft, and there may even be a touch of hops on the back end, even if it's just slightly. Far from my favorite Sam Adams offering, but my-to if/when celebrating Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 20:23:11 | More by psuKinger

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into an English pint glass.

A - Pours light golden yellow into the glass. One-finger head of eggshell-white foam dissipates quickly, leaving a bit of lace and some larger bubbles on the surface. Beer is an explosive amber orange and clear when held to a full-spectrum light.

S - Straight-ahead toasted malts and simple caramels. Some breadiness as it warms up. Nose is soft, but easily identified.

T - Nicely toasted malts with caramels and a bit of butterscotch/toffee. Nothing complex, but quite tasty. Just enough bittering hops in the background to balance the sugars. Maybe just a drop of dried apricot mixed in. I'd like the flavors each to be richer, but as they are, they're fine.

M - Rather fizzy and mouth-filling carbonation. Structure is a bit on the lighter side, but not thin. Smooth and drinkable. A touch of sugar in the finish lingers a bit, but in the background, and not at all cloying. Pretty clean.

O - All too often, most taps at a tavern are still dominated by the big boys. Fortunately, it's becoming pretty common to find one reserved for the Sam Adams Seasonal. When fall rolls around, and it's the Octoberfest, I'm thankful there's been at least this much breakthrough. It's reliable. It's tasty and refreshing for what it is. Many have done worse, and most of the taps around it prove it. Yes, it's pretty simple and two-dimensional, but it's consistently well-executed, and it's a relief to find available so I don't have to settle for Yuengling or that green bottle. Would be great to take to a party of BMC drinkers for a Saturday afternoon of football watching and grilled brats and turn them on to something they can actually taste. In a good bottle shop, it's not even a consideration. But when out for a burger and a beer, it's a friendly port in a storm of swill.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 00:32:23 | More by BuckeyeSlim

intensify

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Wow, already October and a full year since I last had this beer. 12oz bottle poured into a tulip. Copper colored body with a small head that stuck around for a minute before fizzling away. Biscuit tones, caramel, roasted pecans, cinnamon and spices all off a nice smell. Taste follows closely behind with the caramel really coming out on top. Goes down fairly smooth considering it is not a thick bodied beer.

Octoberfest really does scream Fall when you sip on it. Definately a beer to have on a cool fall night.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 06:02:04 | More by intensify

knowledge

New York

4.55/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This heavily malted and hoppy elixir pours a golden brown, with an incredible head. The abv content is just right - and in this case, as close to perfection as one would desire. This is definitely a session beer, however, I suspect that you may not repeat the session as once would suffice. Octoberfest beers bring out the best in production, and this one is nothing short of spectacular. With 5 roasted malts in this particular brew, you enjoy every single one of the 165 calories in this bottled beer. A worthy find.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 00:03:02 | More by knowledge

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +30.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is not only the best Marzen I've ever had, but one of the best beers I've had as well. It's biscuity, got some sweet booziness to it, and plenty of malty goodness, but it's as easy to chug down all night as it is to sip slowly. It's also got barely enough hops to balance out the flavour, which I think is great for the style. It's only problems is that maybe it's a little too sweet and sticky and got a little bit of a weird aftertaste. But everything else about it is really great for the price.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 06:47:56 | More by ElCommodoro

Vashtar

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The appearance is a vibrant, mid dark, orange. It is clear and maintains its head.

There's a nice, but fairly typical fragrance.

The taste starts out great but finishes bitter. Hoppy at the end.

The mouthfeel is smooth, but lacks depth.

This was in a bottle and poured into a glass.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2012 01:46:11 | More by Vashtar

Jsteez

New Mexico

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This was poured into a dimpled beer mug.

A-deep reddish, medium amber brew with a thin tan head that left minimal lacing on the glass. I was surprised to see there was not much to the appearance here.

S-Faint smell of caramel, toasy malt, and some spice. There was also a nice smell of cherry, too. It smelled quite refreshing and I was looking forward to my first sip. But the taste didn't meet my expectations.

T-Toasty malt, caramel malt, some autumn-esque spice, carmelized nuts, baked nutty taste. The aftertaste was okay: buttered bread with some buttery, toasted nuts. A faint taste of pumpkin.

M-The mouthfeel was disappointing. I thought it was a little too wet for this style. It was too fizzy from the carbonation. At times I felt like I was drinking a fizzy soda water. A slight dry feel was present.

Overall-This is just an average beer, not bad, not great, just a beer to have during the crisp fall months. Note the word "crisp", a word that this beer lacks. I love having nice autumn beer that gives me a nostalgic feeling that reminds me of the smell of fire places and leaves changing colors. This beer did not present that feeling.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 14:25:02 | More by Jsteez

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355 mL bottle from the LCBO; best before July 2013. This isn't a style I've ever been a real big fan of, but to be fair, I can count the number of different marzens I've tried on one hand. Regardless, all of the Sam Adams brews I've had previously have been fairly solid, so I figured I'd give this one a whirl in the spirit of the season. Poured into a mug.

Pours a deep amber-orange hue, clear and effervescent, topped with one finger of dense, creamy white head. Retention is pretty good; it takes more than a few minutes for the foam to lose cohesion; in fact, a reduced layer of creamy foam remains to the final sip. The aroma is malty and sweet, with hints of caramel/brown sugar, toasted bread and biscuits forming the bulk of the bouquet, accented with just a wisp of lemony citrus and spice.

As with the aroma, roasted malts definitely dominate the flavour profile. Toasted, doughy bread, biscuits and some slight nuttiness are the most prominent facets, with the grassy, herbal hops coming forward nearer to the finish. Not especially dry, but not particularly sweet either; reasonably well-balanced. The aftertaste is a mix of roasted malts, herbal hops and faint citrus. Medium-bodied, with restrained carbonation and an exceptionally smooth, creamy mouthfeel that makes this stuff a real pleasure to drink.

Final Grade: 3.70, a respectable B grade. Of all the marzens I've tried (as limited a pool as that is), Sam Adams' Octoberfest is probably my favourite so far. Not outstanding, complex or especially memorable, but a solid brew in its own right - something that would go nicely with a hearty meal as well as on its own. In a pinch I'd probably just stick with their Boston Lager, but if I were in the mood for a heftier, slightly more warming lager for the fall months, I'd consider picking this one up again next year. Certainly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 04:10:53 | More by thehyperduck

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a coppery amber with a half finger white head that dissipated slowly to a film over the top and a ring around the glass. Aroma of sweet and bready malt with a hint of toasted malt and hops. Flavor is a pleasant lightly toasted, somewhat biscuity malt with slight light fruit and caramel. Solid biscuit malt finish with light hops. Medium bodied. A nice take on an Octoberfest, not complex, but with the expected solid malt body and finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 03:38:51 | More by LiquidAmber

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

355ml bottle poured into a 16oz pint glass.

A - Pours a clean, rusty amber, with a moderate head of fizzy foam. The head settles to a thin skiff of suds, leaving minimal lacing behind.

S - Lots of toasty, sweet malt, with some nutty and mildly spicy qualities coming through. A good balance of caramel malt and mild earthy hops.

T - Comes across the palate very malty, with the hops adding a mild herbal earthiness at the end. Sweet, toasty grains, crystal malt, spice, and light nutty notes. Some off notes here and there, but overall a drinkable, malty brew.

M - Medium bodied, with a nice, assertive carbonation. Finishes a bit dry, with a lingering hop presence, though subtle.

D - I'm certainly no expert on this particular style, but what better way to familiarize myself with it than reviewing the most popular Oktoberfest on the market. While this wouldn't be my first choice for a fall brew, I found it enjoyable enough.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 22:16:33 | More by Converge

scottfrie

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into DFH shaped pint. Abel, I stole this from your fridge last time I was over. Thanks muchacho.

A: Pours an even amber brown with a couple fingers of bubbly light tan head. Small patches of lace were left down the glass as the head disappeared into a faint collar.
S: Fruit juice, toasted grains, mild spiciness, and a hint of honey. Sweet, malty, fruity, and spicy.
T: Malty, bready and spicy with notes of fruit juice, toasted grains, orange peel and mild hops. The finish is sweet and the aftertaste is nutty and malty. Hints of apple juice.
M: Medium-full body, very slick and syrupy (but not cloying) mouthfeel, with low and smooth carbonation.
O: Solid all-around but not my favorite. Very affordable and drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:06:00 | More by scottfrie

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

an amber almost ruby pour with about a finger of head. smells of malty sweetness, caramel, slight citrus.
the taste is bready, slightly citrusy (orange), slight hint of honey.
medium body, high carbonation - creamy on lips.
not a bad marzen at all - especially for one that's so easily available.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 23:49:46 | More by facundoCNB

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into a mug.

Pours a crystal clear copper, with 3-4 fingers of foamy off-white head. This eventually peters down into a thin ½ finger layer of creaminess, leaving back a slowly creeping downward cascade of spotty lacing. The aroma smells sweet and doughy, with a notes of citrus, spice and lightly buttered toast mixed in.

The taste has more of a push to it from that green leafy citrus character but the sweetness finishes this out with a mix of light toffee and toasted bread. Dry and bitter on the backend. The mouthfeel is medium bodied; with a smooth and creamy feel as this spreads out and some light crispness that prickles the tongue a bit. This flows pretty decently across the palate.

This was decent but nothing overly special, with profiles that leaned to the sweeter side but there was just enough crispness to keep this mostly accessible and drinkable feeling. I tend to like this one a bit more on draft, which is how I’ve usually had it over the years.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 19:29:22 | More by Kegatron

tewaris

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sam Adams Octoberfest

Should be fresh enough. Pours a very deep and dark amber color, with a medium off white head and medium retention. Sweet malts, perhaps toast in the aroma. Taste is definitely sweet with a slightly astringent finish that almost seems like a very mild version of roast. Drink easy and smooth. Can't be beaten for buck a bottle.

3, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 02:26:56 | More by tewaris