Samuel Adams Octoberfest - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

HardTarget

Texas

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2004 edition, Standard 12 oz. brown bottle with Best Before Mar notched (could you put a year on the label please?)
Aroma: Dark malt and pumpernickel rye bread, but I really had to reach for it, pretty mild.
Appearance: Slightly hazy copper/amber body showing very little carbonation, but a respectable vanilla ice cream colored head that died off without a trace or lace.
Flavor: Nice level of malt balanced by an odd hop-like taste. Can’t put my finger on it, dear Lord, is that cooked corn? My mind is struggling with the concept. No; this is Sam Adams! It can’t be! It’s not entirely unpleasant, almost a caramel corn, but, still.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with a fair amount of carbonation, almost fizzy with a dry lip smacking finish.
Overall Impression: Eh. It’s odd; I enjoyed this one not two nights ago with friends and enjoyed it fully. Now that I sit down to review it, the flaws start to show. I’m thinking adjuncts, or maybe a mild problem in the brewing, but the “signature” flavor is actually a bit off. Still, it is an “Octoberfest” and not without merit. A fair amount of malt comes through and toward the end the fizzy aspects settle down. I guess a fair introduction for the masses to a great style.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2004 08:02:56 | More by HardTarget

Brew33

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I must confess, I am not a huge fan of Octoberfest/Vienna Lagers. This beer is disappointing to me to say the least.

It is a good looking beer, when it arrived I was optimistic. I try at least a couple SA Octoberfest's each year. I remembered it being malty and sweet. That it was but with no discernable hop flavor and very little nuance. It was bordering on bland. It smells malty/grainy and sweet but the smell is faint.

It would be easy to drink a few of these but I doubt I will. The flavor and complexity of this beer doesn't match the Sam Adams price tag. I'd rather drink a Yuengling or a Shiner Bock.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2008 15:24:57 | More by Brew33

williamt

Iowa

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

2009 version. Very nice looking copper/gold with tanish head, clear and clean. Mild aroma of malt. Tastes more
nutty than the malty sweet I would expect from a Marzen/Okto. Also very dry, to dry for my liking. Mouthfeel is good close to what I would expect for the style. Drinkabilty is poor, I wouldn't want more than one in a row.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 22:09:47 | More by williamt

TheFlern

Idaho

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: A nice burnt orange/amber color. Almost no head in the pour and zero lacing.

Smell: Lots of malt aroma with just a hint of a somewhat aged flavor. This imo adds to the authenticity of the style.

Taste: The taste follows the smell to a 'T'.

Mouthfeel: This feels full bodied but isn't that complex. Not to heavy and very nice.

Drinkability: This is a pretty light beer but isn't lacking in body. If there was less alcohol this would be a nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 00:30:46 | More by TheFlern

fourplayed

California

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ox bottle into 16 oz glass.

Nice Amber-orange-brown hues. Clear with 1 finger head.

Smell is Very mild you can barely catch the malt, hops, nut & fruit notes.

Easy on the taste buds. Not much heft. Nothing really stands out, just very mild malts, hops, nut and fruit notes.

Good carbonation. leaves nothing good or bad for aftertaste.

Drinks fine. Not much to get excited about. Will drink this when I find it on sale. But, it's not on my A list.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 19:57:08 | More by fourplayed

BeerAndBourbon

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A. Pours a clear amber with a one finger creamy off-white head.

S. A bit of grain and a touch of sweetness, but not a whole lot of aroma here. A bit of cinnamon-like spice comes out as it warms.

T. A lot of winter-like spice flavor - mostly cinnamon. Not what I expect (or want) in an oktoberfest.

M. Light to medium with a fairly high level of carbonation.

D. I wouldn't pick this up again. It's not terrible, but it's not that good either.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 21:05:26 | More by BeerAndBourbon

jcalabre

California

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I originally sampled this beer on 18 March 2003. I am writing this review from my notes.
This beer is somewhat malty, not very bitter. This is a typical Samuel Adams offering: far better than Bud/Miller/Coors, but nothing like a good micro. drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2003 02:41:30 | More by jcalabre

bobinverted

Michigan

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I've never been too found of Sam Adams beers, but I hadn't tried their Oktoberfest before so I thought I'd give it chance. I expected more flavor and a fuller body. The body was weak and the toasty maltiness that a marzen should have just wasn't there. I think this would be more appropriatetly called Samuel Adams Octoberfest LIGHT. But it's still the best Sam Adams beer I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2003 02:30:15 | More by bobinverted

yankeeheel

Maine

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear coppery orange with almost no head. Smells barely of sweet malts and a teeny bit of nut.

The taste is rather...vauge? It has little malt profile, is thin, and finishes as if it was never there. Got to love my relatives and their beer buying preferences.

I am not an Oktoberfest expert by any means, but I hope to God that there are much better american examples than this. Perhaps more research is required on my part.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2003 21:37:34 | More by yankeeheel

Boto

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another good beer from Sam. It pours a bit amber, with no head or lacing. Fairly thin aroma and taste. As with most of his brews, it is 'toned down' to please the masses. A little thinner in taste than most others. While it is a decent Oktoberfest, it still pales with most of the others out there.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2003 03:43:52 | More by Boto

aquatonex

New York

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours medium orange-amber with a persistent head. Smells of faint spice, malt, and hops. The balance is good in this Oktoberfestbier, neither malt nor hops overpower the other. However, it is lacking in 'oomph'. The spice is noticeable and is a welcome accompaniment. I'd like more spice and also stronger malts and hops. But, it is still a decent beer that I'd drink again.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2004 21:43:07 | More by aquatonex

quasimoto

Ohio

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This poured a dark amber copper orange with a pepsi-type carbinated head. The head quickly dissappeared and left no lace. The aroma if there was any was of toast, caramel and a background of hops. But I had to look for the aroma, it wasn't strong at all. The taste was of light malt, caramel, toast, and grape nuts. There were hops in the background but oddly it kinda balanced everything out. The downfall is that the flavor just tastes watered down. The mouthfeel, is ok. The large bubbles made it harsh on the pallete, and it left a gummy feeliing after wards. It's an ok octoberfest, but not the best.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2005 14:56:47 | More by quasimoto

bobbyc881

South Carolina

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

This is my first Octoberfest, so I've got nothing to compare to, but here goes:

Pours out of the bottle in a dark copper/amber color. Adequate, creamy head that sticks around for a short while. Abundent carbonation in the glass. The smell isn't powerful enough to register on my rather insensitive nose. It seems to lean malty, though.

Tastes smooth and slightly malty. A touch earthy and a bit of a toasted flavor. Rather thin across my tongue. The taste really begins quite well, then leaves behind a residual flavor that just isn't agreeing with me.

I could see where the light weight of this beer could make it more drinkable to some, but there just isn't enough flavor to encourage me to open another.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 22:54:35 | More by bobbyc881

eclipsehts

New Mexico

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a 12 oz. bottle poured into a glass.

A-Poured a nice red color with a very thin white head. Had a nice head retention and good lacing.

S-Had a typical beer smell to it. No one dominant spice or malt. Admittedly my first Octoberfest so I did not know if this was out of the ordinary.

T-Had a good taste to it with just a hint of toffee flavoring. Couldn't really pick it out though. Never got that nasty taste but nothing special to write about. A little on the bitter side.

M-Very light mouthfeel, no warming sensation or anything to note. Amazingly felt like a light beer.

D-Had a few brats with this and it makes a great pairing. The bitterness completely complemented the juices from the brat. A good beer, but not the typical quality brew I would expect from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2006 05:36:20 | More by eclipsehts

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A -Tiny half finger of head rests over a reddish caramel orange brew. The head is short lived and leave no lacing.

S - Sweet, red licorice, faint currants - not a whole lot going on here, but it isn't mild, just not a lot of dimension.

T - A light, slightly sweetmalty flavor with a bit of a rice and grassy hops aftertaste. The tiniest hint of anise. Not much bitterness. Not much flavor at all. It isn't terrible or anything, it just lacks personality.

M - Thick, smooth, pretty refreshing.

D - Good. It is a decent Octoberfest, a bit bland, but it is a subtle style. I prefer my pumpkin ales to this, but I wouldn't mind drinking this again. Good with some foods. Decent all around.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2006 19:58:15 | More by mrasskicktastic

jar2574

Missouri

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I've tried a lot of Sam Adams products. Personally, I think they should stick with what they do best, the original Sam Adams Boston Lager. In my opinion that's a damn good beer. Other Sam Adams products...not such good beer.

But I guess if they can introduce decent beer to the masses who usually drink Bud or Miller, then Sam Adams is doing us all a service.

On to the beer -- unexceptional but adequate in every way. It looks, smells, and tastes perfectly average.

Dark orange / amber color is supposed to remind you of fall. Very little head retention though, and the beer's smell is uninspiring. There might be a touch of malty sweetness to the smell, but perhaps a touch of skunkiness as well. The only way you detect any of that is if you try really hard.

Taste is smooth and malty with a slight touch of sweetness. I know this is advertised as a "malt lover's dream," and I'm not that much of a malt lover. But still, they also brag about five malts being packed into this beer, and I'm not sensing that much complexity.

The mouthfeel is average; average creaminess, carbonation and aftertaste.

I could always drink it in a pinch, and I would appreciate it if the alternatives were larger American macro brews. Not a bad beer, but not a great one either.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2007 01:54:18 | More by jar2574

Floydster

California

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle from Cooke's Faimly Market in El Segundo

Poured was a golden brown with a 1/2 inch soapy head

Smell was a little bit of apples, but predominantly honey

Taste was sweet and very malty, a couple different kinds were evident

Could drink a good amount of these and taste was long lasting

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2007 02:17:32 | More by Floydster

beerphilosopher

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very lively and bright amber color with an almond-color head that seems to dissipate rather quickly ... leaving spotty lacing inside the pint glass. The nose is malt, up front, but clearly has a generous dose of hops to balance it out. Slightly nutty notes here as well. The palate is precisely what the nose tells you - malt goodness, followed by drying, floral hops. Nice. Mouth feel is on the acidic side with more than ample carbonation. Finish is dry and leaves a lingering herbal and malt combination in the mouth. I'd estimate this to be a pretty decent American Oktoberfest beer. Very drinkable, which is the idea ... nothing challenging here, but there doesn't need to be. Nice.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2007 02:30:16 | More by beerphilosopher

jsh420

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

best by feb 2010

pours clear amber brown with a 1 finger head that left no lacing

smell was very faint - lightly roasted malts

taste was not much better then the smell - lightly roasted carmel malts but still a little too sweet - no hops to be found?

mouthfeel was medium body no real life in the carbonation dept.

drinkability is so so - nothing worth having again

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 02:30:14 | More by jsh420

dvb

Washington

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Mahogany in color. Thin head with almost no lacing. Let it sit for a while and it looks like brandy.

S - Not bad. Sweet. I almost smell some Belgian candi.

T - Starts off tasting like a Boston Lager and then settles into a sort of weak maibock. Sweet and malty. Not much in the way of hops - it really could use more.

M - Fairly thin. Not much carbonation.

D - A six pack is about all I would want in any given year. This stuff is just OK.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 05:44:30 | More by dvb

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clean orange-ish color with a light tan head. In the aroma, quite fruity and earthy. In the taste, just like the smell, fruity and earthy, still quite lager like. A small bite and medium to light bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry, earthy aftertaste. A bit sweet, but ok nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 15:01:15 | More by OWSLEY069

THECPJ

Delaware

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes:

appearance: orangish brown with a 1 finger white head

smell: slight spices, caramel, malts,

taste: little spice, caramel,

mouthfeel: mild carbonation, smooth,

drinkability: easy drinker. gets you in the mood for fall.

Cheers,

The CPJ

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 18:20:28 | More by THECPJ

leprechaunandfatman

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a rich amber color and the little head is gone extremely quickly. An almost sickly sweet smell strong on malt. Taste is much spicier than the smell would lead on. Not bad, but with spices and sweetness, it is not the best Oktoberfest out there, even by American breweries. Very drinkable and nothing bad about it, but not great either.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 19:24:54 | More by leprechaunandfatman

vitesse

Georgia

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

served in 12 oz. brown bottle.
I tasted this in late february, well into late winter, so this was late in the season for an octoberfest.
the appearance was a dark brown. medium head that dissipated quickly. very little smell at all. detected some sweet maltiness there.
the taste held up well considering that "best consumed by" date was only a week away. nice sweet malt profile, then some hops, finishing with sugary, carmel aftertaste.
mouthfeel was decent. nice carbonation, not thick at all. pretty good for a lager.
drinkability is average because the sweetness can get to you after a while, but still a decent lager beer. not exactly world class, but pretty good.
this beer, to the credit of the store and distributor, was still good long after its season had ended.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2003 08:28:41 | More by vitesse

cbl2

New York

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

Note: Fall 2003

Appearance:

Crystal clear medium brown in color with an inch tall white head.
Smell:

Overly hoppy for the style; malts are there, but masked.
Taste/Mouthfeel:

While the mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth and supple, the flavors to me are all wrong. This is over-hopped to the point that it almost tastes like an IPA. The malts do arise mid sip, but it is too little too late to save the day IMO. This one finishes dry.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2004 23:51:42 | More by cbl2